Recruiting Football Talk VIII

[TrippieRedd]

Agreed. I’d like to see Thornton, Brazell and Matthews at WR and McCoy at TE.

Been underwhelmed with our true TEs this season, especially Ethan Davis. But understand that the passing game overall is lackluster due to our porous OL.

I’m not really underwhelmed with our TEs, think they have been okay.

Just think Bru would kill it in the TE roll like Fant did. I think he would raise his draft stock that way.

Should have moved him to TE and took another transfer WR.

BUT I can’t complain toooooooooooo much, we are 6-1

 

[TrippieRedd]

I like it, arguably our best pass blocking WR. Has good size to play TE at 6'3" 220+ and it'd open up the WR trio to be faster and more explosive on the outside.

Probably would have just as good of numbers (if not better)... Staes is only 6'4" and 240s

Was just curious. I respect your opinions on a lot of things.

 

[DD4ME]

You know what's frustrating, as it's one stat that is directly related to how poorly we've been officiated.

We're 15th in the SEC in sacks with 15 on the season. Mississippi State is the only team with less at 5.

I have seen teams change their whole offense to avoid our sacks and pressure. We should have a ton more holding calls though.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Except he fought all off-season to get back on the field to make a case for why he is an NFL WR. I respect the thought, but this isn't Madden where we swap dudes without issue.

Hell keep him at WR, but run a 1 TE set with 3 WRs and 1 RB and let Bru play the 2nd TE. Would also open up the play calling sets a good bit having that sort of flexibility....down side is you'd be asking a lot from Bru to learn 2 positions basically.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Hell keep him at WR, but run a 1 TE set with 3 WRs and 1 RB and let Bru play the 2nd TE. Would also open up the play calling sets a good bit having that sort of flexibility....down side is you'd be asking a lot from Bru to learn 2 positions basically.

Yeah it’s a little too late for that.

Mostly just me wishing that’s how they would’ve done it.

 

[DD4ME]

I’m not really underwhelmed with our TEs, think they have been okay.

Just think Bru would kill it in the TE roll like Fant did. I think he would raise his draft stock that way.

Should have moved him to TE and took another transfer WR.

BUT I can’t complain toooooooooooo much, we are 6-1

I think all of the wrinkles and ideas and production are ultimately stifled by a laser beam focus on trying to get Nico settled in. It's all dumbed down for him. Same guys for consistency. Tight Ends for protection. Kitselman because he is the best at being both consistent and blocking. Etc Etc.

If you want to be pissed though be pissed we don't target clearly our most explosive guy in Thornton more imo. Or let Brazzel go high point more balls. I'd love to see Mike get catches or Bru play tight end, but we struggle just to re-do what clearly already works.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I have seen teams change their whole offense to avoid our sacks and pressure. We should have a ton more holding calls though.

Also true, and so many will try to ground & pound as well. Through 7 games only NC State (at 28 carries) hasn't ran for at least 32 attempts against us.

Sounds pretty "so what" but if you look at averages then what we saw...

OU, averages 38.3 we saw 34 (outliner a bit, they've drastically increased rushing attempts since facing us)
Arkansas, averages 37.9 we saw 44
Florida, averages 34.1 we saw 40
Bama, averages 35.6 we saw 34 (they abandoned it a bit because we held them to just 2.2 ypc)

But yeah to be such an elite defense it's surprising how low our sack and INT totals are. We simply don't give up yards or first downs and either teams punt or turn over on downs.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Do you believe USC can win outright?

View attachment 692324

Yes. Tamu consistently underpefrorms.

 

[Jackcrevol]

I think all of the wrinkles and ideas and production are ultimately stifled by a laser beam focus on trying to get Nico settled in. It's all dumbed down for him. Same guys for consistency. Tight Ends for protection. Kitselman because he is the best at being both consistent and blocking. Etc Etc.

If you want to be pissed though be pissed we don't target clearly our most explosive guy in Thornton more imo. Or let Brazzel go high point more balls. I'd love to see Mike get catches or Bru play tight end, but we struggle just to re-do what clearly already works.

Cant stay healthy.

 

[TrippieRedd]

I think all of the wrinkles and ideas and production are ultimately stifled by a laser beam focus on trying to get Nico settled in. It's all dumbed down for him. Same guys for consistency. Tight Ends for protection. Kitselman because he is the best at being both consistent and blocking. Etc Etc.

If you want to be pissed though be pissed we don't target clearly our most explosive guy in Thornton more imo. Or let Brazzel go high point more balls. I'd love to see Mike get catches or Bru play tight end, but we struggle just to re-do what clearly already works.

I’ll be curious to see how everything shakes out the next several weeks.

 

[rikberry31]

Well Mark "Whatthehellisgoingonwithmyhair" Stoops might not have worry about coaching many more night games. Usually D2 and D3 schools play during the day.

 

[VolNRaleighNC]

I think all of the wrinkles and ideas and production are ultimately stifled by a laser beam focus on trying to get Nico settled in. It's all dumbed down for him. Same guys for consistency. Tight Ends for protection. Kitselman because he is the best at being both consistent and blocking. Etc Etc.

If you want to be pissed though be pissed we don't target clearly our most explosive guy in Thornton more imo. Or let Brazzel go high point more balls. I'd love to see Mike get catches or Bru play tight end, but we struggle just to re-do what clearly already works.

I’m pissed just because we have 2 OTs that are matadors in pass pro

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Hooker took off in his 3rd start at Missouri. We were 2-2 coming off a road loss in the Swamp. He hadn't played badly really... but that 15 of 19 for 225 yards and 3 TDs while running for 76 and a TD was the first "coming out" game.

I think Nico could have that game against Kentucky. Play Calling the last four games has been adjusted a bit to help the OL and help us win since the defense is playing so well.

 

[rikberry31]

You know what's frustrating, as it's one stat that is directly related to how poorly we've been officiated.

We're 15th in the SEC in sacks with 15 on the season. Mississippi State is the only team with less at 5.

Sacks are nice, loss of down and yardage. The ultimate prize is a hurry with an int, loss of possession.

 

[DD4ME]

Also true, and so many will try to ground & pound as well. Through 7 games only NC State (at 28 carries) hasn't ran for at least 32 attempts against us.

Sounds pretty "so what" but if you look at averages then what we saw...

OU, averages 38.3 we saw 34 (outliner a bit, they've drastically increased rushing attempts since facing us)
Arkansas, averages 37.9 we saw 44
Florida, averages 34.1 we saw 40
Bama, averages 35.6 we saw 34 (they abandoned it a bit because we held them to just 2.2 ypc)

But yeah to be such an elite defense it's surprising how low our sack and INT totals are. We simply don't give up yards or first downs and either teams punt or turn over on downs.

We create havoc and havoc turns over on downs of over to us. The pressure rates are high.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Yeah, OL has been a bit annoying.

I mean 2022 having Darnell Wright, Spraggins, Mays, Crawford, Carvin helped a ton (3 of which made NFL rosters & 1 was a first round pick that's starting right now)

I think Cooper is probably the only one on the OL right now that gets drafted... Heard will have to develop more and I don't think Spraggins has really done enough to improve his chances.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Do you believe USC can win outright?

View attachment 692324

Why couldn't they? They've had LSU and Alabama on the ropes this year. At some point they'll pull the upset. If not now I would bet they beat Clemson at the end of the season.

 

[Butch Jones]

Even though I'm a lifelong Dodgers fan and huge Mookie fan, I'm not so sure we can call him a VFL. Not only did he never actually play at Tennessee (went pro instead), he was a Vandy fan and wanted to play there but didn't think he'd get enough playing time because of the roster they had at the time and committed to Tennessee instead.

It's nice to claim the connection to Mookie but I'm not sure we could call him a VFL.

I'm a Sox fan and big fan of him as well. I did not know that about wanting to play at Vandy. I do recall this interview I just found again where he claimed us, so at least there's that.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Yeah, OL has been a bit annoying.

I mean 2022 having Darnell Wright, Spraggins, Mays, Crawford, Carvin helped a ton (3 of which made NFL rosters & 1 was a first round pick that's starting right now)

I think Cooper is probably the only one on the OL right now that gets drafted... Heard will have to develop more and I don't think Spraggins has really done enough to improve his chances.

Spraggins is the surprise. I figured he would be playing like a first 3 round pick.


Can’t believe he’s gotten that much worse. Total head scratcher.

 

[SagginVawls]

Will it be fun to listen to Kentucky radio again post-game or will they be so dejected that it is just sad?

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Spraggins is the surprise. I figured he would be playing like a first 3 round pick.


Can’t believe he’s gotten that much worse. Total head scratcher.

Yeah...and unlike Crawford he's been the RG almost his entire time here. So it's not like he's had to move around much.

 

[VolGee4]

Being uninformed sucks, I know.


I’m sure you didn’t know this because you are so uninformed, but did you know we are toward the bottom of the conference in WR statistics? (Yards, TDs, etc)

Thornton is the best WR on the team and he is ranked 22 in yards, that’s not good

“Matthews needs to pick it up” nah the whole WR core needs to pick it up

It's not just a WR issue- it's an entire offense issue. Plus, just looking at TD's doesn't mean a WR is unproductive. I know you know that. Bru has been solid (and hurt).

 

[rikberry31]

We create havoc and havoc turns over on downs of over to us. The pressure rates are high.

And on top of that we are getting tremendous pressure when teams are trying to get the ball out quick.

 

[TrippieRedd]

It's not just a WR issue- it's an entire offense issue. Plus, just looking at TD's doesn't mean a WR is unproductive. I know you know that. Bru has been solid (and hurt).

Should’ve been a TE like Fant.


Bru at TE would be like Nick O’Leary from FSU. They move and play the exact same.

All critical 3rd downs went to Nick, sorta like how we throw to Bru. I think he would’ve been an All-American TE.

But it’s all a moot point, just gotta live with it.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Will it be fun to listen to Kentucky radio again post-game or will they be so dejected that it is just sad?

I’ve been listening to them since the Auburn loss and they’re already all dejected.

It ain’t sad to me. I’m loving it.