Recruiting Football Talk VIII

[Orange_Crush]

So, off-season coaching/player development is going to be the spat of the day, isn't it?

Not for me anymore. I'm washing my hands of it.

 

[DD4ME]

 

[Orange_Crush]

Those who can’t DO…blame!

I'll add a FYP, as agreement.

 

[DD4ME]

I hope this is true.

 

[Tennessee Golfer]

We're going to be so stacked at WR this year. Embarassment of riches.

I’m not embarrassed.

 

[utknate]

Heard Swain say P Lewis has Saquon size thighs. VQ mentioned too he prob has the biggest on the team. Anyone have pictures?

Can confirm. We go through a whole bottle of oil for each leg during the post practice rub downs

 

[JCVol00]

Do you think we might have issues with the families of any of the other 5* recruits from 2027?

That’s irrelevant to my question/statement. I was wondering because this staff does a good job of bringing vfl’s in to the program like al wilson, manning, we’ve heard from Tee Martin, etc. but I haven’t heard anything about Jason Witten coming to campus or anything of that nature

 

[Tennessee Golfer]

Old news I'm sure. But I see we lost out on a five star OL to Georgia Tech. Prospect was a long term Vol fan (as was his dad) but apparently, GT gave him more money? That seems very odd to me that GT won out over us, Ohio State, Florida State, and Georgia. Did we basically take a pass hoping to land David Sanders?

We didn’t lose out on him. Do you really think he would choose GT if those other schools were heavily pursuing him? Plus we are about to land the best player at his position tomorrow.

 

[volinbama256]

Crazy we have built depth and will be stacked in certain position groups, yet there still seems to be issues at Safety? Are the kids the staff has in place just not developing/performing to the level they hoped? Several safety's were in the portal for us to just now in practice this close to the season figuring this out... I assume we have the talent, it's just not where it needs to be at this point or they don't have game experience?

 

[Orange_Crush]

All of this can be true, but it still doesn’t absolve managers from doing a good job… managing. That’s why trainers/strength and conditioning staff are so important. Good ones will make a team better (although obviously not all players will take advantage, which is where your scenario comes into play) but bad ones can literally break a team, if the HC doesn’t address it.

It’s both. Players and staff both have to do their parts over the summer. Players have to do the work, but coaches have to provide the plan and accountability.

Last post on this:

The blanket statement was that it's on both the player and the coaches. We *know* it's on the player. A player can fail to develop, even when the coaches do great jobs. It's up to the one laying blame to bring specifics per the bad job (as you say) by the coaches that goes beyond "well, they recruited them". (That's a lazy fall-back argument from folks who want to support the claim, but can't. That's like saying that 100% prediction rate in recruiting is the acceptable goal, and we'll place blame if it's missed. You can't hold someone "responsible" for failing to predict the future and/or diagnose every facet of a recruit's personality with limited contact.)

 

[Tennessee Golfer]

Can confirm. We go through a whole bottle of oil for each leg during the post practice rub downs

 

[butchna]

Can confirm. We go through a whole bottle of oil for each leg during the post practice rub downs

Annual (giggity) winner of best sport on VN.

 

[peaygolf]

Cool.
Axel Foley's alma mater

 

[SSVol]

That's a much different argument than to argue that Nico should/will be the backup.

The Idiot Margin will do what they do.

I'm just offering a (hopefully) balanced counterpoint to those who scoff at the thought that Moore might actually be decent. Maybe there is a middle ground that allows our redshirt freshman phenom to be a little green, and our non-elite walk-on 5th year senior to have actually developed a bit under a coach known for getting the most out of QBs. It's just a little tiresome for every reference to Gaston Moore ever approaching Nico's effectiveness to be offered with an eye-roll or a smirk. Despite the fact that he could clearly start at many other schools, he's chosen to stay here, and the simple fact is that he's looked good and has moved the offense as well or better than Nico in more than one outing. Rather than the extremes of benching Nico or denigrating Gaston with the constant "walk-on" snark, it would be nice to celebrate the really good spot we are in right now.

 

[volbeast33]

As mentioned, unless you're privy to the things none of us know, one can't say that coaches share in the proverbial blame. My point is that the coaches could do everything possible, and the player still fail to comer along. Ther coaches can't care, study, eat, restrain or lift for them. At the end of the day, it's on the player unless and until folks here want to enlighten us as to the coaching staff's specific failures.

I was just talking in general…. I think this staff has done a great job. I also think the safety situation will work out. It’s really just one spot and I think Will Brooks could end up being good. The staff is responsible for every area of the team. Here is an example of a Lady Vols off season workout..

 

[WesTnVol]

Fun fact: William Conrad was the original Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke — that is, on the radio show that preceded the TV show.

Back in the 90s, FM 104.5 in Knoxville played old standards/Great American Songbook type of stuff, but at 10pm they'd play old time radio shows, the kind the whole country listened to before TV. Loved that stuff, listened every night. Gunsmoke was in the rotation so I listened to a lot of those episodes.

Another fun fact: Doc Adams on the radio Gunsmoke was voiced by Howard McNear, who later achieved legend status on TV as Floyd the Barber.

I listen to a lot of the old shows on Radio Classic on XM
Love the Sherlock Holmes from the 40s

 

[Orange_Crush]

The Idiot Margin will do what they do.

I'm just offering a (hopefully) balanced counterpoint to those who scoff at the thought that Moore might actually be decent. Maybe there is a middle ground that allows our redshirt freshman phenom to be a little green, and our non-elite walk-on 5th year senior to have actually developed a bit under a coach known for getting the most out of QBs. It's just a little tiresome for every reference to Gaston Moore ever approaching Nico's effectiveness to be offered with an eye-roll or a smirk. Despite the fact that he could clearly start at many other schools, he's chosen to stay here, and the simple fact is that he's looked good and has moved the offense as well or better than Nico in more than one outing. Rather than the extremes of benching Nico or denigrating Gaston with the constant "walk-on" snark, it would be nice to celebrate the really good spot we are in right now.

I agree, by the way:

I will say, I think we're in good shape if he has to play.






But he won't beat out Nico.

But I don't think anyone is besmirching Gaston in saying that he won't beat Nico out unless Nico has a major injury or lobotomy.

No worries...

 

[LaagerVol]

Last post on this:

The blanket statement was that it's on both the player and the coaches. We *know* it's on the player. A player can fail to develop, even when the coaches do great jobs. It's up to the one laying blame to bring specifics per the bad job (as you say) by the coaches that goes beyond "well, they recruited them". (That's a lazy fall-back argument from folks who want to support the claim, but can't. That's like saying that 100% prediction rate in recruiting is the acceptable goal, and we'll place blame if it's missed. You can't hold someone "responsible" for failing to predict the future and/or diagnose every facet of a recruit's personality with limited contact.)

I’m not blaming anyone for anything. I think our coaching staff and training staff are doing a fantastic job. I’m giving them credit for that when I say it’s on both. Kinda like raising kids. Parents can do a fantastic job and sometimes a kid still doesn’t turn out the way you hope. In that scenario it’s on the kid. Conversely, parents can do a crappy job raising the kids and the kid can still turn out great despite that.

To have ideal success, imo, both coaches/training staff and players have to do their jobs. I think we see that for the vast majority of the program because the folks over the program are doing their jobs well, and the players are bought in and taking personal responsibility.

No blame assigned by me. Blame implies something went wrong and I don’t believe that to be the case with this staff/team.

However, to prove the point that it isn’t SOLELY on the players, I present to you Derek Dooley, who didn’t hold players accountable and have a good S&C program from the start, and butch jones, who has a good thing going from that standpoint, them the S&C coordinator was let go because the players complained (allegedly) and it all turned to garbage. Not saying that was the only reason butch failed, but it was a factor.

 

[peaygolf]

No reason........Jimmy just makes me smile

 

[OrangeMoundTNVol]

That’s irrelevant to my question/statement. I was wondering because this staff does a good job of bringing vfl’s in to the program like al wilson, manning, we’ve heard from Tee Martin, etc. but I haven’t heard anything about Jason Witten coming to campus or anything of that nature

His picture was just on the back of the Jumbotron a few years back. Maybe still is I haven’t been to a game the past few seasons.

 

[SSVol]

I agree, by the way:



But I don't think anyone is besmirching Gaston in saying that he won't beat Nico out unless Nico has a major injury or lobotomy.

No worries...

I agree, but I don't think the differences are as great as some make it.

Take away Nico's 5* rating and insane NIL package and just look at his performance. How would you rate him 1-10...on actual performance?

Likewise, if GM did have a 5* rating and an insane NIL package, and played as he has in the few situations we've seen him, how would you rate him...on actual performance?

I think the two scores are much closer than most would be inclined to say. And that's a Very Good Thing.

 

[OrangeMoundTNVol]

Crazy we have built depth and will be stacked in certain position groups, yet there still seems to be issues at Safety? Are the kids the staff has in place just not developing/performing to the level they hoped? Several safety's were in the portal for us to just now in practice this close to the season figuring this out... I assume we have the talent, it's just not where it needs to be at this point or they don't have game experience?

We let the 10 other upperclassmen get all the reps last season. Jourdan Thomas was supposed to slide back there once Boo were ready, of course that’s now off the table. Jakobe Thomas I guess is struggling with the jump in competition, it happens. We did well, would much rather be talking about safety than left tackle. It’ll be fine, but with that being said, expect Lagonza to see the field day 1 next season.

 

[Buzzbait]

My ex used to go to Turks n Caicos to bonefish...the waitresses.

His speed was probably comparable but ………………..

 

[WesTnVol]

North Carolina Seems Primed for Private Equity. Why Is It Passing?

Bubba Cunningham explains why UNC isn't taking PE cash and envisions a future where major NCAA programs consolidate more of its business operations.

www.sportico.com

UNC is among many other lower tier schools in the country that are well on their way to selling their souls to the devil(Private Equity) for extra cash because of all this realignment business.
We are truly blessed to have a program rich in tradition and money and to have an AD that is creating new revenue sources to help us when we have to start paying these players directly through revenue sharing.

Yet, people are still complaining about a fuel station logo on our field and high ticket prices when there’s other schools that are quite literally selling their futures down the river.

Listened to a guy talk about Private Equity getting involved. Basically watch out
They will invest tons of money BUT they want profits on that invest. Think of it like this if they pony up $100,000,000 they want be looking a $1,000,000 profit more like $20-30,000,000 dollars.
I’m thankful Tennessee is not facing that choice

 

[drvenner]

That’s irrelevant to my question/statement. I was wondering because this staff does a good job of bringing vfl’s in to the program like al wilson, manning, we’ve heard from Tee Martin, etc. but I haven’t heard anything about Jason Witten coming to campus or anything of that nature

Then, by all means continue to pre-worry. I think we have a group that meets regularly where you would fit in really well.