Fulmer And The Offensive Line

#1
patrick

patrick

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#1
I heard on sports talk this morning that Fulmer has decided to give some pointers to the offensive line. Apparently Fulmer stated that the oline will do a better job of run blocking against Arkansas.

While I am glad that Fulmer is taking this step, I have 3 questions:

1. Isn't Fulmer too busy to assist with developing the oline;
2. Why has he waited until the 10th game of the season to take action;
3. Will there be any noticeable change this late in the season?

talk amongst yourselves.
 
#2
#2
patrick said:
I heard on sports talk this morning that Fulmer has decided to give some pointers to the offensive line. Apparently Fulmer stated that the oline will do a better job of run blocking against Arkansas.

While I am glad that Fulmer is taking this step, I have 3 questions:

1. Isn't Fulmer too busy to assist with developing the oline;
2. Why has he waited until the 10th game of the season to take action;
3. Will there be any noticeable change this late in the season?

talk amongst yourselves.
Click to expand...

I love point number 2. Way to assert yourself Fulmer.
 
#3
#3
that's his job as a coach.. maybe he should've done it a few games earlier, but what fulmer knows best is in the trenches. doesn't matter his schedule. he makes 2 mil for a reason. if he has to step in to help the o-line, that's just his job. i think they'll be better and drastically improved next year
 
#4
#4
1. I doubt it. Some head coaches call offensive plays or coach QB's why can't he help with the O-Line?
2. That is what I am wondering.
3. I don't think it is coaching or technique, I think it is the players. I doubt you will see any noticeable change, but I hope I am wrong.
 
#5
#5
I guess my first thought is if he knows the magic words that allow the line to be successful run blockers, what the h&11 has he been waiting for?

Don't know how true this is but I have heard that developing an effective run blocking line can take a couple of seasons. Maybe the talent has slipped a bit over the past several years as well as the coaching and we have yet to get on track. I suspect this is another area where Coach Cut's attention to detail will pay off but will take some time and new recruits?

What do you think?
 
#6
#6
I think we may be overanalyzing this a bit too much. Fulmer obviously has expected improvement on the O Line and hasn't seen it, so now is going to take a more hands-on role. I see no fault in that; nor do I question why Fulmer has waited "so long" to do this. Most good head coaches have their assts. handle the hands-on training, and he obviously has deemed it time to step in himself.

IMO, other than Sears, we just don't have the talent. When we started a walk on center at the beginning of the year, this should've told us that much. We need some stud O Line recruits over next couple of years to get where we need to be. I actually think the O Line has done well pass protecting, but awful in run blocking etc. Not sure how you reconcile the good performance on pass blocking but not run blocking?
 
#7
#7
SCSmokey said:
I think we may be overanalyzing this a bit too much.
Click to expand...

I agree. I took his comments to mean that the O-line will get more attention from the top than it has been getting. That seems to me like a good idea.
 
#8
#8
I think we have gotten some good lineman the last 2 years but that's just it, they are young. Even with the loss of Sears next year I think they will be much better. You'll have McClendon starting with McNeil and they have the nasty streak. Hopefully this will rub off on the others and translate to better run blocking.
 
#9
#9
He's said the same thing before, but it didn't seem to make a huge difference in only a week or two. I think the credibility of the current OL coach is at stake here.
 
#10
#10
I think he said that that so that the hogs might think he will come out trying to establish the run. Just another tell em one thing do another.
 
#11
#11
We have running game problem since Air Force game, the second one! But I repeatedly heard Fulmer said, "we are gonna work on what we are good at, because our fundamental thing is there, and you can't just go out there and totally change how we play "

Sounds like we are shorthanded on running game personnel or what.
 
#12
#12
Ive given up on pounding the anvil. CPF is a good recruiter but I think.........I think what he's doing is recruiting good HS linemen, expecting his assistants to develope them, and him sit back and watch the wins roll in. Then when it doesnt happen he goes into an autistic state...you can't reach him, he just won't acknowlege the problem. I sit back and watch Vols game where by their awesome physical condition they mostly play ok...but when you see a top division 1a school that cannot run the ball on anyone its frustrating.
 
#13
#13
dan4vols said:
Ive given up on pounding the anvil. CPF is a good recruiter but I think.........I think what he's doing is recruiting good HS linemen, expecting his assistants to develope them, and him sit back and watch the wins roll in. Then when it doesnt happen he goes into an autistic state...you can't reach him, he just won't acknowlege the problem. I sit back and watch Vols game where by their awesome physical condition they mostly play ok...but when you see a top division 1a school that cannot run the ball on anyone its frustrating.
Click to expand...
i know a lot of people dont' necessarily agree, but i think Mike Barry did a wonderful job with those offensive linemen in the late 90's. since he's been gone, it's gone down hill.
 
#14
#14
I think it's not just the problem of the offensive line. We didn't fully utilize our fullbacks and tightends. You can't always expect 5 offensive linemen block 4 defensive linemen plus 2 or 3 linebackers. Don' get me wrong, but I believe we simply don't have a good running package, not just the problem of OL.
 
#15
#15
they've made significant changes with the TE to get them involved, and made a deliberate decision to take the fb's out cause they weren't performing.

pass blocking has been fine. we don't have the "push" up front to move people out of the way.
 
#17
#17
Technique at the high school level for most highly-touted kids is horrendous at best. I've seen most of the compiled scouting videos, and I have yet to see one who consistently shows good technique. That goes back to high school coaching. Most college coaches focus more on game planning and teaching the playbook than they do teaching technique.

This also is the reason why tackling at every level has dropped dramatically.
 
#18
#18
Ohio Vol said:
Technique at the high school level for most highly-touted kids is horrendous at best. I've seen most of the compiled scouting videos, and I have yet to see one who consistently shows good technique. That goes back to high school coaching. Most college coaches focus more on game planning and teaching the playbook than they do teaching technique.

This also is the reason why tackling at every level has dropped dramatically.
Click to expand...


OhioVol long time no see.

I think the question is becoming, how many seasons do you give Greg Adkins to show improvment in the Oline?
 
#19
#19
If anybody saw the special that CSS did earlier in the season where they followed the team through the week, you know that Fulmer is not nearly as laid back as advertised on the practice field.
 
#20
#20
At some level, one has to come to the conclusion that our talent is off a little in the OL. Maybe it's young or whatever.

With that said, our lines have underachieved for years, even when the talent has been good.

Perhaps it's been a combo of less talent and mediocre development.
 
#21
#21
GAVol said:
If anybody saw the special that CSS did earlier in the season where they followed the team through the week, you know that Fulmer is not nearly as laid back as advertised on the practice field.
Click to expand...


It sure seemed on that program that CPF was very involved in practice. I guess I just wonder how much of that is a normal practice and how much was staged for the show? I have no way of knowing, maybe someone closer to the program would have this answer. I have said for many years that CPF needs to be more involved in the coaching and decvelopment of the o-line. I know when he coached the o-line, UT had some great and dominating o-lines.
 
#22
#22
Coaches' Challenge: Fulmer isn't placing blame on UT's tailbacks for its sub-par running game this season.


"It really hasn't been the running backs," Fulmer said. "It's been knocking somebody off the damn football."
Click to expand...

It's not very often you hear Phil say damn..
 
#23
#23
OWB said:
It's not very often you hear Phil say damn..
Click to expand...

It is not very often that we hear it, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the players might think Damnit is their first name.
 
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