What changes would you make?

#1
V

VolTom1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2024
Messages
90
Likes
220
#1
Serious answers please. Also anyone who is saying changes should not be made are delusional, you can think no one needs to be fired, but to say "just chill bro we need talent" is absolutely insane, of course we need talent, but that does not explain why we lost to Arkansas. The truth is our coaching is an issue, not having us prepared for nearly every SEC game this year, which is why we lost to a bad Arkansas team, that ultimately kept us out of the SEC Championship game, and gave us a road game at Ohio State in the CFP. We have consistently been bad on the road and in the first half of many games. In my opinion the reason for the struggle is not play calling to our strengths, player development especially on the OL, and player discipline committing the same penalties over and over, also why cant our DB's turn their head around when defending a pass?😕
 
  • Like
Reactions: volfeeva
#3
#3
VolTom1 said:
Serious answers please. Also anyone who is saying changes should not be made are delusional, you can think no one needs to be fired, but to say "just chill bro we need talent" is absolutely insane, of course we need talent, but that does not explain why we lost to Arkansas. The truth is our coaching is an issue, not having us prepared for nearly every SEC game this year, which is why we lost to a bad Arkansas team, that ultimately kept us out of the SEC Championship game, and gave us a road game at Ohio State in the CFP. We have consistently been bad on the road and in the first half of many games. In my opinion the reason for the struggle is not play calling to our strengths, player development especially on the OL, and player discipline committing the same penalties over and over, also why cant our DB's turn their head around when defending a pass?😕
Click to expand...
Our db’s can’t turn there heads because Willie Martinez is a horrible coach
 
  • Like
Reactions: VawlIn, Gandalf, Volontario and 6 others
#4
#4
It was obvious that OSU made a number of changes to their O scheme that caught our D by surprise. Looked like our O just did the same ol same ol which they had prepared for. It either defenses have figured out this offense or we don't have the players to run it effectively. Either way I think offensive play calling has to change to match our skill sets or player evaluations are just bad.

Agree the road issues are a problem. Why we could not score in the 1st half of the games there for awhile was a strange one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: volfeeva and Smokey19rt
#6
#6
VolTom1 said:
Serious answers please. Also anyone who is saying changes should not be made are delusional, you can think no one needs to be fired, but to say "just chill bro we need talent" is absolutely insane, of course we need talent, but that does not explain why we lost to Arkansas. The truth is our coaching is an issue, not having us prepared for nearly every SEC game this year, which is why we lost to a bad Arkansas team, that ultimately kept us out of the SEC Championship game, and gave us a road game at Ohio State in the CFP. We have consistently been bad on the road and in the first half of many games. In my opinion the reason for the struggle is not play calling to our strengths, player development especially on the OL, and player discipline committing the same penalties over and over, also why cant our DB's turn their head around when defending a pass?😕
Click to expand...
Jesus dude, step away from the ledge. We don't need to start firing coaches and go back into the miserable pit of coach merry go round.
The offense didn't do as much as before because CJH did not trust Nico to make the necessary calls at the line. Remember he is just a RS freshman.

Rick Barnes has been coach for 10 years - in year 9 he finally wins the SEC and makes the sweet 16

Tony Vitello has been 7 seasons, took him 4 to get to the college world series and in the 7th to win it all

Took Pat 5 seasons to win the conference and the 8th to make the final four and 13th to win the title
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: J C Higgins and Golf freak
#8
#8
VolTom1 said:
Serious answers please. Also anyone who is saying changes should not be made are delusional, you can think no one needs to be fired, but to say "just chill bro we need talent" is absolutely insane, of course we need talent, but that does not explain why we lost to Arkansas. The truth is our coaching is an issue, not having us prepared for nearly every SEC game this year, which is why we lost to a bad Arkansas team, that ultimately kept us out of the SEC Championship game, and gave us a road game at Ohio State in the CFP. We have consistently been bad on the road and in the first half of many games. In my opinion the reason for the struggle is not play calling to our strengths, player development especially on the OL, and player discipline committing the same penalties over and over, also why cant our DB's turn their head around when defending a pass?😕
Click to expand...
 
#9
#9
VolTom1 said:
Serious answers please. Also anyone who is saying changes should not be made are delusional, you can think no one needs to be fired, but to say "just chill bro we need talent" is absolutely insane, of course we need talent, but that does not explain why we lost to Arkansas. The truth is our coaching is an issue, not having us prepared for nearly every SEC game this year, which is why we lost to a bad Arkansas team, that ultimately kept us out of the SEC Championship game, and gave us a road game at Ohio State in the CFP. We have consistently been bad on the road and in the first half of many games. In my opinion the reason for the struggle is not play calling to our strengths, player development especially on the OL, and player discipline committing the same penalties over and over, also why cant our DB's turn their head around when defending a pass?😕
Click to expand...
When you fire just one person, everyone works harder. Fire somebody.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Volbrando and OrangeBeachVol
#10
#10
I think the key indicator here is if Hype makes asst coach changes during the offseason would tell you the AD is leaning on him to do something different, if he doesn't then DW is happy with what he is doing and he makes no changes to anything. Which IMO would not be good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CSVol and Volbrando
#11
#11
I’m not a football expert but you can’t win without an O Line or D Line. It’s to the point that I wonder if this staff knows what that looks like. Start on the lines for Pete’s Sake. And find someone that can toughen them up. It’s awful watching the ball snap, Cambell stand there while the DB runs by him and all he can do next is give the QB a hand at getting up. It’s every other snap
 
#12
#12
If I'm Danny White, I have several conversations with people connected to UT football (longtime donors and football alumni) about the issues they see and distill those conversations into a few points which will probably be coaching staff issues, NIL needs, playcalling, etc.

Then I invite Coach Heupel to a private, man to man dinner and discussion at my home and ask him what he thinks he needs and tell him what I feel and what I've learned from others who care about the program.

Where they agree, they figure out what they need to do to fix those issues. Where they don't, they have a good, hard discussion and find some compromises.

Like any business: get as much info as you can about the issues, call the people responsible for area that's not performing well enough in for a talk, look for solutions together, and set a timeline for improvements.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BIGORANGEBUBBA, SFBayVol, VawlIn and 5 others
#17
#17
Martinez would be gone. He has had more than enough time and his units have been consistently inadequate.
I’m not sure replacing Ellarbee is going to accomplish much. He hasn’t had much to work with, as the OL has been under-recruited, IMO. Keeping him might help with continuity and recruits look at that.
First thing I’m doing if I’m Heupel, though, is looking in the mirror. I’m the offensive “mind”, the driver of the offense, which is what Tennessee is known for. What are we doing now philosophically on offense vs what we were doing the last few years that brought us success? How have we (I) regressed with aggressive play calling that kept defenses guessing? What can we (I) do to mask deficiencies until they can be addressed through recruiting and portal? What were our toughest opponents (UGA, OSU) doing that wrecked our offense and put pressure on our defense to get us the ball back? How can we counter that?
Stuff like that is important when it comes to getting to the playoffs vs winning playoff games. Just my .02
 
  • Like
Reactions: KELSOWAVOL
#20
#20
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
If I'm Danny White, I have several conversations with people connected to UT football (longtime donors and football alumni) about the issues they see and distill those conversations into a few points which will probably be coaching staff issues, NIL needs, playcalling, etc.

Then I invite Coach Heupel to a private, man to man dinner and discussion at my home and ask him what he thinks he needs and tell him what I feel and what I've learned from others who care about the program.

Where they agree, they figure out what they need to do to fix those issues. Where they don't, they have a good, hard discussion and find some compromises.

Like any business: get as much info as you can about the issues, call the people responsible for area that's not performing well enough in for a talk, look for solutions together, and set a timeline for improvements.
Click to expand...
Well stated. 👍👏👏👏
That would be an excellent start.
 
#22
#22
I would make 5 changes:

1) I would find a true LT, move heard to RG or RT. I don't believe this is an option, but a necessity. We don't have a backup option for Heard and he is just a liability. I think if Karic is granted the waiver we will have Heard/Sanders on RT and Karic at LG. We have plenty of options including Moe at RG/C. We juat need to solidify the LT which will not be a cheap option.

2) For this offense to work: I think we need Branch or someone like him to take the top off. Think about Hyatt and why he was so effective. We had Tillman as an option and then Hyatts speed . We have Matthews/Staley and Staes as middle of the field options, but we lack a deep speed threat.

3) We need a Coverage safety. We got killed when OSU put Smith in the Slot and by the Wheel routes. Why did this happen? McCoy would line up on the outside routes and if we had Arion Carter or a Strong Safety cover Ebuka or Smith it was exploited. The results speak for itself.

4) We need some continuity on the Coaching staff. If Garner moves to the Off the field role as promised then Chop moves to the Field and we keep moving on. The rest of the coaching staff on the defensive side is good. I feel there is a couple of questions on the offensive side. I just don't know what is the player and what is the coach. It make me nervous about the can of worms we open if we replace someone....I don't know how great Iamaleave was...he was a redshirt freshman so it was some immaturity but his progressions reads were lacking. Is that a need for a separate QB coach then a combo of the OC, I am not sure. Does Heupel call the plays and not have as much of a co-play calling with Hazle and instead it's more of a that is what we are going to do attitude...I am just not sure? The BIG QUESTION is Ellerbe. He has been good and suspect in the same season. We have plenty of transfers who have been starters and the play has been decent but I just don't know what the development level is. I don't have the answer for this. Maybe we hire Atkins as an analyst to help out. I just think there are plenty of qualified people who can talk alot better on this subject.

5) Most importantly: we need to decide what program we are. We need to decide when CJH comes in and says we need to be a 25-30 million dollar program to satisfy the needs; what is the consensus reaction. Can we outspend Ohio State or Alabama on a position? We lost yesterday to a 25 million dollar program. If we are 18 million dollar program; you see what 7+ million will get you. Of course there is a Boise State or Arizona State, but fortunately we are in SEC which doesn't allow us to beat teams such as Utah State and Air Force and get a bye in the CFP. We need to spend, have a commitment level every year that is similar to Texas, UGA and Bama and we will start leaving CFP games happier.

I am nothing but proud to be a VFL and I paid way too much money to go to sit in the cold at yesterday's game. Just get excited for the future....
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigOrangeTrain, 09dunbar, Gandalf and 3 others
#24
#24
LIvol said:
I would make 5 changes:

1) I would find a true LT, move heard to RG or RT. I don't believe this is an option, but a necessity. We don't have a backup option for Heard and he is just a liability. I think if Karic is granted the waiver we will have Heard/Sanders on RT and Karic at LG. We have plenty of options including Moe at RG/C. We juat need to solidify the LT which will not be a cheap option.

2) For this offense to work: I think we need Branch or someone like him to take the top off. Think about Hyatt and why he was so effective. We had Tillman as an option and then Hyatts speed . We have Matthews/Staley and Staes as middle of the field options, but we lack a deep speed threat.

3) We need a Coverage safety. We got killed when OSU put Smith in the Slot and by the Wheel routes. Why did this happen? McCoy would line up on the outside routes and if we had Arion Carter or a Strong Safety cover Ebuka or Smith it was exploited. The results speak for itself.

4) We need some continuity on the Coaching staff. If Garner moves to the Off the field role as promised then Chop moves to the Field and we keep moving on. The rest of the coaching staff on the defensive side is good. I feel there is a couple of questions on the offensive side. I just don't know what is the player and what is the coach. It make me nervous about the can of worms we open if we replace someone....I don't know how great Iamaleave was...he was a redshirt freshman so it was some immaturity but his progressions reads were lacking. Is that a need for a separate QB coach then a combo of the OC, I am not sure. Does Heupel call the plays and not have as much of a co-play calling with Hazle and instead it's more of a that is what we are going to do attitude...I am just not sure? The BIG QUESTION is Ellerbe. He has been good and suspect in the same season. We have plenty of transfers who have been starters and the play has been decent but I just don't know what the development level is. I don't have the answer for this. Maybe we hire Atkins as an analyst to help out. I just think there are plenty of qualified people who can talk alot better on this subject.

5) Most importantly: we need to decide what program we are. We need to decide when CJH comes in and says we need to be a 25-30 million dollar program to satisfy the needs; what is the consensus reaction. Can we outspend Ohio State or Alabama on a position? We lost yesterday to a 25 million dollar program. If we are 18 million dollar program; you see what 7+ million will get you. Of course there is a Boise State or Arizona State, but fortunately we are in SEC which doesn't allow us to beat teams such as Utah State and Air Force and get a bye in the CFP. We need to spend, have a commitment level every year that is similar to Texas, UGA and Bama and we will start leaving CFP games happier.

I am nothing but proud to be a VFL and I paid way too much money to go to sit in the cold at yesterday's game. Just get excited for the future....
Click to expand...
Sorry you had me until you said the rest of the staff on the defensive side is good. Martinez is a horrible coach
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deebowbear
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top