Talking Points: Lane Kiffin's careful handling of the Nuke

by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 4, 2009 7:21 AM EST in Rocky Top Talking Points

Football

True freshman wide receiver Nu'Keese Richardson is back and will play against Memphis Saturday. According to Kiffin, the issue with Richardson was overblown. Kiffin had a nice chat ($) with Richardson on Monday, and it sounds like Kiffin's handling whatever the non-situation is quite well, actually. There's a video of Kiffin's comments on Nuke below.
Kiffin was not satisfied with the 31-13 palindrome of a win over South Carolina Saturday:

I had to keep reminding myself that that was a big win, and the largest win over Spurrier by a Tennessee team in 19 years. Those things, I have to keep reminding myself of them, because I didn't think we played well. I didn't think that game should have been very close at all.

He means it, too, as has six positions open for competition this week: left guard, fullback, backup defensive tackle, nickel corner, third-down left defensive end, and middle linebacker.

Some mysterious coach has broken down Kiffin's offense. Which mysterious coach? I don't know, because it never says. That's why it's a mystery, see?

After eight games in 2009, Montario Hardesty has piled up 841 yards. Travis Stephens' single-season rushing record in 2001 was 1,464 yards. That would seem a bit out of reach for Hardesty except for the fact that three of the Vols' final four opponents rank in the triple digits against the run: Memphis (105th) (it hasn't always been that way), Vanderbilt (102nd), and Kentucky (104th). Ole Miss is 60th.

A whopping 4,117 fans packed the stadium to see Memphis play East Carolina Tuesday night.

Basketball

The Vols play Lincoln Memorial at 7:30 EST tonight in their final exhibition game. Don't expect it to be the 124-61 thrashing it was two seasons ago.
Bruce Pearl has said that newcomer Kenny Hall appears to be the team's best offensive rebounder. The trick apparently has something to do with "getting lower." Huh.

Videos

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Comments

The lack of different plays doesn't surprise me.

I’ve suspected that the last few weeks. I should probably write more about it later, but the upshot is that it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Eric Berry for sending the guy who wins the Heisman spinning 720 degrees in the air at the podium - or for intercepting it and returning it to where it rightfully belongs

by Chris Pendley on Nov 4, 2009 7:26 AM EST reply actions

I was wondering about the conservative playcalling

It didn’t seem very Kiffin. I’m glad he’s not happy with it; that’s what makes us better.

by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 4, 2009 9:09 AM EST reply actions

few plays make sense

This is not unusual, Mike Leach uses a similar approach at Texas Tech. He runs only a handful of plays out of a bunch of formations. The rational is learn to run a handful of plays really well but disguise them with formations. That’s a good coaching move by Kiffin to simplify and focus on good execution.

by phil g on Nov 4, 2009 10:25 AM EST reply actions

That simplified approach was a huge part of the reason we championed Leach to replace Fulmer last year.

I’m not at all complaining that Kiffin is using the same tactic, albeit with different formations.

by David Hooper on Nov 4, 2009 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

Kiffin's expectations

Postgame, Kiffin has spoken highly of only Florida and Alabama – he thinks the Vols should’ve blown out South Carolina, predicted Crompton would go off on Georgia, in insanely confident…this guy reminds me more of Steve Spurrier every day.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Nov 4, 2009 10:45 AM EST reply actions