Recruiting Football Talk VIII

[MarcoVol]

Maybe. But one more injury and we likely don’t. And it also puts us in a really tough spot if we face foul trouble. People can spin this but it’s a huge loss. Depth is an issue that some are not as concerned about as they should be. We’re about to head into the toughest conference schedule in NCAA basketball history with how strong the SEC is this year and foul trouble and depth is going to cause us to drop a few games we probably wouldn’t.

For sure hurts depth. But he hasn’t been available the last 7 games so we have an idea of what this looks like.

 

[Weezer]

If we want a home run threat at this point, we need to hope someone from these playoffs team enter, or someone gets upset and enters during the spring portal.

Portal closes for entry on Sunday. That's why I said we need to tamper and entice some kids to portal to us in the Spring.

 

[GVol1966]

If possible, I’d rather they fix the seeding and keep those home games. Such a cool atmosphere

Totally. Much better than half empty neutral
Stadiums.
But you’re supposed to be rewarded if you’re a top team.

Automatic byes for lesser teams from jr conferences is BS.

 

[knoxvol52]

I think we will survive. Gosh, kids are idiots.

Carr may not mesh with Barnes. Even though Barnes is a HOF HC he still isn't the easiest to play for.. good luck to the young man ever where he ends up at..

 

[TheMookieMonster]

For sure hurts depth. But he hasn’t been available the last 7 games so we have an idea of what this looks like.

He was slated to come back for the Arkansas game in just 2 weeks. He hasn’t been available but we haven’t needed him against Western Carolina and MTSU. We definitely need him for SEC play.

 

[Weezer]

Squirrel to the draft

That's a mistake on his part. He's not ready for the NFL. But it might actually be good for us in the long run if we can just find some help at WR.

 

[GVol1966]

I think you’re on to something and I’m afraid it’s going to get worse. I think there’s a good chance it goes the way of MLB. Big market large universities with the most money buys the best team.

So , the same as its been for 50 years

 

[MarcoVol]

He was slated to come back for the Arkansas game in just 2 weeks. He hasn’t been available but we haven’t needed him against Western Carolina and MTSU. We definitely need him for SEC play.

We’ve played UVa, Baylor, Syracuse, Miami, and Illinois in that timeframe as well. Not just WC and MTSU.

Again, agreed it hurts depth for the season. But we’ve seen what it looks like without him.

 

[Weezer]

Seems reasonable to wonder at this point. We will likely have some more people enter the portal. Also, some of the other playoff teams will experience portal losses as they get eliminated. We have some holes it appears. I do hope we can get dramatically faster at safety as that can cover up some big mistakes. They call them safeties for a reason. I also agree it would be nice to have some playmakers at WR and Heupel specifically mentioned that in his post game and he seemed a bit aggravated when he said it. We will likely get some nice new players but not sure we have the budget to get the super elite. Schedule also looks tougher to me next year with Alabama and Florida on the road. Team could be as good but lose an additional game. Good news we have an elite basketball and baseball team to cheer on before we find out.

Portal closes for entry on Sunday, so players don't have time to wait for their team to get eliminated.

 

[UTProf]

Just want to point out that I've been saying this for a while about our WRs. It was a problem all year long. OSU's WRs exaggerated how bad we were by how good they were at WR.

 

[knoxvol52]

For sure hurts depth. But he hasn’t been available the last 7 games so we have an idea of what this looks like.

Just more minutes for Dunbar...

 

[dmwvol12]

So , the same as its been for 50 years

Similar but it used to be who cheated the best. Semantics I know.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

We’ve played UVa, Baylor, Syracuse, Miami, and Illinois in that timeframe as well. Not just WC and MTSU.

Again, agreed it hurts depth for the season. But we’ve seen what it looks like without him.

Well, Syracuse and Miami are on par with MTSU when you look at KenPom. There have really only been 2 games he was needed, Illinois and Baylor, that he missed.

Yes, we’ve seen what this team looks like without him. But in your scenario we’re able to go the rest of the season with no more injuries and never getting in foul trouble. I don’t think losing him for the future is a big deal, but this season is what matters right now and the lack of depth we now have means our margin for error is zero. Any more injuries and this season is going to suffer because of it.

 

[MarcoVol]

Well, Syracuse and Miami are on par with MTSU when you look at KenPom. There have really only been 2 games he was needed, Illinois and Baylor, that he missed.

Yes, we’ve seen what this team looks like without him. But in your scenario we’re able to go the rest of the season with no more injuries and never getting in foul trouble. I don’t think losing him for the future is a big deal, but this season is what matters right now and the lack of depth we now have means our margin for error is zero. Any more injuries and this season is going to suffer because of it.

So we agree it’s bad for depth this season. Like I said.

 

[Rishvol]

So what I'm reading is football will never be good again. Gotcha

 

[Checker_the_Shire]

Am I the only one who thinks next year feels more like a rebuilding year rather than the "year we put it all together"? At least half the OL will be new. Jenkins announcing he's entering the portal today makes me question the DL even more. Still think we need safety help and no truly proven WRs IMO. A QB can't really be great without a support system around him, and I question the support we're giving Nico next year.

Nah I think it’ll be a rebuilding year. I think 9 wins is our floor, maybe 8 if OU gets better in the offseason. But given where we’ve been the past 10-15 years, I’m perfectly fine with a “rebuilding year” meaning we only win 9 games.

 

[JT3]

Portal closes for entry on Sunday. That's why I said we need to tamper and entice some kids to portal to us in the Spring.

Playoff teams have 5 days after being eliminated to enter the portal.

 

[Weezer]

Some obvious holes in this team going into next season, and I'm not sure there's enough quality portal options to plug those holes.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

JMO, but I don't think Pope is the guy. I defended not playing Matthews more this season, but after looking around the college football landscape and seeing WRs like Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams contributing like they did as freshmen, I've changed my mind. If Matthews is the talent we believe him to be, he should have seen the field more. If he's not, then we severely missed on our evaluations.

I defended Pope for much of the season as well, but in hindsight, it’s painfully obvious how poor his position group played this season. Part of it is a lack of elite talent, but the guys he signed like Staley and Matthews who are supposed to be game changing caliber players barely sniffed the field. Granted, they’re freshmen and every player progresses at a different speed, but the fact they rarely saw the field even late in the season over a guy like Squirrel who was constantly hurt and Brazzell who only showed up one of every four games speaks volumes as to his ability to get young players to improve over the course of a season. Pope and Elarbee both gotta go imo.

 

[GVol1966]

Obviously there was a huge talent gap both in recruiting and transfer portal additions last night. Just wanted to say something about one particular player: Jeremiah smith is insanely good. He’s as good as Marvin Harrison jr, but as a freshman. Best wr in the country. Reminds me of Julio jones.

The 17 year old from Bama might challenge that.
Smith is awesome, beating guys covering him and getting perfect passes from his QB.
Williams has left DB’s looking foolish after catches with spin moves and stopping on dimes to get to the end zone that I’ve seen no others do

 

[Weezer]

Playoff teams have 5 days after being eliminated to enter the portal.

Had not read that.

 

[MarcoVol]

The 17 year old from Bama might challenge that.
Smith is awesome, beating guys covering him and getting perfect passes from his QB.
Williams has left DB’s looking foolish after catches with spin moves and stopping on dimes to get to the end zone that I’ve seen no others do

Williams can get jammed at the line by stronger DBs. Smith can swat them away like it’s nothing.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

No offense to the young man...but Carr is being selfish.

You knew exactly what Barnes expected and demanded from his players. You didn't want to RS last year and he didn't force it, instead he played you in 14 games for 60 minutes. Then you sat back and watched as DJ Jefferson left. A guy that by all accounts would do anything to still be a Vol.

And why? All your numbers were much improved, minutes over 10 minutes and just growing until the injury. And when the team really needed you because JP was already out and Bishop now out you're going to RS and then bail after the semester is over.

3 scholarships will be open in January...sure hope Barnes can pull a rabbit. This team could fade before March just from attrition.

 

[RiseToTheTop]

Squirrel to the draft - I messed up, it was on Squirrel's story.

He wont get drafted

 

[GVol1966]

Thank goodness for Vitello. I think Caldwell has championship potential too due to her ability to immediately sign a top 3 class in her first full signing class. Similar to Vitello. Elite recruiters. No coincidence that championships will follow.

Me too.
UT coaches in order I think most likely to win a Natty.
Tony v
K Caldwell
R Barnes
J Heupel

I only follow Football, Basketball, and Baseball,

So any others are excluded