Recruiting Forum Football Talk XXX

[drvenner]

They have done a 360. Support was divided between Blackburn and Gilbert (and Blackburn had two influentials against him), so they wanted to widen the search to a longer list of national candidates. Things have changed, and now there is a sense of immediacy. They have gone back to a much shorter list. I get the sense that they have agreed in principle and will be moving quickly. IMO, Saturday's loss hurt Gilbert's chances, but no one has told me that specifically.

If Gilbert were clearly the best candidate, then I could live with it. However, he clearly is not and since he has Alabama ties, it is best not to hire him when we have other as good or better candidates.

 

[The Breakerboy]

If you could pick 1 thing that served as the lynch pin for this train wreck of a season, what would it be?

Lyles Jones

 

[99bubble]

Lyles Jones

I don't know. You're down on the guy and I get your points. IMO turnovers were the biggest culprit this year. Players hold on to the ball and we are likely 11-1. Then how do you evaluate? Tough all around.

 

[VolinArizona]

and 3 of our top 4 DTs for basically the entire season.

Just isn't remotely true.

 

[Lovesomebigorange]

Basilio is saying Butch asked for a raise and extension even after Saturdays disaster. Please tell me no one will let Dave Hart okay that on his way out the door. What the hell results does Butch think warrant this? Blackburn please come right this ship ASAP.

 

[VolinArizona]

Basilio is saying Butch asked for a raise and extension even after Saturdays disaster. Please tell me no one will let Dave Hart okay that on his way out the door. What the hell results does Butch think warrant this? Blackburn please come right this ship ASAP.

Basilio also said Butch to Oregon.

 

[Volnerd]

Basilio also said Butch to Oregon.

That came from a fake Basilio account. Basilio is goofy but not that dumb.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Basilio also said Butch to Oregon.

That was another one of those fake accounts. Slightly different spelling. Wasn't Basilio.

 

[BigZiti09]

No, but it's a significant injury, it's completely unknown when he'll be back, and he wasn't even back to his freshman year form when he got injured again. Hard for me to definitely count him as a highly productive starter right now.

You make a good point.

Do we even know what his injury was this season?

 

[Nashvegas31]

If you could pick 1 thing that served as the lynch pin for this train wreck of a season, what would it be?

Lack of discipline. Butch jones first 3 teams were some of the best in country in lack of penalties and turnovers. Not sure what happened to that thisbyear

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

First year with a new scheme and DC, takes time for the players to acclimate. Throw in that all of the defensive coaches had to learn it too. Then throw in that except for Barnett , every other important defensive player and often their primary backup was injured for a significant portion of the season. It is definitely a recipe for disaster. I think that given everything that the defense went through, it is a wonder that 8 games were won.

Yes he spent a ton of time with the AA ans All SEC players as they would in turn teach the backups...Having to also teach all the coaches makes it doubly tough. Shoop may have been the only one to see a missed concept.

Then the truly offensive prima donnas of jalen hurd and preston williams working only for themselves even to the detriment of the entire team. The OL merry go round was tough too. Trying to play key players hurt may have been the biggest faux pas. But everything can be part of the learning curve.

CBJ has taken so many positive steps forward.
Unfortunately, so many can only see the step back.
Legion is as Legion does.

Doc I wish I could get back on board, but it is not just the losing that has me pissed off. And it is not the way Butch talks. I couldn't care less what he says. It is the rigidly stubborn box the man lives in. And the fact he is snooping around for other jobs instead of focusing on doing the one he has better. That tells me where his head is at...up his dumb a**.

 

[AV_12]

If you could pick 1 thing that served as the lynch pin for this train wreck of a season, what would it be?

The return of the Sal Sunseri defense

 

[ob79]

I'm so so sorry but...I laughed

 

[bignewt]

Doc I wish I could get back on board, but it is not just the losing that has me pissed off. And it is not the way Butch talks. I couldn't care less what he says. It is the rigidly stubborn box the man lives in. And the fact he is snooping around for other jobs instead of focusing on doing the one he has better. That tells me where his head is at...up his dumb a**.

Do you have proof he is looking at other jobs or do you just want to believe that?

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

And this. Can't believe I left out the main excuse.

Florida was decimated with injuries as well. Somehow turned it into an East championship though.

Florida didn't play Bama. That is a fact. LSU rolled over for them, and Bama bulldozed us. And without the injuries and internal problems...The fact is we would have won SC and Vandy and would not all be mad as hell right now screaming Fahr Butch! That is a fact. But I'm still pissed because injuries or not, you should not he bulldozed by the Commodewhores. That is a massive embarrassment.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Looking Ahead: Tennessee Football 2017 Depth Chart First Draft - Rocky Top Talk
Junior and Senior starters across the board. Our floor should be 8-4 next season

If Butch Jones wasn't the coach I would say we have a good chance of going 10-2 and winning the East if we stay relatively healthy.

 

[MrVolton]

If you could pick 1 thing that served as the lynch pin for this train wreck of a season, what would it be?

How about a top 5:
1. If the rumors are true, Jones not completely turning over the D to Shoop; not letting him call his own shots or bring in his own guys.
2. Subpar coaching, especially on OL and DB.
3. Something is definitely up with the S & C.
4. Depth was still not where it needed to be at MLB, OT, and corner going into the season.
5. If what LWS said about Jones going soft on tackling in spring and fall camps a la Fulmer 2005 is accurate, then I believe it's certainly a factor too.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

And I love josh Dobbs but he is a liability in the passing game.

When he is forced to play QB and we aren't able to use him as a runner, our entire offense went to crap.

I believe that with improved pass protection (run blocking has not been an issue the past two years) and a qb that can pass we will not see what fans view as "inconsistent playcalling" which I think is mostly just teams being able to make Dobbs play qb.

And yet he led the SEC in almost every passing category including QB rating and TD passes.

 

[Vols4us]

Lack of discipline. Butch jones first 3 teams were some of the best in country in lack of penalties and turnovers. Not sure what happened to that thisbyear

100% agree. If this was even close to past years they would be working this week to get ready for a good game against Bama for the SEC crown and would be rated in the top 8 teams in the country.

Which comes back to the HC (Lyle) as BrB posted. He has met expectations in Seasons 2 and 3. He did not in Seasons 1 and 4. He has not exceeded expectations and any time in the W/L column. Early on he exceeded expectations in recruiting only. For the past two cycles he has not met expectations providing this one finishes similar to how it now appears. There is still time to turn that around.

For those that blame injuries, you are looking at the symptom of the current status and not the cause. The primary causes were the system, the players that were recruited, the lack of success in developing players in specific position groups, and the S&C program. All of which the HC provides and controls.

Extension and raise? If he actually asked for that he is crazier than he appears.

 

[AV_12]

Looking Ahead: Tennessee Football 2017 Depth Chart First Draft - Rocky Top Talk
Junior and Senior starters across the board. Our floor should be 8-4 next season

Offense could be good. Defense scared me at every level. Too many questions

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

If you could pick 1 thing that served as the lynch pin for this train wreck of a season, what would it be?

Cam fumbling that punt in the Appy game.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Everyone I talk to has chalked up the disappointing season to injuries and certainly we were one of the most injured team in college, especially on defense. BUT, we were 100 percent on September 1st and looked horrible, unprepared, unfocused, sloppy, right out of the gate. Appalachian State dominated us from the first snap and we were very fortunate to have won in OT. Injuries were not the issue then and now we know that game was not a fluke, unfortunately. I don't know know what the hell Butch let the players do all summer, but his decisions from S&C to camp, to personnel, etc had devastating consequences on this season from game one when injuries were not a factor. Butch should have to answer for those decisions
and tell us it will be corrected. I would respect him so much more if he would just talk like a normal person and show some emotion. Tell us that he hurts along with the team and fans and he's going to work to fix it.

Peewee league play calling was the issue in the Appy game. We could have hung 50 on them if we didn't play with one arm tied tied behind our back. The team was disinterested and because of the retarded game plan.

 

[Volscardio]

Just some food for thought for anybody saying fire Schoop. He came in and had to teach new schemes to not only players but coaches as well. Who remembers all the talk about him watching tape with Kirkland and JRM those were the guys running the defense on the field. When your trying to implement new schemes in a limited amount of time you teach it to the most important guys first then begin to go down the list. For those saying everyone has injuries that is true to an extent but buy the time we were on the third string linebackers with a new DC who is notorious on running very complex defensive schemes .How much do you think they were actually running much of schoops defense? Those guys were probably at the point to where it was just go get the football. If the backers on the field are not familiar enough to run his scheme it is just a trickle down affect from there. Hence the mass chaos we saw on defense the last few games

 

[volatil]

Do you have proof he is looking at other jobs or do you just want to believe that?

Hubbs, Fort, and Brice all but confirmed he was. No need to get bent out of shape about it. I'm sure Butch didn't pick up the phone and call these schools. His agent is being proactive. Let's be honest here, Butch knows he's at a real cross road for next season with a new AD that did not hire him.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Do you have proof he is looking at other jobs or do you just want to believe that?

No I really dont want to believe it, but I don't have to see wind to know it's blowing.