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Dooley's Offensive & Defensive Philosophies
Topic Started: Sep 11 2012, 02:59 PM (149 Views)
*TennesseeTuxedo
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I took the following train of thought from another board and copied, pasted, and expanded on the thought.
Quote:
 
I know it's been discussed in the "can we win without a strong running game" threads but I found some things that were interesting in today's media presser that maypoint to the direction that coach Dooley is heading.

When asked about the up-tempo offense, this is what he had to say:
Quote:
 
"It is a good question. It is a little bit philosophy and I used to be that philosophy. I am not anymore - I want to score. I did a lot of soul searching in the off season about all that. Defense has to go and stop them, but if you keep scoring it is harder and harder for the other team. I know that because I have been on the other side of it. I am not going to slow our guys down. I want them to play fast and I want them to have fun. If they score, let's go stop them."
The offense enjoying the change:
Quote:
 
"I know the offense does. I told Sal [Sunseri] when I hired him that it was going to look a little different than he is used to. Sal understands it - he is in. It is philosophy, doesn't mean one is right and the other is wrong. But given what we have on our football team I just think that gives us the best chance to win and that is why we are doing what we do. "
Allowing the defense to prepare:
Quote:
 
"That was the challenge - how do you have an up tempo offense and still give the defense a chance to go prepare to go play. Time will tell if we got it right. We haven't really changed how we do our practice structure much but we have changed how we do the offense. We could get it done a lot quicker but I am not going to compromise the defense."''


For whatever reason some people think that this is a change in Dooley's philosophy. I have always believed and felt that this is precisely how he has always tried to coach and manage the Vols offense and how Jim Chaney has always worked in calling the plays.

Here is what another poster's response in the same thread.
Quote:
 
I was watching the end of the LSU-Washington game saturday and the talking heads were saying something along the lines of "Washington knows what is about to happen, they know its going to be a run, but they just can't stop it. LSU is going to run right at them and there is nothing they can do about it."

I think what we may be seeing here at Tennessee is the same as you see at Bama and LSU with their power running game. They pass the ball just enough to make the defense know there is a threat but their bread and butter is the power running game. Our thing is exactly opposite. We will run enough to keep them honest but our bread and butter is passing. It is just how the roster is set up and Dooley knows it. Our best players lend towards the passing attack. Big, athletic recievers. Big, athletic TE with hands. An O-line that is capable of creating holes but is nearly flawless in pass protection. Fast, shifty backs/slot guys. A tall QB with a laser arm and fearless attitude.

They know what's coming. They know Tennessee is about to throw the ball, but they don't know how to stop it. UT is going to throw it all over the field and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
Hasn't this been what we have talked about here for some time?

IMO, too much is made about time of possession instead of what a team does with the ball when they do have it. If a team can shred a defense and rip off chunks of yardage and score often, why not do it?

So you put your defense out on the field more often. In doing so, you force the other team to eventually play out of character and get away from their game plan. In taking a some risks on defense, you give up some scores, but come away with some turnovers, which your offense must take over and turn them into points. Why are some so fearful of winning this way?

This is how the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers have won Super Bowls at the NFL level. If they can do it at the highest level of play on this planet, why can't Tenneseeee do it at a lower level of play? Especially when we have the offensive talent to do score quickly and often?

What are your thoughts? Concerns?
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Hermitagevol


I agree, but the NFL has been a passing league due to changes in the rules. DBs in the NFL are not allowed to touch the receivers, pass blocking rules were changed, even the game clock has changed to make for a faster paced game.

I agree with playing to your strengths. UT's strength is passed the ball, so go with it. I'm afraid our lack of depth on defense might come back and bite us against future opponents though.
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VolMafia
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Look no further than NC State game, 16 points in 62 seconds, after that NC State offense was very predictable, they had to catch up and the result was TURNOVERS, that is the essence of Dooley's new philosophy. If you are D Coordinater whats not to like?
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Tnphil


Well and fine to have a pass first offense...but unless you are able to RUN the ball when need be you WILL NEVER win the SEC or a Natl.Championship. You can give me every excuse in the book and I WILL NOT believe it...Proof? Just look at the past 6 (SIX) National Champions and tell me what they all had in common? They all could run it UP YOUR ASS when they needed to. They could shorten a game by using ball control and take the will to compete out of the defense.

If your passing game is on cue it looks good...but you live by the pass and you can die by the pass. What happens when you are playing a Bama, LSU, Georgia, Florida etc in bad weather or pouring rain? What happens (See UNC in the Music City Bowl) when you need to run the clock and make first downs to close out a game and not get a quick 3 and out and give the other team the ball back with a chance to beat your ass (see UNC in the Music City Bowl)

If pass happy teams are so good why doesn't the WAC and Big 12 etc.. dominate every fooking year? Why does those teams play crappy defense year end and year out? Because they go up against soft... pass happy offenses day in and day out in practice thats why. Wonder why the Big 12 isn't noted for the defenses, I just explained it to you!!!

Look...passing teams that put up 30 plus points a game is fun to watch and it puts fans in the stands...Being able to pass and RUN THE BALL...control the LOS and play HARD NOSE defense wins championships. When Bray is off...when we come up against the big boys that know how to defend our passing game..when we are playing in bad weather....if we do not have a running game and control the LOS we are shit out of luck...You can take that to the bank!
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Hermitagevol


Good points Phil, but I see the NCAA eventually changing some of the rules like stopping the clock after incomplete passes to speed up the game. 4+hours of football is a little long, especially when it's NOT a Tennessee game.
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Shakearag
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Pass first is the only philosophy Coach Dooley can have right now because that fits in where his talent lies. But Phil is right and I bet Coach Dooley changes his philosophy when he recruits a big back that has talent with a offensive line that can run block. Right now we have neither and featuring the pass is the only way we can win. I will be surprised if he sticks with a pass happy offense down the road. Those pass happy teams make playing defense difficult especially when they go three and out for an entire quarter (ask Texas A&M) how they fared in the second half against Florida.
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*Zippy
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Shakearag
Sep 11 2012, 08:09 PM
Pass first is the only philosophy Coach Dooley can have right now because that fits in where his talent lies.
That.

Dooley is playing to his strengths. He has all-pro talent at WR (x2) and QB. He has highschool talent at RB. He'd be an idiot if he didnt try to exploit what he has this year. Whether or not he can win a championship that way this year doesnt matter, because he damn sure would not win one trying to force this team to be a power running offense. He'd be lucky to go to a bowl that way.

Long term Phil may (or may not) have a point, but it doesnt really matter right now.
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BANG
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Tnphil
Sep 11 2012, 07:10 PM
Well and fine to have a pass first offense...but unless you are able to RUN the ball when need be you WILL NEVER win the SEC or a Natl.Championship. You can give me every excuse in the book and I WILL NOT believe it...Proof? Just look at the past 6 (SIX) National Champions and tell me what they all had in common? They all could run it UP YOUR ASS when they needed to. They could shorten a game by using ball control and take the will to compete out of the defense.

If your passing game is on cue it looks good...but you live by the pass and you can die by the pass. What happens when you are playing a Bama, LSU, Georgia, Florida etc in bad weather or pouring rain? What happens (See UNC in the Music City Bowl) when you need to run the clock and make first downs to close out a game and not get a quick 3 and out and give the other team the ball back with a chance to beat your ass (see UNC in the Music City Bowl)

If pass happy teams are so good why doesn't the WAC and Big 12 etc.. dominate every fooking year? Why does those teams play crappy defense year end and year out? Because they go up against soft... pass happy offenses day in and day out in practice thats why. Wonder why the Big 12 isn't noted for the defenses, I just explained it to you!!!

Look...passing teams that put up 30 plus points a game is fun to watch and it puts fans in the stands...Being able to pass and RUN THE BALL...control the LOS and play HARD NOSE defense wins championships. When Bray is off...when we come up against the big boys that know how to defend our passing game..when we are playing in bad weather....if we do not have a running game and control the LOS we are shit out of luck...You can take that to the bank!
I agree 1000%

Quote:
 
Pass first is the only philosophy Coach Dooley can have right now because that fits in where his talent lies.



I agree with this too. I just hope that we evolve into a more physical football team, doesn't have to be overnight, just get there. I think when you are able to run the ball effectively against the better teams you tend to control your destiny moreso.
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*Zippy
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I'd rather we have an improved running game myself, but it's not something we can just wish to come true. The main problem is we have almost completely whiffed on running backs the last three years. Hard to fault Dooley too terribly much for it because when we got here he had absolutely nothing at all on the roster. So many holes to fill at so many different positions, and he's really done a good job at every one of them except RB.

I still think Lane is our best back, but our problem is he just has not recovered from the knee injury. I dont know if it's mental or physical, but he's not the same back. If he were, we'd be much more effective running the ball. If Dooley goes out and has a good season this year, we may be able to fix the running game issues on signing day. If we tank again this season, probably not. Keep in mind, I"m not supporting this. I'm just pointing it out. It is what it is, but I agree with what Dooley is doing on offense and defense right now. It gives us the best chance @ winning the most games. We are going to come out flat and the passing game wont click, so we get the shit kicked out of us at LEAST one or two games, but I can about guarantee you that if we stay healthy we are going to steal a couple this year that we probably should not win.
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