Recruiting Forum: Football Talk XI

#11,751
#11,751
mreynoldsdvm said:
Interesting convo...only 2 I would change is Elder and Stripling.

Stripling - strong buy (resume speaks for itself)
Elder - buy (had nothing to work with at TE position, and special teams, minus Auburn game, were vastly improved)
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I like Stripling but our DL regressed last year and maybe it was because we had Brewer and Sapp backing them up or because that line has never been good. I expect improvement this year but mostly because of the guys backing them up. I think Strip needs some time and we need a really good class of SEC defensive tackles.

I was wishwashy about Elder and it was because of the Auburn game. We had good success all year but I think Gus figure out the key to our success and took it away from us and we got burned. I hope Mark learns from that and develops some contingencies. As far as talent at the TE position I think he's loaded now so I'm looking for good things.

My favorite coach who I'd really hate to work for because of his toughness is Gillespie. I think he's first rate and maybe our best position coach and Martinez is a close second. I'm also really impressed with Lawson. Clearly Thig is a recruiting genius and that alone wins in my book given where we are but honestly I don't know how to assess his coaching skills at the LB position.

As to the coordinators if Bajakian puts a competent QB on the field this year I'd upgrade him to a buy just for that. He's the QB coach and he has 3 guys that were rated 4 stars by at least one service. Fair or not, in a league where Maty Mauk and Pat Robinette can be productive I think Coach Jake ought to be able to figure this out. I think both he and Jancek had their hands tied to some extent last season but I don't know if that was the best that could've been done with what they had.

I would have a personality clash with Azzanni and as a professional I'm always leary when some hotshot comes along and wants to use his own unique approach for doing a pretty standardized job. I don't prevent it but I keep an eye on it to make sure it works for the larger picture. I actually prefer to let people do their job their way...as long as it fits with everything else. I do have issues with self-promotion though and maybe it's because I'm too much like Azzanni from a personality standpoint. I've learned in some circumstances it's better to keep certain aspects of my personality in check. I don't think he's learned that yet but when he does he will imo be more universally successful.

Mahoney has a touch job this year. Last year we arguably underperformed expecations with his position group. I compared our projected starters this year to Mizzou's using the 247 composite and we're more talented. We have a JUCO. They have a transfer from Ole Miss. We have a freshman at RT and we don't have their depth so that's their edge. I think barring injury we should be fine on Mahoney's side of the ball this year but only time will tell.

I hope Butch stays with us for 30 years. If he does it's going to be one helluva ride but I'm not yet convinced we have the best coaching staff in the country. I'm like Kyle Phillips. I want to see some more improvement before I spread raises around to everybody but there are some guys I would really hate to lose.
 
#11,752
#11,752
ChattaTNVol said:
I don't know if we can get away with this subject but I'm curious how people here feel about our coaches top to bottom. We talked a lot about our talent and the position groups but it may be taboo to talk about our coaches. I'm a trader so I'm suggesting the use of broker recommendations for expressing one's opinion/present assessment of our coaches at this point. The recommendations are Strong Buy, Buy, Hold, Sell, Strong Sell. I'm looking at their resume, their first year performance with us, and the immediate challenge before them.

Jones = Strong Buy
Bajakian - Hold
Gillespie - Strong Buy
Mahoney - Hold
Azzanni - Buy
Elder - Hold
Jancek - Hold
Striping - Buy
Thigpen - Strong Buy
Martinez - Strong Buy
Lawson - Strong Buy
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the only ones I am not in a wait and see mode on are jones and thigpen - our only real true success to this point has been in recruiting and those are the 2 imo most responsible

now I am hopeful that with greater talent a lot of these others guys will show as good coaches but those are the only 2 i am 100% buying at this point
 
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#11,753
#11,753
UTProf said:
Bball forum is about to get even more unbearable. Basilio is reporting Hubbs is expected to seek his release later this week. That's the only one that really hurts, imo. And while I normally take Basilio with a grain of salt he has been fairly accurate calling basketball news. This news doth suck.
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Cuonzo brainwashed these idiots. So your willing to effect your career because you only think there is one coach good enough to coach you? Two years( counting this yr) of sitting on the bench if he transfers. He think he just going to show out his jr year and be all pro?
 
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#11,754
#11,754
Ranking the SEC West's Toughest College Football Schedules in 2014 | AthlonSports.com

Tennessee gets little respect. In the Ole Miss analysis, the Vandy game is considered "tricky" while the Tennessee game is called a "breather."

At least in the Bama section Tennessee is referred to as a former powerhouse, but these guys say Alabama catches a break with that annual matchup.

Hope we start proving the doubters wrong soon.
 
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#11,755
#11,755
ChattaTNVol said:
My favorite coach who I'd really hate to work for because of his toughness is Gillespie. I think he's first rate and maybe our best position coach and Martinez is a close second. I'm also really impressed with Lawson. Clearly Thig is a recruiting genius and that alone wins in my book given where we are but honestly I don't know how to assess his coaching skills at the LB position.
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Very much agreed on Gillespie. He's an excellent backs coach who knows first-hand what it was like to get gutted by a powerful Tennessee running attack back in the day.

As for Thig, I think his actual coaching skills get overshadowed by his elite recruiting skills, but anyone who can turn a former 2-star and a converted DB/shortstop into passable SEC linebackers is okay in my book. I think when we get restocked with talent at LB we'll probably discover that much like a few other coaches he's, if not elite, a reliably solid coach.
 
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#11,756
#11,756
Nashvegas31 said:
Cuonzo brainwashed these idiots. So your willing to effect your career because you only think there is one coach good enough to coach you? Two years( counting this yr) of sitting on the bench if he transfers. He think he just going to show out his jr year and be all pro?
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Same thing happened when Pearl was hired. I don't know if Cuonzo did anything or not (I doubt it - I'd say those closer to home are more responsible than Martin because we won't be playing against Martin any time soon - e.g. Memphis isn't an SEC school and they'd gain from transfers as would others and SEC foes would be happy to see our guys disappear as it is good for them to try and weaken us even though they wouldn't pick them up). I find it strange news broke on Vandy boards but remember they're an SEC foe and their coach was a teammate of Martin - would be easy for him to negative recruit just to try and get players to leave.

Like the transition from Buzz to Bruce we're talking about a very different systems and that transition produced comparable transfers. It may be as simple as Thompson and Davis may not feel they fit in. Hubbs I don't understand but that trio is close - they're kinda they're own circle and closer to one another than the rest of the team. Really you can tell by their comments that they're unsure even about leaving which makes me think someone is negative recruiting them to get them to leave. I would think if it was really Martin they'd have left a lot sooner.
 
#11,757
#11,757
I’m told Howard has appeared before the player staff at least once before and was given some forceful feedback about his commitment to football. The group even referenced a few messages on his Twitter account that they didn’t feel reflected positively on him or the team.

Even so, Jones said Monday night that he “just” got off the phone with Howard, and he seemed far more open to his return than he did this spring.
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Butch Jones putting Pig Howard decision in hands of 'player staff' | Evan's Eleven
 
#11,760
#11,760
UTProf said:
Same thing happened when Pearl was hired. I don't know if Cuonzo did anything or not (I doubt it - I'd say those closer to home are more responsible than Martin because we won't be playing against Martin any time soon - e.g. Memphis isn't an SEC school and they'd gain from transfers as would others and SEC foes would be happy to see our guys disappear as it is good for them to try and weaken us even though they wouldn't pick them up). I find it strange news broke on Vandy boards but remember they're an SEC foe and their coach was a teammate of Martin - would be easy for him to negative recruit just to try and get players to leave.

Like the transition from Buzz to Bruce we're talking about a very different systems and that transition produced comparable transfers. It may be as simple as Thompson and Davis may not feel they fit in. Hubbs I don't understand but that trio is close - they're kinda they're own circle and closer to one another than the rest of the team. Really you can tell by their comments that they're unsure even about leaving which makes me think someone is negative recruiting them to get them to leave. I would think if it was really Martin they'd have left a lot sooner.
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Vandy folks may have caught wind of it quickly because of Thompson being from Murfreesboro. I am sure there are Vandy folks who are around the area and Blackmon, in particular. Just suggesting that.

I questioned some of Bruce's early moves, and I learned from that mistake. You just have to be patient and see how it all unfolds. However, there wasn't nearly as much change with Bruce. It helped Bruce that Watson, Patterson, Bradshaw, and maybe even Jujuan Smith were all upper classmen. I am sure they didn't want to sit out that late in their careers. Also, Lofton did consider a transfer, but Bruce smoothed that over. With our current squad consisting of mostly young players, it isn't surprising. But, Tyndall needs to find a way to hold onto Hubbs. He would be the focal point of the offense, and Tyndall's style fits him.
 
#11,761
#11,761
VolGee4 said:
Vandy folks may have caught wind of it quickly because of Thompson being from Murfreesboro. I am sure there are Vandy folks who are around the area and Blackmon, in particular. Just suggesting that.

I questioned some of Bruce's early moves, and I learned from that mistake. You just have to be patient and see how it all unfolds. However, there wasn't nearly as much change with Bruce. It helped Bruce that Watson, Patterson, Bradshaw, and maybe even Jujuan Smith were all upper classmen. I am sure they didn't want to sit out that late in their careers. Also, Lofton did consider a transfer, but Bruce smoothed that over. With our current squad consisting of mostly young players, it isn't surprising. But, Tyndall needs to find a way to hold onto Hubbs. He would be the focal point of the offense, and Tyndall's style fits him.
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Probably. It's just odd that no one else had word but we're still a small town kinda state in terms of gossip/word traveling fast.

I don't think Tyndall has any blame here transfers are all too common in basketball and have grown even more common the last decade but I agree he has to go all out to keep Hubbs. Also, Tyndall says he's watched all the tape and is very impressed with Richardson. He also said that Moore fit his system well.
 
#11,762
#11,762
UTProf said:
Probably. It's just odd that no one else had word but we're still a small town kinda state in terms of gossip/word traveling fast.

I don't think Tyndall has any blame here transfers are all too common in basketball and have grown even more common the last decade but I agree he has to go all out to keep Hubbs. Also, Tyndall says he's watched all the tape and is very impressed with Richardson. He also said that Moore fit his system well.
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I like to hear that about Richardson and Moore. The thought of Richardson, Moore, and Hubbs in a more uptempo style is exciting to think about.
 
#11,763
#11,763
Quick football note, more to come

Brent and I have been working to nail down what Jason Carr has determined regarding his future at Tennessee, amd close to a half-dozen sources on campus have indicated to us Carr is heading home to Memphis and not expected to return to the Vols' football program. Carr, we are told, is examining his future and does not believe he wants to play along the offensive rather than defensive line, as he was switched late in spring camp after being ineffective along the defensive front.

Will ask Butch Jones about Carr's status tonight in Nashville
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-John Brice
 
#11,766
#11,766
Ron Swanson said:
-John Brice
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watican.jpg
 
#11,767
#11,767
Not optimal about Carr. But if he wasn't really gonna contribute then it is what it is. We have jettisoned so much touted talent over the last few years. It's frustrating
 
#11,771
#11,771
NashVOL93 said:
I take it Dools was recruiting him as a 3-4 end. That's a damn shame he couldn't get his head wrapped around any other position. He was highly recruited out of HS.
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I don't think this has anything to do with it

he could have easily fit this scheme - just seems as if he wasnt cutting it for whatever reason

it sucks to lose the guys that are really good like janzen and darick and adouglas - but this wasn't Carr - he was supposed to be good coming out of HS and just never could cut it - if he can't make this DT depth chart then we really shouldnt be mourning his loss imo
 
#11,772
#11,772
Hate losing Carr the kid look like a beast. I hate that he didn't get on the field. I hope he finds his way and gets a chance to shine some where. Hopefully not against UT.
 
#11,774
#11,774
... let's just take all OL and DL next class. The bright side is we get another spot for next year yes?
 
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