Recruiting Football Talk VIII

[Checker_the_Shire]

So, USC stolen Nico from us yet?

 

[Jackcrevol]

So, USC stolen Nico from us yet?

They were too busy with Tamu last night.

 

[Daddy pants]

I will say that all the hype for both Thornton and Brazzel was just that. They both struggled with getting separation. And both dropped catchable passes on a multitude of occasions.

Also, where were our TEs? Did Kitselman even play against osu? What happened to Staes and Davis? They can all catch passes.

I admit that I was confused by the offense.

Kitselman was open most of the game. They would have been short gains but Nico never looked his way. It was driving me crazy because he kept trying to force it into coverage. Take what the defense gives you!
Nico has phenomenal arm talent and is a tremendous competitor. But his pre-snap and post-snap processing are slow.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Either way, it’s a good sign. I just looked it up.

“No, teams cannot contact a college football player in the NCAA transfer portal if the player has added a "do not contact" designation. This means that schools can only contact the player if the player initiates communication first.”


So he contacted us.

Or nico or spyre or anyone not UT contacted them.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

I will say that all the hype for both Thornton and Brazzel was just that. They both struggled with getting separation. And both dropped catchable passes on a multitude of occasions.

Also, where were our TEs? Did Kitselman even play against osu? What happened to Staes and Davis? They can all catch passes.

I admit that I was confused by the offense.

Idk Thornton burnt ppl all year and had one drop. He could just never get healthy.

 

[RiseToTheTop]

And yet still won 10 games. Testament to the coaching and Sampson/Nico/D-lines athleticism.

As long as the DL was playing a trash team they looked super dominant

Except Miss St and Kentucky. Looked bad then too. Banks was given a good group and wasnt sure what to do with it when the opponent was decent.

 

[SouthKnoxVOL]

As long as the DL was playing a trash team they looked super dominant

Lmao...speaking of trash

 

[rockytop25]

I will say that all the hype for both Thornton and Brazzel was just that. They both struggled with getting separation. And both dropped catchable passes on a multitude of occasions.

Also, where were our TEs? Did Kitselman even play against osu? What happened to Staes and Davis? They can all catch passes.

I admit that I was confused by the offense.

We had to keep the TE’s close to the line to help block

 

[therickbol]

Last year the Vols tried to recruit a player from the portal and offered him $50,000. He chose his home state school for the same money and he was a solid starter. I am told that this year that same player will make $350,000. Almost all the $50,000 starting players on his current team had to be bumped to 350,000 just to retain them because of other schools poaching them. This is college football in 2025. This is why many fans will find something else to do on Saturdays in the Fall.

There is no way you actually believe that?

 

[InVOLuntary]

That’s the main thing people are talking about. It’s not depth, talent gap, NIL, it’s play calling and the use of what seems like the same 12-15 plays.

You can overcome talent gaps with scheme a lot of times. But for some reason this year and last, play calling has been a huge question mark.

Going to have to get back to doing what CH does best and that’s finds mismatch’s.

Seems like everyone wasn’t on the same page this year and last and that could be attributed to not having the right personnel, but that ultimately falls on the coaches to find that chemistry. If you don’t have the talent in certain groups you can overcome some of those deficiencies with schemes.

Honestly I don’t know what the problem has been the last two years. Did we have more talent in ‘22 compared to ‘23/24? Some will say NO, some will say yes.

Is that attributable to lack of development?

Regardless of what everyone’s response is or opinions we have still won a lot of games.

Anyways, this is my current situation. Y’all enjoy your weekend. I’m gonna try and do the same. View attachment 709890

Where you be?

Yes, I thought Heup was a very good hire early on because I viewed him as a coach that could do more with less. First two years seemed like that was 100% the case. The last two years has made me question that, especially this past season. I can't make myself believe that Golesh was the engine under the hood. Maybe I'm wrong?

 

[Jackcrevol]

Either way, it’s a good sign. I just looked it up.

“No, teams cannot contact a college football player in the NCAA transfer portal if the player has added a "do not contact" designation. This means that schools can only contact the player if the player initiates communication first.”


So he contacted us.

'teams'

Spyre, private entity. Not a team.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Last year the Vols tried to recruit a player from the portal and offered him $50,000. He chose his home state school for the same money and he was a solid starter. I am told that this year that same player will make $350,000. Almost all the $50,000 starting players on his current team had to be bumped to 350,000 just to retain them because of other schools poaching them. This is college football in 2025. This is why many fans will find something else to do on Saturdays in the Fall.

That means a collective bargained a 7X increase on salaries. That is getting your pants pulled down, in front of your date.

 

[Rishvol]

It’s truly unbelievable how pedestrian we looked this year. Especially compared to this.

I'm sure if the WRs were trusted to catch the football then we would've seen more of 22. But 2 years straight the WRs couldn't catch a cold so the offense has to be pedestrian

 

[chrisvannoy]

Kitselman was open most of the game. They would have been short gains but Nico never looked his way. It was driving me crazy because he kept trying to force it into coverage. Take what the defense gives you!
Nico has phenomenal arm talent and is a tremendous competitor. But his pre-snap and post-snap processing are slow.

Yeah I wish we'd use the middle of the field more. Everyone knew the screens were coming.

 

[Jackcrevol]

That’s the main thing people are talking about. It’s not depth, talent gap, NIL, it’s play calling and the use of what seems like the same 12-15 plays.

You can overcome talent gaps with scheme a lot of times. But for some reason this year and last, play calling has been a huge question mark.

Going to have to get back to doing what CH does best and that’s finds mismatch’s.

Seems like everyone wasn’t on the same page this year and last and that could be attributed to not having the right personnel, but that ultimately falls on the coaches to find that chemistry. If you don’t have the talent in certain groups you can overcome some of those deficiencies with schemes.

Honestly I don’t know what the problem has been the last two years. Did we have more talent in ‘22 compared to ‘23/24? Some will say NO, some will say yes.

Is that attributable to lack of development?

Regardless of what everyone’s response is or opinions we have still won a lot of games.

Anyways, this is my current situation. Y’all enjoy your weekend. I’m gonna try and do the same. View attachment 709890

on offense, yes. we did.

on defense, hell no we didnt.

btw, blue water, white sand.

 

[Ace]

Everyone is wondering what the difference has been in the offense from 22 until now. The difference is Hendon Hooker. He could make quick decisions. He could buy time by moving up in the pocket. He knew when to tuck it and run. He had a superior skill set compared to Milton and Nico. The offense is the same. The difference is who is running it. This offense is easy to defend, if it does not go fast. To go fast you need a QB that can go fast. I think Nico will get there.

Going fast produces the mismatches.

 

[Jackcrevol]

THIS!!! I know it's the NFL, but the Chiefs win a lot of games taking the short gains to the TE or check downs. If teams are going to stay in 2 high all the time, dink and dunk them to death.

Their QB can throw from anywhere. Literally.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Everyone is wondering what the difference has been in the offense from 22 until now. The difference is Hendon Hooker. He could make quick decisions. He could buy time by moving up in the pocket. He knew when to tuck it and run. He had a superior skill set compared to Milton and Nico. The offense is the same. The difference is who is running it. This offense is easy to defend, if it does not go fast. To go fast you need a QB that can go fast. I think Nico will get there.

There is a happy medium in here somewhere. It is logical.

Hendon was a coaches son.

Nico is learning.

 

[Ace]

There is a happy medium in here somewhere. It is logical.

Hendon was a coaches son.

Nico is learning.

The same receivers that have struggled in the last two years (Squirrel, Keyton, Bru) thrived with HH. Receivers are open, but you have to get the ball to them. HH was excellent at running this offense fast and creating mismatches.

 

[peaygolf]

I just now saw this............and it's 100% correct.

No more, "these are kids."........Open season for criticism.

 

[Volnut]

Either way, it’s a good sign. I just looked it up.

“No, teams cannot contact a college football player in the NCAA transfer portal if the player has added a "do not contact" designation. This means that schools can only contact the player if the player initiates communication first.”


So he contacted us.

According to the national articles, Tennessee is not even mentioned as a landing spot.
Zachariah Branch - Search News

 

[VAVolsFan2009]

The fan base has read way too much into the portal departures. Blaming coaches isn't productive, actually the opposite. We're living in a different world now. All of these players have agents who are constantly looking for better NIL deals for their clients. Player gets more money and, of course, the agent gets more money. Loyalty to a school, program, teammates, coaches, or fans is a secondary factor now. While it's frustrating, I don't blame or criticize a player for looking after his best interest. Many of us have left one job and gone to another for better pay and/or benefits. One thing I would caution these players is that leaving a team like Heupel's where there is a positive, reinforcing culture may turn out to be a deteriment in the end. Unintended consequences. While I wish them luck with their new teams, I'm concerned that they are making a mistake. It's interesting to see how many ex-Vol players have entered the portal multiple times. Nichols twice, the QB (name???) 3 times, and it goes on. Sad.

Another factor to consider is the amount of NIL money a school has to offer. Ohio State has the strongest most talented roster in college football. Also OSU has the largest NIL pool, $20 million. There's a direct correlation between the two. We are at about $14 million. In today's environment, that's a huge advantage. We lost Josh Thompson, the OL portal player, to LSU because they threw a huge NIL deal to him. It wasn't about better coaching or better culture or better school. It was all about more money in his pocket and his agent's pocket. That's the new world of NCAA football.

 

[peaygolf]

I was trapped overnight in a snowglobe factory.






I'm OK, just a little shaken

 

[Rishvol]

I just now saw this............and it's 100% correct.

No more, "these are kids."........Open season for criticism.

Stop calling legal adults kids. They're making big boy money so call them adults stop calling them kids

 

[csprig9]

I just now saw this............and it's 100% correct.

No more, "these are kids."........Open season for criticism.

Yes
This times a million lol
Play good, hit the road or sit on the bench
Pros can take the heat
These young guys need to be able to also and no they aren’t kids, they are 18 year old adults
They can fight for the country and pay taxes
They aren’t kids