I recently made my way back to Volquest after a few year absence, admittedly because it was football season and I couldn't help myself. I preface this message with the notion that I am a die hard Vol fan, alum and donor. I have been there in the good and bad and typically reserve judgement until after I have time to re-watch games etc. Here a few things in response to some posts I have seen, just my 2 cents...
1. I don't think Butch truly was on the hot seat before this game. Some of you folks want that so badly but he wasn't. One game doesn't make or break you but this one definitely hurts, considerably more so because of a new AD. The man still keeps his job with a 7-5 year, if you don't believe that, take the wait and see and I will remind you in a few months. There is definitely more pressure now but we won't make a change for the sake of change and it definitely isn't coming midseason. I would sideline that notion right now.
2. I think this team has enough talent to win 9-10 games. This past weekend was one of those games. Now, I think its most likely 8-4 or possibly 7-5. Yes, one game can make that much difference.
3. I think Butch truly does care about these kids and he has done this program proud at many levels. That said, the coaching blunders are piling up and he needs to learn to own them and realize he will live and die by them. Countless examples, though one of the biggest (IMO) I haven't seen mentioned as much is not calling a TO before the final play. I don't ever put much blame on the kids (exception of Justin Martin, who made the only good play of his career this week and should not be playing football for this team) as they don't get paid 4MM per year to make pressure packed decisions. The adults do and they botched them time and time again. Realize, you are coaching kids....young men...call TO and remind the kids of the situation. If you think they understand, remind them again....because thats what coaches do.
4. With that, stop blaming players etc. They all played hard and if Butch has done one thing, it's keeping these kids believing and playing to the bitter end. Feel free to call out sub par performance but don't beat the kids up. They are a product of the program and what they are taught. I'll call them like I see them and critique performance but never personally bash a kid.
5. Butch and company literally try to outsmart common sense at every turn. I realize they were run stunting on the 1/4 yard line. Great....that means 0 cover and no edge....run the sweep or pitch. No excuse for JG not getting under center if that was the plan. If the kid can't take a snap under center, we have big time problems. That entire situation is on the staff.
6. Penalties??? Those too are on this staff, especially the ones in the redzone. I can cut slack to the occasional few....that said if you don't want penalties at the 6 inch line, call a run play on first sound or on 1. They're blitzing you say? Great, let them do it. You need 6 inches. What you don't do, is call odd ball passing routes that call for you OL to be dropping into pass block as quickly as possibly against an all out blitz. Yes, what results there are false starts.
7. Callway and JK were the best players on the field. No Callway couldn't have caught that ball. Kid has a 40+ vertical and barely got there. Yes, that's on Dormady. No Dormady has not played well. Yes, he will get benched if he continues turning it over. Yes, he may have been the best option but that line is blurring. JK and MC need more touches, doesn't matter how. Chandler needs more touches, doesn't matter how.
8. Butch will end up riding with JG behind center in the near future and those of you who disbelieve that will see it manifest in short order. The kid is clearly more talented than Dormady and I think it's safe to say we know what Dormady is. He is a great kid who plays hard and has a lot of great tools. He is also a kid with little mobility, less than what we were led to believe, below average pocket presence and a penchant for turning it over in tight spots. I love the kid, but you can't win turning it over. Teams have the blueprint and will only get better....doesn't bode well for Dormady. JG is the better athlete and frankly I think we all see that Butch's offense (and make no mistake, this is Butch's O) needs a mobile kid to make things happen with his feet to bail out some of these bad play calls. Butch is also not that big of a dummy and realizes he needs to deal with JG's growing pains because he is the future of the program, you live and die playing the more talented kid. If JG leaves, Butch stands little chance to make it. They are in this thing together, for better or worse.
9. Lack of offenses ability and play calling to catch up to what Florida was doing boggles the mind. They targeted Dormady and his inability to move in the pocket. They brought inside pressure to free up the ends to fold up the pocket and Dormady has no pocket presence there. He either ate the sack or whizzed it into coverage because he didn't have the ability to step up and push the pocket or simply take off. They did it for a full 3 quarters before Scott decided to screen and draw them a little bit. Way too many long developing route concepts for that kind of pressure. You cannot win big games digging your players a hole like that.
10. Lastly, the whole kicker management thing. I don't have a problem with how he managed kickers. What I do have a problem with is Butch bobbing back and forth and what the cutoff is to send each kid out. If it's 40+ for BC, send him out. The kid made one improbable FG and missed another from 50+. Sure, we would love to have 2 there but hey....they are long FGs. Don't trot out Medley if its longer than your comfort zone for him. I think Butch choked there and changed up the game plan and it cost us 3 points.
1. I don't think Butch truly was on the hot seat before this game. Some of you folks want that so badly but he wasn't. One game doesn't make or break you but this one definitely hurts, considerably more so because of a new AD. The man still keeps his job with a 7-5 year, if you don't believe that, take the wait and see and I will remind you in a few months. There is definitely more pressure now but we won't make a change for the sake of change and it definitely isn't coming midseason. I would sideline that notion right now.
2. I think this team has enough talent to win 9-10 games. This past weekend was one of those games. Now, I think its most likely 8-4 or possibly 7-5. Yes, one game can make that much difference.
3. I think Butch truly does care about these kids and he has done this program proud at many levels. That said, the coaching blunders are piling up and he needs to learn to own them and realize he will live and die by them. Countless examples, though one of the biggest (IMO) I haven't seen mentioned as much is not calling a TO before the final play. I don't ever put much blame on the kids (exception of Justin Martin, who made the only good play of his career this week and should not be playing football for this team) as they don't get paid 4MM per year to make pressure packed decisions. The adults do and they botched them time and time again. Realize, you are coaching kids....young men...call TO and remind the kids of the situation. If you think they understand, remind them again....because thats what coaches do.
4. With that, stop blaming players etc. They all played hard and if Butch has done one thing, it's keeping these kids believing and playing to the bitter end. Feel free to call out sub par performance but don't beat the kids up. They are a product of the program and what they are taught. I'll call them like I see them and critique performance but never personally bash a kid.
5. Butch and company literally try to outsmart common sense at every turn. I realize they were run stunting on the 1/4 yard line. Great....that means 0 cover and no edge....run the sweep or pitch. No excuse for JG not getting under center if that was the plan. If the kid can't take a snap under center, we have big time problems. That entire situation is on the staff.
6. Penalties??? Those too are on this staff, especially the ones in the redzone. I can cut slack to the occasional few....that said if you don't want penalties at the 6 inch line, call a run play on first sound or on 1. They're blitzing you say? Great, let them do it. You need 6 inches. What you don't do, is call odd ball passing routes that call for you OL to be dropping into pass block as quickly as possibly against an all out blitz. Yes, what results there are false starts.
7. Callway and JK were the best players on the field. No Callway couldn't have caught that ball. Kid has a 40+ vertical and barely got there. Yes, that's on Dormady. No Dormady has not played well. Yes, he will get benched if he continues turning it over. Yes, he may have been the best option but that line is blurring. JK and MC need more touches, doesn't matter how. Chandler needs more touches, doesn't matter how.
8. Butch will end up riding with JG behind center in the near future and those of you who disbelieve that will see it manifest in short order. The kid is clearly more talented than Dormady and I think it's safe to say we know what Dormady is. He is a great kid who plays hard and has a lot of great tools. He is also a kid with little mobility, less than what we were led to believe, below average pocket presence and a penchant for turning it over in tight spots. I love the kid, but you can't win turning it over. Teams have the blueprint and will only get better....doesn't bode well for Dormady. JG is the better athlete and frankly I think we all see that Butch's offense (and make no mistake, this is Butch's O) needs a mobile kid to make things happen with his feet to bail out some of these bad play calls. Butch is also not that big of a dummy and realizes he needs to deal with JG's growing pains because he is the future of the program, you live and die playing the more talented kid. If JG leaves, Butch stands little chance to make it. They are in this thing together, for better or worse.
9. Lack of offenses ability and play calling to catch up to what Florida was doing boggles the mind. They targeted Dormady and his inability to move in the pocket. They brought inside pressure to free up the ends to fold up the pocket and Dormady has no pocket presence there. He either ate the sack or whizzed it into coverage because he didn't have the ability to step up and push the pocket or simply take off. They did it for a full 3 quarters before Scott decided to screen and draw them a little bit. Way too many long developing route concepts for that kind of pressure. You cannot win big games digging your players a hole like that.
10. Lastly, the whole kicker management thing. I don't have a problem with how he managed kickers. What I do have a problem with is Butch bobbing back and forth and what the cutoff is to send each kid out. If it's 40+ for BC, send him out. The kid made one improbable FG and missed another from 50+. Sure, we would love to have 2 there but hey....they are long FGs. Don't trot out Medley if its longer than your comfort zone for him. I think Butch choked there and changed up the game plan and it cost us 3 points.
