Talking Points: on Gus Malzahn and Monte Kiffin

by Joel Hollingsworth on Oct 6, 2009 7:22 AM EDT in Tennessee Volunteer Football

What exactly did Gus Malzahn do that was so successful against Monte Kiffin? He ran his offense. One specific: he was focused on getting Tennessee out of its five-man front and into a four-man front against which Auburn could better run the ball. How did he get that fifth guy out of there? The article doesn't say (I don't think -- another hurried morning), but I'd guess that the explanation uses the word "spread."
Perhaps there should be some progressive discipline for chop block repeat offenders:

Wes Brown, Auburn's latest victim, is fine and taking the high road. Unlike me.

Also not taking the high road is whatever Vol fan sent Trooper Taylor a taunting letter last week and forging Lane Kiffin's and Eric Berry's signatures to the thing.

Well this is distressing. When I said on the podcast last night that I thought that the offense had actually improved over the 2008 version but that it was just hard to see among the comedy of errors, I had not yet read John Adams's Sunday column saying the same thing. If I have time to write tonight, I'll take a look at the actual numbers and post them tomorrow morning, but the main point is that although it's quite understandable to pull out the archived reactions of 2008 and hit "play" when Jonathan Crompton's falling down alone in the backfield and the receivers are trying to catch passes with their helmets, it might be getting in the way of seeing some actual improvement.

John Adams also recaps Tennessee's receiver woes from the departure of Ahmad Paige in the spring to yesterday's release of Brandon Warren. Warren's dismissal, by the way, wasn't just for his sideline outburst Saturday but, reading between the lines, for a much longer "show of emotion." Translation: ongoing attitude problem. Now we're just looking for the other three to four players that make up the infamous "five percent."

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Regarding Mike Griffith in the very first link:

I’m always skeptical of so-called “Gurus,” with their librarian looks and gimmicky packages.

What, are they not regal enough for you? “Guru” means they’ve at least been successful once, which is a fair sight more than any of us could ever pull off.

by David Hooper on Oct 6, 2009 7:45 AM EDT reply actions

Sure, “Gurus” might offend a few of the bluenoses with their cocky strides and musky odors – oh, they’ll never be the darlings of the so-called “City Fathers” who cluck their tongues, stroke their beards, and talk about “What’s to be done with these ‘Gurus’?”

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Oct 6, 2009 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions

SIMPSONS!!!

Neyland Stadium-It goes to eleven.

by jimvols on Oct 6, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Take the Griffith article with a grain of salt

Grffith is obviously a big fan of Chavis. I’m not certain if they were friends or if it was just professional respect, but it is quite conspicuous. He has literally been chomping at the bit to write that article since Monte was hired. And you can could tell that from the tone of the article even if weren’t privvy to his affection for Chavis.

I have said it before and will say it now: Nobody has ever accused Mike Griffith of being a “great writer” or even a “smart guy.”

_______________________________
Eric Berry is better at football than you.

by kidbourbon on Oct 6, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Tennessee D--Kudos Regardless

Your D is good, but any unit that has to do everything all season will wear out, fatigue mentally, and breakdown. This always makes the other guy look special. When Malzahn has cobbled together great offensive units for ten years, I’ll tip the hat. Trick will be to keep Tennessee D’s heads up, win enough to get into a bowl (any bowl) and propel your team into next season with the right attitude. What I see thus far though is Kiffin and coworkers trying to keep that team’s head together, that’s a huge task and so far, regardless of outcome, I think he’s doing it right. Again, we shall see in 4-10 years, but so far I am more impressed than I thought I would be.

Yes, that hit on Berry was staggering to watch, but it happens to everyone in this game. At some point virtually every “stud” gets railed by someone. True studs pick themselves up and get right back in there.

What was most obvious to me was that Tennessee’s cupboard appears to have started the season more bare than Auburn’s in terms of polished talent, will that be true in 4 years? Was this coaching or the by-product of Tennessee’s implosion last year?

Tennessee, with less talent, is staying close against very good teams—that’s coaching, this indicates that Kiffin’s formula (going after the coaches he did) is paying some dividends already.

So, I’d say at this point the season, while tough, shows some promise for the future.

Looking at the rest of your schedule, I’d say that you have one unbeatable opponent: Alabama. I don’t see UT getting past them no matter what occurs. While it may be unrealistic to say you’d win all the others, I do think you have a shot in each of those other games. Consistency at QB would make you guys more than competitive.

The problem with losing, does it make you and your team hungry, is your next year better in part because of that hunger? Do you become snakebit and lose games or play sloppy because in the back of your minds you just can’t win (See: Bowden, B. 2009. How to turn a dynasty into a regular embarrassment. Sports Psych., 38(6)135-143.)?

I like this blog, keep up the thoughtful posts. I know I am no UT fan, but college ball is great fun and your blog adds to my enjoyment of it.

by Aardvark on Oct 6, 2009 8:38 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Thanks. Seriously.

The one bugaboo I always have about evaluating this team is that I’m an incurable optimist and I’m too close to the team to get away from that. It’s easy for me to see this as a stepping stone into the future because that’s simply the sunnier outlook (as opposed to seeing this season as a sign of impending doom). It’s really nice to have the opinion of somebody who’s a little more removed from the situation.

What was most obvious to me was that Tennessee’s cupboard appears to have started the season more bare than Auburn’s in terms of polished talent, will that be true in 4 years? Was this coaching or the by-product of Tennessee’s implosion last year?

I think it’s (a) inconsistent recruiting – particularly 2006 and 2008, (b) a failure to hold on to most of the class of 2007, (cee) coaching problems, and (d) a loss of confidence between the players. I don’t think any single factor can be blamed on its own, though most of (a) through (cee) is probably largely a result of the Fulmer system being in place for so long – a loathing of the familiar, if you will.

But that’s just my best guess.

by David Hooper on Oct 6, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Loss of confidence

Is the program killer. I really think that is why they chose Kiffin, he exudes it.

Well, in 3-4 years we will know, ehh?

by Aardvark on Oct 6, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Didn't want to copyright "coaching problems" haha!!!

Anyway, you are right. I join you on the sometime, hopelessly optimistic when it comes to the Vols, and it is nice that a so-called outsider can see some potential in the program.

You have very valid points too. I think we were getting some talent, and then not coaching them up to their potential between 2006 and 2008. We underperformed (even in ’07 to some aspect) and I think people—recruits especially—saw that we could not do anything productive with our talent.

by Vols767 on Oct 6, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

What's really scary:

Go back and take a look at who was on that 3rd-ranked class in 2007. Then take a look at how many of them were re-listed in later classes, never made the team, or are not currently on the team at all. That #3 ranking is a whole lot of smoke and mirrors right now.

by David Hooper on Oct 6, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions