Recruiting Football Talk VII

[UTgrad2015]

Here is our record through the Third Saturday in October in the post-Fulmer era:

2009: 3-4
2010: 2-5
2011: 3-4
2012: 3-4
2013: 4-4
2014: 3-5
2015: 3-4
2016: 5-2
2017: 3-4
2018: 3-4
2019: 2-5
2020: 2-3
2021: 4-4
2022: 6-0
2023: 5-2

You may be bitter, hungover, pissed, whatever

As a Vols fan, you're not as miserable as you've been

People will be miserable regardless. Hell, some bama fans want Saban gone. Thanks for posting

 

[AllVol11717]

I think his 4th down play selection bugs me more. I'd like to see us try the QB sneak again. He also needs to at least try and draw the defense offsides too

Yeah our run game thrives on the wide splits spreading the defense thin and creating gaps, not overpowering our opponents front 7. So why are we constantly trying to power run out of tight shotgun formations? Just not playing to our strengths in critical situations. Gotta improve there for sure.

 

[UpstateVol613]

100%. I def appreciate he and D White. But, as a C Suite. I hope everyone's jobs are re-evaluated every year, and those who are deserving are incented. And, those who arent, arent. Or, replaced.

I think Joey Halzle is a helluva coach. I simply question if he was ready for prime time.

I think it’s too early to write off Halzle. FWIW I think they are scared to let Joe throw mid level passes over the middle. Mainly because he isn’t very accurate and when you miss on those throws it leads to interceptions. I think Joe is what he is and limits the playbook. He isn’t going to go out and win you a game but you try to limit him from losing you the game. That being said he is the best option we have right now. Do your best to scheme around him.

I’m waiting until next season before I make any Halzle judgements.

 

[cgarner30]

I have seen multiple mentions of players saying they thought the game was in the bag at halftime, or something to that extent. I haven’t seen any actual names, however, and it seems like a really surprising and damning thing for someone to admit. Can anybody point me somewhere that will corroborate?

 

[Vols410]

Lmaoooooooo dont get your hopes up, Heupel has proven, hes gonna be a solid 7-10 win coach, but hes not a championship winner.

Heupel has the 5th best win% among active coaches but he’s not a championship winner because he couldn’t do it at freaking UCF or in his first 3 years at post-Pruitt, left in the garbage, Tennessee?

Rough take.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

I have seen multiple mentions of players saying they thought the game was in the bag at halftime, or something to that extent. I haven’t seen any actual names, however, and it seems like a really surprising and damning thing for someone to admit. Can anybody point me somewhere that will corroborate?

 

[Devo182]

I’ve said and thought Uga was more winnable than Bama for a while. Saban has had this game circled for a year. Also on the road vs at home. Still think 10-2 is in our grasps, 9-3 at worst

This.

Let's check the UGA box off this year and it's a success.

 

[GVol1966]

Ok. This is exhausting. To quote the great @Chuckie 'just this side a the hi-way' (I) 'aint got time tuh **** wi-youu.'

Seriously, in my mind you've completely danced around my opinion, dismissing the main theme.

Yes, I see upgrades in this class. The class has a good BC rating. But, signing five blue chip OL, ie, who will be freshmen in Y3, iyam is too late. Ill grant the staff went out and found J Campbell. But, relying on portal help as the basis for your OL future and DLine will get you beat in Tuscaloosa, Athens, and Gainesville.

We cannot rely on 5 freshman to take over for 5 OL who are likely gone. Nor can we rely on 5 portal players, you can end up with Campbel, or Keurig.

Its the same for every position.

And, I'm not talking about Saban's classes. I'm using it as a frame to discuss our classes. We've known QB could be an issue, we've known OL is an issue, at tackles, we've known DL could be a deficiency (in terms of talent), we've known we were short at WR.

So yeah, its an issue. Im not sure if staff only targets a certain inside the box type personaliyy, if its NIL, if its negative recruiting. I dont know. There is no cap on the 25. Our number is 83. Perhaps we should widen our net?

This could be a great class, not just a good one.

anyway, go vols.

I don’t know what your main theme is!
I really don’t.

 

[UTProf]

Milton played fine today. 20 at half.

We got conservative on the first possession of the second half because of calling it at the 4 yard line. That started the momentum. Defense played worse and couldn’t slow down the run.

He made some great throws, and then the first bad one, we hear it from Gary.

We didn't get conservative. The defense adjusted to our QB not being a threat to light them up. Joe running delayed that a bit and was one of the best things he did for us all game but at some point it becomes clear to defenses that our passing game doesn't exist and that takes everything else away.

 

[Jackcrevol]

I think it’s too early to write off Halzle. FWIW I think they are scared to let Joe throw mid level passes over the middle. Mainly because he isn’t very accurate and when you miss on those throws it leads to interceptions. I think Joe is what he is and limits the playbook. He isn’t going to go out and win you a game but you try to limit him from losing you the game. That being said he is the best option we have right now. Do your best to scheme around him.

I’m waiting until next season before I make any Halzle judgements.

Yeah, probably right about the wait and see.

but this is all about hottakes, amirite.

 

[headhunter15]

How is that allowed to happen

Referee lists need to be sent to each school before the games.

 

[VOLED]

I took last nights loss hard. We went out on the boat yesterday so I had to record the game and was watching it on delay. By half time, I got the cigar out and was feeling pretty damned good (thanks in part to good alcohol, naturally).

To lose like we did hurt.

Day after and I’m still annoyed but just want to fast forward to next week. Give me wins vs Kensucky and Missouri and I’ll be happy. This was always going to be a transition year. The homer in me thought Joe was capable of more.

One thing I will say - I love Heupel but he makes some very questionable decisions sometimes. No coach is perfect but his decisions to go for it on 4th down and his short yardage play selection have been terrible this year.

I would add that he doesn't seem to know when to call a time out. I was begging him to call one when they somehow let 72 seconds run off the clock on one dead ball.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I know 10-2/9-3 is still on the table, but I just don’t have the confidence that many on this board have that the Missouri and Kentucky games are the easy wins some think. Neither of those teams are as bad as people want to think, and we haven’t played a complete 4 quarters all year. If our offense can’t figure out how to score more than 20 points against teams not named South Carolina, these next two games are going to be L’s.

We certainly have time to figure it out. But the playbook needs to get a bit more creative and we need to find a way to play 4 full quarters like we did last year consistently. If I hear a player come out again in the post-game press conference and say for the 3rd time “we just lost our edge” I’m going to lose my mind.

 

[therickbol]

The under center QB sneak may be simple in its design. I feel like people think it is much easier in its execution that reality. Basically that play is simplifying the play to one major variable. If the interior OL and interior DL simply fire off the ball directly into each other, who pushes who. There is no advantage gained by indecision, false steps, poor angles. Simply who pushes who in what direction. I am not convinced Mays/Lane/Spraggins win a pushing match with Alabama DL. We lost the interior OL/DL battle the entire 2nd half.

 

[knoxvol52]

Early line Tennessee -3.5 at Kentucky O/U 50.5...

 

[VOLED]

The under center QB sneak maybe be simple in its design. I feel like people think it is much easier in its execution that reality. Basically that play is simplifying the play to one major variable. If the interior OL and interior DL simply fire off the ball directly into each other, who pushes who. There is no advantage gained by indecision, false steps, poor angles. Simply who pushes who in what direction. I am not convinced Mays/Lane/Spraggins win a pushing match with Alabama DL. We lost the interior OL/DL battle the entire 2nd half.

I am still waiting on a fake handoff and pass to the tight end.

 

[headhunter15]

To everyone bashing Heupel and posting that last season was the peak, who is there that can get Tennessee over the peak then? It’s not Saban, Smart or anyone like that. They aren’t leaving.

 

[Jackcrevol]

I don’t know what your main theme is!
I really don’t.

 

[Jimmy Football]

To everyone bashing Heupel and posting that last season was the peak, who is there that can get Tennessee over the peak then? It’s not Saban, Smart or anyone like that. They aren’t leaving.

It’s such a strange thing to say when you’re only half a season removed from the “peak season” being referred to. Especially when almost every neutral observer feels like you’re upgrading your roster every year, and that you may have a future star QB waiting in the wings.

 

[Memphisvol87]

Not really, Mizzou has a chance to get to a NYD bowl, UK needs the win to even have a shot at bowl eligibility, UGA will need the win for the playoffs. Uconn and Vandy are the only 2 we might get an even whistle for.

Mizzou isn’t playing a new years 6 bowl.

 

[Devo182]

Not one to blame refs for losses or think there is some big conspiracy. I think it’s more incompetence on the officiating side(maybe it’s more glaring these days because we have all the TV angles) But for the life of me I can’t understand with all the money from the SEC TV contract they couldn’t pay officials where it is their year round full time job. No second jobs. Big10 and SEC could afford to have the officials right below the NFL level.

NFL refs are god awful.

You could pay them a million a year. That's a problem that will never be solved with current methods.

Still, I like your idea. But don't expect that much improvement either.

 

[Devo182]

It’s such a strange thing to say when you’re only half a season removed from the “peak season” being referred to. Especially when almost every neutral observer feels like you’re upgrading your roster every year, and that you may have a future star QB waiting in the wings.

Shut up with yer logic and facts!!

 

[mr.checkerboards]

Heupel has the 5th best win% among active coaches but he’s not a championship winner because he couldn’t do it at freaking UCF or in his first 3 years at post-Pruitt, left in the garbage, Tennessee?

Rough take.

Kirby made the NCG game in year 2.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Kirby made the NCG game in year 2.

I mean that’s not a fair comparison. Kirby inherited as good of a situation at Georgia as you could ever reasonably expect.

 

[UpstateVol613]

To everyone bashing Heupel and posting that last season was the peak, who is there that can get Tennessee over the peak then? It’s not Saban, Smart or anyone like that. They aren’t leaving.

Jon Gruden…but for real after the last 20 years I am ecstatic to have Hype.