I don't want this to be a bash on Butch thread, but just a conversation.
It seems that who played/started seemed to be a bigger issue for the Vols than most teams. There are always some debates about playing the younger, less experienced guy vs. the less talented, but more experienced.
For most teams, I presume that the HC does make a lot of those calls, or have heavy input.
I think this is an area that Butch and his staff has to work out a bit better moving forward. Here are some examples.....
1. The infamous Hurd and RB rotation. Seems obvious now that the best guys weren't given the carries, necessarily.
2. WR-----Byrd on offense, but not consistently on the field over Smith and then not always utilized. Preston Williams initially gets the PT, but then some injuries, doesn't want to block, doesn't fight for catches....then benched and lost.
3. OL---- All year implications from OC that neither he nor OL coach were picking the starters. Total roulette with who started when. It did make sense late, to move Weisman to center with odd front in recognizing Thomas' weaknesses (maybe Ap St game totally different with that line up to start). Injuries played a huge role here as did Drew's early struggles. Last 2 years, Kerbyson and then Kendrick end up as only guys to play whole year and were most consistent even though both gave up their share of sacks due to lack of ability.
4. DE----Barnett and seniors. All world back ups don't play unless they move to DT.
5. DT----Vickers was last man standing, but Tuttle and kmac outplayed him about every rep just like last year.
6. LB----Well, they all played. None played worth a dime. One guy seemed most likely to play and least likely to play well, I don't care how many tackles he had at Georgia.
7. DB----Obviously Cam played when he could. Buchanan got the call repeatedly, just never really looked ready to me. Martin couldn't find the field. Safeties, the shocking re-emergence from Griffin and then the weird Warrior, now you see him now you don't.
Anyway, recruiting promises, rewarding perseverance and guys doing things the right way are all great. But position coaches, Coordinators need to be on same page with HC when it comes to who fits on the field where and when. I think this was a huge problem and was dealt with by the team after the Hurd defection. And after that, some guys started showing up on the field. Boulware, Kongbo, Callaway, Warrior, Bituli, Taylor come to mind.
Lastly, I noticed the other day that against Va Tech on the play where Va tech fumbled to get us back in game, Kongbo was playing DT. He got stood up by a double team, but he hustled to ball as 22 recovered. Maybe after getting some game reps there he declined/refused to keep playing there, but he was there at least some in game 2.
It seems that who played/started seemed to be a bigger issue for the Vols than most teams. There are always some debates about playing the younger, less experienced guy vs. the less talented, but more experienced.
For most teams, I presume that the HC does make a lot of those calls, or have heavy input.
I think this is an area that Butch and his staff has to work out a bit better moving forward. Here are some examples.....
1. The infamous Hurd and RB rotation. Seems obvious now that the best guys weren't given the carries, necessarily.
2. WR-----Byrd on offense, but not consistently on the field over Smith and then not always utilized. Preston Williams initially gets the PT, but then some injuries, doesn't want to block, doesn't fight for catches....then benched and lost.
3. OL---- All year implications from OC that neither he nor OL coach were picking the starters. Total roulette with who started when. It did make sense late, to move Weisman to center with odd front in recognizing Thomas' weaknesses (maybe Ap St game totally different with that line up to start). Injuries played a huge role here as did Drew's early struggles. Last 2 years, Kerbyson and then Kendrick end up as only guys to play whole year and were most consistent even though both gave up their share of sacks due to lack of ability.
4. DE----Barnett and seniors. All world back ups don't play unless they move to DT.
5. DT----Vickers was last man standing, but Tuttle and kmac outplayed him about every rep just like last year.
6. LB----Well, they all played. None played worth a dime. One guy seemed most likely to play and least likely to play well, I don't care how many tackles he had at Georgia.
7. DB----Obviously Cam played when he could. Buchanan got the call repeatedly, just never really looked ready to me. Martin couldn't find the field. Safeties, the shocking re-emergence from Griffin and then the weird Warrior, now you see him now you don't.
Anyway, recruiting promises, rewarding perseverance and guys doing things the right way are all great. But position coaches, Coordinators need to be on same page with HC when it comes to who fits on the field where and when. I think this was a huge problem and was dealt with by the team after the Hurd defection. And after that, some guys started showing up on the field. Boulware, Kongbo, Callaway, Warrior, Bituli, Taylor come to mind.
Lastly, I noticed the other day that against Va Tech on the play where Va tech fumbled to get us back in game, Kongbo was playing DT. He got stood up by a double team, but he hustled to ball as 22 recovered. Maybe after getting some game reps there he declined/refused to keep playing there, but he was there at least some in game 2.
