The Search for Tennessee's next Quarterback

by Getoffmyvols on Jun 10, 2009 9:21 PM EDT

One thing that we know Kiffin and his staff have been selling to recruits is their ability to put kids in the NFL. Part of that sales pitch is referencing players that were drafted highly after playing in their system, specifically when it comes to Quarterbacks; Carson Palmer (1st Overall), Matt Leinart (10th Overall) , and Mark Sanchez (5th Overall) at USC and OC Jim Chaney has Drew Brees (2nd Round) to lean on from his time at Purdue.

As I look at what's been happening around this recruiting season with regards to Quarterback prospects, I have to wonder if Kiffin is shying away from players that may be solid college QB’s but might not be the best pro prospects, and if that is a good approach to take.

I started thinking about this when Kiffin said thanks but no thanks to Tahj Boyd, claiming he wouldn’t fit into Kiffin’s pro style system. However, I seem to remember during Boyd’s initial commitment to Tennessee that he the reason he backed off of his original West Virginia commitment and looked to Tennessee was because of their pro style attack, specifically saying that his real strength was his ability to drop back and throw rather than being the zone read spread and shred QB that he was pegged as early on. Maybe Kiffin didn’t see the drop back passer he was looking for in Boyd, but based on what I read and heard about his performance at various camps and All American games, the kid can play. However some of his measurable features specifically his height 6’1 lead conventional minds to believe he won’t be a big time pro prospect.

Another case is Barry Brunetti, although he reportedly has an offer in the mail, it seemed the staff was a little slow in opening the door of scholarship to the Memphis signal caller. Barry plays also in a spread offense in high school and is only 6’1. Clearly however they did eventually see enough in Brunetti to offer him a scholarship.

Maybe it’s that Kiffin is looking for a guy who can hit the ground running with his system and some of these spread guys will take a little more seasoning. But I can’t help but wonder if coach is dead set on getting a guy who is going to be a big name on draft day and help cement his reputation as a coach who puts kids in the league. With the fact that the 2010 class has only 4 Quarterback’s in the rivals 100 and none of them crack the top 50, you have to wonder if Lane Kiffin’s dream quarterback is even out there this year. I think passing on Boyd may have put him in a tougher position than he anticipated (all due respect to Bryce Petty).

Ultimately the Quarterback(s) that end up signing are going to be crucial to Kiffin’s success at Tennessee. He knows this, the staff knows this. Which is why it’s understandable that they’re being so selective and careful in their evaluations, but so far it seems like the search isn’t quite what Kiffin had in mind. And, with Phillip Sims, Jake Heaps, Blake Bell, and now Nick Montana already off the table, Kiffin better have something up his sleeve.

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Fair points

I think that the fact that the Vols extended an offer to Brunetti (even one that came a little late) shows that Kiffin has the ability to see past what a particular QB did in HS (as far as running vs. passing) and look instead to what the QB is capable of doing. I mean, I would certainly hope that the man is not blind to the fact that dropback passers can also have speed and elusiveness which can be used as an asset within a dropback passing scheme. Steve Young proved this long ago.

Also, UT’s top target right now at QB appears to be Scroggins, who is unquestionably a dropback passer, but who also has pretty good mobility.

That still leaves the Tahj Boyd thing slightly unanswered, but i am actually starting to think that Kiffin was more concerned with Boyd’s knee than anything else.

by kidbourbon on Jun 10, 2009 10:16 PM EDT reply actions

I didn't hear that about Boyd's knee.

Whats the story there?

And yea I wasn’t questioning his ability to evaluate, I just think he may have put himself in a tough spot being too selective too early, considering this is one of the worst classes in a while as far as pro style QB’s go.

"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it."

by Getoffmyvols on Jun 10, 2009 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Torn ACL

Recovery timeline wasn’t clear.

by kidbourbon on Jun 11, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Just guessing but

Fulmer’s choices for QB haven’t exactly been overwhelming in the past several years. I think we have won with some average-type QB’s. Won’t fall on my sword on that one, because it’s just an impression.

I think Kiffin likes to evaluate the QB his way. The camps, long conversations about philosophy, competitive attitude, leadership ability, succession planning (not settling for a good recruit that might discourage a home run in the next class) and (as you guys said) pro potential. Lots of guessing there.

by memphispete on Jun 10, 2009 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

Right, I admit that I was just fishing

I just thought it might be an interesting theory that would generate some dialogue.

"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it."

by Getoffmyvols on Jun 10, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant that I am doing a lot of guessing....

Your post was fine.

by memphispete on Jun 10, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

And as far as Home run quarterback's are considered

The right guy in the right place can’t jump start a coaches tenure at a school and they can build recruiting classes around that one player for several years. Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow are two names that come to mind right off hand. If Fulmer didn’t sign Peyton Manning I don’t think I can honestly say he would have lasted 17 years, same If Urban Meyer doesn’t snag Tebow in his first full recruiting class. Florida is in a totally different place right now.

"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it."

by Getoffmyvols on Jun 10, 2009 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

You make a great point. Might even be able to say the same thing about USC's string of QB's

but, to be fair, I haven’t studied USC as closely as some. Frankly, until Kiffin came from there, I spent more time not liking the Pac-10. Now at least there’s a reason to appreciate Carroll’s achievements without giving one inch in the SEC/West Coast debate.

by memphispete on Jun 11, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

A. You offer a scholarship to your "Plan F"

Q. What do you do when 4 of your top 5 quarterback prospects decide to sign scholarships to play elsewhere?

With Heaps committing to BYU, Sims committing to Alabama, Montana committing to Washington, and Hendrix announcing that he’ll either attend Ohio State or Notre Dame, Kiffin had no choice but to offer Brunetti. The writing is on the wall – Kiffin can’t put all of his eggs in Scroggins’ basket because there is no guarantee that Scroggins will sign with Tennessee. It is amusing though, to compare the recruitment of Tahj Boyd to Brunetti. Physically, I don’t see a difference (weight is almost identical, 40 time is almost identical, Boyd is only an inch taller), and their playing styles are nearly identical, so why was Kiffin so anxious to show Boyd the exit door, when he was ultimately unable to sign a QB last year? I think that Kiffin realizes that the QB cupboard will be completely bare next season without Scroggins, which would explain Brunetti’s offer.

by tommotornado on Jun 11, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

We never offered Sims or Montana

And the staff was never super-high on Hendrix. He would have been brought in has QB #2.

Really the only guy we’ve missed on is Heaps. Maybe Blake Bell.

by rblakeh on Jun 11, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

and I think the only reason we offered Heaps is because he was #1 and we were in his top 5

We would have been glad to have him, but the Mormon ties (and the program’s history of great QB’s) were too strong at BYU.

by memphispete on Jun 11, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

We offered Heaps because he was the most "ready" in this class

Scroggins and others might have more upside, but if you watch Heaps’ film you will see that he is polished and ready to play college football.

It has nothing to do with his ranking. He was not the top QB prospect on Rivals, just on Scout. He is the only QB we pursued for a while because CLK and Staff felt that he was the best.

It sucks that we missed on him, but Scroggins can make me have a short memory!

by rblakeh on Jun 12, 2009 8:03 AM EDT up reply actions

re: Brunetti vs Boyd

Brunetti and Boyd are basically the same height, but it’s a common misconception amongst Vol fans that Kiffin told Boyd “Thanks, but no thanks” because of his height.

Kiffin did not like Boyd’s footwork and (especially) arm strength. The fact that he wouldn’t have been an option to play as a freshman (torn ACL) certainly didn’t help matters, either. And, yeah, he’s shorter than a traditional prostyle QB.

Brunetti is short, yes, but apparently he has great footwork and a great arm. That he is mobile is not the reason Kiffin wouldn’t offer him. USC’s upcoming QB (not Barkley.. the other guy) was recruited by Lane Kiffin, and he runs like a 4.4 or something. But, he’s also 6’4 220 or something like that.

CLK will find us a good QB. You can count on that. Other names to watch (aside from Scroggins and Brunetti) are Rettig and Rees. We were on both of them early, and their recruitment by other schools is starting to really open up.

by rblakeh on Jun 11, 2009 12:52 PM EDT reply actions

crompton bout to blow ya'lls minds

don’t you worry bout a thing sweet little babys. crompton bout to blow ya’lls minds. here’s what’s gonna happen; he’s gonna just so kick arse that he’s gonna be the major story of the year. and they’ll talk about the death threats, they’ll talk about the people on the message boards and they’ll say “how unlikely” and they’ll say “if you would have told me that this would happen at about this time last year, i’d have had you committed.” yes, the rise of johnny crompton is nigh. it’s in the air, though you’d need the nostril’s of a blue tic hound to wiff it yet. nostrils such as those have i.

by PdxVol on Jun 12, 2009 1:40 AM EDT reply actions