2 things: Thoughs on Bajakian and Jason Croom...

[white65]

We are a run first team again and that's how it should be. This is not last year where we pass 70 percent of the time. There just aren't the same amount of passes to go around. North was on fire Saturday and we only managed to get the ball to him 3 times. The great part about the USCe game was that we played good but the offense didn't even play their best. If Worley continues to improve then we have a shot against bama. But it would take a career day out of him to do so.

 

[caudilld]

Someone mentioned this above, but those sweeps to Pig on the outside get absolutely blown up against SEC defenses w/o strong WR blocking, which Croom has excelled at. Every time we run that play I get a little nervous b/c they have been such failures under previous regimes. It actually works some these days, which is impressive in a conference where speed kills.

 

[triad280]

We could bring back the Clawfense... That make ya happy?

 

[BeardedVol]

Not to threadjack, but could you imagine a football team with Randy Sanders as OC, and Sal Sunseri as DC?

<shudders>

 

[keckjm]

:no:

I'd like to see more... but Randy Sanders was easily the worst OC UT has ever had and it ain't ballpark close.



Croom has made some catches and important ones. He had a couple of critical catches vs UGA too.

His biggest problems seems to be that he doesn't reliably catch the ball. Even Saturday, he juggled the ball on that crossing route. If the defender had been close enough to make contact he would have dropped it.

He needs to improve his hands.

Underachieving? No. Developing. We're so used to seeing players thrown out there long before they're ready that we forget that it takes time. He should be playing behind upperclassmen as a RS Fr and learning his trade. In fact, pretty much all of this year's contributors should be.

I for one will go on a limb and say Dave Clawson was the worst OC I've ever seen here.

 

[titansvolsfaninga]

Croom should be playing TE--have said it from the git-go. Maybe his blocking is an issue, but his size and skill set = prototypical TE, not wideout.

I am sure that his blocking can not be any worse than Downs.

But if you can do better I am sure that CBJ has a spot for you on the team.

 

[gnm53108]

We could bring back the Clawfense... That make ya happy?

The Clawfense was the worst offense Tennessee fielded in my lifetime....and beating out Sanders' 05 squad in suc was an accomplishment.

 

[DaddyChad]

We need some stability in the staff. Too much revolving door nonsense the last few years. Let's get the players in place and give them time to get the system down, then make evaluations from there.

Croom is still a young talent. Give him some time.

 

[gnm53108]

I for one will go on a limb and say Dave Clawson was the worst OC I've ever seen here.

Yup.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

Bajakian was very aggressive and unique in play calling at Cincinnati so I think the play calling can be chocked up to being young at WR and TE.

Agreed. Remember that Butch said, with respect to the three successful fourth-down conversions against Georgia, that the team executed those plays well in practice, thus giving his staff the confidence to call them in the game. As our young quarterbacks and receivers master their respective positions and the playbook, Bajakian will progressively incorporate more and more of our arsenal into the game plan.

 

[GoobieVol]

Croom should be playing TE--have said it from the git-go. Maybe his blocking is an issue, but his size and skill set = prototypical TE, not wideout.

I don't think he could have done worse than Downs Saturday, trying to black Clowney. No disrespect to Downs, just an observation.

I would like to see Branisel get a some looks too. I think he is faster than Downs, and might be able to get past a linebacker after one of those 5 yard outs/.

 

[tomq_123]

During the game, they seem to be very vanilla which I think is because they are trying to limit turn overs. As Worley and the receivers get better, they will probably open the playbook up a bit. JMO

 

[UTFanForLife]

Croom is 4th on the team in catches and yards. North and Pig have been primary targets. I don't know how many times Croom has been thrown to, but he has had some nice catches. Not sure why you are knocking him.

 

[bigorange]

First off, just wanted to get an overall opinion of how everyone is feeling about OC Mike Bajakian. I, personally, think he is too dry and predictable. I mean Randy Sanders looks like Mike Leach compared to him! lol Yes, we won the game Saturday against SC, and have had some nice passing plays, but he can be dryer than a desert. Maybe we just don't have the talent he needs to be more creative, Im not sure.

Secondly, WHERE THE HELL IS JASON CROOM?!! lol This guy has been irrelevant other than the 4 yrd TD in Eugene and that 1st down catch on Saturday. He is a beast and should be playing like a beast! The guy is taller than any DB that plays against him. We should be using him like my Lions use Megatron. Did you see those leaping catches he made yesterday...unbelievable!! Croom could be doing these things! Is he simply underachieving?

Thoughts on both??

No offense OP, but the only people watching Lions games are Lions fans and fans of whoever they're playing.

 

[UTVolWarrior98]

Every once in awhile I come to the FF to read the dumb downed versions of posters thoughts on how game is played. It is always amusing. Especially the ones that get angry over what they think are attacks on the coaches.

OP is over the top with his comments, but he is making valid points. Coach Jake keeps trying to run zone read and read option plays that include bubble screens and swing passes with a QB that is pro style and an O-line that is built for straight ahead zone blocking. He may be doing it for good reasons, but the reasons are not for actually winning football games against good competition. Using TE's to come across and try to trap block a guy like Clowney because your lineman are too slow to do it is bordering on insane. None of the stuff that he was using in the first and third quarters was particularly effective because it is the same stuff he has been trying to do all season unsuccessfully. When he goes with less trickery and more direct the offense clicks. Still don't understand why he will not call a WR slant pass with North, Pig and Croom as receivers. Mind boggling.

Croom is still learning. He can be an adequate WR or he can be an outstanding pass catching TE working from the slot. Hopefully this year is for future development into the later.

But I am not going to second guess Coach Jake or CBJ since there may be good reasons for doing it all this way and it may be related to long term goals. But to berate the OP for accurate observations is dumb.

Thanks man, you'd think I was the enemy or something! lol I didn't knock anybody! Just don't want to see another huge WR with all the potential in the world underachieve, that's all. We've been known for underdeveloping good talent. I can go on forever with the names, but Ill spare you lol

 

[bigorange]

I am sure that his blocking can not be any worse than Downs.

But if you can do better I am sure that CBJ has a spot for you on the team.

If this site is reserved for people who could do better than the players we're discussing then this would be a very lonely place.

 

[KBVol]

First off, just wanted to get an overall opinion of how everyone is feeling about OC Mike Bajakian. I, personally, think he is too dry and predictable. I mean Randy Sanders looks like Mike Leach compared to him! lol Yes, we won the game Saturday against SC, and have had some nice passing plays, but he can be dryer than a desert. Maybe we just don't have the talent he needs to be more creative, Im not sure.

Secondly, WHERE THE HELL IS JASON CROOM?!! lol This guy has been irrelevant other than the 4 yrd TD in Eugene and that 1st down catch on Saturday. He is a beast and should be playing like a beast! The guy is taller than any DB that plays against him. We should be using him like my Lions use Megatron. Did you see those leaping catches he made yesterday...unbelievable!! Croom could be doing these things! Is he simply underachieving?

Thoughts on both??

Our last 2 games: We lose in OT to the #6 in the country and we beat the #12 team in the country.... and this is what you come up with?

 

[volger]

:no:

I'd like to see more... but Randy Sanders was easily the worst OC UT has ever had and it ain't ballpark close.

Dave Clawson agrees with you.

 

[UTVolWarrior98]

Some of you coddlers kill me...jesus!! lol Take it easy..I didn't knock Croom! I just think he should be a significant factor with his size! Yeah, Im better and CBJ should put me in instead lol Do you know how stupid your comment sounds...give me a break dude lol

 

[UTVolWarrior98]

and you're telling me you or anybody on this site has never seen Calvin Johnson TD highlight catches...yeaaaaah....suuuuuure you don't lol

 

[Biopsyman]

New everything... Relax

 

[Orange_Crush]

Thanks man, you'd think I was the enemy or something! lol I didn't knock anybody! Just don't want to see another huge WR with all the potential in the world underachieve, that's all. We've been known for underdeveloping good talent. I can go on forever with the names, but Ill spare you lol

...is always a surprising statement concerning first year staffs.

 

[TreeGreen]

Croom is 4th on the team in catches and yards. North and Pig have been primary targets. I don't know how many times Croom has been thrown to, but he has had some nice catches. Not sure why you are knocking him.

He's played pretty well. He was also WIDE OPEN during an important drive late in the game and Worley sailed it right over his head into the stands. Which is saying something.

 

[SamRebel35]

Jake is doing a decent job considering the greenhorns we have on offense. The only puzzling thing about last week's gameplan was when we rolled Worley to his left and towards Clowney. Qb's rolling to their non dominant side can be a recipe for disaster. Add in the fact that you are doing it and opening up a path for Clowney to get a free shot on the QB, and you have a very bad combo. Luckily, nothing too disastrous came of it.

And Croom will be fine once he gets some more big game reps. Baby steps.

 

[Atzar]

Young, inexperienced kids in a new offense with a limited quarterback, a line meant for a different style of offense and no depth at any position. Can't blame Coach Jake for calling a pretty simple game in my opinion.

As for Croom... setting aside the whole 'redshirt freshman only seven games into his career' point, you can't compare him to the best receiver in the world just because he's a similar size. Megatron is a freak. We could go quite a while without seeing another like him. Croom, as good as he may end up, is just not on Johnson's level as an athlete and will therefore not be able to do many of the things Johnson can. And... yeah, he's young, raw, probably doesn't know all of the plays yet and is still learning to put it all together. Let's wait a couple of years and see what we have in him then.