Offense issues

[NCFisher]

Hooker had over 300 pass attempts before coming to TN. There is no logical way to compare a SR and a RS FR.

I'd corrected probably as you were posting. Hooker had 19 games at QB. Nico's in at 15.
Maturity is a factor, but there isn't a big gap in playing time and Nico will have as many starts at QB first game of next season, as Hooker did upon arrival here.

I'd never think to compare Nico and Hooker. Hooker might well have been a generational talent and fit for Heupel's system. If he'd had four years here, he'd have broken or challenged most of Manning's records.

 

[VOLfrombama]

c'mon man...none of that is anything close to what you'd call creative but ymmv. You see such plays 6-8x a game watching the Chiefs

Pro teams have better players and execution. Thats a given. Comparing them to any college team is absurd.

 

[Big Al Orange]

How many times do you EVER watch a Tennessee offensive play call and say, "wow, that was inventive/clever"? How about never...CJH has no imagination whatsoever.

What about the big tight end diving over the pile for a TD ? You don’t see that everyday .

 

[Cartervol]

I'd corrected probably as you were posting. Hooker had 19 games at QB. Nico's in at 15.
Maturity is a factor, but there isn't a big gap in playing time and Nico will have as many starts at QB first game of next season, as Hooker did upon arrival here.

I'd never think to compare Nico and Hooker. Hooker might well have been a generational talent and fit for Heupel's system. If he'd had four years here, he'd have broken or challenged most of Manning's records.

I agree with that. I mean he's had 11 games now plus watching Milton all year last year. The light bulb needs to turn on or i guess we see next year. I'm just glad we're recruiting QB's at a high level.

 

[njvols]

I agree that players are responsible for executing the play, but at the end of the day it is the coaches responsibility to ensure execution.
Continued lack of execution reflects no existing plan to address the issue.

I may screw up on my job a few times and my boss not get blamed for it. However, if I don't correct the behavior it reflects poorly on him as well.

I get it, but we're not saying any of this if Beck played like he had the prior 4-5 games...unfortunately, UGA picked UT as their "get right" game.

 

[Zues1]

Hooker and Hyatt , Tillman made CJH look like Chip Kelly.
People got there hopes up, way up.

Nico's name was tossed around about a Heisman or two before he stepped on campus.
One and done, generational player. Can we manage to keep him for three years? Championship are just a matter of time.
8 million dollars...
Then reality hit. He's pretty good, but so far he's not great.

We've seen how loyal CJH is to his QB pick.
Hopefully the lights come on soon and we're not having these same discussions for four years.

 

[Tnphil]

I think we need a hard arse or three on this staff. A guy like Cutcliff who demands attention to detail and won't tolerate these types of mistakes. If Heupel was disturbed by these repeated issues, he'd have done something to correct it by year 4 yet here we are.

You are 100 percent correct....When it's game after game season after season it's 100 percent on coaching. You run these kids at 4am until they puke you get their attention. I know....I've done it.

 

[NCFisher]

I agree with that. I mean he's had 11 games now plus watching Milton all year last year. The light bulb needs to turn on or i guess we see next year. I'm just glad we're recruiting QB's at a high level.

Nico has a lot of upside, I'm rooting for him and it'd be a mistake to write him off. The OL has underperformed most of the year and our WRs haven't been outstanding. Hopefully during off-season and the early 2025 schedule, things will slow down for him and he blooms.

 

[allstar34bd]

Hendon Hooker was like freaking 25 years old. Give Nico a dang break.... my goodness

 

[Cartervol]

Nico has a lot of upside, I'm rooting for him and it'd be a mistake to write him off. The OL has underperformed most of the year and our WRs haven't been outstanding. Hopefully during off-season and the early 2025 schedule, things will slow down for him and he blooms.

It's all upstairs. He does need to work a little on his touch but i think he can fix that. We need to be where we're attacking defenses instead of countering. Since SEC play we've been on the defense even on offense if that makes sense.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Totally agree. The D stayed too vanilla and I didn't see many attempts to knock Beck off his spot much all night. Couple times I saw Banks bring 5 and it was picked up every time.

Just for comparison purposes. Kirby was bringing 6-7 multiple times a quarter. I'm not sure why Banks got so conservative, but he did and it showed by Timmy almost throwing for 400 yards.

I actually thought the play calling wasn't as vanilla as normal on offense. Execution continues to be the biggest issue, esp the WRs. Almost no separation. That and the lack of outside running. They gave plenty of strongside stacked looks where a good outside run back to the weak side of the D could have got Samp into a lot of space with 1-2 guys left to beat.

Yes, I agree overall. I would like to mix some outside runs and maybe a toss sweep or 2. Maybe line nico behind center now and then for a toss sweep, put slot man in motion for a end around. Yes we run good up the middle and off tackle but we can mix in some other things just to keep them guessing sometimes. Fake a end around and run a wheel route. We need to bring in a few wrinkles like that it could help the running and passing game.

 

[Eastknox865]

These screen shots (sorry they are not centered on the issue) show what are the issues for our offense. Hendon hit these and Nico doesnt see them

Our offense and scoring doesn't have issues, the execution of it isn't what it was in 2022. This doesn't go against CJH, but rather players completing their assignments.

Receiver at the top has 3 yards on defender for a walk in TD. This happens 4-5 times per game. Hendon throws this for a TD, Nico doesnt see it.View attachment 698739

This screen shot show the player missing the block on the punter that stopped a TD. This isnt coaching this is execution. The guy puts his hands on his helmet knowing he blew the assignment. This kind of stuff happens 3-4 times per game.

View attachment 698741

Hendon was in his sixth year Nico is a red shirt freshman. That's the biggest difference

 

[Golfprovol]

Hendon was in his sixth year Nico is a red shirt freshman. That's the biggest difference

Exactly part of the point

 

[Eastknox865]

Exactly part of the point

Coaching isn't the problem I agree with you. The players aren't making the plays. Good players make plays occasionally and more often against lesser talent. Great players make plays when it counts and seems most of the guys we count on just aren't at that level

 

[Alto1]

Problem is that some of these players have no one behind them to take their place and they know it. Competition makes everyone better. We need better evals and recruiting.

Good point.
THE BENCH is the best motivator of them all.

 

[Peyton_ManThing]

Its f-ing terrible. We simply have dumb players. I don't mean to be mean, but their really is no excuse at this point in the season for all these STUPID screw ups, penalties and missed opportunities. Whomever it is to blame still falls at the HC feet! CJH needs to fix this GARBAGE IMMEDIATELY! It's the difference between being a contender and an also-ran. Right now... we are the latter. FOUR YEARS into his "program". Cmon. NOW we struggle to score 20 pts????? WTF?

One common theme under Heupel that has been concerningly noticeable during his tenure here has been the constant lack of focus and discipline when it comes to inexcusable self inflicted penalties. Regardless of points offense is or isn't putting up the constant false starts/holds are getting very old. Defensively how many times can we line up in the neutral zone? Jump offside? We're lacking that last bit of focus and discipline to make that jump.

 

[Cartervol]

We're not getting that many possessions with this slower version of offense we've seen. Makes execution even more crucial. Everything is being magnified. Teams are holding the ball for long drives, converting 3rd downs and taking the air out of the ball. Combine that with less possessions because we've pretty much quit going fast and that's why we barely break 20 points in SEC play.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

I get it, but we're not saying any of this if Beck played like he had the prior 4-5 games...unfortunately, UGA picked UT as their "get right" game.

Actually, it is the coaches responsibility to also call the correct plays on offense and defense. It appears that we have a limited number of offensive plays which are called during a game and the opponent's defenses have figured how to defend most of them. I also understand that our players have to learn how to catch a football while running and not fumble the football when being tackled., that the offensive line must learn how to prevent gaps opening in the middle of the field, that running baks need to learn how to pick up blitzes, and that QBs need to throw a ball that is in the same area code of the receivers. All of that said, We have mad4e great strides in refuting bigger, faster, and better players. We still have to create depth by playing more of these younger players. Experienced depth of talented players is how Alabama and Georgia have been able to win Championships and we are getting better talent. I look forward to the future.

 

[lostsheep]

How can a coach make players execute? You make zero sense.

Fairly simple concept actually:
If the player doesn't perform to expectations, you coach and discipline as necessary. If they still don't perform, then it is "next guy up." If there is no "next guy" that can perform, that is on the coach as well.

 

[Hank Bukowski]

I agree that players are responsible for executing the play, but at the end of the day it is the coaches responsibility to ensure execution.
Continued lack of execution reflects no existing plan to address the issue.

I may screw up on my job a few times and my boss not get blamed for it. However, if I don't correct the behavior it reflects poorly on him as well.

Good points. Once upon a time, if a football player repeatedly didn’t execute on the field during a game, that player was benched and given time to think about it. He was replaced by a player who consistently did his job. I guess we’re past those days.

 

[Hank Bukowski]

Fairly simple concept actually:
If the player doesn't perform to expectations, you coach and discipline as necessary. If they still don't perform, then it is "next guy up." If there is no "next guy" that can perform, that is on the coach as well.

This, all day long. This is the football I grew up with.