Brandon Warren could be the poster child for coach Phillip Fulmer’s last team.
Warren is the local kid made good in football. He left East Tennessee for Florida State, where he became a freshman All-American tight end in 2006.
Then, he decided to come back home – to be close to his mother, who had a bout with cancer, and to play for the Vols. Under NCAA rules, he had to sit out a year.
He didn’t realize he would have to sit out two years.
That has nothing to do with the NCAA. That’s all about his transition to UT football.
If Warren had gone from Alcoa High School to UT and played sparingly as a freshman, his time on the bench this season would have been understandable. But he starred at Florida State as a freshman.
Now, it’s all he can do to get on the field at UT.
I have heard offensive coordinator Dave Clawson’s explanation about Warren’s lack of impact. He said Warren was asked to do too much in preseason (i.e., play both a conventional tight end role as well as the hybrid wide receiver/tight end role for which he was best suited).
That was too much for Warren, yet he could make the transition from high school to Florida State with ease? It just doesn’t add up.
Player development has long been an issue at UT, where the post-season rankings rarely have approached the glorified heights of the recruiting rankings. Warren has become a glaring example of that, because he didn’t just prove himself in high school, he proved himself in another BCS program as a true freshman.
His lack of playing time this season is magnified by UT’s incredibly shrinking offense. The Vols rank 116th out of 119 teams in total offense.
But they can’t find a way to utilize Warren.
Maybe he shouldn’t have transferred quite so close to home. Maybe he should have gone to Kentucky.
Another former Alcoa star did. And look how it has worked out for him.
Randall Cobb is starting as a true freshman quarterback at Kentucky. In fact, in last Saturday’s narrow loss to Georgia, the Wildcats designed their entire offense around Cobb.
Kentucky had a different plan for Cobb initially. It began the season using him on special teams, as a wide receiver and in its version of UT’s “G-Gun” package.
The plan changed when the offense struggled behind first-year starting quarterback Mike Hartline, who, in fairness to him, wasn’t blessed with a great supporting cast.
But the offense perked up when Cobb made occasional appearances at quarterback before he suffered an early-season ankle injury.
However, after losing leading receiver Dicky Lyons Jr. to injury, Kentucky needed Cobb at wide receiver almost as much as it needed him at quarterback.
Nonetheless, the Wildcats decided Cobb could have a greater impact at quarterback. And they were right.
I wonder if UT would have been that creative with a 5-foot-11 true freshman.
Then, I think about Cobb’s former high school teammate languishing on the UT bench, and I don’t wonder at all.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 121
tnbigg writes:
Freakin' sick...
jimbunch writes:
15 yards for piling on
blitzshoot writes:
Different coaching staff.
99gator writes:
damn shame.
i don't know any other way to put it.
talent wise, he's a better player at his position than any other player tennessee has at their position (offensively).
damn shame.
blitzshoot writes:
Yeah guys, but Phulmer is trying like heck.........
embarrassing. Good luck Clemson!
kilovol writes:
I just don't know. It seems there is a path that we are headed down that we've watched other schools go down. But rather than heed the warnings of programs before, it seems the administration is embracing it. I am all for Butch Davis, but I don't know if Tennessee is in his future. Im afraid we will go after Kelly or Brewster and we will open that revolving door. Without giving Leach or Muschamp a shot, I think within a couple of years we will be screaming at the administration again. All I can think of is Nebraska, Alabama, Miami, etc. !I don't want to see this happen to the University. We might have made a huge mistake. We should be excited about Fulmer's successor, instead... we are cringing as we watch names peel off the chopping block.
Bye the way...
1st!
kilovol writes:
Dadgummit!!!!!!!!! 7th?
doctorvol#211700 writes:
the invisible man
99gator writes:
by the way.....
kudos to warren. to my knowledge, he hasn't opened his mouth and voiced his displeasure all season (at least publicly).
you know he is frustrated beyond belief. probably can't wait to introduce himself to the new head coach.
BillsBrother writes:
With the way he has been used this season it makes one wonder why the coaching staff was so concerned about getting him through the NCAA/SEC appeals process this past summer.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
He was inadvertenly left off the charts at the start of the season. Since they are in granite, it takes a while to change.
Stinger3 writes:
Trying times for UT and UT fans. Good luck!
This too shall pass.
99gator writes:
keep in mind, the depths that florida state stooped to so that this kid could not transfer.
that's how good he is.
kilovol writes:
Don't I know you?
Colliervol writes:
Warren will be fine once we get a coach in here with the knowledge to do something with him.
Now, as far as Cobb goes, how many more articles are you guys going to write about him? Yes, Phil may have made a mistake on him but he does not fit the mold of a QB in the old system and Phil didn't see him as any better at WR than what he had. Maybe an error, maybe not. But one article will suffice. We don't need it repeated every other day. He isn't here and I really don't care.
blitzshoot writes:
Not certain. I have not posted before. Are you from central FL?
blitzshoot writes:
Anyone having problems with the DNS server for KNS...I am getting messages, but I cannot tell who. I understand the server/verizon is having issues.
tnbigg writes:
Freakin' sick...really...this poor guy...all he went through and then wasted while we scorched the cellar with the worst season in Tennessee football history...all you pro Phulmer folks...you have no idea how deep dimensia has stricken you...this may be the most pathetic coaching job ever ANYWHERE...brag it up for the losingest season ever in our history...you must be soooooo proud...
kjvols writes:
I hope they have Krispy Kreme close to Clemson
tnbigg writes:
I think a certain poster who showed early onset cerebral and cranial dysfunctional symptons earlier tonight may have launched a cyber attack on the site because he thought that everybody was busy watching him...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s73PtY...
JohnyLobo34 writes:
When I started noticing Cobb's impact at Kentucky; I thought to myself: "That wouldn't have happened at UT!" Fulmer's problem is protocol; he's too attached to this idea that players need to complete his check list to see the field. He's so burried in his clip board he can't see who's got talent and who doesn't. It became pretty clear that UT was running plays for Stocker & not Warren. Amahd Paige chose UT over USC. What's going on here? I'm so glad that guy is gone. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE hire someone with guts & the ability to develope some talent! A REAL COACH!
budrhon writes:
Clemson will take Tubberville before Fulmer can get across the mountain. We can stop with the Fulmer going to Clemson. It's only a myth.
Colliervol writes:
How very original. Did it take you long to think of that one?
tdbigo writes:
Unfortunately that sums it up. Too bad Warren isn’t a linebacker, Coach Chavis would have had him on the field for every snap and he would be all SEC.
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
longtimefan writes:
I dont understand this. Is this kid better than Gerald Jones? As bad as our quarterbacks are, cant Tennessee utilize Gerald Jones the same way? Kentucky has one weapon and they know how to use him. Tennessee has four that i am aware of..... 1 on offense the quarterback cant get the ball to and the OC will not turn him loose to run the G-Gun 1 on defense who could play very well in an EBG-Gun, 1 on the bench somewhere or just running in and out of the game for the heck of it and the punter. If this kid had come to Tennessee, does anybody believe he would have this kind of an impact here as a true freshman? What is wrong with this picture?
LeftCoastVol writes:
The Brandon Warren situation is exactly why Clawson needs to be shown the door. I know, I know, the responsibility to get him on the field ultimately falls on Coach Fulmer but please don't give Clawson a free pass. Had he transferred to Florida do you think Dan Mullen would've found a way to keep him on the field. With Cornelius Ingram out, Warren would've shined. I'm obviously glad he chose UT but it pains me to watch him be underutilized week-in and week-out by our OC. Please don't retain Clawson.
HallowedHill writes:
Somethings wrong if a local kid with skills can't get time on the field. A blind man can see he is a matchup nightmare for anyone that lines up against him. Great hands, separation speed, size. If our system is 'too complicated' to take advantage of dumping the ball over the middle, maybe we need to get back to basics. If he's getting benched because he can't block, we're gonna have to sit a lot of players. Stay the course Brandon, you're time will come.
longtimefan writes:
Dont get nasty!
cptcrash64 writes:
I appreciate Coach Fulmer and all he has given to this program, but, yeah, I'm glad his reign is coming to end. With nothing, absolutely NOTHING to lose against Wyoming, Fulmer made absolutely NO ATTEMPT to shake things up and try something DIFFERENT!!!!!
HallowedHill writes:
*your time (yes, I have a UT education). ;)
longtimefan writes:
Did they just burn a redshirt season for Tauren Poole by using him against Wyoming? What would be the point in that? If Foster makes it back from his injury, Tauren wont get another carry. What a waste.
balloonman writes:
I know the tight end coach personally and he tried everything to get Dave Clawsen to narrow Warren's role but he insisted on him be ready to play any role in the west coast Clawfence....every level of football calls plays based on personel groups but not Coach Clawsen.....he was only concerned about his system!...Adams is piling on the dead when he knows nothing about the game or the situation......he will kill the next coach with his ignorance also!.....get ready!
newtonrail writes:
Now Naffy, the truth Police are here, and I was at the Wyoming game, as all of them. Rogers didn't drop but one and it was questionable. Of course, you've attacked the other two TE's other than Warren, this year. What do they have in common? Naffy hates White players in Football and Basketball.
newtonrail writes:
At this point Fulmer needed to be dismissed. And you sir should be banned from this site. I copy the entire policy, which is more explicit in the regular KNS blogs: Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned.
If your comments aren't defamatory, abusive, and very close to threatening, I'll have to return my UT degree.
volmaniac writes:
I often said if Tim Tebow had committed to UT, this would be the first year he would have played. He would have had to wait his turn behind Ainge. The offense would have probably been too complicated for him, or we would have heard he steps on Guards feet, or some other BS.
OrangeMandM writes:
Fulmer never reviewed the film on Warren when he was at FSU....
kabul_vol writes:
You know, this is hard to defend if you are Coach Fulmer. You take a kid that was a star as a freshmen at FSU and as terrible as this offense has been and you can't find a way to get Warren into the game?
I really feel bad for the kid. He's apparently got loads of talent. Who knows, he could have as much potential as Jason Witten.
asleep#212036 writes:
Clawson's biggest mistake was trying to install the entire West Coast offense at UT in one season, with the wrong personnel! Franklin tried the same thing at Auburn with similar personnel and similar results. It needed to be worked in gradually over a couple of years and a recruiting class. Fulmer should have insisted on it. Instead, we trashed our entire offensive system and no matter what, refused to change in spite of disastrous results week after week (just watched Central Michigan put up 17 on N. Illinois by midway 2nr quarter!). Brandon Warren is a perfect example. He is an elite athlete who contributed as a freshman in an old school, pro-set offense at FSU but just doesn't quite get the new age spread so he sits the bench. Wow. I'll bet the next coach gets it.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Second day in a row that Adams has been spot-on in his analysis. I don't think that it is 'piling on' to point out that our coaching staff has not utilized/developed the talent that we have for the past few years. While it is embarassing to have our OL so inept, Cut masked that deficiency by having Erik Ainge throw the ball away if the short pass wasn't open. Statistics from last year are misleading, because we have essentially the same personnel.This year, our OL can't run block or pass block. But, the misuse/lack of use of Brandon Warren, who has already proved that he can excel in college football, proves Adams' charge. SAVol
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
I love Phil. This article demonstrates another of the few (not many) reasons that it was time for a change.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Adams loves piling on. Like what did we do to him all of these years? Sportswriters are the most underpaid , overpriviledged lot of people around. And they sure glory in it. You people have let an underpaid priviledged writer turn you away from your head Coach. He is just piling on trying to get your goat. He bits the hand who feeds him. He could spin this article another way. Classless, and look who's leaving Tennesse, a real class act. The sports community and all of it is your people's God. that's all you talk about, and think about. Somebody's head had to roll ....Thank God for Mike Hamilton, you guys convinced him, just like the liberal news media got Obama elected. Pitiful, just pififul. Where will be the fallout. ???? Where???
rusty_shackleford writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
nbt44 writes:
Fulmer made no attempt at all to recruit Cobb.
If he recruited all our talented Tennessee football players, he wouldn't be able to justify 2 million a year for recruiting.
He'd rather recruit out of state so he can jet around the country and stay at expensive hotels, play golf and eat at expensive restaurants.
Thankfully Phil "Cartman" Fulmer will be gone soon.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
Tubberville might be coming to UT!!!!
BigVolOnBoard writes:
It is almost as if Brandon Warren is a star and the UT staff couldn't figure out a way to fit him into a square hole. Maybe if he had gotten drunk and nearly killed someone or had a rape charge brought against him he would have gotten Fulmer's attention. Two game suspension before he starts!
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
WLTV,
It's naive to think that JA has that much of an influence. If you took a poll, you'd probably find that 95% of those who want Fulmer gone were in no way influenced by Adams. The writing's been on the wall for awhile. We don't need a columnist to dictate our opinion to us.
I find your comparison of True Vol fans that want their program back to liberal media very amusing. A wreckless charge with no facts to back it up. About what I'd expect from you anyway.
hueypilot writes:
I respect your voice of reason Collier, but in all fairness, considering the impact Cobb is making at KY, it's hard to believe he couldn't have been a contributor at the school just up the road from where he lives. In recent years, in addition to other shortcomings, Phil and staff haven't closed our own borders, as well as Saban, Turbeville. Spurrier, Bowden, Davis, Richt, Meyer,Shannon et al have done. Just another brick in a wall of reasons why the program has fallen so sharply.
piledriver writes:
The same could be said for Slick Shelley, starring @ Tulsa this year. Saban ranked #1 with mostly freshmen. This is damning. And I don't understand it. I know this much, something ain't right on the hill. Sorely lacking in player development
Volumni writes:
Once again on Fulmer, great recruiter, hard worker (like heck).
Horrible game coach, the worst in the SEC, simply cannot make adjustments. Glad he's leaving.
Rumor is that Tuberville already has a deal in Clemson. No KKreme there.
Jones hasn't done squat all year except talk to the media. West Coast nothing....Fulmer is calling the plays on almost every play since the UCLA game. We had them gassed and out of it, and started passing (badly). 22 "3 and outs" later we lose. Warren has been open on every pass play he's been in for. QB locks in on one of the worthless Wideouts (take your pick) coming out of the huddle, and won't look for him.
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