Recruiting Football Talk VIII

[UTK]

Whether MM stays or goes the coaches mishandled that and need to learn from it.

We all saw the trash on the field and they kept playing the same guys. Even when they were hurt.

Yup. This staff is going to have to get over their loyalty to older players. Play the best talent on the field. Period.

 

[UTSuave’]

Ok so explain Harrison Bailey, Q Crouch

Obvious utility guy..one could argue Q was playing out of position…Harrison Bailey didn’t get a fair shake in my opinion like Nico has with JH…he’s obviously more qb friendly being a qb in college himself so he gets it and knows how to manage that position like he has..our previous coaching staffs miss the boat on that one.we’ve never heard anything concerning ruffled feathers from anyone transferring from that position…it’s all coaching development…we’ve seen it over the years and what separates good coaches from great coaches…great coaches adapt their schemes to fit what they have..good coaches implement their schemes into the players they need to fit their schemes….i know which one we have and it’s mark richt

 

[UTK]

Does Pope need to be excommunicated?

I’ll pack his bags for him

 

[UTSuave’]

College athletics are a joke. No wonder coaches are retiring left and right. It’s a pain having to recruit your own guys every year.

Staff can blame themselves if MM walks. He watched freshman wideouts start day one all over the country and they chose to plant him on the pine while our veteran wideouts looked like trash. I understand you can’t just be guaranteeing guys start but he wasn’t even given a chance to play and prove himself.

Heupel has got some issues on staff. NIL is looking weak tbh. Yeah Nico is going to stay but I expect some big guys to leave next year because let’s be honest if we don’t make some personnel, staff changes, schematic changes on O, and bring in some more talent we aren’t winning 10 games next year. The schedule is setup worse even though it’s the same teams. 8-4 9-3 and guys are bouncing.

 

[UTSuave’]

As a high school coach myself, I promise you guys, coaches are playing the players they can trust the most.

You are not going to intentionally not play a guy that you think can help you win

Come on bro…we all know how high school politics works if you have a freshman that’s better than your seniors on day 1 it’s because you’ve recruited him from another area…you’re playing players with most experience which games from the film room and live reps..so you have something to critique their craft on (coaching)…you don’t get that from practice because it’s not live…freshmen should always be in your rotation on the chance you have that hidden gem.lights coming on hit different for certain people.i know you’ve seen it up close if you’re in fact a high school coach respectfully.

 

[SpringBokVol]

Yup. This staff is going to have to get over their loyalty to older players. Play the best talent on the field. Period.

The only coach at UT that didn’t have this issue was Kiffin. He would play the best no matter what grade they were.

It’s maddening.

 

[Christian Lowe]

Come on bro…we all know how high school politics works if you have a freshman that’s better than your seniors on day 1 it’s because you’ve recruited him from another area…you’re playing players with most experience which games from the film room and live reps..so you have something to critique their craft on (coaching)…you don’t get that from practice because it’s not live…freshmen should always be in your rotation on the chance you have that hidden gem.lights coming on hit different for certain people.i know you’ve seen it up close if you’re in fact a high school coach respectfully.

To be fair this kind of **** happens at 4A, 5A and 6A schools depending on the state. It doesn’t really happen at lower levels. There’s nepotism at lower levels, not so much recruiting like the big time high schools do

 

[jakez4ut]

Yup. This staff is going to have to get over their loyalty to older players. Play the best talent on the field. Period.

I think if he does leave and that's the reason why, it makes it increasingly harder to get guys like that to begin with, much less hold on to them.

It's gonna get really difficult, really quick to care about this sport.

 

[volstudent26]

This is starting to go off the rails. Mike Mathews is a for sure starter, if he wants to leave, that’s troubling. Speaks more volumes that he doesn’t think he’s getting correct coaching. And is he? Time to find a legitimate WR coach

Saban had a lot of players leave him I’m sure that means he couldn’t develop right?

It’s so easy to take it out on the coaches but really the core of this is money and playing time. So you have backups leave because they can’t start here or can make more and start else where. And you have starters looking for the most money they can find.

 

[Christian Lowe]

I think if he does leave and that's the reason why, it makes it increasingly harder to get guess longer that i to begin with, much less hold on to them.

It's gonna get really difficult, really quick to care about this sport.

I had a stroke reading this tbh but I think I pieced it together and agree with you?

 

[rocktopper16]

I can’t wait for these playoff games to be done with so we can get in on who we really after.

 

[marcusluvsvols]

College athletics are a joke. No wonder coaches are retiring left and right. It’s a pain having to recruit your own guys every year.

Staff can blame themselves if MM walks. He watched freshman wideouts start day one all over the country and they chose to plant him on the pine while our veteran wideouts looked like trash. I understand you can’t just be guaranteeing guys start but he wasn’t even given a chance to play and prove himself.

Heupel has got some issues on staff. NIL is looking weak tbh. Yeah Nico is going to stay but I expect some big guys to leave next year because let’s be honest if we don’t make some personnel, staff changes, schematic changes on O, and bring in some more talent we aren’t winning 10 games next year. The schedule is setup worse even though it’s the same teams. 8-4 9-3 and guys are bouncing.

I think 8-4 or 9-3 is reality next year. We are gonna be young at Oline, LB, Dline backups, probably Safety/Nickel and REALLY young at WR. With a very talented but young QB with only 1 season under his belt.

Keep in mind that Ole Miss and aTm both went 9-3 this year after spending BIG money in the portal and having talented rosters. SC also went 9-3 with the 2 best sack leaders at bookends on their Dline...and a very experienced and solid defense like ours.

If we are smart, we are laying the groundwork for 2026 and gonna spend more in the portal after NEXT season to fill in holes with top shelf players for Nicos junior year when all these WRs, linemen, 5 young LBs etc have more experience. Will be McCoys junior year too. Next season is a lost cause for the playoffs IMO. Making the 12 team tournament is a pipe dream we dont have the roster to accomplish yet at least. If our fanbase goes into 2025 thinking we are gonna make a playoff run, those folks are gonna be very disappointed when they shouldnt be. It means they dont understand our roster. We just signed a 2025 class where about half of them are top 300 players. They are gonna be freshmen next season though. 2025 is a reloading, teaching type year. Experience will be the main thing next season...for about 20 very talented 18 and 19 year old kids. It is what it is.

This program was a damn dumpster fire 4 years ago...and yet some people are acting like a 9-3 or 8-4 season is the end of the world. (Not saying you are bud) We have made more progress in the last 4 years than anyone could have reasonably expected. Each class better than the last...and our bluechip % on roster has steadily increased as well. We should be excited for the future IMO. Not upset. Just my opinion though. I understand that.

 

[GVol1966]

I can’t wait for these playoff games to be done with so we can get in on who we really after.

That’s the spirit!!

 

[Christian Lowe]

I think 8-4 or 9-3 is reality next year. We are gonna be young at Oline, LB, Dline backups, probably Safety/Nickel and REALLY young at WR. With a very talented but young QB with only 1 season under his belt.

Keep in mind that Ole Miss and aTm both went 9-3 this year after spending BIG money in the portal and having talented rosters. SC also went 9-3 with the 2 best sack leaders at bookends on their Dline...and a very experienced and solid defense like ours.

If we are smart, we are laying the groundwork for 2026 and gonna spend more in the portal after NEXT season to fill in holes with top shelf players for Nicos junior year when all these WRs, linemen, 5 young LBs etc have more experience. Will be McCoys junior year too. Next season is a lost cause for the playoffs IMO. Making the 12 team tournament is a pipe dream we dont have the roster to accomplish yet at least. If our fanbase goes into 2025 thinking we are gonna make a playoff run, those folks are gonna be very disappointed when they shouldnt be. It means they dont understand our roster. We just signed a 2025 class where about half of them are top 300 players. They are gonna be freshmen next season though. 2025 is a reloading, teaching type year. Experience will be the main thing next season...for about 20 very talented 18 and 19 year old kids. It is what it is.

This program was a damn dumpster fire 4 years ago...and yet some people are acting like a 9-3 or 8-4 season is the end of the world. (Not saying you are bud) We have made more progress in the last 4 years than anyone could have reasonably expected. Each class better than the last...and our bluechip % on roster has steadily increased as well. We should be excited for the future IMO. Not upset. Just my opinion though. I understand that.

The 8-4 rebuild year wouldn’t be that bad. It’s the 6-6 or 7-5 disaster that worries me, not so much for next season itself but for what comes after.

I think a Milton’s 2023 type season is most likely next year unless we have a portal explosion, though.

But the wheels can fall off fast, it might just be the off season into 2017 setting off some BVS.

 

[OrangeMoundTNVol]

Matthews leaving hurts bad, can’t lie. Knew we should’ve played him more dammit

 

[marcusluvsvols]

To be fair this kind of **** happens at 4A, 5A and 6A schools depending on the state. It doesn’t really happen at lower levels. There’s nepotism at lower levels, not so much recruiting like the big time high schools do

Yep. The powerhouse schools in the highest classifications recruit.

Also at the private schools here in Charlotte, in Knoxville etc. They give scholarships to the best athletes in order to get them. Some even arrange other parents or players to drive the kids to and from school as well because private schools dont run buses all over the city like public schools do. Its like an arms race...bragging rights on the line between the top 3 private schools here in Charlotte. I say private...they have names like Charlotte Christian, Charlotte Catholic etc but they arent really Christian schools except in name. They are rich kid schools that cost as much per year as a state university unless you're an athlete on scholarship. I put both my kids through much smaller Christian schools that were actually Christ centered. Totally different environment.

 

[marcusluvsvols]

The 8-4 rebuild year wouldn’t be that bad. It’s the 6-6 or 7-5 disaster that worries me, not so much for next season itself but for what comes after.

I think a Milton’s 2023 type season is most likely next year unless we have a portal explosion, though.

But the wheels can fall off fast, it might just be the off season into 2017 setting off some BVS.

Im with you 100%. On all that.

 

[tnvols72]

 

[Midas]

Matthews leaving hurts bad, can’t lie. Knew we should’ve played him more dammit

He hasn’t left yet. They’re negotiating apparently. He just had to put the paperwork in in case he doesn’t get what he wants. All this according to AP, King, Dascoop etc.

 

[OrangeMoundTNVol]

He hasn’t left yet. They’re negotiating apparently. He just had to put the paperwork in in case he doesn’t get what he wants. All this according to AP, King, Dascoop etc.

Please let this be the case, or spring practice will be a waste for Nico with no WRs to throw to that will play meaningful reps next season.

 

[Mullins2010]

 

[JacketVol]

Here’s a thought, quit getting so offended by someone disagreeing on a message board lol

Rocktopper and I are fine

Go to the FF and see plenty. I’m nit offended. It is silly.

 

[Midas]

Please let this be the case, or spring practice will be a waste for Nico with no WRs to throw to that will play meaningful reps next season.

Apparently they didn’t have time to go over the details of his contract tonight and it should be worked out over the next couple of days. So hopefully they get it done before he starts seriously speaking with other teams.

 

[rocktopper16]

He didn’t leave. Our media is about as dumb as your local gas station crackhead.

 

[OrangeMoundTNVol]

Apparently they didn’t have time to go over the details of his contract tonight and it should be worked out over the next couple of days. So hopefully they get it done before he starts seriously speaking with other teams.

Got to get this one done, he’s WR1 with true freshman as backups. I’m excited for the youth movement but man Pope’s room is thin. Give Mike whatever he wants