Recruiting Forum Football Talk VI

[Weezer]

So did the 2nd signing day come and go for the Vols in a whimper?

As was expected. We did our work in the early signing period.

 

[volinbama256]

yawn..........

 

[volinbama256]

still can't believe our basketball team can perform like it has so far this season, and then will just show up randomly and can't hit the broad side of a barn the entire game... that 27.9% shooting is just baffling at this point in the season.

 

[delfonic]

A better comparison might be Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, would TN fans be happy with him in football at the moment? Because that's basically Barnes.

I would have been happy with a Harbaugh-esque football coach literally every year from 2005 until 2022.

Of course, I’m also partial to winning and understand that at the end of the year only one team hoists a championship.

 

[butchna]

In regards to the new TE coach I'm underwhelmed. Although I believe Heupel has built enough equity on the offensive side of the ball for fans to not be so skeptical about his coaching hires and decisions regarding that side of things. Pope was a great promotion and hopefully Abeln is as well.

Yeah…HOPEFULLY. Unlike Pope, there’s no buildup on this one. Pope was constantly referenced by recruits after visits BEFORE Kodi Burns departed and during that coaching search was on the recruiting trail forming relationships. Plus he had previous on-field coaching experience…albeit at a lower division level. If true, this is a culture hire all the way. I was genuinely intrigued by Pope…not so much initially with this one. If they were going to promote from within, Mitch Millitello would have been more energy based. An advantage ( if I’m REALLY looking for one) is his playing experience as an OL. It’s almost like hiring another OL coach, and I’d wager he checks into those huddles from time to time.

 

[butchna]

Thoughts of the TE coach hire? Faris from UCLA just not a good interview?

When was he interviewed?

 

[Volfan39]

I’m fine with in-house hiring on the offensive side of the ball since that’s Heupels wheel house. But if he starts doing it defensively then that’s when I would start getting worried

 

[Glitch]

Before or after he wrote three Billboard No. 1 Americana hits in the clink?

Definitely before. You gotta have that pain to crank out the hits.

 

[Devo182]

Putting together some research on RPA (since there are more case studies than IPA it seems) for work.

Has anyone had experience with implementing either at work and the potential costs and ROI?

 

[therickbol]

People didn’t think Bama could be this good in basketball and yet now 4 years in Nate has already blew past what everyone thought possible. Both in recruiting and on court. I hope he goes somewhere else and their program tanks. Can’t stand them. It’s putrid.

This Alabama team is an example of how things outside of a coach's control can be the flapping wing of the butterfly effect. Nate is a good coach. Alabama has been a good solid team since he has been there. And they would still be "only" a good solid team this year but he has one HUGE difference-maker. They are a totally different team without him. And the reason Brandon Miller is at Alabama has very little to do with Nate. He is a legacy whose dad played football there and was always going to Alabama unless the program was a disaster. How different is that team this year if Brandon Miller was a legacy at Ohio State and so he never even considered Alabama?

 

[LA Vol]

Thoughts of the TE coach hire? Faris from UCLA just not a good interview?

This was always a high-probability outcome. CJH has invested a great deal of time creating a tight group and feels that bond has allowed them to create cohesion and the kind of culture they want very quickly. He doesn't have to deal with internal distractions, keeping the focus on team goals. He moves guys up over time and grooms them for the next step, and when he has an opportunity and feels they're ready, he promotes them. He trusts his guys, and so far, it's hard to argue with the results.

 

[Johnny Majors' Ghost]

When was he interviewed?

According to VQ he was spoken to at some point about the job.

 

[RikidyBones]

Loyalty is a double-edged sword. We saw what it did to Fulmer. But I'm not really concerned here, ATM. Heupel knows what he wants on offense. That's his wheelhouse. Would a known recruiter have been better? Maybe, but are there really any super recruiters that are TE coaches? Hopefully Abeln does fine as a recruiter.

Now, if there comes a point and time where it looks like a defensive coach needs to be replaced and loyalty keeps Heupel from making a move, then I'll be concerned. But we haven't quite reached that point, yet.

Agreed that we haven't reached it yet.

 

[Weezer]

This was always a high-probability outcome. CJH has invested a great deal of time creating a tight group and feels that bond has allowed them to create cohesion and the kind of culture they want very quickly. He doesn't have to deal with internal distractions, keeping the focus on team goals. He moves guys up over time and grooms them for the next step, and when he has an opportunity and feels they're ready, he promotes them. He trusts his guys, and so far, it's hard to argue with the results.

Like I said, it's hard not to trust him on offense. He's proven himself more than capable on that side of the ball.

 

[therickbol]

Here comes the obligatory "let downs" and "underwhelmed" thoughts about the new TE coach. We just can't resist forming strong opinions about topics we have almost zero knowledge about. People mad they didn't get a SPLASH hire for the new TE coach, lol. This guy might not do a good job. I couldn't tell you anything about his coaching or recruiting style (just like nobody else on here can either). But I know CJH took his time and has a lot more facts to draw his opinion from than I do. This TE coach making or breaking our season might just be a little far fetched to me....

 

[Weezer]

Just looking at 247's recruiter rankings, it seems the highest rated TE coach was Ohio State's Kevin Wilson at #22. He's the only TE coach in the top 50 when it comes to recruiting. So, I don't think there are many powerhouse recruiting TE coaches out there. Abeln may come in and be a dynamic recruiter. Inexperience doesn't mean he won't be good at it.

 

[LA Vol]

Faris has strong connections to Knoxville and UT football, but IDT he has connections to Heupel. The offense is clicking, and they don't want to reinvent the wheel when it's rolling right along. The goal from the outset was to keep the group together and build a strong foundation in three years. They've done that in two, especially on offense, so internal promotions on that side isn't surprising. Defensive hires could be a different strategy, when the time comes.

 

[VolNash17]

This Alabama team is an example of how things outside of a coach's control can be the flapping wing of the butterfly effect. Nate is a good coach. Alabama has been a good solid team since he has been there. And they would still be "only" a good solid team this year but he has one HUGE difference-maker. They are a totally different team without him. And the reason Brandon Miller is at Alabama has very little to do with Nate. He is a legacy whose dad played football there and was always going to Alabama unless the program was a disaster. How different is that team this year if Brandon Miller was a legacy at Ohio State and so he never even considered Alabama?

We could play the what if game, so that would mean Nate would’ve gone after someone else. Probably a talented replacement judging by his recruiting. Very athletic team.

 

[therickbol]

We could play the what if game, so that would mean Nate would’ve gone after someone else. Probably a talented replacement judging by his recruiting. Very athletic team.

And they would have been good. Like I said. He is a good coach. He has good teams. His team this year is on another level and it is because of Miller. Bottom line.

 

[JCVol00]

im happy with the hire from a coaching perspective, but im worried about the recruiting perspective of it

 

[VolNash17]

And they would have been good. Like I said. He is a good coach. He has good teams. His team this year is on another level and it is because of Miller. Bottom line.

Thanks for the obvious!…

 

[scores4fun]

Senior Bowl Day 2 Standouts:
The Darnell Wright Show
Darnell Wright did a great job emulating Sewell in Wednesday’s practice. The power, the movement ability, the sheer aggression in attacking the defensive players–even in pass protection. Primarily playing right tackle, Wright absolutely dominated the 1-on-1 reps in the American team practice.
At 6-foot-5 and 342 pounds, Wright is a behemoth of a man. But he’s also, like Sewell, light on his feet and capable of making reach blocks and pulls. Generally projected as a second-round pick coming here, after what we’ve seen in Mobile you’re going to see a ton of Wright’s inclusion into the late first round of post-Senior Bowl mock drafts. And he’s earned it so far.

 

[Weezer]

im happy with the hire from a coaching perspective, but im worried about the recruiting perspective of it

Is Faris really a dynamic recruiter? Looking at his profile, it doesn't seem like he's done that well at UCLA. Abeln is inexperienced, but that doesn't mean he won't be good at it.

 

[bignewt]

I bet if you ask the team that is out there playing the games and putting in the work, it matters and counts to them...

I bet if you asked them what matters more, they would tell you a deep run in March.

 

[luthervol]

I dont think the fan base cares. Its a a March run or bust.

I think the fan base cares immensely about the regular season. Do you think attendance or TV viewership would be anywhere near the same for a 10 and 20 team compared to a 26 and 4 team?