Recruiting Forum Football Talk XXVI

[CroKev]

Where is Elliot Berry?

Found him.

 

[Brillovol]

Weird, LittleVol said Tuttle was redshirting this year.

LittleVol knows...little?

 

[VolGee4]

I still want to see Butch and co. close out games, and I'm convinced that they will this year, but for those folks who think Jones really botched it last year in multiple games, why hasn't that been built into your expectations? If you think we should've been 10-2 at worst last year, does Bob Shoop really make that much of a difference? The buck stops at Jones, and if it's him who cost us games last year, he can do it again this year, right?

I will continue to say that Jancek cost us the UF game. A good defense makes a play, like Alabama did against us. That is one win and maybe the Arkansas game is different. It's a whole different outlook even if we go 9-3 because that would have sent us to the SECCG.

 

[WallyBalls]

I agree that most of it isn't pinned to butch, but some of it is. Our biggest defensive breakdowns at critical times all came after 3-and-outs where the offense ran vanilla plays. In the Oklahoma and Florida games, we took big leads and then went absolutely vanilla on offense. Short drives, punt, defense. Short drives, punt defense.

The defense needs a breather from the offense running a sustained drive. In the Oklahoma game, 11 of the last twelve drives were 6 plays or less. At Florida, 5 of the last 7 were 5 plays or less. We were not being effective at offense when we were ahead, and I think that is because we started playing to run out the clock rather than to move the ball. Who made that halftime decision?

That is a fair criticism and I hope it's a philosophical change they made.

My thought is that they had more trust in the defense than they did the offense last year, and overplayed that conservative philosophy.

My hope is that this year they have more faith and trust in Dobbs and the offense in second halves, and that Shoop will bring a different philosophy that allows the defense to remain appropriately aggressive at the end of games...both of which will allow them to greatly improve at closing out games.

 

[BigOrange15]

I will continue to say that Jancek cost us the UF game. A good defense makes a play, like Alabama did against us. That is one win and maybe the Arkansas game is different. It's a whole different outlook even if we go 9-3 because that would have sent us to the SECCG.

We absolutely lost two games to Florida last year.

 

[volinbama256]

It kinda seems like you're reaching to pin a lot on CBJ.

To me, the easiest breakdowns to find in the losses last year could be traced to the defense's breakdowns at critical times. By most accounts, Jones pretty well allows his DC to have a decent amount of freedom so that deficiency traces to Jancek.

He identified that deficiency, and by an almost unanimous opinion, upgraded that position in the organization with a guy who specifically addresses those shortcomings.


So no, I don't think "Jones botched it" last year, and yes, I think we will be better.

You can't deny that our staff made some mistakes last year... maybe some cost us a game... Either way, this is just as big of a test for the staff as the players this year... did they learn from their mistakes and will they be able to do a better job of managing and making adjustments during games depending on the team and personnel? We can all agree that they need to keep their foot on the accelerator every game for four quarters and not ride/hold a lead hoping time will run out...I am optimistic the criticism they received last year sunk in and we will be locked and loaded on and off the field and even in the booth... GBO!

 

[GoBigOrange86]

We absolutely lost two games to Florida last year.

And I thought after Arkansas that the wheels were about to come off. It really was a stellar job, as I and many others have said, to bounce back the way Tennessee did.

 

[VolGee4]

I agree that most of it isn't pinned to butch, but some of it is. Our biggest defensive breakdowns at critical times all came after 3-and-outs where the offense ran vanilla plays. In the Oklahoma and Florida games, we took big leads and then went absolutely vanilla on offense. Short drives, punt, defense. Short drives, punt defense.

The defense needs a breather from the offense running a sustained drive. In the Oklahoma game, 11 of the last twelve drives were 6 plays or less. At Florida, 5 of the last 7 were 5 plays or less. We were not being effective at offense when we were ahead, and I think that is because we started playing to run out the clock rather than to move the ball. Who made that halftime decision?

I agree this is fair. But the defense will consistently get off the field as well when it's more aggressive. 5 fourth down conversions just astonishes me. Shoop won't let a true freshman QB sit back and pick his spots. You make the guy guess where blitzes are coming. Just going to go back to Alabama again. They have played some ugly games over the years where their offense didn't do much. But their defense comes up with key plays to win big games.

 

[Catbone]

Tony Romo broke a bone in his back... Good luck Dak!

 

[volinbama256]

Tony Romo broke a bone in his back... Good luck Dak!

Oh snap!








see what i did there?

 

[VolinArizona]

Dan Hood said on the radio that this is the best he's seen DOB practice.

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

Dan Hood said on the radio that this is the best he's seen DOB practice.

Pardon? DOB?

 

[Ron Swanson]

VQ has said many times that O'Brien and Vickers have looked better than ever this fall camp. It's almost like they've gotten better each year. Crazy, I know.

 

[Catbone]

Pardon? DOB?

Danny O'Brien

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

Thanks. Thought maybe he meant to type Dobbs and had a typo.

 

[LotteryPick]

DOB has always been a solid contributor. He's looked really good in the practice videos too.

 

[BigOrange15]

VQ has said many times that O'Brien and Vickers have looked better than ever this fall camp. It's almost like they've gotten better each year. Crazy, I know.

You mean players can improve from year to year? GTFOH.

 

[volfanCLT]

VQ has said many times that O'Brien and Vickers have looked better than ever this fall camp. It's almost like they've gotten better each year. Crazy, I know.

 

[Glitch]

I thought that would make you go back in time?

Well SOMEBODY unplugged the flux capacitor there buddy! We had the time circuits all set for 7:15 p.m., September 1, 2016, but when we hit 88 mph all we got was a ticket! Thanks!! :wink:

 

[Ron Swanson]

You mean players can improve from year to year? GTFOH.

Unbelievable, I know. Typically if a player isn't an All-American in year 1 they're a bust but apparently they can improve. Learn something new everyday.

 

[005]

DOB has always been a solid contributor. He's looked really good in the practice videos too.

Yep. Dude can play. And we have depth to flash.

 

[Big Gucci Sosa]

 

[volfanCLT]

That game is gonna be so awesome.

 

[005]

I hope we hit that screen with punts too frequently in warm-ups and butch just decides to go for every fourth down.

 

[Brillovol]

VQ has said many times that O'Brien and Vickers have looked better than ever this fall camp. It's almost like they've gotten better each year. Crazy, I know.

1% better?