Willie Martinez appreciation thread

[JO VOL]

Even in defeat there is victory. Even in the light of recent struggles. Their has to be appreciation for the way the secondary is coming around. Young guys and walk-on's outstanding.

 

[JohnMcA60]

All the defensive coaches have impressed me with the change in culture on each level.

The DLine is so much more disruptive and DT is the only position lacking.

The LBs have been the best group on the team and Thigpen is not only a great recruiter but an awesome coach.

Martinez needs no intro with the things he has done to help and teach Cam sutton, Moseley, Justin Coleman, Todd Kelly and others who have improved.

Our defense as a whole is improving and with a good defense it gives you chances in games you shouldnt win. I'm not saying we have the best defense but it has improved a lot since 2013 and especially 2012.

 

[JO VOL]

I agree. All three levels are playing well. The improvement in the secondary is just impressive to me. Cam Sutton is a full grown man.

 

[JohnMcA60]

I agree. All three levels are playing well. The improvement in the secondary is just impressive to me. Cam Sutton is a full grown man.

3 picks in 5 games is very impressive. Also a solid tackler

 

[joevol33]

I had Georgia fans tell me Tennessee would regret him. I tried to explain to them after all the defensive coaching changes they've had, that he wasn't the problem. Their loss, he's doing fine here and they're still having issues on defense.

 

[BigOrangeD]

:good!:

 

[Aesius]

Butch needs to make sure he keeps Jancek. We can't afford him leaving like Wilcox did after Dooley's second year.

 

[TNHopeful505]

The defense is certainly our star.

However we must also remember that the defense has a lot more experienced players on it as well. Randolph and Coleman and McNeil have played in a lot of games. A.J. and Curt have as well. There's leadership there and there's experience.

The offense has Worley and Pig. Worley of course was hurt half of last season, and Pig missed all of spring. Outside of that, there is very little leadership to help these other younger and inexperienced guys learn to deal with adversity and to mentor them. Our defense is certainly more experienced than our offense, and I believe that's a lot of where the imbalance comes in.

Give it another year. Let Pig become a senior, let this OL have a year to get used to it. We remember when the OL was a lot of freshmen and sophomores named Juwaun James, James Stone, Zach Fulton, Alex Bullard, Antonio Richardson, Marcus Jackson, and Dallas Thomas. That group had a rough first year as well. We averaged 4.4 ypc that season (2011) on the ground. In 2010, we averaged 3.5 ypc. In 2012, we averaged 4.7 ypc. Last year? 4.9 ypc. So far this year, we're average 3.0 ypc. So, every year got better with those guys. 3.5 to 4.4 to 4.7 to 4.9, and that was with average RBs (Poole in 2010, Neal and an underclassmen Lane in the other years). With a stable system, and the same scheme over a course of 3-4 years, and quality running backs like what we're recruiting now, I expect to see that number go up.

And just for references sake...

Alabama in 2012 (NC year), they averaged 5.6 ypc with superstars like Richardson and Yeldon.

We'll get there. OL is a priority in this year's recruiting class, and the ones we've got coming in are fantastic. Looking forward to seeing Jack Jones. Kid is a mauler!

 

[turdherder11]

The defense played great. That being said, this entire coaching staff is still learning the sec. This league is totally different than any in college football. It's the toughest, by far. Gotta give them all more time. I do believe that errors were made in, not recruiting a qb, or enough Olinemen. It's bad when one of your best players on the offensive line is a walk on. Even if they are 2 or 3 stars you take them. I will hold off judgement until all players that commit this year have played a season in the sec.

 

[JO VOL]

No comment on the offense. We couldn't cover anyone with a blanket. Now not quite so nervous about the opposing wide receivers. I'm a believer in CBJ.

 

[TAF]

Why? Did Willie kick Bajakian in the nuts??!!

 

[Vols4us]

The references on how the players lack experience, etc. are not the point. As long as you match up OK in S&C as well as athleticism, and they do, you can design a scheme and call plays that can fit what they can do. Remember that formations and the use of motion are all part of the play calls and scheme on O.

What Would You Do?

You are Butch Jones. You now have 17 games of SEC level experience with essentially the same coaching staff with whom you started, as well as bringing half with you from previous stops. You are 3 games under .500 as a head coach and you have won 2 SEC games. One group (D) has many years of coaching experience in the SEC and is performing well. They improved their area's performance strongly in their first season with the help of only a couple freshmen they recruited. They have taken another big step this season using a boat load of freshmen with a handful of talented, experienced guys that have bought into your way of doing things as well as your D coaches ways of doing things. Critical breakdowns are becoming significantly less and the secondary has turned into a ball hawking, quality group with first tier performance by the defense as a whole.

The other group (O) has one guy with good SEC experience and another with one season; uses a scheme you have designed in previous stops that is not working well currently based on the 17 games of performance compared to national rankings; and does not consider match ups or player strengths/weaknesses on either side of the ball in play calling by your OC. You have highly coveted young players, a senior QB, and a few older o-linemen that have practiced for several years with upper classmen that are in the NFL. The play has been uneven, much worse against tough opponents, and some of the players are losing focus and missing assignments repeatedly. There are strong indications that player development is not occurring as it should since your senior QB is being brutalized against good teams and the unit is not rising to the occasion with continuing critical breakdowns, penalties and turnovers.

What do you do to start winning, if anything? Losing is not an option in the question.

 

[orangeluvr]

I had Georgia fans tell me Tennessee would regret him. I tried to explain to them after all the defensive coaching changes they've had, that he wasn't the problem. Their loss, he's doing fine here and they're still having issues on defense.

It was rumored if mark didn't fire willie, mark would be fired. Wille appears to be doing a good job. :good!:

 

[Rudy123]

The references on how the players lack experience, etc. are not the point. As long as you match up OK in S&C as well as athleticism, and they do, you can design a scheme and call plays that can fit what they can do. Remember that formations and the use of motion are all part of the play calls and scheme on O.

What Would You Do?

You are Butch Jones. You now have 17 games of SEC level experience with essentially the same coaching staff with whom you started, as well as bringing half with you from previous stops. You are 3 games under .500 as a head coach and you have won 2 SEC games. One group (D) has many years of coaching experience in the SEC and is performing well. They improved their area's performance strongly in their first season with the help of only a couple freshmen they recruited. They have taken another big step this season using a boat load of freshmen with a handful of talented, experienced guys that have bought into your way of doing things as well as your D coaches ways of doing things. Critical breakdowns are becoming significantly less and the secondary has turned into a ball hawking, quality group with first tier performance by the defense as a whole.

The other group (O) has one guy with good SEC experience and another with one season; uses a scheme you have designed in previous stops that is not working well currently based on the 17 games of performance compared to national rankings; and does not consider match ups or player strengths/weaknesses on either side of the ball in play calling by your OC. You have highly coveted young players, a senior QB, and a few older o-linemen that have practiced for several years with upper classmen that are in the NFL. The play has been uneven, much worse against tough opponents, and some of the players are losing focus and missing assignments repeatedly. There are strong indications that player development is not occurring as it should since your senior QB is being brutalized against good teams and the unit is not rising to the occasion with continuing critical breakdowns, penalties and turnovers.

What do you do to start winning, if anything? Losing is not an option in the question.

(1) I stay positive (2) I keep the players competing and believing that they can win (3) I push the players to stop making mistakes that cost us the game (4) If next years q.b. can do the run/option then I keep this offense, if the new q.b. can't run the run/option, then I change my offense next season with my new q.b.

 

[3rdnChavis]

1) Instill more discipline and continue to work on football knowledge. Play smart. Don't beat ourselves. 2) Work to develop the line with every fiber of your being. Recruiting, and developing who we already have. 3) Work on figuring out the right offensive strategy. If it's pro be pro if its read be read but don't run a read with pro style qb. 4) if we don't get to a bowl and Imo win then Butch needs to really consider what he needs to do with the staff. 5) If we don't see a major difference by the end of the season next season then we can make a fire butch Jones Web site.


Let's just back our boys and our coach. Let's try to remain positive and patient like Butch says. Let's trust this guy to do the job and if he doesn't. We fire him and start again.

 

[HBCButch]

I had Georgia fans tell me Tennessee would regret him. I tried to explain to them after all the defensive coaching changes they've had, that he wasn't the problem. Their loss, he's doing fine here and they're still having issues on defense.

I heard that to from GA fans. I laugh at them now.

 

[Spartacavolus]

many folk here badmouthed he and Jancek before they got here, have called them losers, said they would be an embarrassment, etc, etc.
I love it when people prove loudmouths to be wrong, and there were plenty around her in regards to those 2. For some reason, they aren't around anymore.

 

[Shakinthefat]

Coach Willie has what it takes to be a great coach. The kids believe in him and his coaching style. Every time a DB discusses a practice during camp they brought up his name religiously as the motivator, teacher and great person. The secondary has been a bright spot this year.

 

[Other_Guy]

Especially with everyone not wanting him cuz he was fired from GA and OU