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Strange: New David has Goliath of a job
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Football coaches love spring practice. It's the purest time to teach. You don't have Florida and Auburn coming up the next two Saturdays.
So even if nothing new were in the air, Phillip Fulmer and his staff would have been juiced to get on the practice field Tuesday.
But there is something new in the air at Tennessee this spring and it has moved out of the conference room and onto the field.
In 1964, the Vols switched from the venerable single-wing to the T-formation. What's going on this spring isn't that drastic, but it is a turning point.
For the first time in his tenure at UT, coach Phillip Fulmer is handing over the offensive reins to someone from outside the Tennessee system that dates to the early 1980s.
When offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe left to become head coach at Duke, Fulmer was presented the opportunity to strike out in a new direction - with a new David, it turned out, Dave Clawson.
Like their names, there are familiar elements as well as new ones married into what will become UT's system in 2008.
"I'm as anxious as anybody to see it on the field,'' Fulmer said Tuesday, "I do expect some growing pains as we go from one system to another.''
Uh, exactly what system is that they're going to? Fulmer used the "West Coast" moniker Tuesday.
Geographically, Clawson is all East Coast. But he said his passing-game philosophy indeed leads back to places like BYU and Sid Gillman's AFL San Diego Chargers, the early roots of what came to be called the "West Coast" offense.
"There is some West Coast passing concepts we've installed,'' Clawson said.
"Whether it's West Coast or Gulf Coast or the Smoky Mountain Offense, call it what you want, but that's how we're going to teach the passing game and how the quarterbacks are going to be trained.''
Clawson comes from Richmond, where he was head coach. He brought several staff members with him. It was up to Fulmer and line coach Greg Adkins to get on board the new train, not the other way around.
"It's been fun, it really has,'' said Adkins.
"I wouldn't call it night and day, compared to what we've been doing. ... I would say we'll try to utilize our personnel just like we've done in the past, try to get the ball to guys who are going to make plays.''
Will the offense be no-huddle? It has that ability, Fulmer said, but will start off more traditional.
Will the quarterback be a weapon running the ball? On occasion.
"If I have to get a first down I'll do what I have to do,'' said junior Jonathan Crompton, "but that's not my favorite thing to do. I'm a pocket quarterback.''
Will UT jump on the "spread" bandwagon? Depends on how many receivers prove they should be playing, Clawson said.
What about the plethora of running backs? There will be both two-back looks and one-back sets.
What about the offensive line? Overall, the run game and pass protections will be similar. Cadences and snap counts are new.
The truth is that Clawson has leaned different ways at different points in his career as a play-caller. To a degree, he plays to the strengths of his personnel.
Since he was hired Jan. 12, studying what UT and its personnel had been doing has been an integral part of Clawson's brainstorming.
"If there were 10 things we did similar,'' he said, "probably in five cases I preferred the way we had done it at Richmond and in five cases, I thought they did it better here.''
Give and take. Old and new. But make no mistake, the over-riding theme is new.
"We made that conscious decision in the hiring process,'' Fulmer said. "We're ready to go in another direction.''
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by kjneel on March 11, 2008 at 9:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cant wait to see how it turns out. Just put up 40 a game and life is good.
Posted by volnfl on March 11, 2008 at 9:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what the..., what is our offense going to be? This isn't back yard football playing against Jesse Walker!
Posted by burntorangeVOLffle on March 11, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why people seem to think Fulmer is a micromanager is beyond me. He let Cut do whatever he wanted, to his chagrin he let Sanders do whatever too. Why would he try to shackle Claws-On?
And despite coach saying at Claws-On’s intro press conference that “It’s his offense” people on here are still convinced he’s going to hamstring this guy who was head coach himself. The logic behind that is ludicrous.
Posted by Plasticman on March 11, 2008 at 10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GIve it a chance people. I am excited about the possibility of a "new" offense. I think we have some playmakers that can make it an exciting and productive offense. At the same time, I think it will be good to know we can grind out 3 to 4 yards at a time if needed with our strong O-line and strong backfield.
Posted by Hunter on March 11, 2008 at 10:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In the words of many of my colleagues here on GVX - "yawn."
This is March - basketball season, not football season. Wake me up when the first preseason magazine hits the stands.....
Posted by khelton657 on March 11, 2008 at 10:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree Burntorangevol..Fulmer has delegated in the past w/o supervising to ensure results..that's how we had brilliant comments such as " I don't know , you'll have to ask Trooper"
Posted by nicksjuzunk on March 11, 2008 at 10:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
burntorange,
I agree. I think it is just what people say but no proof you know?
Actually excerpts left out of the interview:
What about Scoring TD's: Yeah, we'll work that in.
How about pounding the rock: There will be times of poundage.
Do you prefer your hamburger with or without lettuce: There have been times with lettuce and times without, depending on who is making it. Sometimes I use iceburg and romaine to mix it up a bit.
Anyway, I'm excited and think coach will do just fine.
Posted by Pullingguard on March 11, 2008 at 11:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So many were tired and complained of the old system, it served both well and bad according to the seasons.. Win and it's great, lose and it's antiquaited... The new offense of Clawson inter-mixed with parts of the old should be reviewed as a new start, something new, and it will not win every game for UT...No offense does for any team, never has, never will, but just get on board and give the new direction a chance to grow and develope, hoping for the very best.
Posted by tngeoff on March 12, 2008 at 4:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am REALLY looking forward to seeing this offense in action. In fact...more excited about any part of Tennessee football than I have been in years. Let it rip!
Posted by dash727 on March 12, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hard to have a creative thought Hunter with a little pee brain? Your little gang of misfits aren't colleagues they are pathetic anti-vols. You obviously are in need of someone taking you seriously. You are on the wrong web site to meet new friends, greasy!
Posted by redstickvol on March 12, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HOW DARE YOU HUNTER. You bite your tongue immediately. It's always football season in Knoxville and I don't care that we both live in the armpit of the country. We are still in Knoxville in spirit. I agree that it is basketball season and I know you like basketball more than football, but I repeat again: HOW DARE YOU. Just kidding man, but seriously GO VOLS!
Posted by pdhuff on March 12, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If Fulmer is actually letting someone from outside his comfort zone "family" do something, a pig will fly. Women won't nag and car dealers will give you their lowest price possible.
Al Gore will move to a yurt from his 11,000 sq ft mansion to be really green and drive a Wego (4 dr Yugo) instead of using a Lear.
Ol' Lock the beagle won't start barking if he doesn't have his two biscuits by 7:15 and the taxes won't come due on the farm. Ernie the Lab won't sleep 14 hrs a day.
Sure.
Just don't jump off PP in Neyland if we run off right tackle the 1st play, then throw a three yd out vs UAB!
Posted by 99gator on March 12, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
if the offensive philosophy is truly changing.....it won't be completely overhauled in one season. that would be too much to throw at the players at one time. in addition, there are inevitably players that fit the old system (because that is what they were recruited for) better than the new system. for instance, if this is truly a west coast scheme.....you need pass catching running backs, something i don't think tenn has. they will throw enough at the players so you notice some changes, but not so much so it looks remarkably different or the players are confused.
Posted by eanderson on March 12, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
pdhuff - the first pigs flew when UT was #1 basketball!
Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on March 12, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually 99 Gator @ 9:25
One of Arian Foster's biggest strengths has been as a reciever. I agree with you that changes to the "system" will not be instantaneous, but on the other hand I hope that the game-day attitude, philosophy, and agressiveness of the OC's playcalling will be the "edge" that helps to win ballgames...especially the "big ones". That's really what Tennessee has been missing as of late.
And to pdhuff, please tell us, show us, where Phil Fulmer has micromanaged the offense before...please! As SJT has pointed out (correctly) on multiple occasions, if anything Fulmer's fault has been to be too trusting of his assistants and allow them (ie Sanders) to flounder without taking control and righting the ship at the appropriate time. This will be Clawson's offense to screw up or succeed with, you can book that.
Posted by givehim6 on March 12, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the whole, "do it different" thing sounds like somthing we have needed for a long time! For everyone "including me" who was feed up with "run it up the middle", and "stay the corse". This is what we've wanted! So good luck VOLS, learn the new system well, and go VOLS!
Posted by DennisVols on March 12, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Clawson is a master at discovering what each teams defense has as a weakness and then adjusting his offense to exploit it.
Unlike the "One size fits all offense" we have seen for several years at UT.
Unpredictable is a good phrase for the kind of offense you will see with Clawson. He may run some plays against one team but not against another or at different times in the game.
UT's conserveative offense of short pass,90% along the side line allowed defense's to play close which hurt the running game because they were never too far away from the ball. UT played the same style of offense for so long against every team that even opponents like Vandy and UK could plan against it. After Cal. faced us in 06 they made the adjustment in 07 because there was nothing new to plan for.
If you alway do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got"
Looking forward to a new way of doing things.
Go Vols!!!
Posted by TommyJack on March 12, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DennisVols: right on, heavy, and solid.
Posted by Vol_Fan_4_Life_615 on March 12, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So you mean to tell me were not Pluto anymore? Guess that will get Troop a little hotter under his wind breaker!
Go Vols And BOUT DANG TIME WE TRIED SOMETHING NEW.
Posted by pdhuff on March 12, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
eanderson 11:38am - that wasn't a flying pig- that was an orbiting pig BP & co put up. Good post.
So much talk about Clawson and nary a peep about Chavis and the room for improvement on "D".
Our approach to this fall reminds me of discovering you have a flat tire, then geting out and waxing the car.
As the song "Orange Blossom Special" says, "Looka yonder comin".............
Posted by burntorangeVOLffle on March 12, 2008 at 8:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DennisVol, I agree with your overall point but Cal didn't do much to stop the offense. We still scored 35 points and racked up quite a few yards. We scored 21 points in the 1st qtr alone.
Posted by burntorangeVOLffle on March 12, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And I still want one example of Fulmer micromanaging.
Posted by rabidvolfan on March 12, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It will be the same ole offense. This guy is just taking the job because it pays better than HC at Richmond. Fulmer hired him so he can blame everything on him, and the sheep will still be happy if fulmer makes some staff changes.
Posted by invisiblekid on March 12, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've said it before and I'll say it again: if there was a problem with Cutcliffe it was his tendencies to call certain plays in certain situations. It burned us to the tune of an interception returned for a TD in the SECG and often made the second half a struggle on offense last year. What excites me as much as anything that Clawson can bring to the table is the ability to break those tendencies. Don't have any specific numbers, but I doubt many of the defensive coordinators and staff in the SEC has faced any of his teams. That in itself should make it tougher for the Vols opponents to develop a defensive gameplan. Throw in that he ostensibly is able to adjust more to his players instead of forcing his players into a system, and I see no reason not to expect big things from this offense.
Posted by pearlific on March 12, 2008 at 9:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dave....please do me one favor...if it's third and one (especially in 4 down territory) don't go into the shotgun!
Posted by rbhobbs73 on March 13, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen Pearlific! I hate that formation...it tells the defense that you aren't even going to TRY and run the ball. It takes away play-action...it is just awful. I hope to NEVER see that formation again....unless it is Gerald Jones under center...then it is ok...but PLEASE put a passing play in for GJ to keep defenses honest.
Posted by TommyJack on March 13, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rhobbs/pearlific: Then you guys need to stay away from Dook games.
Posted by pdhuff on March 13, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TJ, you can sit anywhere you want to at a Dook game. Move around, meet the other fan in the section. It must be a gas.
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