Talent Gap Between UT and Bama

#1
DiderotsGhost

DiderotsGhost

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#1
This hardly a big secret, but I thought I'd post the numbers just to show the dramatic differences in talent between UT and Bama this year. Mind you, even compared to other top SEC programs, Bama blows everyone away. This likewise doesn't include attrition, which has likely been higher at UT than Bama.

This is according to Rivals, with the format being: Team, Ranking, Average Star Rating.

2010
Alabama, #5, 3.62
Georgia, #15, 3.42
LSU, #6, 3.59
Florida, #2, 3.89
Auburn, #4, 3.50
Tennessee, #9, 3.44

2011
Alabama, #1, 3.91
Georgia, #5, 3.58
LSU, #6, 3.64
Florida, #12, 3.58
Auburn, #7, 3.63
Tennessee, #13, 3.41

2012
Alabama, #1, 3.77
Georgia, #12, 3.47
LSU, #18, 3.36
Florida, #3, 3.70
Auburn, #10, 3.62
Tennessee, #17, 3.38

2013
Alabama, #1, 3.91
Georgia, #12, 3.48
LSU, #6, 3.73
Florida, #4, 3.59
Auburn, #8, 3.57
Tennessee, #21, 3.19


Average 4-Year Stats
Team, Avr Ranking, Avr Star Rating

Alabama, 2.00, 3.80
Georgia, 11.00, 3.49
LSU, 9.00, 3.58
Florida, 5.25, 3.69
Auburn, 7.25, 3.58
Tennessee, 15.00, 3.36


When it comes to talent, it appears there is no SEC team that even comes close to Alabama. Bama's average recruiting ranking for four years is 2.00; the best in college football. Likewise, average star rating is 3.80. The closest teams outside the SEC are probably Texas, Ohio State, and Florida State.

Florida is closest in the SEC with average ranking at 5.25 and avr star rating at 3.69. Tennessee is down at 15.00 average recruiting ranking, and 3.36 average star rating. Even though those aren't bad numbers, it's still a far cry from where Bama is at.

We know Bama has one of the best coaching staffs in America. In order to be competitive with them again, we're probably going to have to bring in about 3 or 4 great recruiting classes. This year's haul looks like it will put us somewhere near 3.60 average star rating and somewhere from #3 - #8 overall. It's a great start, but we'll have to get at least two more classes, I think, to really start competing with Bama.

Good news is that I think this year's class (if it holds together) is good enough to at least get us competitive again within the SEC East. If we end up grabbing Josh Malone, we could end up with one of the spectacular wide receiving corps in college football (welcome back "Wide Receiver U"!) We still have a long way to go, but IMO, we're ahead of schedule.
 
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#2
#2
It's hard to reconcile an average ranking of 15 with the on the field performance over the past 4 years. It prooves we had a run of some the worst coaching and development in the history of the game.
 
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#3
#3
Definitely have not had ANY player development under Kiffin and Dooley.

One must also factor in that the "Kiffin Class" of 2010 is almost universally considered as the greatest Epic Fail class in the history of NCAA football.
 
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#4
#4
As long as these great recruits keep coming we should be fun to watch and competitive by 2015. Just like coach Jones says it's a process.
 
#5
#5
Still can't believe we had Patterson, Hunter and Bray and couldn't at least go to a bowl game. That is some sorry coaching right there.
 
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#6
#6
JCP201 said:
Still can't believe we had Patterson, Hunter and Bray and couldn't at least go to a bowl game. That is some sorry coaching right there.
Click to expand...

Plus Rivera and an O-line that will be in the NFL next season. They scored 35 points a game and still had a losing record. Dools was just awful and the experience with Kiffin was just as bad.
 
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#7
#7
VolunteerHillbilly said:
It's hard to reconcile an average ranking of 15 with the on the field performance over the past 4 years. It prooves we had a run of some the worst coaching and development in the history of the game.
Click to expand...

The biggest difference is the # of highly rate players who have remained at Bama and the the # of highly rated players who have NOT stayed at Tennessee. Bama is playing with a team full of seniors, many of whom are 5 year seniors.
 
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#8
#8
We're still pretty much missing a whole class because of Kiffin.. We're one of the youngest teams in the SEC, and it will still be that way next year although with a lot more talent. It's a process. Laying those bricks.. 2015 and beyond should be fun if we keep recruiting at this level.
 
#9
#9
In reality, North is probably the only skill player UT has that would start at Bama. We might have one or three or four players on D that would see time there. That tells you all you need to know.
 
#11
#11
Lexvol said:
In reality, North is probably the only skill player UT has that would start at Bama. We might have one or three or four players on D that would see time there. That tells you all you need to know.
Click to expand...
Yeah that's true.. They just have it going right now. You don't have to match their talent to beat them though. Just need to catch them at the right time, Saturday wasn't that time..
 
#13
#13
Lexvol said:
In reality, North is probably the only skill player UT has that would start at Bama. We might have one or three or four players on D that would see time there. That tells you all you need to know.
Click to expand...

I am not sure North would start at Bama this year. He would be a red shirt.
 
#15
#15
VolunteerHillbilly said:
It's hard to reconcile an average ranking of 15 with the on the field performance over the past 4 years. It prooves we had a run of some the worst coaching and development in the history of the game.
Click to expand...

Yup, Spurrier has recruited close to us but developed better
 
#16
#16
Not trying to bash the OP, but I love these threads that completely ignore player developement and attrition. They couldnt mean any less.

Kids leave. Kids switch positions. Some kids out work other kids. Some kids arn't taught well and/or can't adjust.

Recruiting rankings are nice, but a lot can happen in 4 years.
 
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#17
#17
Vols4us said:
Plus Rivera and an O-line that will be in the NFL next season. They scored 35 points a game and still had a losing record. Dools was just awful and the experience with Kiffin was just as bad.
Click to expand...

More specifically, Dooley stupidly hired Sunseri which was the worst DC hire possibly in the history of football. If you score 35 ppg then you should be competing for championships... not worried about making the Music City Bowl.
 
#18
#18
Bama has a wide separation from everyone else. Wide enough in most cases to prevent "development" and coaching from completely closing the gap.

They likely win out. Barring a let down, they probably beat everyone else they play in the SEC badly also.

A match up between their D and Oregon's O would be a lot of fun to watch.
 
#19
#19
It more about moving forward... Look at this years player decelopment..

Sutton
North
Vereen
Obrien
Saulsberry...

2014 recruiting has a much higher baseline therefore the should have a early significant impact
 
#20
#20
Biopsyman said:
It more about moving forward... Look at this years player decelopment..

Sutton
North
Vereen
Obrien
Saulsberry...

2014 recruiting has a much higher baseline therefore the should have a early significant impact
Click to expand...

Player development this year has been incredible! You look at our 2013 class, and it was (on paper) one of the weaker ones, but we've already seeing a lot of contributors. I've been particularly impressed by North's progress. At the beginning of season, he looked a bit lost on routes, but he's turned into a stud very, very fast!

That makes me hopeful that Butch can do a lot with this 2014 class!
 
#21
#21
TBtheGBwiththeTD said:
Not trying to bash the OP, but I love these threads that completely ignore player developement and attrition. They couldnt mean any less.

Kids leave. Kids switch positions. Some kids out work other kids. Some kids arn't taught well and/or can't adjust.

Recruiting rankings are nice, but a lot can happen in 4 years.
Click to expand...

Not to mention, but if everything holds true to form, UT has 3-5 built in losses per year based on those numbers.

UT can have top 15 recruiting classes and be in the lower half of the SEC.
 
#22
#22
Boca Vol said:
Not to mention, but if everything holds true to form, UT has 3-5 built in losses per year based on those numbers.

UT can have top 15 recruiting classes and be in the lower half of the SEC.
Click to expand...

Someone will break the Saban code.

Jones has a system and is recruiting very well. He doesn't come in with a ton of recruiting credibility. Unlike Saban, just his interest in a player won't cause them to get a ratings bump.... right now. In two years we will know if he's UT's answer to Saban.

You don't necessarily have to equal Bama in talented depth. You can afford to be a little lighter on the depth as long as you have a system that causes them problems and can put a quality two deep on the field to run it.

TAM will continue to cause Bama problems without necessarily becoming the recruiting king. They will recruit very well and have a system that seems to give Bama fits.
 
#23
#23
VolunteerHillbilly said:
It's hard to reconcile an average ranking of 15 with the on the field performance over the past 4 years. It prooves we had a run of some the worst coaching and development in the history of the game.
Click to expand...

Or--it could mean that we play in THE TOUGHEST conference against THE TOUGHEST teams year in and year out....and are actually recruiting at a level much lower than the FL, UGA, Bama, LSU, Auburn, USCe, etc...etc....

That with a lack of coaching ability DOES ACTUALLY reconcile our poor performance on the field over the last 4 years.:salute:
 
#24
#24
sjt18 said:
More specifically, Dooley stupidly hired Sunseri which was the worst DC hire possibly in the history of football. If you score 35 ppg then you should be competing for championships... not worried about making the Music City Bowl.
Click to expand...

Yeah Sunseri was a freakin JOKE! That's how we didn't make a bowl.
 
#25
#25
VOLINVONORE said:
The biggest difference is the # of highly rate players who have remained at Bama and the the # of highly rated players who have NOT stayed at Tennessee. Bama is playing with a team full of seniors, many of whom are 5 year seniors.
Click to expand...


In the course of Saturday's broadcast, they mentioned that 'bama has seven fifth-year seniors. When you have players entrenched in a system where there is stability in the coaching ranks and where everyone is committed to the pursuit of championships, players are far less prone to bolt at the first opportune moment for the NFL. If anything, Butch will, over time, breed a deeper sense of commitment to the program than what we have seen at Alabama, due to the way Butch treats his players, compared to the cold-as-ice persona of Saban.
 
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