Team Character

[Vol Main]

Success tests character, but the harder test comes with adversity. Whatever else we think about this team, we should recognize its good character. The defense got beat all over the field last Saturday, but we see no finger pointing or divisive behavior. The team remains together, steady working serious problems.

Coach Majors used to talk about players taking a gut check. This team has taken a few of those, and there will be more to come. It seems to have already taken a spirit check. The time for a major mind check is now.

 

[JimVol]

Success tests character, but the harder test comes with adversity. Whatever else we think about this team, we should recognize its good character. The defense got beat all over the field last Saturday, but we see no finger pointing or divisive behavior. The team remains together, steady working serious problems.

Coach Majors used to talk about players taking a gut check. This team has taken a few of those, and there will be more to come. It seems to have already taken a spirit check. The time for a major mind check is now.

:zeitung_lesen:

 

[AdoptedVOL]

I was unable to watch the game and could only listen to a the 2nd half. But I believe I heard someone say the offense was on the sideline talking up the D in a positive way. They are acting like a team that cares about each other and that is a good thing. I hate the D doesn't have answers but the team appears to be hanging tough.

 

[photovol]

It's a good thing there is no finger pointing because if there was it would be out of control....defense by the way is out of control....even though they do have character
Characteristically out of control

 

[pianoko]

Thank you for the positivity. We used to look like a team who had no hope.

 

[cosgrove]

Success tests character, but the harder test comes with adversity. Whatever else we think about this team, we should recognize its good character. The defense got beat all over the field last Saturday, but we see no finger pointing or divisive behavior. The team remains together, steady working serious problems.

Coach Majors used to talk about players taking a gut check. This team has taken a few of those, and there will be more to come. It seems to have already taken a spirit check. The time for a major mind check is now.

this

 

[JimVol]

I don't think I will ever forget THIS

 

[gobraves101035]

Character but no talent.. the defense that is

 

[BanditVol]

I don't think I will ever forget THIS

Caption: "Hey buddy, how's Sunseri working out for ya? Dint I tell ya he'd be great? Aight!" (then runs oft to cut some injured players from the team, yell at reporters, and pay this year's recruits or their mommas, whichever works for em).

 

[RichRollin]

I respectfully disagree. I think there's talent all over this defense. I just think the coaches suck so bad that the players look bad. THINK CLAWFENSE! Think of all the excellent football players Dave Clawson had at Tennessee. He made some really good players look really bad. Arian Foster, Hardesty, Denarius Moore, Gerald Jones, Luke Stocker. The entire o-line returned that year as well, an o-line that led the nation allowing 7 sacks the season before. Yet Dave Clawson make them all look like clowns...each and every one of them. He was just that bad.

That's what I see with Sal. These are not rag tag recruits out there. We have some pretty good ball players. We just get out schemed and our players are vastly UNDERCOACHED. Someone who knew what they were doing could take this defensive roster and turn them into a pretty good defense.

 

[BanditVol]

I respectfully disagree. I think there's talent all over this defense. I just think the coaches suck so bad that the players look bad. THINK CLAWFENSE! Think of all the excellent football players Dave Clawson had at Tennessee. He made some really good players look really bad. Arian Foster, Hardesty, Denarius Moore, Gerald Jones, Luke Stocker. The entire o-line returned that year as well, an o-line that led the nation allowing 7 sacks the season before. Yet Dave Clawson make them all look like clowns...each and every one of them. He was just that bad.

That's what I see with Sal. These are not rag tag recruits out there. We have some pretty good ball players. We just get out schemed and our players are vastly UNDERCOACHED. Someone who knew what they were doing could take this defensive roster and turn them into a pretty good defense.

Agree. We don't have top talent at all positions, but enough to be much, much better than we are. McCullers is a legit NFL prospect, and a couple others as well. Maggit, maybe even Sentimore. Not sure about the others that might be drafted, but at least a half dozen are good enough to play SEC ball, at least. Enough to have starters and some depth. We should be much better!

We got suckered by Saban IMO. He got Lance Thompson back, we got stuck with coaches he probably didn't want anyway. Or so it seems....

 

[BanditVol]

Success tests character, but the harder test comes with adversity. Whatever else we think about this team, we should recognize its good character. The defense got beat all over the field last Saturday, but we see no finger pointing or divisive behavior. The team remains together, steady working serious problems.

Coach Majors used to talk about players taking a gut check. This team has taken a few of those, and there will be more to come. It seems to have already taken a spirit check. The time for a major mind check is now.

Great post BTW. Agree 100%!

 

[JimVol]

I respectfully disagree. I think there's talent all over this defense. I just think the coaches suck so bad that the players look bad. THINK CLAWFENSE! Think of all the excellent football players Dave Clawson had at Tennessee. He made some really good players look really bad. Arian Foster, Hardesty, Denarius Moore, Gerald Jones, Luke Stocker. The entire o-line returned that year as well, an o-line that led the nation allowing 7 sacks the season before. Yet Dave Clawson make them all look like clowns...each and every one of them. He was just that bad.

That's what I see with Sal. These are not rag tag recruits out there. We have some pretty good ball players. We just get out schemed and our players are vastly UNDERCOACHED. Someone who knew what they were doing could take this defensive roster and turn them into a pretty good defense.

With Sal in the booth this week, I think we may see a different defensive situation.

I think that the defensive unit may walk out on the field asking themselves...."What did he just say?" And they are trying to figure Sal's incoherent rants on the sideline out, then they realize that the ball has been snapped and its too late.

LOL

Dooley and the Offensive unit has done a surprising good job on big O..

Maybe with DD taking over the defense this week we will see a different look from our young D.

Naa, who am I fooling....lol:

 

[BanditVol]

With Sal in the booth this week, I think we may see a different defensive situation.

I think that the defensive unit may walk out on the field asking themselves...."What did he just say?" And they are trying to figure Sal's incoherent rants on the sideline out, then they realize that the ball has been snapped and its too late.

LOL

Dooley and the Offensive unit has done a surprising good job on big O..

Maybe with DD taking over the defense this week we will see a different look from our young D.

Naa, who am I fooling....lol:

I like the positivity, but I don't see us shutting out Missouri, or even holding them below their scoring average.

Then again, you can always say Troy was a record bad day, it can't get any worse, it HAS to get better.

I hope??? :dunno:

 

[OrangeByBirth]

I respectfully disagree. I think there's talent all over this defense...

That's what I see with Sal. These are not rag tag recruits out there. We have some pretty good ball players. We just get out schemed and our players are vastly UNDERCOACHED. Someone who knew what they were doing could take this defensive roster and turn them into a pretty good defense.

While the talent level is not what you find at top schools, it is enough to be called a defense. However, this team has not earned the right to even call itself a defense.

I have been led to believe that the coaching problem is not just "who," but also "how." I looked around at other SEC coaching rosters and did not find another example of split duties in the secondary. It may be there but it was not obvious. Why is there a different coach for safeties and corners? Doesn't that alone limit the coheviseness?

I also think that they look to be playing scared. They don't attack in fear of getting burned ... so they get burned. They don't tackle ... they try to shoulder block a runner to the ground. Linebackers don't act ... they react. It's almost like they get out of position because of fear of being out of position.

I guess I would like to see a defense go play defense. Even if it means just telling 'em, "You cover #27, and you cover #88, and you go tackle the QB, and you get the TB, and you help out deep, and ..." That's pretty simple and I don't think it will lead to a shutout but might keep it below triple digits.

 

[mre1237]

Success tests character, but the harder test comes with adversity. Whatever else we think about this team, we should recognize its good character. The defense got beat all over the field last Saturday, but we see no finger pointing or divisive behavior. The team remains together, steady working serious problems.

Coach Majors used to talk about players taking a gut check. This team has taken a few of those, and there will be more to come. It seems to have already taken a spirit check. The time for a major mind check is now.

Proof that DD is a great leader , he will turn out young men that makes Tennessee proud! And with time he can win big games!

 

[RichRollin]

While the talent level is not what you find at top schools, it is enough to be called a defense. However, this team has not earned the right to even call itself a defense.

I have been led to believe that the coaching problem is not just "who," but also "how." I looked around at other SEC coaching rosters and did not find another example of split duties in the secondary. It may be there but it was not obvious. Why is there a different coach for safeties and corners? Doesn't that alone limit the coheviseness?

I also think that they look to be playing scared. They don't attack in fear of getting burned ... so they get burned. They don't tackle ... they try to shoulder block a runner to the ground. Linebackers don't act ... they react. It's almost like they get out of position because of fear of being out of position.

I guess I would like to see a defense go play defense. Even if it means just telling 'em, "You cover #27, and you cover #88, and you go tackle the QB, and you get the TB, and you help out deep, and ..." That's pretty simple and I don't think it will lead to a shutout but might keep it below triple digits.

I agree. They are dysfunctional on so many levels it's scary. I've seen Sal's type too many times....lots of loud talk but when it comes down to it, not much coaching.

Against Troy we had them backed up to the end zone with a 3rd and 17. Sal decided to load the box and leave 1 safety deep against 4-5 wide only to give up the 1st down. The safety was responsible for helping over the top, but was late getting there because he had to cover too much ground. It made the players look bad. Looked like Prentiss got burned when he really needed help over the top. Moore was 2-3 steps slow getting there. With 2 safeties he would have easily gotten there. Again...it made our DBs look "slow" and pathetic when in reality they weren't put in a position to succeed. And why Sal would have 1 safety helping deep on that play blows my mind. Perhaps he loaded the box to stop that draw play they kept doing on 3rd and longs.

Both the Clawfense and Sunseri defense are proof that having talent is only half the battle. Gotta coach'em up. Sal has yet to come close to doing so.