'09 COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFF-SEASON THREAD-recruiting/Coaching Changes/Transfers

5 more Vols are headed outthe door before the Summer.

The writings on the wall, the incoming Freshman class is going to get major Clock
pimp.gif
I LOVE IT!
 
"After seeing some of those guys fall out of the first and second round all because they never developed as a receiver due to the spread, I can't havethat," he said. "I am not really with all that anymore. I thought I was, but I got to clear my head."

- James Louis in reference to UF. He was a heavy lean to them.

And Tennessee just landed Jose Jose. Is this just to get a better shot at the other BTW kids?
 
Originally Posted by November33rd

Which means y'all are going to be even worse this season. Like us last year.
Nah, playing young players because they earned it is a good thing.
Not playing them because of loyalty to seniors like Fulmer did is worse

Jose Jose ...next up....
 
Yeah I don't think it was unexpected that a number of guys left Tennessee, it seems like it always happens when there is a coaching change
 
Jose Jose is carrying a lot of bad weight man.

"We've HIT 305, 954, 561, 904, 850, 770, 864, 212, 772 - I know 1 thing, "No 1 on the corner hasswagga like US"..... SQQQQQQUUUAAADD UP!"

- Coach Coley

laugh.gif
pimp.gif
pimp.gif

 
Update on ACC rules changes: Home and home jerseys?

May 12, 2009 11:37 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- Here's a fun note for you from Doug Rhoads, the ACC's coordinator of officials.

Teams no longer have to wear their white uniforms in games, as long as both teams agree to it, in writing, before the game.

So if Maryland wants to wear red uniforms at North Carolina, and the Tar Heels want to wear navy blue, it's OK, as long as they both agree to it. This took off after both Southern Cal and UCLA decided to wear their colored jerseys against each other.

The whole reason teams had to wear white and colored uniforms was because of the old black and white TVs.

Another rule change for 2009 will be the definition of the tackle box. It's now 5 yards from the center of the offensive line formation. This will help both the referee and the quarterback determine whether it's OK for the quarterback to throw the ball away or if it's intentional grounding.

They've also added that it's a 15-yard penalty if a player is tackled by his chinstrap. (I've seen the facemask tackle, but never the chinstrap. Neither has Rhoads.) Basically, defenders can't tackle opponents by grabbing the inside of their helmet opening.

One other tweak to the rules is that it's not an illegal formation to have less than seven players on the line. The thinking is, why penalize a team for being at a disadvantage? As long as there are five players with jersey numbers 50-70 (you know, the offensive linemen), it's acceptable. They'd like to see seven on the line of scrimmage and four in the backfield.




http://myespn.go.com/blogs/acc/0-6-56/Swinney--Small-rule-change-could-have-big-impact.html
Swinney: Small rule change could have big impact

May 12, 2009 1:49 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- Clemson coach Dabo Swinney was standing in the hallway of the Ritz-Carlton, talking to some reporters following the conclusion of the ACC spring meetings when ACC coordinator of officials Doug Rhoads walked by.

"Did I hear you right in there? That you don't have to have six on the line?" Swinney asked Rhoads.

Rhoads started to answer yes, but Swinney interrupted.

"Do you realize we lost to Georgia Tech, 10-9, at Georgia Tech three years ago and we lost to Maryland?" he said. "It's not y'all's fault, it's our fault, but we throw a touchdown pass against Georgia Tech, a 50-yard touchdown pass and don't have a tight end in the game."

Rhoads pointed out that Virginia lost one to Georgia Tech the same way, where they made a substitution but didn't have the tight end in.

"I've always thought that if you score with 10, they ought to give you extra points," Swinney said, smiling. "That's always been my philosophy."

As long as coaches have no more than four in the backfield and five linemen numbered correctly, they're OK. Before, coaches had to have seven on the line and four in the backfield, but it didn't make sense to penalize teams for playing with less than 11 players on the field.

Rhoads said there were three times last year when ACC officials took points off the board on a field goal or took a score back for playing with 10. It happens as a result of miscommunication on substitutions, and usually happens with the tight end.

"It's one thing when you just run a play," Swinney said, "but both of those games, we scored touchdowns, Maryland and Georgia Tech."

This year, those touchdowns will count.




Tue May 12, 2009 6:10 pm EDT
[h4]No, the ACC did not change offensive football as we know it[/h4]
By Matt Hinton

ept_sports_ncaaf_experts-29038992-1242166082.jpg


Just an open question to the Dr. Saturday readership: Did anyone else emit a high-pitched "What?!" when they read the last paragraph of Heather Dinich's dispatch on upcoming rule changes in the ACC?
One other tweak to the rules is that it's not an illegal formation to have less than seven players on the line. The thinking is, why penalize a team for being at a disadvantage? As long as there are five players with jersey numbers 50-70 (you know, the offensive linemen), it's acceptable. They'd like to see seven on the line of scrimmage and four in the backfield.


Phrased that way, of course, this does not qualify as "a tweak." A rule that relaxed the seven-men-on-the-line requirement would blow the doors off the last century of football strategy. Seven men on the line is probably the most fundamental concept holding offensive playbooks together; it's so taken for granted, you rarely hear it discussed at all. This would be like Congress legalizing, I don't know, embezzlement or something. The ACC Rules Committee does not have that kind of pull. And even if it did, it wouldn't be buried in the last paragraph of a routine blog post.

300px-Buck_lateral_football_play.PNG
I almost fell out of my chair, then frantically tried to find a phone number to ACC headquarters. (Which apparently does not exist. But you can send them a nice form e-mail and hold your breath.)

Thankfully, another Dinich post later this afternoon clarifies the situation, with a little help from Dabo Swinney:
As long as coaches have no more than four in the backfield and five linemen numbered correctly, they're OK. Before, coaches had to have seven on the line and four in the backfield, but it didn't make sense to penalize teams for playing with less than 11 players on the field.

Rhoads said there were three times last year when ACC officials took points off the board on a field goal or took a score back for playing with 10.


The emphasized clause might have been nice to know the first time around. It seems the "tweak" is really meant to remove the penalty when the offense has only 10 men on the field, even if it leaves them a man short on the line of scrimmage -- they cannot, as Dinich's first post seemed to indicate, take a man off the line and put him "in the backfield" (which is anywhere behind the line of scrimmage, sideline to sideline) as an eligible receiver or ballcarrier. The distinction is fairly crucial.

Anyway, the ACC will also allow road teams to wear their home colors instead of white jerseys if both teams agree, with no stupid penalties. Sounds fun, huh?
 
Originally Posted by Dade B0Y

UT took Jose as a DT, that's a reaaaaaaach.
laugh.gif
Im guessing u havent seen how quick his feet and hands are ...

"bad weight" what 300 lb High Schooler isnt carrying bad weight
 
Originally Posted by GUNNA GET IT

Originally Posted by Dade B0Y

UT took Jose as a DT, that's a reaaaaaaach.
laugh.gif
Im guessing u havent seen how quick his feet and hands are ...

"bad weight" what 300 lb High Schooler isnt carrying bad weight
Umm Jose overall is not a quick. Putting him at DT is a reach...
 
who said overall? U quoted me and still didnt read it correctly?
Im not saying hes fast
His hands and feet are extremely quick, esp for someone that size.

Yeah putting a 300 lber with quick feet and hands at DT is a reach.....
tired.gif
 
Originally Posted by dreClark

"After seeing some of those guys fall out of the first and second round all because they never developed as a receiver due to the spread, I can't have that," he said. "I am not really with all that anymore. I thought I was, but I got to clear my head."

- James Louis in reference to UF. He was a heavy lean to them.
Man de'j johnson is killing us lol. Urban really has his work cut out for him (in recruiting wrs) this offseason. Article on this:
http://vmedia.rivals.com/...sFontColor=000000&sLink= WIDTH=620 HEIGHT=60 SALIGN=lt QUALITY=best SCALE=noborder wmode=transparent ID=rvflash NAME=rvflash BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF allowscriptaccess=always TYPE=application/x-shockwave-flash PLUGINSPAGE=http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash>
Guerry Smith
GatorBait.net Associate Editor

Talk about it in Alligator Alley
If you're stressed out over what De'Joshua Johnson said after eliminating Florida from his list of suitors, you're losing precious moments in your life you'll never get back.

Seriously, don't be that person. As a colossal waste of time, this ranks right up there with the guy who takes notes at FSU's offensive staff meetings or the guy who designed Ron Zook's trophy room or the guy who worries that Mississippi State and Dan Mullen will have a little something-something for the Gators when they travel to Starkville next fall.

708872.jpg
spacer1.gif
Associated Press
spacer1.gif
The spread offense helped showcase Harvin as the most dynamic playmaker in college football
First, a little recap for everyone who hasn't read what Johnson told the Palm Beach Post's Ben Volin (yeah, both of you):

"I dropped Florida and West Virginia because of the spread offense. I don't want to play in the spread offense. I've seen how it affected receivers in the NFL draft. They have to teach them to play in a pro-style offense."

The questions are threefold. Is Johnson right about the plummeting draft stock of spread-offense receivers? Do they take longer to adjust to the NFL than receivers in a conventional offense? And will the perception of that deficiency kill Florida's recruiting at the position?

The answers are no, no proof and no. Let's take the issues in order.

1) Johnson was dead wrong when he claimed spread offenses adversely affect receivers' draft status.

Of the 34 receivers taken in the 2009 draft, 17 played in spread offenses. Crazy Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis stunned everyone by grabbing Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey before any other wide out went off the board, but the next three receivers - Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech (No. 10) Jeremy Maclin of Missouri (No. 19) and UF's Percy Harvin (No. 22) - all came from spread attacks.

Hmm. If half of the receivers taken come from the spread and three of the first four wide outs taken hail from the spread, Johnson's point is a wee bit shaky. He also might want to look at the career of Patriots' wide out Wes Welker, a product of Texas Tech's spread attack. Welker has 223 receptions in the last two years, the most in the NFL.

Since Urban Meyer arrived at Florida, as many UF receivers have gone in the draft (six) as any program in the country. The Gators are tied with LSU and Ohio State, double the number produced by USC, the shiny model for the pro-style offense crowd.

More ado about nothing: UF wide receiver Louis Murphy and tight end Cornelius Ingram lasting longer than expected in the draft.

Don't blame the spread for their fate. Their red flags flew elsewhere. Murphy went in the fourth round because he has shaky hands and never was UF's No. 1 wide receiver. Ingram went in the fifth round because he is coming off a serious knee injury that sidelined him for his senior season after he spent two years at quarterback, one at wide receiver and one at tight end.

2) Johnson was off base when he said spread players take longer to develop in the NFL than guys from traditional offenses.

In Meyer's case, the jury hasn't come in yet. He coached Chad Jackson for one year, so it is hard to pin Jackson's lack of development on him. Andre Caldwell has a horrific broken leg in his past. Dallas Baker was not fast enough to find a niche in the NFL.

Harvin will be a better test case, but he enters the NFL with baggage. The adjustment from a spread offense is low on the list of reasons he might not have a huge impact as a rookie. His immaturity and history of foot problems are bigger concerns.

"I've devoted a lot of time personally to study and evaluate the Florida offense," former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach John Gruden said. "You can see that the Florida receivers have an advanced knowledge of a pro-style passing game. They know how to identify blitzes, read coverage's and run good routes."

Granted, Gruden is a shaky source. Since he was devoid of good quarterbacks and receivers for most of his seven-year stint with the Bucs, it is unclear whether he can spot a good wideout. But Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Minnesota Vikings quarterback coach Kevin Rogers have offered similar testimonials (included at the bottom).

It is far too early to bury Meyer's ability to produce NFL-ready receivers.

3) Don't just assume other top-notch recruits share Johnson's opinion.

The Gators have no wide receivers among their first 12 commitments for 2010, but there is no reason to panic. It is not even the middle of May yet. Five-star 2009 signee Andre Debose, whom the coaches hope can play the Harvin role as running back/receiver hybrid, waited until January to commit.

If Debose meets expectations, the Gators will be in good shape at the Percy position for another three years.

Even the worst-case scenario is manageable. If Debose takes a long time to develop and Harvin tanks in the NFL, Florida still will be attractive to versatile athletes.

While opposing recruiters mimic Johnson's words, Meyer can tell prospects that Harvin went 22nd in the draft despite his off-field issues. Imagine how high he would have gone if he had a pristine image.

High school hot shots always think they will become stars in the NFL. A Harvin flameout wouldn't scare them away from Florida any more than the failure of Steve Spurrier's wideouts at the next level in the 1990s.

Jack Jackson, Reidel Anthony, Jacquez Green and Travis Taylor were major NFL disappointments at a position that produced zero superstars from the Fun 'n' Gun. Still, Spurrier's last team featured Jabar Gaffney, Reche Caldwell and Taylor Jacobs, one of the most prolific receiving trios in Gator history.

Meyer will find the same answers.

Johnson says he is spooked by the spread, and he is entitled to his opinion. History says few of his peers share it.

NFL coaches on Florida receivers

"Florida receivers come to the NFL prepared and ready to play. They are familiar with a philosophy that we are implementing. We ask our receivers to run precise routes, read and react, block on the edge, and play with toughness. The Florida receivers do just that. We drafted Andre Caldwell in 2008 because we felt he was so well prepared to contribute immediately, which he did for us last season." - Marvin Lewis, Head Coach of the Cincinnati Bengals

"They have a spread offense. They read coverage's. They run routes based on coverage's or the technique of the defender. They have multiple formations and blitz adjustments and all those kinds of things that are common in the National Football League. I think kids that come out of that offense have a good understanding of passing concepts." - Patriots coach Bill Belichick

"One of the things that impressed me the most about my evaluation of Florida receivers is that they run very disciplined routes. They are similar to what we run in the NFL. The wide receivers at Florida are already well versed in an offense that most NFL teams are now using." - Kevin Rogers, Quarterback Coach Minnesota Vikings

"Florida receivers are very fundamental. They are NFL ready and have a great knowledge of offensive concepts that we utilize." - Karl Dorrell, Wide Receiver Coach of the Miami Dolphins

Gator receivers in the NFL fast facts

  • Florida is one of two schools nationally to have a WR selected in the last four NFL Drafts.
  • There were seven former Florida wide receivers on NFL rosters in 2008, six of them caught a pass during the season.
  • Florida leads the nation with six wide receivers drafted in the last four NFL Drafts, while FSU has had just two WR selected (see chart below).
  • The last time a skill player was taken in the first round from:
    FSU (2002)
    Miami (2003)
    Alabama (2000)
  • WR Selected in NFL Draft (2006-2009)
    Florida 6
    LSU 6
    Ohio State 6
    Southern Cal 3
    Florida State 2
    Miami 1
    Georgia 1
    Tennessee 1
  • 13 of the top 15 scoring offenses in the NCAA last year ran a version of the spread offense, including all teams in the top 10.

http://florida.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=944267
 
All that sounds good, but put up all those UF WR numbers in the League so I can see Johnson's P.O.V.

Imma go look for em when I get back in the office in a few.
 
Originally Posted by GUNNA GET IT

All that sounds good, but put up all those UF WR numbers in the League so I can see Johnson's P.O.V.
Just like the article said, there's not much to look up yet. We just started running the spread 4 years ago. Percy will probably be themeasuring stick.
 
ok. well what have those guys don so far? what have other spread WRs done in the League? and UF been runnin the spread/run & shoot type offense, thatarticle is nit picking.
How many Purdue WRs are killing it in the NFL and makin mega bucks? How Bout Urban Meyer's Wrs from his previous stops in BG, and Utah?
Hawaii?
Tulsa?
New Mexico St?
Oregon?
Rice?

there are countless spread offenses, and I cant even name one Wr from those collegiate offenses who has a huge contract or is putting up Nice numbers ...

correct me if Im wrong tho.
 
laugh.gif


The only reciever I could even think of out of the spread who had a decent year was Davone Bess and his numbers were
eyes.gif
 
Part of what makes researching these post spring projections enjoyable is looking back and seeing what a certain writing genius predicted for a player before last season, and oh boy, did that "genius" miss the mark on Golden Tate in 2008.

Here's a sample from last year's story: "It's unlikely Tate will evolve into the type of receiver during his sophomore season to become a 40-catch, 'go to' guy. A 20-catch season with a nice per-catch average and a couple of long touchdowns would constitute a good sophomore season."
tate_mich08_200x300.jpg
Tate set a new mark for sophomore receivers at Notre Dame with his 1,080 yards last season.



Well, 58 catches, 1,080 yards and 10 touchdowns later, Tate defined "go to" guy, and given the rhythm he developed with Jimmy Clausen as last season progressed, it's hard telling how good Tate can be again this season.

Tate has lived up to all the big-play expectations he brought with him after becoming a USA Today second-team All-American out of Hendersonville High School in Tennessee. In two seasons, Tate has recorded 22 receptions of at least 20 yards, and 17 catches of 30 yards or more. He added an enormous big-play boost that the Irish desperately needed last season, and will build their offense around again in 2009.

When asked about the secret of his success last season, Tate said it was learning how not to over-think things. Tate was the master of the go-route as a freshman, but his all-around capabilities as a receiver often came into question. Last season, he mastered all the routes, and his production followed along.

"I'm trying to get away from pressuring myself. I feel like I tend to do worse when I pressure myself," Tate said early in spring ball. "I know what I can do. The coaches know what I can do. They know the plays to call. I'm just trying to stay within myself…just play my game. Just do what I did last year. Just stop thinking, and just play."

Because of his responsibilities with the Irish baseball team, Tate was able to participate in only about a third of the football team's 15 spring practices, which made him a little uncomfortable with the wide receiver battle heating up behind him.

"I'm not comfortable with my spot right now," Tate said. "I feel like the competition at wide receiver is great. That's another thing we have this year, a lot of competition and the depth is getting better. I'm not taking it for granted."

Nobody expected the bust-out season from Tate as a sophomore after he hauled in just six passes as a freshman, three of those coming against Purdue. But some important people started to take notice after last season. Many NFL Draft experts compare Tate to long-time NFL standout receiver Steve Smith - small in stature, big on heart and talent.

"He plays like somebody who is much bigger," NFL Draft analyst Scott Wright said of the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Tate. "He has great ball skills for a smaller wideout. Obviously he is a great athlete, he is a vertical threat, and still has much more potential. When he starts really focusing on football and making it his primary concern, I think he has the chance to get much better. He is a legit NFL prospect."

Tate was tremendously consistent last season, catching at least six passes in eight games and recording at least 60 receiving yards nine times. But his most memorable game came in the Hawaii Bowl when he grabbed six passes for a career high 179 yards and three touchdowns. One of the touchdowns went for 69 yards, which was the longest play from scrimmage for the Irish last season.

"It made everything so much better after we won a bowl game, just get to work because now we know we're capable of winning," Tate said. "We're capable of doing big things and getting Notre Dame back to where they belong."

What's A Good Season?


Frankly, it will be hard for Tate to improve on 2008 but it's dangerous to sell this guy short.

Maybe the most remarkable area of Tate's game isn't his speed or ability to get open. It's his ability to find a way to get his hands on every ball. Single- or double-coverage, it never mattered. Tate always found a way to get his hands on the ball, and more often than not, come down with it. He made the remarkable look routine.

That shouldn't change this season, but with the emergence of Floyd on the other side, a bevy of potential No. 3 receivers emerging, freshman all-American tight end Kyle Rudolph back, and Armando Allen a terrific receiver out of the backfield, defenses may not be able to swarm Tate as tightly as they prefer. Then again, how many balls does Clausen have to divvy up.

A good season for Tate would be to match his production from last year because the secret is out. If he can get 60 catches, 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns, the Irish offense could be as dangerous as any in the country, and Tate may be facing a very real decision about whether to return for his senior season.
 
Originally Posted by GUNNA GET IT

ok. well what have those guys don so far? what have other spread WRs done in the League? and UF been runnin the spread/run & shoot type offense, that article is nit picking.
How many Purdue WRs are killing it in the NFL and makin mega bucks? How Bout Urban Meyer's Wrs from his previous stops in BG, and Utah?
Hawaii?
Tulsa?
New Mexico St?
Oregon?
Rice?

there are countless spread offenses, and I cant even name one Wr from those collegiate offenses who has a huge contract or is putting up Nice numbers ...

correct me if Im wrong tho.

Yeah, I just think there is no way to say yay or nay for sure yet. I don't think this talk will hurt us that much for this recruiting year. Gotta give it afew more years. I don't like to compare other spread offenses against ours simply because Urban is getting the creme of the crop, and the ideal fast twitchspread type wrs, to come play in his spread at Florida.
Though, I've been telling Florida guys that Percy's first year in the L is going to be huge on our recruiting. It is all on him imo. Nobodybelieves me on this. But if he has a down year then we are in big trouble - the negative recruiting about the spread will have more impact andundeniable proof. #1 recruit in the nation, ideal spread wr, turning into an nfl bust will destroy us.... Though I think Percy will be great.
grin.gif
 
laugh.gif
urbans a sensitive lil biatch
[h2]Meyer: Ex-Gators need to support us[/h2]
Comment Email Print ESPN.com news services


Shane Matthews played quarterback at Florida and says he supports the Gators and coach Urban Meyer.

But when Matthews criticized Meyer's game strategy during Florida's upset loss to Mississippi on his radio show last fall, Meyer was not happy. And though he didn't mention Matthews by name in a recent Gator Club appearance, it seemed that his comments about ex-players pledging allegiance to the orange and blue were made with Matthews in mind, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

[h4]SEC blog[/h4]
low_chris_m.jpg

ESPN.com's Chris Low writes about all things SEC in his conference blog.

Blog network

"If you want to be critical of a player on our team or a coach on our team you can buy a ticket for seat 37F, you're not welcome back in the football office," Meyer said, according to the report. "You're either a Gator or you're not a Gator."

The rift apparently started when Matthews criticized the offense following the 31-30 loss to Mississippi -- the game that produced Tim Tebow's now-famous postgame speech.

"When I watched the Ole Miss game and Ole Miss played our wide receivers about 90 percent man-to-man, it was a slap in the face to our wide receivers and passing game. I can't understand why we didn't take advantage of that," Matthews said at the time, according to the report.

The Sentinel reported it could not reach Matthews for comment to respond to Meyer's remarks. But in a recent appearance on a radio show in Birmingham, Ala. -- hosted by two former SEC players, Al Del Greco of Auburn and Jay Barker of Alabama -- he stood up for his remarks.

"If [the offense isn't] attacking the weakness of that defense it drives me crazy, that's what set me off early in the season," Matthews said, according to the report. "I am a supporter of this program no matter what, but I'm going to give my opinion when things go wrong. When things go well, I state that as well, but a lot of people don't hear that."
"
If you want to be critical of a player on our team or a coach on our team you can buy a ticket for seat 37F, you're not welcome back in the football office. You're either a Gator or you're not a Gator.
" -- Urban Meyer


Other former college football players in the media came to Matthews' defense, but added that former athletes turned commentators need to be honest to do their jobs.

"Shane, because he bled and sweat for the Gators, has a right to say whatever he wants about the program," former Miami defensive lineman Dan Sileo said, according to the report.

"Urban Meyer's not a Gator. He's a caretaker of the Gator program," Sileo said. "Most times these coaches think they're the programs, but really, the program is the players. That's the problem I have with coaches whose egos get too big for their britches. If Urban doesn't like it, that's too bad."

Meyer came to Florida from Utah after the 2004 season and has won a pair of BCS national championships, in 2006 and 2008.

Matthews says he'll keep supporting Meyer and keep voicing his opinions, according to the report.

"The last thing I want to do is stir up anything because there's nothing there," Matthews said, the Sentinel reported. "It's almost crazy when I sit back and think about how this thing's been blown out of proportion. I'm as big a Gator there is."
 
^ Dude has ex gator support..

he's got the principle of that one high school keeping Tennessee coaches off campus
laugh.gif
 
Back
Top Bottom