I don’t really want to put a win total # on this staff for year one. We’re not going to be very good and we have have 0 wiggle room for injuries. We’ve been pretty lucky injury wise the last few years so probably just a matter of time before the bug bites us. Here’s what i want to see:
1. Win or close losses in 10/12 games. I can stomach a couple of blowouts specifically to bama and Georgia but we need to be in every other game.
2. Creativity on offense and less rotation on the OL and really just in general. Same thing for position switching. They haven’t done any so far which is what JH said and i like it. I think there’s a few good candidates tho for switches.
3. Build recruiting momentum specifically in the summer before the season. Camps can start June 1st and apparently this staff has a couple big things planned and a couple new concepts like when top golf comes to neyland.
4. I want to see more man and man free defenses and mix up our pressures. We were way too vanilla on defense the last two years.
First off - thanks for this post. Agree with all.
1. Stay in the fight even in the blow-outs. If Arky can do it as they did last season - we better do it even better. Time to stop rolling over. Real Vols don't quit during games - ever.
2. We have always agreed on this one. Do your thing your way. Also - players have positions that fit them naturally. CJH knows this as he has said it. A few may need switching to find the natural fit. Most found it during HS. A quality O-lineman may find a position he plays better in college better than what he was in HS (Cade), but he is still an O-lineman and not a D-lineman. A natural receiver may have also played CB or S in HS, but he is still a natural receiver (Taylor). That sort of thing. If they play their natural positions, then it's all about improved technique and physical development instead of eliminating past habits and learning fundamentals where they have to think before acting. If the recruit wants to play a position that he is not naturally suited to play in the scheme/system - don't recruit him (Crouch). It causes a ripple effect of negativity for all involved. This one drives me bananas because it starts at the decision to recruit or not. We loved JJ as a WR and a HS QB. Great moments here. But, where would he be today if he had been developed at S in HS (where he also played) and college? Because that was his natural position.
3. 100%. Too early to freak out about recruiting. Let them do their thing.
4. 100%. Never thought that would happen with the supposed D-gurus we had as coaches on that side of the ball. It did.
My additions -
5. Find a leader QB with whom the players will go to war and pick him up when he gets knocked down. He doesn't have to be the most talented (see Tee Martin). Have the next leader at QB developed and ready to step in every season.
6. Related to #1. Redevelop what it means to be a Tennessee Vol. I have not seen that consistently for a very long time. You can have whatever system you choose to have - but the tradition of the program should be drilled into the kids as it is at Bama, UGA, UF, LSU, aTm, etc. We have our own that was trashed starting with Kiffin and his USCw BS. None of the coaches since Fulmer have full vested in it. Kiffin - USCw, Dools - UGA, Botch - Kelly's Big East model, Cornbread - Bama. I like that CJH is not bringing Okie's to us. I like that he has made his own way since his unjustified firing from his alma mater employer. I like that he jumped into a dumpster fire to put it out and understands our great tradition. I like that he wants to do it his way that is new and creative, yet, ties it to the Volunteer way. I plan to give him all the space and time he needs as long as the program trends in the right direction and I see these 6 points in play. Rooting for him, the staff and the players.
