I guess when you have a desperate need...the best thing to do is address it. Seven offensively linemen recruits.
Going into the 2015 season, the Gators probably have the weakest O-line in the conference. Certainly they have
the youngest. Only one upperclassman on the entire roster.
Florida has to hope some of these young guys develop in a hurry!
Going into the 2015 season, the Gators probably have the weakest O-line in the conference. Certainly they have
the youngest. Only one upperclassman on the entire roster.
Florida has to hope some of these young guys develop in a hurry!
Florida is a full year....or two away from being better than 8-4. The QB and OL situation is in dire straits.
No doubt it's one of the worst in the conference. Good news is there is some really good talent there....just young and inexperienced. I like the 1AA All-American coming in. I expect him to start.
Demetrice Vaughan, RB from Blount, will walk-on at Alabama and start classes next week. This kid is a bit of a mystery as he had an incredible interest sheet (bama, barn, usce, ga tech) and was one of the most used backs in the annual Alabama/Mississippi all-star game (9 carries, 43 yards) then went MIA.
Vaughan was 1st team all 6A back last year and ended the year with 281 yard game vs McAdory in a 21-20 playoff loss
Vaughan was 1st team all 6A back last year and ended the year with 281 yard game vs McAdory in a 21-20 playoff loss
realtimerpi.com posted their game by game predictions for the season. ALA below:
| 09-05 | Wisconsin | 0-0 (0-0) | 16 | Scouting 36-22 | W | |
| 09-12 | Middle Tenn. St. | 0-0 (0-0) | 83 | Scouting 41-15 | W | |
| 09-19 | Mississippi | 0-0 (0-0) | 10 | Scouting 35-22 | W | |
| 09-26 | LA Monroe | 0-0 (0-0) | 126 | Scouting 44-10 | W | |
| 10-03 | at | Georgia | 0-0 (0-0) | 11 | Scouting 30-28 | W |
| 10-10 | Arkansas | 0-0 (0-0) | 48 | Scouting 38-18 | W | |
| 10-17 | at | Texas A&M | 0-0 (0-0) | 39 | Scouting 32-25 | W |
| 10-24 | Tennessee | 0-0 (0-0) | 46 | Scouting 38-18 | W | |
| 11-07 | LSU | 0-0 (0-0) | 26 | Scouting 36-20 | W | |
| 11-14 | at | Mississippi St. | 0-0 (0-0) | 9 | Scouting 29-28 | W |
| 11-21 | Charleston Sou. | 0-0 (0-0) | 151 | Scouting 46-7 | W | |
| 11-28 | at | Auburn | 0-0 (0-0) | 20 | Scouting 30-27 | W |
GAMER Projected Record: 12-0 |
and they REALLY love georgia tech:
| 09-03 | Alcorn St. | 0-0 (0-0) | 152 | Scouting 43-19 | W | |
| 09-12 | Tulane | 0-0 (0-0) | 122 | Scouting 42-21 | W | |
| 09-19 | at | Notre Dame | 0-0 (0-0) | 38 | Scouting 33-30 | W |
| 09-26 | at | Duke | 0-0 (0-0) | 31 | Scouting 33-31 | W |
| 10-03 | N. Carolina | 0-0 (0-0) | 64 | Scouting 40-24 | W | |
| 10-10 | at | Clemson | 0-0 (0-0) | 18 | Scouting 33-32 | W |
| 10-17 | Pittsburgh | 0-0 (0-0) | 87 | Scouting 41-22 | W | |
| 10-24 | Florida St. | 0-0 (0-0) | 4 | Scouting 37-29 | W | |
| 10-31 | at | Virginia | 0-0 (0-0) | 72 | Scouting 35-29 | W |
| 11-12 | Virginia Tech | 0-0 (0-0) | 52 | Scouting 40-24 | W | |
| 11-21 | at | Miami (FL) | 0-0 (0-0) | 62 | Scouting 35-29 | W |
| 11-28 | Georgia | 0-0 (0-0) | 11 | Scouting 39-26 | W |
SEC FOOTBALL NOTES
Former Purdue quarterback Danny Etling will enroll at LSU. By rule he will have to sit this season and will have two years of eligibility remaining. In 13 games at Purdue, Etling completed 238-429 of his passes for 2,490 yards and 12 picks. Is it possible that Etling will appeal to the NCAA for immediate eligibility? ...
A pair of incoming freshmen and a juco transfer are not among the enrollees for Summer B at LSU. Defensive end Arden Key and offensive tackle Chidi Valentine-Okeke aren’t among the enrollees, nor is safety Jeremy Cutrer, a transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College …
Former LSU and Vanderbilt quarterback Stephen Rivers, younger brother of San Diego Chargers QB Phillip Rivers, is now at his third school. He’s transferring to Division IAA Northwestern State (LA) where he is immediately eligible to play …
Alabama senior associate athletics director Milton Overton is the new AD at FAMU … Missouri defensive tackle Harold Brantley, who had 54 tackles and 5 sacks last year, has improved from serious to good condition after surgery on his left leg following a Sunday auto accident. Brantley will have knee surgery in three weeks to repair ligament damage. He also suffered several rib fractures …
NFL.com writer Brian Fischer rates the Arkansas combo of Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins as the #1 running back combination in all of college football. Georgia’s combo of Nick Chubb and Keith Marshall ranks #4 while the Alabama duo of Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake ranked fifth …
Devondre Seymour, son of former Georgia All-American DT Richard Seymour, has decided to quit playing football. He’s the second offensive lineman to leave Georgia this month ...
South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner and basketball coach Frank Martin have joined the chorus demanding the removal of the Confederate flag at the statehouse. Football coach Steve Spurrier stated his opposition to the flag way back in 2007 …
Talk about aggressive non-conference scheduling, Alabama will play Southern Cal in 2016, Florida State and Fresno State in 2017 and will play in the Cowboys Classic in either 2019 or 2020 … Marcelys Jones has transferred out of Ohio State and will enroll at Kentucky.
The off-season Free Agency period has been pretty good to Florida:
Florida adds Graduate Transfer LB from Ga Tech:
http://www.gatorsports.com/article/...=Florida-adds-graduate-transfer-at-linebacker
Florida has added yet another football transfer at a position of need.
Georgia Tech linebacker Anthony Harrell announced Friday that he’s transferring to UF for his final year of eligibility. The Tampa native graduated from Tech in the spring.
“I have been accepted to the University of Florida’s Masters Degree Program,” Harrell wrote on his Twitter account. “My family and I have decided that it would be better for my future and where I want to go in life.”
Harrell is the fourth immediately eligible player to transfer to Florida for the upcoming season, joining quarterback Josh Grady (Vanderbilt) and offensive linemen Mason Halter (Fordham) and T.J. McCoy (N.C. State).
UF now has eight linebackers for 2015 with the addition of Harrell, whose father, James, played for the Gators from 1975-1978 and had an eight-year NFL career.
With the Yellow Jackets, Harrell (6-foot-2, 237 pounds) recorded 54 career tackles as a backup and special teams player. He was projected to start at middle linebacker this year.
Florida adds Graduate Transfer LB from Ga Tech:
http://www.gatorsports.com/article/...=Florida-adds-graduate-transfer-at-linebacker
Florida has added yet another football transfer at a position of need.
Georgia Tech linebacker Anthony Harrell announced Friday that he’s transferring to UF for his final year of eligibility. The Tampa native graduated from Tech in the spring.
“I have been accepted to the University of Florida’s Masters Degree Program,” Harrell wrote on his Twitter account. “My family and I have decided that it would be better for my future and where I want to go in life.”
Harrell is the fourth immediately eligible player to transfer to Florida for the upcoming season, joining quarterback Josh Grady (Vanderbilt) and offensive linemen Mason Halter (Fordham) and T.J. McCoy (N.C. State).
UF now has eight linebackers for 2015 with the addition of Harrell, whose father, James, played for the Gators from 1975-1978 and had an eight-year NFL career.
With the Yellow Jackets, Harrell (6-foot-2, 237 pounds) recorded 54 career tackles as a backup and special teams player. He was projected to start at middle linebacker this year.
interesting transfer considering GT are the favs to win the Coastal. then again the Florida version didn't tell the whole story 
strange one here. GT announced he was suspended indefinitely and Harrell transfers on same day and said that he was never suspended? anyway looks like a player that the gators can certainly use although his accountability might be in question
After suspension, Tech’s Harrell announces transfer
6:21 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2015
Georgia Tech senior linebacker Anthony Harrell was suspended indefinitely Friday. The news was posted on the Georgia Tech football team’s Twitter account Friday evening.
Harrell’s suspension was due to a violation of team rules, coach Paul Johnson wrote in a text message.
Shortly following the announcement, however, Harrell denied being suspended and wrote from his Twitter account that he was transferring to Florida of his own volition. Harrell is from Tampa, Fla., and his father James played for the Gators in the ’70s.
His response to the Tech football account read: “Yea that’s a lie get your facts right. I’ve chosen to leave and play my fifth year elsewhere.”
Harrell graduated from Tech with a management degree in the spring, giving him the option to transfer as a graduate student and have immediate eligibility for his senior season. However, Harrell had been taking part in team activities over the summer, not giving the impression of a player considering leaving. Coming out of spring practice, he had been projected to start at middle linebacker. His playing time prospects were uncertain, though, as Tech typically plays in a nickel defense, and he was not a starter on that unit. It was Harrell’s first suspension
strange one here. GT announced he was suspended indefinitely and Harrell transfers on same day and said that he was never suspended? anyway looks like a player that the gators can certainly use although his accountability might be in question
After suspension, Tech’s Harrell announces transfer
6:21 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2015
Georgia Tech senior linebacker Anthony Harrell was suspended indefinitely Friday. The news was posted on the Georgia Tech football team’s Twitter account Friday evening.
Harrell’s suspension was due to a violation of team rules, coach Paul Johnson wrote in a text message.
Shortly following the announcement, however, Harrell denied being suspended and wrote from his Twitter account that he was transferring to Florida of his own volition. Harrell is from Tampa, Fla., and his father James played for the Gators in the ’70s.
His response to the Tech football account read: “Yea that’s a lie get your facts right. I’ve chosen to leave and play my fifth year elsewhere.”
Harrell graduated from Tech with a management degree in the spring, giving him the option to transfer as a graduate student and have immediate eligibility for his senior season. However, Harrell had been taking part in team activities over the summer, not giving the impression of a player considering leaving. Coming out of spring practice, he had been projected to start at middle linebacker. His playing time prospects were uncertain, though, as Tech typically plays in a nickel defense, and he was not a starter on that unit. It was Harrell’s first suspension
SEC SIDs pick Auburn vs. Georgia in the SECCG
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/29/sec-sids-pick-auburn-vs-georgia-for-sec-title/
Alabama may be the defending SEC champions heading into the 215 season, but it is their Iron Bowl rival that is receiving the most praise and favorite label in the SEC in most college football circles this offseason. The addition of Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator is one of the most noteworthy assistant coaching changes this year, and the Tigers return some good talent on the field in 2015. Now, according to their hard-working sports information directors that make the lives of college football media types so much easier on a daily basis, Auburn is the favorite to play for the SEC title in 2015. Their opponent? Georgia.
All 14 SIDs in the SEC were polled by Al.com, and Auburn received three first-place votes and three second-place votes from the seven ballots from SEC West representatives. Alabama received an equal number of first-place votes and one fewer second-place vote. Georgia was a more clear favorite in the other division, receiving six of seven first-place votes. Missouri was the lone program receiving the one first-place vote not awarded to the Bulldogs. Missouri has played in the SEC Championship Game each of the past two seasons representing the SEC East. As noted by Al.com, SIDs could not vote for their own school.
If these predictions hold true, we will get a preview of the SEC Championship Game in mid-November. Georgia will visit Auburn on November 14.
Auburn and Georgia have 10 combined appearances in the SEC Championship Game, but have never faced each other in Atlanta.
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/29/sec-sids-pick-auburn-vs-georgia-for-sec-title/
Alabama may be the defending SEC champions heading into the 215 season, but it is their Iron Bowl rival that is receiving the most praise and favorite label in the SEC in most college football circles this offseason. The addition of Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator is one of the most noteworthy assistant coaching changes this year, and the Tigers return some good talent on the field in 2015. Now, according to their hard-working sports information directors that make the lives of college football media types so much easier on a daily basis, Auburn is the favorite to play for the SEC title in 2015. Their opponent? Georgia.
All 14 SIDs in the SEC were polled by Al.com, and Auburn received three first-place votes and three second-place votes from the seven ballots from SEC West representatives. Alabama received an equal number of first-place votes and one fewer second-place vote. Georgia was a more clear favorite in the other division, receiving six of seven first-place votes. Missouri was the lone program receiving the one first-place vote not awarded to the Bulldogs. Missouri has played in the SEC Championship Game each of the past two seasons representing the SEC East. As noted by Al.com, SIDs could not vote for their own school.
If these predictions hold true, we will get a preview of the SEC Championship Game in mid-November. Georgia will visit Auburn on November 14.
Auburn and Georgia have 10 combined appearances in the SEC Championship Game, but have never faced each other in Atlanta.
Looking at Coaching Ticker....
Monmouth: Former Georgia defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos has officially joined the Monmouth staff as defensive backs coach. Lakatos spent last season as a defensive consultant at Virginia Tech. He coached at Georgia from 2010-13.
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I'd love to know what his salary was at UGA and now at Monmouth. Talk about a fall from grace.
Monmouth: Former Georgia defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos has officially joined the Monmouth staff as defensive backs coach. Lakatos spent last season as a defensive consultant at Virginia Tech. He coached at Georgia from 2010-13.
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I'd love to know what his salary was at UGA and now at Monmouth. Talk about a fall from grace.
SEC Running Back coaches breakdown:
http://coachingsearch.com/article?a=Comparing-the-SEC-running-backs-coaches
Highest-paid SEC running backs coach: Frank Wilson ($660,000)
Lowest-paid coach: Derrick Nix ($225,000)
Average salary: $332,958
Note: Vanderbilt doesn’t have to disclose salary info. Skipper’s salary has not been released.
Oldest coach: Burton Burns (62)
Youngest coach: Thomas Brown (29)
Salary:
Frank Wilson (LSU) - $660,000
Clarence McKinney (Texas A&M) - $458,000
Robert Gillespie (Tennessee) - $350,000
Burton Burns (Alabama) - $345,000
Tim Horton (Auburn) - $325,000
Jemal Singleton (Arkansas) - $310,000
Brian Jones (Missouri) - $282,500
Thomas Brown (Georgia) - $275,000
Greg Knox (Mississippi State) - $275,000
Everette Sands (South Carolina) - $250,000
Chad Scott (Kentucky) - $240,000
Derrick Nix (Ole Miss) - $225,000
Tim Skipper (Florida) - Not available
Charles Bankins (Vanderbilt) - N/A
Tenure:
Brian Jones (Missouri) - 2001
Burton Burns (Alabama) - 2007
Derrick Nix (Ole Miss) - 2008
Greg Knox (Mississippi State) - 2009
Frank Wilson (LSU) - 2010
Charles Bankins (Vanderbilt) - 2011
Tim Horton (Auburn) - 2012
Everette Sands (South Carolina) - 2012
Clarence McKinney (Texas A&M) - 2012
Chad Scott (Kentucky) - 2013
Robert Gillespie (Tennessee) - 2013
Jemal Singleton (Arkansas) - 2015
Tim Skipper (Florida) - 2015
Thomas Brown (Georgia) - 2015
Draft picks coached in final year since 2010:
Frank Wilson (LSU) - 5
Burton Burns (Alabama) - 5
Tim Horton (Auburn) - 4
Greg Knox (Mississippi State) - 3
Everette Sands (South Carolina) - 2
Jemal Singleton (Arkansas) - 1
Tim Skipper (Florida) - 1 (1 LB)
Thomas Brown (Georgia) - 1
Chad Scott (Kentucky) - 1
Derrick Nix (Ole Miss) - 1
Brian Jones (Missouri) - 1
Robert Gillespie (Tennessee) - 1
Clarence McKinney (Texas A&M) - 1
Charles Bankins (Vanderbilt) - 0
http://coachingsearch.com/article?a=Comparing-the-SEC-running-backs-coaches
Highest-paid SEC running backs coach: Frank Wilson ($660,000)
Lowest-paid coach: Derrick Nix ($225,000)
Average salary: $332,958
Note: Vanderbilt doesn’t have to disclose salary info. Skipper’s salary has not been released.
Oldest coach: Burton Burns (62)
Youngest coach: Thomas Brown (29)
Salary:
Frank Wilson (LSU) - $660,000
Clarence McKinney (Texas A&M) - $458,000
Robert Gillespie (Tennessee) - $350,000
Burton Burns (Alabama) - $345,000
Tim Horton (Auburn) - $325,000
Jemal Singleton (Arkansas) - $310,000
Brian Jones (Missouri) - $282,500
Thomas Brown (Georgia) - $275,000
Greg Knox (Mississippi State) - $275,000
Everette Sands (South Carolina) - $250,000
Chad Scott (Kentucky) - $240,000
Derrick Nix (Ole Miss) - $225,000
Tim Skipper (Florida) - Not available
Charles Bankins (Vanderbilt) - N/A
Tenure:
Brian Jones (Missouri) - 2001
Burton Burns (Alabama) - 2007
Derrick Nix (Ole Miss) - 2008
Greg Knox (Mississippi State) - 2009
Frank Wilson (LSU) - 2010
Charles Bankins (Vanderbilt) - 2011
Tim Horton (Auburn) - 2012
Everette Sands (South Carolina) - 2012
Clarence McKinney (Texas A&M) - 2012
Chad Scott (Kentucky) - 2013
Robert Gillespie (Tennessee) - 2013
Jemal Singleton (Arkansas) - 2015
Tim Skipper (Florida) - 2015
Thomas Brown (Georgia) - 2015
Draft picks coached in final year since 2010:
Frank Wilson (LSU) - 5
Burton Burns (Alabama) - 5
Tim Horton (Auburn) - 4
Greg Knox (Mississippi State) - 3
Everette Sands (South Carolina) - 2
Jemal Singleton (Arkansas) - 1
Tim Skipper (Florida) - 1 (1 LB)
Thomas Brown (Georgia) - 1
Chad Scott (Kentucky) - 1
Derrick Nix (Ole Miss) - 1
Brian Jones (Missouri) - 1
Robert Gillespie (Tennessee) - 1
Clarence McKinney (Texas A&M) - 1
Charles Bankins (Vanderbilt) - 0
The rich get richer:
Alabama Lands Former Auburn DE Commitment:
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/...rn_co.html#incart_most-commented_news_article
Alabama has landed a commitment from Wenonah defensive lineman Quinnen Williams.
The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder picked the Crimson Tide over fellow finalists Auburn and Mississippi State Tuesday morning at his school.
"They have always been a top choice of mine," Williams told AL.com last week. "I like their tradition and winning ways. They're always in the running to compete for a championship. Their athletic department is second to none and they have a great academic program as far as my major (education) goes. I've developed a great relationship with the coaches -- Coach (Mario) Cristobal, Coach (Bo) Davis and Nick Saban."
Williams was committed to Auburn for more than four months before reopening his recruitment earlier this month.
"When I committed to Auburn I kind of shut down from everyone to clear my mind and make sure I was doing the right thing," he said.
Williams is ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 33 defensive tackle in the 247Sports Composite. He is the fourth defensive lineman to join Alabama's 2016 recruiting class, joining Raekwon Davis, Kendell Jones and Khalid Kareem.
Alabama Lands Former Auburn DE Commitment:
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/...rn_co.html#incart_most-commented_news_article
Alabama has landed a commitment from Wenonah defensive lineman Quinnen Williams.
The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder picked the Crimson Tide over fellow finalists Auburn and Mississippi State Tuesday morning at his school.
"They have always been a top choice of mine," Williams told AL.com last week. "I like their tradition and winning ways. They're always in the running to compete for a championship. Their athletic department is second to none and they have a great academic program as far as my major (education) goes. I've developed a great relationship with the coaches -- Coach (Mario) Cristobal, Coach (Bo) Davis and Nick Saban."
Williams was committed to Auburn for more than four months before reopening his recruitment earlier this month.
"When I committed to Auburn I kind of shut down from everyone to clear my mind and make sure I was doing the right thing," he said.
Williams is ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 33 defensive tackle in the 247Sports Composite. He is the fourth defensive lineman to join Alabama's 2016 recruiting class, joining Raekwon Davis, Kendell Jones and Khalid Kareem.
SEC Media Days less than 2 weeks away:
We’re less than two weeks from college football.
OK, the actual practices won’t begin until Aug. 1. But we all know that the season actually begins when everybody starts talking football at SEC Football Media Days in Birmingham. This year that starts earlier than ever – July 13.
As per usual, you’ll have to wait a while before hearing from coach Mark Richt and the Bulldogs. They’re not due up until the final day on Thursday, July 16, and then will be the next-to-the-last of the 14 teams on the podium.
Here’s what the itinerary looks like: July 13 — Commissioner Greg Sankey, Auburn – Gus Malzahn, Florida – Jim McElwain, Vanderbilt – Derek Mason;
July 14 — SEC Coordinator of Football Officials – Steve Shaw, South Carolina – Steve Spurrier, Texas A&M – Kevin Sumlin, Miss. State – Dan Mullen, Tennessee – Butch Jones;
July 15 — Alabama – Nick Saban, Kentucky – Mark Stoops, Arkansas – Bret Bielema, Missouri – Gary Pinkel; July 16 — LSU – Les Miles, Richt, Ole Miss – Hugh Freeze.
We’re less than two weeks from college football.
OK, the actual practices won’t begin until Aug. 1. But we all know that the season actually begins when everybody starts talking football at SEC Football Media Days in Birmingham. This year that starts earlier than ever – July 13.
As per usual, you’ll have to wait a while before hearing from coach Mark Richt and the Bulldogs. They’re not due up until the final day on Thursday, July 16, and then will be the next-to-the-last of the 14 teams on the podium.
Here’s what the itinerary looks like: July 13 — Commissioner Greg Sankey, Auburn – Gus Malzahn, Florida – Jim McElwain, Vanderbilt – Derek Mason;
July 14 — SEC Coordinator of Football Officials – Steve Shaw, South Carolina – Steve Spurrier, Texas A&M – Kevin Sumlin, Miss. State – Dan Mullen, Tennessee – Butch Jones;
July 15 — Alabama – Nick Saban, Kentucky – Mark Stoops, Arkansas – Bret Bielema, Missouri – Gary Pinkel; July 16 — LSU – Les Miles, Richt, Ole Miss – Hugh Freeze.
Media Days are a big deal in the SEC. You know football is in the air here in the south when all the coaches
converge in Birmingham. The advantage now for fans is the SEC Network where one can watch the speeches
and interviews....................
Gosh men, toe meets leather ain't too far off!
converge in Birmingham. The advantage now for fans is the SEC Network where one can watch the speeches
and interviews....................
Gosh men, toe meets leather ain't too far off!
Kirby Smart Interview: We Did Not Respect OSU QB
http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/alabama-football/alabama-brought-tom-herman/
How do teams get better in college football?
They shore up their biggest weaknesses.
Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart recently sat down with 680 The Fan for an in-depth interview. Among other things, Smart reflected on the Ohio State loss in the College Football Playoff.
One interesting takeaway was Smart talking about his defense not respecting Cardale Jones, the Buckeyes’ third-string quarterback. 247Sports had the transcript from the interview, and here’s a portion of it.
“I’ve coached about 15 years – it was the most different situation we’ve ever had because of the quarterback situation,” Smart said. “So you’ve got one quarterback on tape (Braxton Miller), then you’ve got another quarterback on tape (J.T. Barrett), then you’ve got one game on the quarterback (Cardale Jones). And looking back, we have exit interviews with our players, and when you look in hindsight, I asked every kid, Landon Collins, Nick Perry, Jarrick Williams, the really smart seniors on our team, I said ‘Where did we go wrong? What did we do wrong?’
“All three of them said they did not respect the quarterback, and our job as the coaches was to make them respect the quarterback…”
As coaches, it’s your duty to make your team respect their opponents, and leaders on the football team have to relay and impress upon that to the younger players. That obviously didn’t happen.
However, perhaps the most interesting aspect of the interview was Smart talking about Alabama bringing in former Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman — now the head coach at Houston — for a consulting gig. Herman had already accepted the Houston coaching job before the College Football Playoff started.
“It makes you look at everything,” Smart said. “I’ll tell you the best thing we did, and I give Coach (Nick) Saban a lot credit, we went directly to (Herman). We flew him in. We said “Hey, look, we want to meet with you. You know us better than anybody. You spent four weeks getting ready for us. What’s our tendencies? What do we do wrong? What do you think?’ And he was honest with us, he just told us what he thought. It was very valuable for us.”
Alabama has continued to struggle defensively against spread-’em-out offenses like Ohio State and Auburn. There are a myriad of reasons why the struggles continue, but realizing your weaknesses and hearing them from a coach who studied your defense extensively certainly helps.
http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/alabama-football/alabama-brought-tom-herman/
How do teams get better in college football?
They shore up their biggest weaknesses.
Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart recently sat down with 680 The Fan for an in-depth interview. Among other things, Smart reflected on the Ohio State loss in the College Football Playoff.
One interesting takeaway was Smart talking about his defense not respecting Cardale Jones, the Buckeyes’ third-string quarterback. 247Sports had the transcript from the interview, and here’s a portion of it.
“I’ve coached about 15 years – it was the most different situation we’ve ever had because of the quarterback situation,” Smart said. “So you’ve got one quarterback on tape (Braxton Miller), then you’ve got another quarterback on tape (J.T. Barrett), then you’ve got one game on the quarterback (Cardale Jones). And looking back, we have exit interviews with our players, and when you look in hindsight, I asked every kid, Landon Collins, Nick Perry, Jarrick Williams, the really smart seniors on our team, I said ‘Where did we go wrong? What did we do wrong?’
“All three of them said they did not respect the quarterback, and our job as the coaches was to make them respect the quarterback…”
As coaches, it’s your duty to make your team respect their opponents, and leaders on the football team have to relay and impress upon that to the younger players. That obviously didn’t happen.
However, perhaps the most interesting aspect of the interview was Smart talking about Alabama bringing in former Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman — now the head coach at Houston — for a consulting gig. Herman had already accepted the Houston coaching job before the College Football Playoff started.
“It makes you look at everything,” Smart said. “I’ll tell you the best thing we did, and I give Coach (Nick) Saban a lot credit, we went directly to (Herman). We flew him in. We said “Hey, look, we want to meet with you. You know us better than anybody. You spent four weeks getting ready for us. What’s our tendencies? What do we do wrong? What do you think?’ And he was honest with us, he just told us what he thought. It was very valuable for us.”
Alabama has continued to struggle defensively against spread-’em-out offenses like Ohio State and Auburn. There are a myriad of reasons why the struggles continue, but realizing your weaknesses and hearing them from a coach who studied your defense extensively certainly helps.
