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| 10 Four Star Signees? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 11 2013, 02:43 PM (209 Views) | |
| LonzoVol | Feb 11 2013, 02:43 PM Post #1 |
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Using Rivals and ESPNU recruiting, this class certainly looks somewhat better from a purely star gazing point of view. Interesting that three of the premiere players on Rivals, Reeves-Maybin, Carr and Paul Harris, are rated three stars on ESPNU. But, ESPNU, which uses mainly former players and coaches to rank the players, has seven, yes, seven players ranked as four star recruits in this class. They are: North, Dobbs, Ferguson, Jenkins, Vereen, Sanders and Jaylon Miller. Both ESPN and Rivals have Lemond Johnson just barely outside their four star ranking. Obviously my point here, I think, is that things could have been worse. Several of the recruits had other schools take a run at them following the coaching change. Reeves-Maybin was already in school, along with Johnson, so they were off limits along with Vereen. Ohio State made a late run at the offensive lineman, Weisman, Carr had Ole Miss, Alabama and Arkansas all over him, North had his family pushing him towards North Carolina, plus he had some other calls and declined visits. Chaney and Pittman came after both Brett Kendrick and Josh Smith and Hinshaw tried to lure Smith to Cincinnati with Ears Tubberville's approval, of course. Obviously, the coaches whiffed on a prime time tailback and additional linemen, but once again, it could have been worse and perhaps, if the staff learned a few new rules about "dog eat dog" in the SEC and beyond, then this next recruiting cycle will be one to remember for a very long time. |
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| BJVOL III | Feb 11 2013, 03:51 PM Post #2 |
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Awesome
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Interesting. Thanks. |
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| AtlantaVol | Feb 11 2013, 06:29 PM Post #3 |
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IMO this doesn't mean anything if used by itself. Now if you do it for every single SEC team out there then where does UT rank in the SEC. Or do it for the Top 30 teams nationally and see where UT ranks. The problem I have is a HC only has this ONE time to go into recruits homes and SELL himself and the program without anything on the field of play to talk about or distract. He can purely SELL the program as turning a new corner with "great" things to come. Next January he will have a record in the fall of 2013 and recruits will know this. And gain, IMO this team doesn't have enough talent left behind by Dooley or true Impact Top 100 players besides North in the 2013 class to make much hay in the brutal SEC. Then throw in the fact we have an Away game against Oregon. This time next year Jones will be out to SELL the program but with a 5-7 to 7-5 record in the books. This was his chance to really SELL his vision but without that mediocre to poor record as a distraction. |
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| BJVOL III | Feb 11 2013, 07:18 PM Post #4 |
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Awesome
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Totally disagree AV. This year Jones had no time to develop relationships and he came close on a number of excellent prospects. With time to develop his contacts and a banner year in Tenn, Butch will do well despite a 7-5 record. His problem is what he inherited from Dooley. His teams have always played hard and recruits will see that for themselves. Otherwise, based on what you said, it would impossible for Tenn ever to get out of a mediocre run unless a coach had a superlative first year recruiting haul. |
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| LonzoVol | Feb 11 2013, 09:26 PM Post #5 |
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Ah yes, I see you have broken your promise not to be critical for 14 months. I knew you wouldn't be able to resist it and frankly, you have been rather mild here compared to your main wailing wall website. Too bad you just could not even attempt anything approaching a positive attitude at this time. BTW, your 7-5 prediction is worst case senario for next fall. And btw, the architech of this fall, fiddling Nero Fultanicroom was in Dyersburg last week. He told the people who entertained his big arse that he didn't want it revealed publically that he was coming in. Ha, ha, I'm sure they would have been knocking the doors down to see him if it had been announced publically. |
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| gatewayghost | Feb 11 2013, 09:43 PM Post #6 |
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Awesome
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There was an O lineman from up North who was a 3 star but Ohio State tried to steal at the last hour. I can't recall his name but I know it wasn't on your list. Offer list is as impressive as stars if not more. |
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| *Zippy | Feb 11 2013, 10:46 PM Post #7 |
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Burning Man, 2009 FOREVER
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That's not necessarily true, or maybe it's more accurate to say for 2014. Jones has one thing Dooley did not have: a very talented, very experienced, completely upper class offensive line and defensive line. There isnt a whole lot of depth (but it's still better than in 2010, but that's not setting the bar real high) and we'll have essentially nothing returning in 2014. But for 2013, with luck on the injury front...and with UT's luck that means 5 or 6 guys are going to get in a fight or something else stupid and end up getting suspended...that's one hell of a place to build from. If Jones is a good football coach, he does have enough talent on the team to win some games he shouldnt. I think Jones can probably coach to be honest, so as pessimistic as I am about this recruiting class I'm not nearly that pessimistic about the 2013 season. Looking at the schedule, we basically have 4 games that we just show up and get a win (yeah I know, used to have 8-10 of those every year. Sad). We arent going to lose Austin Peay, Western Kentucky, Kentucky or South Alabama unless Jones is just awful. No way he's worse than Dooley. Then we have 3 games that are just as sure losses in at Alabama, at Oregon, and at Florida. I mean sure, if Jones is a hell of a coach and we get some crazy luck/tragedy...like Florida's entire team gets the swine flu the week of the game or something...UT could win. But I'm just not even worrying about it. So that's 5 games where UT has to play well and get 3 wins: GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AUBURN, VANDERBILT, and Missouri. 4 of those 5 are at home, and the one on the road (Missou) should really be a game we just show up and win if Jones is any good. So if Jones can coach and he can split 4 home games and get 8 wins, I think things could take off for him. But if he sucks or our bad luck continues and we only get 4 or 5 wins, then this is probably going to be a long decade. |
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| AtlantaVol | Feb 11 2013, 10:51 PM Post #8 |
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To clarify: 1) I think Jones is light years a better HC than Drool's. But I said he MUST recruit a very elite class THIS year if he wanted to have a chance at winning in 2013 and 2014 seasons. 2) I don't think I ever said I would give him 14 months or any certain time. I understand he will be the HC for 4-5 years at least. But IMO he can't win with the talent Dooley left him and he HAD to recruit better in this 2013 class. i never said this was "fair" but when you are making 3 million bucks a year and are the HC at UT then "fair" doesn't play into it. 3) And to continue point 2, it doesn't matter in the end if he finished 2nd on recruits. No one in the SEC is going to feel sorry for him and spot us a TD lead this fall. This team has very little above average SEC talent and unless you count OL it has no difference makers. It has NO DEPTH at all of quality SEC players. This isn't Phildo's fault. This is Drool's fault. 4) Best case scenario is 7-5 in 2013 but I would guess 6-6. Even that will take beating Candy, Kensucky, and Missouri in November. |
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| LonzoVol | Feb 12 2013, 07:39 AM Post #9 |
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I would absolutely agree with you that finishing second on recruits is worthless and has absolutely no value whatsoever. It is akin to being the vice presidential nominee on the losing ticket. I am holding out hope for a better record than what you project and the offensive line is the big reason why. If they are as good as I believe they can be, Tennessee can control the ball, the clock and keep the other team's offense off the field. I think we also agree that this season is crucial for several reasons and recruiting is NO. 1. CBJ and staff must show progress, get to a bowl and have some momentum going into January crunch time next year. One of the quarterbacks, Worley or Peterman, has to step up big time and play at a reasonably high level. If that happens, the offense should be explosive simply because of the blockers who are leading the way on runs and protecting the passer on throwing downs. I anticipate some personnel movement in the spring, but don't know if it will be wholesale or minimal. I would like to see Justin King go back to OLB and Fugate back to fullback. Would also like to see your buddy, Tugboat Carson, moved to offensive line. He is just a junior this year and could have a year to learn guard/center positions on offense. The guy is 6-1, 320 and very strong, but obviously is not going to make an impact on defense. |
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| runner | Feb 12 2013, 10:44 AM Post #10 |
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Master
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AtlantaVol, you last part of #3 is thoroughly true. "This isn't Phildo's fault. This is Drool's fault." Some people are still trying to deflect blame from Precious and place all of our problems on a coach from 5 recruiting and coaching seasons ago. |
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| Hermitagevol | Feb 12 2013, 06:18 PM Post #11 |
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I think there's plenty of people to blame including Fulllllllllmer, Kiffin, Dooley, AND Hamilton for UT's current woes. They are all at fault. |
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| LonzoVol | Feb 12 2013, 09:02 PM Post #12 |
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Ah yes, there is, plenty of blame to go around particularly in regards to recruiting of linemen where Big Pappa Plump and Boy Kiffin failed miserably. But the in-house troll, Bunner, has a one track mind. He consistently hijacks threads that have nothing to do with Dooley simply to attempt to aggrevate. One track minds are sooo preditable, but also tedious, boring and uninteresting. Not that impressive but consistent and determined I guess. A troll, by his very nature never brings any new information to a board but instead simply tries to get under someone's skin or kick a dead horse until he wears out his kneecaps. I guess every board has one or two or five. Edited by LonzoVol, Feb 12 2013, 09:04 PM.
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| *Zippy | Feb 12 2013, 10:06 PM Post #13 |
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Burning Man, 2009 FOREVER
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What he said. |
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