Coaching evaluation open thread: night games
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:07 PM EST
in Tennessee Volunteer Football
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PrintTennessee is reportedly looking at several coaches for its soon-to-be-vacant head coaching position who are in action on the national stage tonight. Butch Davis (North Carolina), Tim Brewster (Minnesota), Chris Petersen (Boise State), and Jim Grobe all had games earlier this afternoon while we were probably watching the Vols.
Tonight, we'll get a look at Brian Kelly (Cincinnati), Gary Pinkel (Missouri), Mike Gundy (and Trooper Taylor) (Oklahoma State), and Mike Leach (Texas Tech). Here's the schedule:
| Cincinnati at West Virginia | 7:00 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Kansas State at Missouri | 7:00 p.m. | FSN |
| Oklahoma State at Texas Tech | 8:00 p.m. | ABC / ESPN-GP |
Leave your comments below.
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Cincinnati
is 6-2 despite having had to use 4 QBs this season? That’s pretty good.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:11 PM EST reply actions
Kelly runs
a “spread offense.” They just ran a trick play. Toss sweep to the right, lateral pass back to the QB, who through it to a wide open tight end, but he dropped it.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:13 PM EST reply actions
They use that same
punt coverage formation that we do.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:14 PM EST reply actions
Penn State got beat?
And yes, LSU is taking ’Bama to overtime.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:17 PM EST reply actions
LSU
just threw an INT into the end zone on the first possession in OT. Alabama only needs a FG.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:21 PM EST up reply actions
'Bama threw long
on the 1st play. Got to the three. No gain on 1st down.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:22 PM EST up reply actions
QB sneak for a TD, 'Bama wins
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Dangit!
Ha, I was watching a replay of this game,, and just happened to read your comment.
Thanks for saving me some time :).
Cincinnati's up 10
100 yard kickoff return (wouldn’t that be nice?) and a 46-yard FG.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:26 PM EST reply actions
I was watching the game at a bar
Rest assured, I am quite proud of the future Vols. :)
by Chris Pendley on Nov 8, 2008 9:58 PM EST up reply actions
Sure.
It was a secret ballot, so deny all you want. I know the truth. :)
Meanwhile, it’s good to see everyone likes their view of Brian Kelly so far. Any converts yet?
by Chris Pendley on Nov 8, 2008 10:02 PM EST up reply actions
FWIW
I didn’t get a chance to see any of that game today, so I can’t really comment.
I trust you though. :-D
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:05 PM EST up reply actions
Looks like they'll pull it out, too
Critical INT (why are you having Pat White pass, Stewart?) seals the game.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 8, 2008 10:12 PM EST up reply actions
Good defense by the DE
breaking off the rush to get into coverage and batting down the ball.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:30 PM EST reply actions
Still scoreless in Columbia, MO
The O is struggling so far. Would Pinkel leave what he’s got right now?
Ah, who knows?
I would think that Tennessee would be a better job than Missouri, but he seems to have things rolling pretty well there.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:40 PM EST up reply actions
It was certainly a better gig
before this season started, but I’m not so sure now. Touchdown Mizzou….on the ground for the most part
Hmm
I think the gig is based on the program more than just a season or two. We probably still have the edge, then, I’d guess.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
QB just ran for a first down and took a bit
And, oh by the way, he’s playing with a broken arm. Seriously. Non-throwing arm, yeah, but still.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:41 PM EST reply actions
Receiver just fumbled in the red zone
Sheesh. Maybe it’s me.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:43 PM EST reply actions
Being reviewed
Will probably be overturned; it didn’t look like he ever had control.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:45 PM EST up reply actions
Commentator just made a comment
that Mizzou rank in the bottom five in the nation in time of possession.
Hmm.
Is it because their offense is explosive, hopefully?
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:47 PM EST up reply actions
I think so
They’re 4th in passing offense.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:50 PM EST up reply actions
They have a mean O-Line as well
Chase Daniel is getting no help from his receivers tonight
Daniels threw a int
but the defender dropped it
Does that tell us something
or is it just solid WVU defense.
Hard to say off of just one drive
But I’d say that at least part of it was Cincinnati just not getting it done.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:58 PM EST up reply actions
I'd be interested to see
how much of Missouri’s offensive production is due to having Chase Daniel and how much is maybe scheme and coaching.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:58 PM EST up reply actions
I'm switching over
to Texas Tech – Oklahoma State
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 7:59 PM EST reply actions
Question: are we too stuffy for Mike Leach?
I fear we may be.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:01 PM EST reply actions
Whoever comes in will have a hard time.
Thunder is a big Fulmer guy. He’s probably the biggest reason Dickey put in Fulmer to begin with. Old SEC can be stuffy. After today, though, I hope they’ll be plenty of attitude adjustments to welcome in the next guy
I've heard about Thunder
but don’t know much about him. How much say did he have in the Bruce Pearl hiring?
Somebody like Leach would push the envelope even further, but Pearl might have softened things a bit.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:08 PM EST up reply actions
Don't know what his feelings are about the men's bball
but he’s a huge Lady Vol donor.
I think Leach will get some stupid money from TTU after this season
so there may be no hope either way.
No doubt
Can kill two birds with one stone with that one. FL/Vandy kicking off as well.
Ironically
He’s so locked in there that nobody could get him and they couldn’t get rid of him. As I understand it anyway.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:06 PM EST up reply actions
Both jerseys are intact, actually.
Teresa whip-stiched them, so we can disassemble them and still have 2 normal jerseys.
(They’re each tucked within themselves so that the sleeves are doubled up.)
At the very least . . .
. . . equipment manager. She’s thrifty!
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:20 PM EST up reply actions
See ya
Thanks for the Mizzou info. Later.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:11 PM EST up reply actions
lol
Leach cracks me up. It looks and he sounds like he’s only partially interested.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:13 PM EST reply actions
Harrell nervous?
Bobbled the snap. Turnover.
I like OKST.‘s defense. Corners up close for bump and run. LBs close to the line. Of course, it was 3rd and short, but you know what I’m saying.
And wow, RB right up the middle dragging folks toward the end zone.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:16 PM EST reply actions
Has UT had one run all year where the RB didn't have to
break a tackle in the backfield? I can’t think of one.
That cowboy
is kind of freaky.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:22 PM EST reply actions
Hey, Gudy's got a kicker
who can get it into the end zone on kick offs. Huh.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:22 PM EST reply actions
Watching OSU/TTech has got to be considered cruel and unusual punishment for Vols fans.
They have about half of all of the offense in the NCAA. (Oklahoma has most of the rest of it.)
Oh, is that it?
Zero sum? That explains a lot.
Great couple of calls in a row for Tech.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:24 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah.
That was the slowest-developing screen pass I think I’ve ever seen. No defender will consider a screen after that much time.
Did you just flip
over to Dora the Explorer? Or is she a Tech Red Raider for this episode?
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:27 PM EST up reply actions
Texas Tech says . . .
. . . Swiper, no swiping!
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:36 PM EST up reply actions
lol
Consider me convinced. You know your Dora.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:47 PM EST up reply actions
unless, of course,
you’ve been cribbing from the Urban Dictionary. Not big fans over there, are they? Fortunately, neither are my kids. One episode is about all you need to know.
I, though, do confess a weird fondness for Swiper, swiping or no.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:55 PM EST up reply actions
Fade
for a TD. How long has it been since we’ve seen that at UT?
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:26 PM EST reply actions
TTech offense:
It seems like Leach sat down one offseason and asked the question: what are all the different ways a defense can attack?
Then he asked: how can I punish them for each method of attack?
This is one tough offense to attack without running right past the play.
Yeah
And then he figured out how to guess well.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:40 PM EST up reply actions
Kinda like that QB sneak, eh?
OSU was gapped for the shotgun formation, so Harrell simply strolled up to the center and said, “Give it to me and push forward.”
1st down. That easy.
Yeah
Or to force the looks he wants. Jackson says to dictate matters.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:45 PM EST up reply actions
They tried it at UK
when he was there with Hal Mumme. They didn’t have any defense at all though, if I remember correctly.
Wow
I really liked that sneak. Two backs, QB in shotgun, then under center and ahead for two yards.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 8:42 PM EST reply actions
Remember also that TTech plays the widest O-line splits in the nation.
To run a QB sneak, you basically reduce that offense to 2 players – the QB and the center. Even the guards are too far away to matter. The only reason they could audible to that was because nobody was lined up over the center. The LBs were too slow to adjust to it.
Ok, cool
I’m watching the OSU TTU game. Can anyone get me (very briefly) up to speed? How have both teams looked, and what are the impressions of Leach?
Re: Leach
First, remember that the QB (Harrell) is starting for his 3rd consecutive year. Much of their success is due to his familiarity with the system.
After that, TTech is showing absolutely no signs of hangover from last week. They’re running very strong and are completely baffling OSU’s defense.
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 8:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I'm neither and he's 3 for 3 in my book!
he’s my man until they find him in bed with a live boy or a dead girl or something like that.
by wvvol on Nov 8, 2008 8:55 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Did Stephens get injured today or something?
The fall he took when chasing down his second INT was a little odd; I was wondering if he tweaked something then.
Even after two INTs, I would have thought that Stephens would have given UT a better chance.
I don't remember them saying anything about that
Anybody else?
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 9:04 PM EST up reply actions
I don't know.
I was on the golf course until 1:30. The Mtn Mrn was already in by the time I caught the game.
The computer had them ahead last week
if I remember right.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 9:04 PM EST up reply actions
I think I'd be inclined
not to overrule it this time. You?
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 9:05 PM EST up reply actions
Oh, and we left them there
How smart (and absent-minded) we are!
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 9:08 PM EST up reply actions
Hypothetical
Let’s say for a second that Mike Leach is the next HC at UT.
Is our O-line good enough to protect long enough for these down field routes?
Will his system work without at least one dominant receiver? I think it’s safe to say that at this point, we do not have one.
Would a guy like Oku still be interested in our school? He’s an all purpose back… so would he be cool with running draws and being a receiver out of the backfield almost exclusively?
I think any QB would be interested in playing for Mike Leach at this point. I can also imagine that dual threat guy like Tajh Boyd would add a nice new wrinkle to the offense.
I’m getting a little ahead of myself, but it’s fun to at least consider potential excitement. I’m not sure if Mike Leach fits in a lot of ways, but this guy is clearly a unique offensive mind.
clarification
I know that a big thing for Leach is to make sure that all of his receivers get touches. But still, having one dominant guy that the defense keys on provides a major advantage. Most of the top schools have this (UGA, AU, TTU, etc).
Good questions
No.
No.
Only maybe.
But I don’t know if these guys were any better recruits than what we had. It’s a matter of teaching them well, too, I think.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 9:10 PM EST up reply actions
My retort:
1) I haven’t the foggiest idea how good your O-Line isn’t. But I do know that Tech can move the ball a lot on very short drops with the emphasis on the QB getting the ball out of his hands ASAP. Our offensive line hasn’t always been this good. Our offense hasn’t, either, but we’ve always been pretty damn good under Leach.
2) Yes, it will. Do you know who Carlos Francis is? Is Jarret Hicks a household name in Tennessee? Is Joel Filani? Since 2002 we are: 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 1st in passing offense in the NCAA. Leach will make bad receivers and quarterbacks good. He did it at Kentucky with Tim Couch, he did it at Oklahoma with Josh Heupel, he did it at Tech with everyone he has coached. Now he has a good quarterback in Harrell, and the results are wonderful. Crabtree hasn’t been with the program forever.
3) I don’t know who Oku is or what his skill set is, but I thought “all-purpose” included things like catching out of the backfield. In any event, Leach is smart, he uses the players he gets very well, and if he has a big bruising back he’ll use him as such. RBs at Tech aren’t exclusively backfield receiving threats. They do score a lot of touchdowns do, which appeals to all RB recruits. Taurean Henderson, former Red Raider RB now fizzled out of the pros, is the highest scoring player in NCAA history. Ponder that.
Leach does it without great recruits, and now he’s built a program long enough to get the recruits. We are 10-0.
You absotively, posilutely cannot have him.
The offense worked pretty well at UK.
I think it would work at UT.
by wvvol on Nov 8, 2008 9:10 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Good point
Was it Tim Couch he was working with at the time?
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 9:11 PM EST up reply actions
Leach would be a long-term transition.
You’d HAVE to give him 3 years to get the type of players he needs. Unless we have some serious stud linemen waiting for the seniors to graduate, there’s no reason to believe they’d match the performance of TTech’s bunch.
That O-line is absolutely incredible.
I think we also need to determine the weight that coaching has on our O line’s deficiencies. Do they just suck, or have they not been coached properly? I have no idea.
The did fine last year
Not good this year. The offensive coaching staff and scheme has changed.
Is the o-line coach the same? If so, it must be failure to be taught/learn the new scheme, right? I’m asking.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 9:16 PM EST up reply actions
I think it is the same coach, but I'm not sure.
Kurt Roper, maybe?
I think Ainge making good, quick decisions had a lot do with the O-line being good. It was rare, I think, that we actually dominated the LOS.
Just looked it up
Greg Adkins is and was the o-line coach. I’m saying either they didn’t catch on to the scheme, their discipline went out the door when Cutcliffe left, or we’re still underestimating Ainge.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 9:24 PM EST up reply actions
I don't know.
I strongly suspect that the line is inherently suspect because of the way Cutcliffe hid them last year. However, that doesn’t tell us how the coaches have addressed any deficiences.
You can say the same with other offensive positions; for example, Crompton keeps throwing higher and higher. He’s systematically developing bad techniques in his throws, and I don’t know how that’s being addressed. Foster’s loose ball carriage is another.
In all of these things, you can say that they existed before, but we don’t have any idea how they’ve been handled since.
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 9:17 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I disagree.
If Leach when to your program, you would see marked improvement offensively in one year.
OSU is trying to bleed down the clock right now.
They’re hoping to leave TTech with little time. Not that it’ll matter, the way they’re playing, but you know.
Is that what the question was?
I was looking at the media guide for the o-line coach. Five head coaches that didn’t play?
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 9:26 PM EST up reply actions
In all honesty, that's a heck of a list of coaches.
Debate Weis all you want; the rest are pretty unanimously approved.
Yeah
Keep that list handy for the next time says you can’t know anything about the game because you never played.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 9:32 PM EST up reply actions
TD, untouched
Untouched. Amazing.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 9:30 PM EST reply actions
Back in for a bit
Mizzou game pretty much as expected. How’s the Ok St/TTu game?
Threatening to be a blowout if OSU can't stop TTech once or twice.
That offense is obliterating OSU right now.
Defense
not exactly shabby, either. Not great, but pretty good.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 9:34 PM EST up reply actions
It's particularly hard to build a good defense at Tech.
Their turf is so hard that the offenses are faster there than anywhere else in the nation. That gives a huge advantage to receivers in their routes.
They got that fake grass there
with sand instead of ground up tires. Probably a by-product of living near a desert.
I'm an admitted critic of Leach
but this would look good in orange.
Finger-gun complaint redacted, sorta.
Turns out, they have a statue like that. Check out the banner at the top of the page.
I’d still rather the real effect, but at least that makes more sense now.
I don't think we'll get to find out this year
I’m thinking FL will prevent that.
Cincy had 16 yards of total offense in the 3rd quarter
but they stopped Pat White short on 4th down inside their own 5.
For whatever it's worth
Graham Harrell was a four-star recruit. He was the 7th-ranked pro-style QB in the 2004 class, according to Rivals. He’s a smart guy (4.0 GPA), and was behind guys like Rhett Bomar, Anthony Morelli, Chad Henne, Brian Brohm, and Drew Weatherford. He was just ahead of Nate Longshore, Blake Barnes, Sean Glennon, and . . . Erik Ainge.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:00 PM EST reply actions
Wow.
I’d probably place him somewhere in the 1-3 range in that list, knowing what I know now.
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:02 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah
I think it speaks both to Leach’s scheme and his ability to develop players into that scheme.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:03 PM EST up reply actions
I liked Bomar
He was one helluva car salesman
Tech's recruiting rankings for the past several years
2004: 33
2005: 37
2006: 25
2007: 52
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:08 PM EST up reply actions
Don't want to give Tech
the ball on your side of the field
Idea:
Why can’t UT fans bring in lots of noisemakers like TTech fans (and MSU fans) do?
What could we bring in that would be really loud and distracting? Something that doesn’t require voice so everybody can still yell…
I think it's illegal per SEC rules
Something about MSU cowbells. People in Mississippi ruin everything for everyone else.
But they brought those things to Neyland this year...
Was that wrong of them?
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:08 PM EST up reply actions
I’m not sure that it’s a hard and fast rule. I think that the refs can penalize the team if its fans are making too much noise from artificial noisemakers. Pretty dumb if you ask me, but that’s the rule.
I wonder
I wonder what 108,000 air horns would sound like.
And whether anyone would ever hear anything ever again.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:19 PM EST up reply actions
WOW
That’d be worth a penalty, if only for the shock value.
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:19 PM EST up reply actions
What about megaphones?
If people were to simply yell through conically-rolled pieces of paper, it would really help focus the sound toward the field.
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:21 PM EST up reply actions
I could see that.
That’d be the same reason that bands are supposed to stop playing before the play starts.
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:19 PM EST up reply actions
Up until recently
we had the fans to drown out the noisemakers. We didn’t need them.
That was very true today.
Very quiet in Neyland. I forgot to write about that in my postmortem.
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:10 PM EST up reply actions
No matter what they're called,
They’re still using noisemakers inside the stadium. If Tech can do it, so can everybody else.
by David Hooper on Nov 9, 2008 11:49 PM EST up reply actions
They are cowbells
Do those fit in with the Tennessee modu operandi? Our fans yell all game long, too. That’s the voice box : )
Heh.
I wasn’t worried about cowbells in particular; I’m sure a little patience would find something far better to use.
As for the voice box thing; our fans used to use those, too. Then this season happened. :-(
by David Hooper on Nov 10, 2008 6:33 PM EST up reply actions
Hey, Will
Thanks for the link. Your thoughts on Davis?
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:21 PM EST up reply actions
Started at #2...
I was drinking the Muschamp juice like lots of us and had him ahead of Butch in my mind…and I still think he’d be good in a different way. But Butch Davis is proven good. If I was him I wouldn’t leave Chapel Hill though – he’d be the Bruce Pearl of UNC if they sustained success, and so far so good. Plus, just a guy who comes for the big check makes me nervous…
by Will Shelton on Nov 8, 2008 10:24 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks.
If true, that’s young-ifying the head coach down to an infantile 56.
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:23 PM EST up reply actions
If age is a concern
Brian Kelly (the guy whose team just beat WVU on the road) is only 47.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 8, 2008 10:27 PM EST up reply actions
My biggest question about Davis right now
I keep hearing about how he rebuilt Miami. He didn’t win a NC, but left two of them Coker (one of which he realized and another of which he blew).
So my question: why did he leave Miami? Did he go to the NFL at that point?
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:26 PM EST up reply actions
All right
Answered my own question. He went to the Browns.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:27 PM EST up reply actions
And don't forget...
They should’ve/could’ve had 3, because his ‘00 team should’ve been playing Oklahoma for the title instead of the Florida State team they beat earlier that year.
The fact that he recruited all the guys for ’01 Miami, the best team of the decade, requires less talking yourself into him than anyone else, methinks.
by Will Shelton on Nov 8, 2008 10:30 PM EST up reply actions
butbutbut
I always hated those Miami teams. How’s his team’s attitude now? I know almost nothing about NC.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:35 PM EST up reply actions
Now that I think about it, though
Did I just hate them because they were always beating my teams?
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:41 PM EST up reply actions
No.
They were cocky too. Not as bad as the Jimmy Johnson ’Canes, but still cocky.
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:42 PM EST up reply actions
Okay, so then
the question is how much of that was attributable or permitted to Butch Davis? Or could we live with that if we have the best team in the nation?
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:44 PM EST up reply actions
I don't know on both counts.
But on the latter, I’m guessing it doesn’t look like cockiness if it’s your team. It magically becomes “swagger”.
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:44 PM EST up reply actions
Ummmm.......wow
I generally root against any Texas team, but this offense is one of the most fascinating things I’ve ever seen.
Yeah
I haven’t watched North Carolina, but man, it would be hard to top this wouldn’t it?
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:29 PM EST reply actions
NC doesn’t appear to be that great offensively and about the same (maybe a bit better) than Texas Tech right now.
Yes, it’s just one season.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:32 PM EST up reply actions
But...
Haven’t they (UNC) been playing without their best player most of the year, Brandon Tate? UNC is a field goal and an overtime away from being undefeated.
See, I’m defending him already, it’s like he’s already the coach here.
by Will Shelton on Nov 8, 2008 10:36 PM EST up reply actions
Game over.
OSU is taking way too much time on this drive. It’s a clock rules thing again, but there’s imply no way to sustain such a run-heavy mindset and leave yourself enough time for 3 scores. And that assumes that TTech doesn’t score again.
Scratch Brian Kelly from the list
He just totally screwed his team out of a win. Took a delay of game, instead of using one of his 2 timeouts, from his own 8 to use up the clock with Cincy up 20-7. Then had his punter run around the end zone before taking a safety – 20-9. WVU took the ball down and scored a TD against Cincy’s John Chavis’ Prevent Defense the 2 pt conversion made it 20-17. WVU got the onsides kick with 17 seconds left and no timeouts when 2 Cincy players knocked each other off the ball. The aforementioned Prevent Defense allowed WVU to get to the Cincy 35 in 12 seconds, and miraculously WVU’s kicker made the kick. His first big kick in his life. It’s in OT right now.
Wow
Thanks for the update.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:34 PM EST up reply actions
Conservative playcalling for the "win"
Seriously, even I have nothing here. Inexplicable series of events (although the WVU kicker making a 52-yard FG can’t be something he expected).
by Chris Pendley on Nov 8, 2008 10:35 PM EST up reply actions
He should have called timeout instead of taking the delay of game
and then just punted the ball. Taking the safety was stupid cause you give WVU points and then the ball back.
The only thing I can think of is that he was concerned about a big return and/or a quick score
But even so, it makes very little sense.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 8, 2008 10:38 PM EST up reply actions
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
adfjal;vjawopfjal;vjawl;fjweof
Jerks.
by rblakeh on Nov 8, 2008 10:40 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs
Rec'd
If only because I want this comment in green.
(3 more recs, please…)
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:41 PM EST up reply actions
Whoohoo!
But it shouldn’t have come to that. On one hand, way to make the game closer than it needed to be.
On the other hand, clutch!
by Chris Pendley on Nov 8, 2008 10:41 PM EST up reply actions
Stupid WVU
I’ve picked against them 4 times this year, and 3 times I have been wrong. I go with them today (against my better judgment). It looked like they were going to lose for sure, but now maybe they will pull out a win.
I can safely say I didn't pick WVU
Not that the choice should surprise anyone here.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 8, 2008 10:37 PM EST up reply actions
49 points so far.
UT has 56 in their previous 4 games, mostly due to a 34-point outing against MSU. (Thanks, Berry!)
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:49 PM EST up reply actions
I'm sorry
And maybe I’m just so starved for offense that I can’t think about anything else, but I want Leach.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:48 PM EST reply actions
Ditto
And here’s why.
A few weeks ago I couldn’t sleep. So, I do what I always do when I can’t sleep. Think about impossible situations and what I would do with them. This Saturday night was following some particularly poor outing by the Vols offense. I wondered what I would do if I were given the chance to coach, and here’s what I came up with.
A simple offense, consisting of only about 20 – 30 plays. This keeps it easy for the offense to learn, and the simplicity makes for great execution. The catch is, most of the plays can be run from multiple formations, and most of the players can play 2 or 3 positions. These multiple looks would keep the defense guessing and make your offense look complicated, while in reality it is quite simple. I would also do my best to call plays randomly, so patterns never developed. I was really proud of myself for this.
A few weeks later, I start reading about this Leach fellow. I’m floored to learn that he actually has the guts to run this system. Not only that, it’s been extremely successful. So, I vote for him because he validates my thoughts of an effective offense, ha :)
I would take it a step further, though. I’m talking lining the QB up out wide sometimes, and have the punter snapping to right tackle while the running back plays tight end. I would also choose my plays from one of those bingo spinning wheel thingies. The defense would have no idea what was coming!
If Chavis would stay, that could be something.
As much as the Mustang annoys us, it’d be more effective when the other team is in panicked, pass-wacky mode.
I don’t see Chavis staying, though.
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:51 PM EST up reply actions
ha
thinking alike again, I see.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:52 PM EST up reply actions
I like Chavis
A lot. I’m not quite positive about this, but it seems to me his units play better when the team is in the lead, so having an offense might make his defenses look even better. I wonder if fans are too fractured on him, though, and whether he’d even consider sticking around.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:52 PM EST up reply actions
I have to respectfully disagree
I think his unit plays better when we’re behind. When UT has a lead, he has a tendency to jump into the John Chavis’ Prevent Defense – ala UCLA this year – and let the other team march the ball down the field.
I think that's right, actually
Behind ahead by a score seems to be essentially the same thing as being tied or behind. I meant way ahead, though, when he can let his players loose to play recklessly.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 10:55 PM EST up reply actions
I wonder though.
The defense has been a lot more varied in the latter half of the season. How much of the UCLA game was not trusting the defense to do anything else?
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 10:56 PM EST up reply actions
That . . .
. . . is seriously frustrating. Gives me the shivers.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 11:00 PM EST up reply actions
I'd still say
That keeping Chavis, even if unlikely, would ease almost every fear I have about Leach.
Remember those Peyton Manning defenses? Did we just have the best talent then, or did we play more recklessly because we knew we had #16 leading us back down the field?
by Will Shelton on Nov 8, 2008 10:58 PM EST up reply actions
I do remember sacking the quarterback
Probably not against the Gators…and maybe it was just having Leonard Little, etc, but it still seems we were much more agressive back then. If it was due to having Manning, maybe having Leach would do the same.
by Will Shelton on Nov 8, 2008 11:02 PM EST up reply actions
The
John Chavis’ Prevent Defense was born against Spurrier’s Gators. It was like Old Faithful. You could set your watch to it.
Maybe...
We could hire Muschamp to coach against the Gators and Chavis the other 11.
Seriously, Muschamp/Auburn’s success against the Florida team that scored 59 on us scores him points with me.
by Will Shelton on Nov 8, 2008 11:05 PM EST up reply actions
The Dream Team concept
Let’s do it.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 11:06 PM EST up reply actions
Leach does have a fear factor to him
It’s weird. I’m looking at his results and the things he says. Actually eyeballing him gives me very little confidence.
I like that he changed his defense last year and is already seeing results this year. I don’t know much about the guy he got, but it appears to be working fairly well. And as you can see, even our little family here has very different views on Chief.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 11:03 PM EST up reply actions
I was going to write...
“Don’t tease me”, but now I can’t decide if I’d like that better than Leach + Chavis or not.
by Will Shelton on Nov 8, 2008 11:00 PM EST up reply actions
By the way, this is a good Tech defense.
They’ve slowly locked in on the OSU offense, and it’s getting tough out there.
No problem.
I go on assistantships. Tuition is covered. Just be sure to break the news to ORNL softly.
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 11:00 PM EST up reply actions
Did I just see a #27 fumble the ball?
This Leach guy might fit right in here at UT :)
by rblakeh on Nov 8, 2008 11:00 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Might I suggest a bonus point for rblakeh?
Between this and his reaction to the Cincy win (which still needs one more rec…), he has my vote.
Besides, this thread has more comments than the UT game thread by a significant margin. (!!!)
You know
This is just completely amazing. Passes, receptions, chunks and chunks of yards.
I want it. I want it I wantitIwantit. Please?
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 11:09 PM EST reply actions
by the way
I picked Oklahoma State, thinking that Tech was too new at handling expectations and would be hung over. Consider that being wrong another point in Leach’s favor.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
Straw grasping
We played Florida closer than any other SEC East team this year. Including next week when they eat South Carolina alive.
Well, that's something
We helped them find themselves.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 11:12 PM EST up reply actions
And
If we hadn’t fumbled… twice? in the redzone, imagine how much closer the game would have been.
It would have been a loss we could hang our hats on.
Maybe even a win.
If they had won, I wonder how much differently things might have played out.
by David Hooper on Nov 8, 2008 11:13 PM EST up reply actions
The really good question, I think...
Is what if Daniel Lincoln hits a kick and Arian Foster doesn’t fumble, and we beat UCLA and Auburn like we still absolutely should have. Wonder what would’ve happened then.
by Will Shelton on Nov 8, 2008 11:15 PM EST up reply actions
All right, then
Been fun, y’all. I’m off to bed. Thanks for coming by.
Go Vols!
by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 8, 2008 11:18 PM EST reply actions
This just in
Leach’s agent and Meyers are deep into the final negotiations on his extension. Probably staying in Lubbock.
After tonight's performance,
I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not finished before the end of the week.
Are you guys building a river for him?
At this point, you probably ought to get your own pirate navy for him, and he’s gotta get to the Gulf somehow….
by Chris Pendley on Nov 9, 2008 7:51 AM EST up reply actions
Whatever it is, I’ll double it!
{passes out in a drunken stupor}
by David Hooper on Nov 9, 2008 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
It will boil down
to how much Leach wants to build on this success (very nice recruiting classes the last two years), and how much he likes Lubbock versus going to a school that will be in a rebuilding mode and starting from scratch. Tech will find the way to pay him what most top coaches get paid, so money probably won’t be the issue.
We’ve normally seen, as has Leach, that when a coach leaves one fairly high profile gig for another one, success is nominal to mild; and sometimes is a career killer. And I’m not really referring to RichRod, but to guys like Franchione, Spurrier, et al. I don’t really recall a guy leaving one BCS school that was very good and going to a struggling BCS school and finding the same level of success. Do y’all? I may be missing some examples.
Maybe
Leach will want out of the Big 12 South and into the SEC, where his chances of winning conference titles have to be better.
…After all, he has to survive the OU, UT, OSU gauntlet just to have the honor of playing a Missouri or Kansas in December. Considering that he’s likely played one of them in the regular season in cross-div play, that’s 5 top-15ish teams a year on the slate. Whereas at Tennessee, he merely has UGA and UF in division, Alabama every year, and maybe LSU. That’s only 4 top-15ish teams prior to the tourney.
(Bet you never though anybody would make the argument that coaching in the SEC would be easier, did ya?)
by David Hooper on Nov 9, 2008 11:53 PM EST up reply actions
Actually, I'm going to counter your argument
This is an abnormally strong year for the Big 12. I’d say they’d play 2 top-10ish teams a year with another 2-3 top-25ish in most years (this is a strong Oklahoma State team, and I want to see what happens to Missouri next year), which isn’t a whole lot different than most years in the SEC. I could even see 2 top-10, 1 top-15, and 2 top-25. How’s that different from the SEC (UF / Bama as your top 10, Georgia as your top 15, LSU and Auburn floating around there, and the inevitable surprise team – Mississippi State, South Carolina, etc.)?
by Chris Pendley on Nov 10, 2008 7:24 AM EST up reply actions
Oh, I know that.
But if you’re trying to bring Leach in, you have to spin things as favorably as possible.
(And I realize you’re not trying to bring Leach in. Your candidate appears to be the guy whose name rhymes with Brian Kelly.)
by David Hooper on Nov 10, 2008 11:57 AM EST up reply actions
Appears to be?
Clearly I’m not doing a good enough job here. ;)
by Chris Pendley on Nov 10, 2008 5:59 PM EST up reply actions
heh
If I affirmed too much, you might think your job is done…
by David Hooper on Nov 10, 2008 6:34 PM EST up reply actions
My work is done the day of the press conference
And not a moment before.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 10, 2008 10:24 PM EST up reply actions
I totally agree
This was the perfect storm for the Big XII south. OSU is usually a middle of the pack team with a decent overall record and going 4-4 in conference. Hey, wait. That sounds a lot like Tech!! Really.
This is our first 10 win season in three decades. It took Leach 9 years to get to that point. Do you really want to wait 9 years for your next 10 win season? I think not! No, you want success RIGHT NOW. The only guy who can do that is Butch Davis. Pursue him doggedly and with passion. Excute his contract today and with extreme prejudice! Get him before the getting gets up and goes!
Move along, here. There’s nothing to see. Leach isn’t what you want. Just a goofy sideshow. Keep walking. Thank you. : )
But does Leach want 150 pirate ships waiting outside his stadium on Saturdays?
That’s the question.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 10, 2008 5:58 PM EST up reply actions
As opposed to 150 Pirate Tumbleweeds?
I guess that depends on how goofy he really is.
by David Hooper on Nov 10, 2008 6:37 PM EST up reply actions
Good point
But what about rebuilding in a place where he can have an actual pirate ship? :)
FWIW, I consider the Franchione at TAMU time period as an exercise in karmic payback. Bailing on a team that was entering sanctions you were responsible before while encouraging the players NOT to transfer (when they could’ve done so without penalty)… yeah, he shouldn’t have won a single game at TAMU. In addition, I think anyone who considered Spurrier would lead South Carolina to SEC championships was probably a bit nuts to begin with; this was probably their peak.
by Chris Pendley on Nov 10, 2008 7:22 AM EST up reply actions
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