My Thoughts On A Few Things

[OldVol]

My thoughts on a few things about the college football season thus far: First off, I'll just ram this baby in from the start. I was a Rick fan from the beginning. sniff, sniff ... Clausen hasn't played like a world buster, but I don't know of many who have on our offense with the exception of Riggs. His running has been hard and consistent. Rick will make few mistakes, get the ball to the play-makers and keep us close in the big games. If we stay close, we win games in the 4th quarter because we have more depth than just about anyone in the conference.

UGA: They're going to be tough. I said from the beginning that I feared them more than anyone.

The Florida Game: Gosh, I wish we had that one back. Florida's new-fangled offense has done pretty much what I predicted. They put up nice numbers against bad defenses and they struggle against really good ones. That system will never succeed in the SEC. He'll have to tweak it a bunch. The 0nly thing I wasn't expecting was that our offense would practically lay an egg in the Florida game. We did. Case closed.

Alabama: If anyone believes they're that much better than Florida then you haven't been paying attention. Sure, they're improved, but if they played Florida again, Florida would probably keep it closer, much closer. Does anyone believe Arkansas is better than Florida? I see no one raised their hands, so I'm chalking up the UA/UF game as one of those seasonal anomalies that just happen. Bama was carried to the wire in the Arkansas game by a bunch of Hogs who let USC hang 70 on 'em. Sueyyyyy!!! Bama didn't look impressive against MTSU. Bama barely got by Southern Miss, which tells me that they do just what we and most others do, they play up an down to the competition and they were really up and ready for the big game against Florida. Congratulations for the great win, but don't think it translates into a win against the Vols. Too bad on the loss of Protho for the season. He's the best thing about their offense and they're going to really miss him. Tough break.

Randy Sanders: In 2004 he prepared 2 freshmen QBs to lead a young offense and then had a 3rd stringer ready to play who eventually became the Cotton Bowl MVP. Whoopiee!! Randy's a genius.

Go Big Orange!!!

 

[TitanVol]

Nice post OldVol.

 

[mikey]

Originally posted by OldVol@Oct 3, 2005 10:08 AM
My thoughts on a few things about the college football season thus far: First off, I'll just ram this baby in from the start. I was a Rick fan from the beginning. sniff, sniff ... Clausen hasn't played like a world buster, but I don't know of many who have on our offense with the exception of Riggs. His running has been hard and consistent. Rick will make few mistakes, get the ball to the play-makers and keep us close in the big games. If we stay close, we win games in the 4th quarter because we have more depth than just about anyone in the conference.

UGA: They're going to be tough. I said from the beginning that I feared them more than anyone.

The Florida Game: Gosh, I wish we had that one back. Florida's new-fangled offense has done pretty much what I predicted. They put up nice numbers against bad defenses and they struggle against really good ones. That system will never succeed in the SEC. He'll have to tweak it a bunch. The 0nly thing I wasn't expecting was that our offense would practically lay an egg in the Florida game. We did. Case closed.

Alabama: If anyone believes they're that much better than Florida then you haven't been paying attention. Sure, they're improved, but if they played Florida again, Florida would probably keep it closer, much closer. Does anyone believe Arkansas is better than Florida? I see no one raised their hands, so I'm chalking up the UA/UF game as one of those seasonal anomalies that just happen. Bama was carried to the wire in the Arkansas game by a bunch of Hogs who let USC hang 70 on 'em. Sueyyyyy!!! Bama didn't look impressive against MTSU. Bama barely got by Southern Miss, which tells me that they do just what we and most others do, they play up an down to the competition and they were really up and ready for the big game against Florida. Congratulations for the great win, but don't think it translates into a win against the Vols. Too bad on the loss of Protho for the season. He's the best thing about their offense and they're going to really miss him. Tough break.

Randy Sanders: In 2004 he prepared 2 freshmen QBs to lead a young offense and then had a 3rd stringer ready to play who eventually became the Cotton Bowl MVP. Whoopiee!! Randy's a genius.

Go Big Orange!!!

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BRILLIANT! Here's a thought: How many people on here would have jumped at the chance to fire Randy and hire Urban Meyer as OC? :question: In all my rambling I haven't put the Randy question as succinctly as you did in a few lines. Well done!

 

[kiddiedoc]

I noticed that there is no "Rick Clausen" paragraph. Purposeful neglect? (a.k.a. should the modern day Davy Crockett have put up more points against a very, very mediocre Ole Miss team?)

 

[WA_Vol]

The Florida Game: Gosh, I wish we had that one back. Florida's new-fangled offense has done pretty much what I predicted. They put up nice numbers against bad defenses and they struggle against really good ones. That system will never succeed in the SEC. He'll have to tweak it a bunch. The 0nly thing I wasn't expecting was that our offense would practically lay an egg in the Florida game. We did. Case closed.

Erik Ainge: The kid has something going on in his head. He nails his stuff in practice and falls apart like a crumb cake in the games. He'll get past it and make us a great QB for the next couple of years. I really believe it.

Coach Fulmer's decision to play 2 QBs: It probably cost us the Florida game. There's not any doubt in my mind that Clausen would have settled down and brought the offense together had he been left alone. How many times have we gone into a big game and our offense, and the opponents' as well, sputtered early? It was a bad coaching decision not to settle on one and let them have the reps in 2-a-days. He's apologized for it, admitted he made a mistake, time to move on. Case closed.



I agree with a lot of that.

With Ainge it seems like last year he played with nothing to lose, he was a true freshman, no one expected anything. This year, it seems like he had all these high expectations, so he comes out trying not to lose, trying to aim the ball, etc. Everyone thinking he was the second coming of Peyton Manning, was just too much pressure.

I think everyone is pretty much looking forward to playing Urban Meyer's offense for the next couple of years. And everyoneat UT is wishing we could play that game again with Clausen as the starter going all the way.

One of the big criticisms of Fulmer is he doesnt develop talent here. He recruits the most talented players and they leave here and dont get much better. Eric Ainge is a great case in point, who would have thought E. Ainge would be playing worse this year then last year? You cant blame Fulmer for thinking he would be better this year so starting him is understandable, the real question why do we seem not able to develop talent as well as other teams.

 

[OldVol]

Originally posted by kiddiedoc@Oct 3, 2005 11:29 AM
I noticed that there is no "Rick Clausen" paragraph.  Purposeful neglect?  (a.k.a. should the modern day Davy Crockett have put up more points against a very, very mediocre Ole Miss team?)

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Did you miss the sniff, sniff (arrogant little, "I told you so.") in the first paragraph, though not dedicated to Rick exclusively; that and the Fulmer steps-in-a-cow-pile paragraph goes a long way towards being Rick Clausen For Heisman missives.

 

[OldVol]

Originally posted by oklavol@Oct 3, 2005 11:32 AM
One of the big criticisms of Fulmer is he doesnt develop talent here. 

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Yet someone has to have the credit for the genius of starting the two frosh in 04, the greatest comeback in the SEC in the last 20 years in The Tiger's Den, and the winningest percentage of any coach with 10 or more years of tenure.

Somehow, I think there's a lot of schools who would be satisfied with the level of talent development we've enjoyed.

And as an afterthought; Peyton Manning didn't start his first game as a freshman. He had some struggles as a true freshman when he did start and developed into the best QB who has ever played the game at the next level.

We're also tied for the most players in the NFL, so I'd say those guys did get developed enough to become instant millionaires.

Just something to ponder, huh?

 

[mikey]

Originally posted by oklavol@Oct 3, 2005 11:32 AM
The Florida Game: Gosh, I wish we had that one back. Florida's new-fangled offense has done pretty much what I predicted. They put up nice numbers against bad defenses and they struggle against really good ones. That system will never succeed in the SEC. He'll have to tweak it a bunch. The 0nly thing I wasn't expecting was that our offense would practically lay an egg in the Florida game. We did. Case closed.

Erik Ainge: The kid has something going on in his head. He nails his stuff in practice and falls apart like a crumb cake in the games. He'll get past it and make us a great QB for the next couple of years. I really believe it.

Coach Fulmer's decision to play 2 QBs: It probably cost us the Florida game. There's not any doubt in my mind that Clausen would have settled down and brought the offense together had he been left alone. How many times have we gone into a big game and our offense, and the opponents' as well, sputtered early? It was a bad coaching decision not to settle on one and let them have the reps in 2-a-days. He's apologized for it, admitted he made a mistake, time to move on. Case closed.

I agree with a lot of that. 

With Ainge it seems like last year he played with nothing to lose, he was a true freshman, no one expected anything.  This year, it seems like he had all these high expectations, so he comes out trying not to lose, trying to aim the ball, etc.  Everyone thinking he was the second coming of Peyton Manning, was just too much pressure.

I think everyone is pretty much looking forward to playing Urban Meyer's offense for the next couple of years.  And everyoneat UT is wishing we could play that game again with Clausen as the starter going all the way. 

One of the big criticisms of Fulmer is he doesnt develop talent here.  He recruits the most talented players and they leave here and dont get much better. Eric Ainge is a great case in point, who would have thought E. Ainge would be playing worse this year then last year?  You cant blame Fulmer for thinking he would be better this year so starting him is understandable, the real question why do we seem not able to develop talent as well as other teams.

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So it is your opinion that all of the fomer vols in the nfl were ready to play in the nfl right out of high school? and don't tell me all they needed was to mature physically.

 

[Vol Man]

Great post OldVol. I know there will be a lot of opinions on what you wrote, some good some bad, but I like your stance and your thoughts. Here's to the rest of the season, and the folks on Vol Nation. GO VOLS.

 

[TJ_dap]

nice post

its all so true ...

except that uga doesnt scare me that much..

 

[WA_Vol]

Originally posted by mikey@Oct 3, 2005 12:43 PM
So it is your opinion that all of the fomer vols in the nfl were ready to play in the nfl right out of high school?  and don't tell me all they needed was to mature physically.

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When players make it to the NFL you want to say its all because of coaching, then when players get worse instead of better or dont improve its all because they are just not good players. Which one is it?

On one hand you want to say we got great talent development putting guys in the NFL ignoring the fact these where the some of the most talented players coming out of high school in the country, and ignore that we have a sophomore qb who played better as a true freshman then he who does after being in the system for a year.

Your just as bad as the guys who say everytime we lose a game its because of coaching and everytime we win its because we got great players. According to you everytime we win its because of great coaching, great player development, then when we dont win well the players just are not executing, just not performing. You cant have it both ways, you want to straddle the fence.

 

[FLG8tor]

Great post by OldVol.

I think the Gators will struggle for the entire year learning the spread offense.

I do think it will work after a season or two (I agree with your assessment that it will need tweaking), but the right players for that type of offense are not currently enrolled at UF. I know people say that SEC defenses are too fast for the spread, but Florida will be running it with SEC recruited players too, it's just a matter of finding the right ones. It will take time to see how successful or failed it is. I will say that running out of the shotgun sucks!

As far as the Alabama game is concerned, I feel bad for Prothro getting hurt, and wish him the best as well. Am I wrong in second guessing Shula's decision to go for the TD on 4th already up 31-3? Florida was more than done at that point, and it ended up costing their #1 receiver. The Vols will match up way better against BAMA, because I believe you'll stop their run game cold.

As far as you guys playing Georgia, I don't buy into their offense this year. Especially playing against your front 4. From what I've seen, the Vols and Florida State have the best defenses in the country.

I think we can beat Georgia on a neutral field like Jacksonville, if we shore up our O line, but I don't see much sunshine for our trip to LSU. So that put's the VOLS and DAWGS in the drivers seats for the East crown in my opinion.

We may finish 3rd or 4th in the SEC EAST before this season's over. :wacko:

 

[surrealvol]

I still think that EA is having some doubts because of the injury from last year. He just seems to be panicking when people get too close to him. Hopefully, if that is his present problem, he will get over that after he takes a few licks and survives.

Look at the worst play I've seen in awhile. He got smashed up against the goalpost and had a minor little injury from that.

He has to realize that if he's going to play, he has got to get over the injury fright!

 

[OldVol]

Originally posted by oklavol@Oct 3, 2005 1:23 PM
When players make it to the NFL you want to say its all because of coaching, then when players get worse instead of better or dont improve its all because they are just not good players. Which one is it? 

On one hand you want to say we got great talent development putting guys in the  NFL ignoring the fact these where the some of the most talented players coming out of high school in the country, and ignore that we have a sophomore qb who played better as a true freshman then he who does after being in the system for a year.

Your just as bad as the guys who say everytime we lose a game its because of coaching and everytime we win  its because we got great players.  According to you everytime we win its because of great coaching, great player development, then when we dont win well the players just are not executing, just not performing. You cant have it both ways, you want to straddle the fence.

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I think you're going to be hard pressed to find where I said a single thing you attributed to me with your "according to you."

Point of fact, you said all of those things and I didn't say any of them.

I merely pointed out that no one has more players in the NFL than we do and no active coach has a better win percentage than Fulmer.

You can draw any conclusion to that you wish. Just don't attribute what you say to me.

 

[Lexvol]

Alabama: If anyone believes they're that much better than Florida then you haven't been paying attention. Sure, they're improved, but if they played Florida again, Florida would probably keep it closer, much closer. Does anyone believe Arkansas is better than Florida? I see no one raised their hands, so I'm chalking up the UA/UF game as one of those seasonal anomalies that just happen. Bama was carried to the wire in the Arkansas game by a bunch of Hogs who let USC hang 70 on 'em. Sueyyyyy!!! Bama didn't look impressive against MTSU. Bama barely got by Southern Miss, which tells me that they do just what we and most others do, they play up an down to the competition and they were really up and ready for the big game against Florida. Congratulations for the great win, but don't think it translates into a win against the Vols. Too bad on the loss of Protho for the season. He's the best thing about their offense and they're going to really miss him. Tough break.

Randy Sanders: In 2004 he prepared 2 freshmen QBs to lead a young offense and then had a 3rd stringer ready to play who eventually became the Cotton Bowl MVP. Whoopiee!! Randy's a genius.

Alabama: if we cannot move the ball we are in trouble.

RS: QB coach. Ainge should be light years ahead of where he is.