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Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin leaves the arena floor while greeting fans during halftime of the basketball game at Thompson Boling Arena on Saturday.
Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess
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Tennessee coach Monte Kiffin leaves the arena floor during halftime of the basketball game at Thompson Boling Arena on Saturday.
Remember when Tennessee was known as "Wide Receiver U"?
Good times.
Remember when the Vols had an incredible run of defensive tackles in the late 1990s and early part of this decade?
Championships.
Take the flash of an outside speedster if you want; I'll take the run-stopping intimidators that have to be double-teamed on every play. That's what leads to trophies and jewelry.
Lane Kiffin seems to share my opinion.
Yes, that Kiffin - the young one, not Monte. UT's new football coach may be known more for coaching Heisman Trophy winners than recruiting defensive tackles, yet he has done both.
Kiffin most recently added Oklahoma defensive tackle Pearlie Graves to the conversation. Graves will visit this weekend even though he's committed to Michigan.
Then there's Arthur Jeffrey Jr., who Kiffin offered a scholarship despite Jeffrey suffering a torn ACL in September. The message was clear: a potentially great defensive tackle is worth the risk of a scholarship.
Kiffin has also made sure to hold onto junior college defensive tackle Jonathan Hollins, who committed to UT in October under former coach Phillip Fulmer.
The Vols found themselves woefully thin at times last season at defensive tackle due to injury. And no offense to UT's main trio of Demonte' Bolden, Walter Fisher and Dan Williams, but there hasn't been a great defensive tackle at UT since Albert Haynesworth left as a junior in 2002.
Think of what a top-flight run stopper could do to some of those long drives the Vols have given up in recent memory. Think of what an occasional big play from a defensive tackle could do to the flow of a game. Does the 1998 Arkansas game ring a bell?
The Vols have never had a better sales pitch for defensive tackle prospects. Defensive line coach Ed Orgeron has coached countless elite defensive tackles. And need I even mention Monte Kiffin?
Those that listen to The Sports Page radio show or read John Adams' picks panel columns know I'm no expert picker when it comes to games.
I will, however, offer this recruiting prognostication. The Vols will secure another solid defensive tackle for the 2009 class. Could it be Graves? We'll see.
Short Lived: When I was young, a businessman by the name of T.D. Hooker told me that once you know an employee isn't in it for the long term, they're not worth having around.
If they offer a two-week notice, he said, offer sincere best wishes and send them on their way - with two weeks pay if warranted.
At the time I thought that was rather harsh. Here's an employee that is giving his boss notice yet he's suddenly no longer welcome on the premise.
I was wrong.
It wasn't about being vindictive. It was about business.
A short-timer situation is almost always no good. It's simply human nature.
What's to strive for when there's another job waiting or you know you're on the chopping block?
Kiffin learned that first hand over the past six weeks with the holdovers from Fulmer's staff. While I think many of UT's "interim" assistant coaches put up the best front possible in recruiting athletes they almost assuredly wouldn't coach, their hearts couldn't have been in it.
There's an ol' recruiting saying that goes "Recruiting is like shaving. If you don't do it everyday, it shows."
Well, I can tell you that when I'm on vacation, shaving is the last thing on my mind.
Hence, Jason Michaels.
It's long been thought that Michaels would return to the NFL instead of trying to hang onto Kiffin's staff, most likely in vain.
Now, I'm sure that Michaels made the calls, took the trips and wore orange all recruiting season long. But did he recruit like he had to? Probably not - because he didn't.
For proof, talk to Texas cornerback prospect Demontre Hurst. Hurst said he didn't hear from anyone from UT in two weeks. Hurst was being recruited by Michaels.
Now, don't blame Michaels. Blame the set of circumstances that Kiffin had to deal with as he put together a staff with the long-term as the top priority.
Imagine yourself sitting at home with a long list of prospects to call, a family staring at you and your future to plan.
Are you calling prospects or potential employers?
Rankings: The Vols' 2009 recruiting class is ranked 16th in the nation by Rivals and 19th by Scout.
Many of the schools in front of UT already have most of their classes complete and won't add much in the final days.
If Kiffin and company can get some momentum going into the final weeks before National Signing Day on Feb. 4, a top 10 class isn't out of reach.
Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He may be reached at hookerd@knoxnews.com.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 83
southernson writes:
first
dvols writes:
gonna be lots of kool aid to drink before september!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i'm in!
cainclifton23 writes:
Marlon Brown, Alshon Jeffrey, Pat Patterson are more important to me.
We have a pretty good Defense... but our Wrs... nvm
memvol writes:
Glad i'm not first
surfmaster writes:
Kiffin shoulda cut everyone loose day one. Doesn't seem quite right that you are left hanging by a string for four weeks, only to be told you are no longer needed after the job market has started to dry up. If there was never any attention to keep them in the first place, why go through the charade?
And, oh yeah, first.
surfmaster writes:
dad gum it.
TrueVolFan writes:
Well, lets see if we can sneak a few big guys in the door before the 4th. Still holding out hope for Marlon Brown!
surfmaster writes:
Should have read, "if there was never any INTENTION to keep them ..."
Signed,
Forrest Gump
asleep#212036 writes:
Agree. Plus, how hard would you recruit if you knew you were getting let go no matter what? I know what I'd do - exactly what Michaels and Drayton did - go through the motions and use every other minute of every day to find another job.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
first idiot
jutvolfan#234198 writes:
A former boss told me a long time ago that anyone could be replaced. I didn't believe it, until I was. Good luck to all the former Vol coaches.
Why would DT's not come here now? Go vols!
southernson writes:
dont hate me because im FIRST NA NA NA NANANA
southernson writes:
Sounds like coach Kiffin is ,Ive got to say it... LOL HEHEHEHHHEE ( WORKIN LIKE HECK ) ;)
murrayvol writes:
You're certainly entitled to your opinion but for me it begins and ends on the LOS.
murrayvol writes:
pdhuff will be pleased to read this piece. He might have it matted and framed.
highVOLtage writes:
How about wr's (good times) AND dt's (championships). Seems like Kiffin is focusing on both.
WRT Michaels, Orgeron was in a similar situation during his USC days. A holdover assistant during a coaching change, Orgeron was full force even after a UCLA assistant made a remark about him about to be out of a job. I guess that's why Orgeron is one of the best in the biz and making the big money now....
dmjohn2#576066 writes:
Things really seem to be looking up for the boys on the hill, if nothing else I would love to land Peter White, and a couple of D-tackles this weekend.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
no ill will intended, but a team wins and loses on the offensvie and defensive lines, not the skill players.
Some examples:
--LSU's NC team: total domination of defense. Average offense
--Oklahoma: tried really hard on D, but when it counted, could NOT stop Tebow's running.
--UF, against Ohio State; again, total domination of defense.
--UT, 1998: The offense made enough mistakes to lose, but the D saved our butts; not once, but many times
--UT, 2001 Sugar Bowl; D could not stop LSU on big downs; cost us a NC appearance.
TennesseeTodd writes:
Wish L Thompson could swing one of his reruits our way. As for Hunter, his troubles are better off somewhere else! I think M Brown will be a Vol.JMO
chattaboogievol writes:
Kos:
We certainly need playmakers, but GREAT DT's are even harder to come by. Defense does win Championships you know....
cainclifton23 writes:
Get em' Scooter!
jsm67vol writes:
I'll have to disagree with you. All these coaches were told to feel free to look around.He could have cut them all loose day one but he let the guys keep a job through Christmas and they did some work to try to keep comits. I think he did the right thing by the coaches and the program. Its better to have someone from UT contacting recruits than no one. There are only so many hours in a day. With just Kiffin and Reaves in the early going, how much could just the two of them do? All the holdovers kept getting a check through the holidays and these recruits still had someone letting them know UT was or was not still interested. Thats more than Kiffin and Reaves could do by themselves with new staff needing a huge chunk of their time. Maybe you don't get 100% from the holdovers, but if they have any character to begin with you at least expect them to go and earn the paycheck.
Volunteer writes:
My thoughts exactly!
TommyJack writes:
Scotty: Was it something you said? lol
raynochonspeed#212632 writes:
"in vane"??????
And you are one of the better reporters at the KNS.
uahvol75 writes:
Aint Phillips, Schofield and Shackleford waffleing on their committments a lil bit?
smowkee (Inactive) writes:
It's not that at all. It's because you are an idiot.
FWBVol writes:
I agree with your statement in parts. The biggest point I take issue with is he let the guys keep their jobs through Christmas. Whether he kept them through Christmas or fired them his first day, as he did with the defensive staff, the Fulmer assistants were going to be paid the remainder of their contract until they got another coaching position. And then, if they weren't paid as much as they were making at UT, they would get the difference from Tennessee. From a financial standpoint the former coaches wouldn't be any worse off if fired the first day.
But as you said, Lane Kiffin needed people to help him keep the Vol fires burning with the recruits, and in his position, this was the only alternative until he put his staff together.
jwright13#576991 writes:
sweet
pdhuff#552644 writes:
As a voice crying in the wilderness, perhaps the light is finally breaking in the Eastern Tennessee sky.
Nothing is worse to a great offensive mind because his play schemes do not include a motor grader with a different colored jersey.
MidTennVol writes:
"It's long been thought that Michaels would return to the NFL instead of trying to hang onto Kiffin's staff, most likely in vane."
In "vane?" What kind of editors are asleep at the wheel at KNS?
richvol writes:
At any level of football the game is won in the trenches. That's why Tennessee has been so mediocre the past few years. It's a game of inches and we could not convert 3rd and 1 or 4th and a foot many times in critical situations. Florida and Tebow convert that situation almost 100% of the time.
You also must be able to stop it...Florida stopped Oklahoma twice at the goal. Our focus needs to be on the big boys to win...Tennessee always has plenty of great athletes and will continue to get them but somebody has got to win the battles in the LOS.
Sorry to say it but I don't think Marlon Brown has any intention of going to UT. He would have said so way before now and is delaying his announcement to keep UT fans off his back for choosing another school. I hope I'm wrong.
GREATVOLSAFIRE writes:
we have 17 commits, does anyone know how many we can take out of all the good ones coming to visit?
87UTVOL writes:
Marlon Brown...how UGA fans are in Memphis? If you make it to the NFL, great. If not, where are you going to make more friends to help you as a husband, father and member of the community? Too bad some 17-18 year old in-state football players don't see the big picture. Plus, Tennessee now offers better NFL prep coaching.
tnbigg writes:
BRING IT ON!!!!
RCanaMoonPie writes:
Make mine a double!
Ringside writes:
Nice. Go get'm coaches.
txvolsfan writes:
I think with his ego, he was going to have a press conference and announce on signing day. Anyone who says he's the best receiver in the world, likes the attention. That's not saying he will be a Vol, I think it comes down to UT and UG. Hope we get him.
BY_HIS_WOUNDS_WE_ARE_HEALED writes:
CLK WILL GET SOME LAST MINUTE RECRUITS. EARLY PLAYING TIME WITH A CHANCE TO GET COACHED BY AN NFL STAFF IS TO GOOD TO PASS UP! GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
shipperman#280095 writes:
TJ, I think you and I were challenged by one Big Orange Vol. He has less sense than i thought he did
adamsmith5529#630125 writes:
when sanders was here our QBs sucked. coach cut came back (a decent OC) we had a turn-around year at QB. Clawson sucked; we have new OC/QB coaches.... look for another turn-around year for ut's QB's (stevens/coleman....crompton has no brains). we already have talent. NOW WE HAVE THE RIGHT COACHES FOR THEM!!! after all this happens next year, the 2010 class will be the best ever!! people are predicting RECORD BREAKING!!! could be the best class in NCAA HISTORY!!!
Vol43 writes:
I vote number 1. Who cares who's first. Just lovin' this dream coaching team coming together. Actually, I'm not really annoyed so much by the interlopers. I think they're funny and I'm not so sure a few of them may work for KNS and enjoy stirring the pot just for kicks...
orangebloodgmc writes:
First.
Yeah, I kinda agree with mparker,
"... a team wins and loses on the offensive and defensive lines ..."
Glad Dan Williams did not jump early.
smowkee (Inactive) writes:
I am as excited as anyone about the future, but I think maybe you've been hitting the orange koolaid a little heavy. I'm just sayin'...
orangebloodgmc writes:
I was just looking at our staff bio's on that other thread ...
Often the OC also coaches qbs, but Chaney is gonna help coach the OL. In fact, it says when he played he was a nose guard! Could be bringing a different perspective to the offense.
smokyredbone writes:
Double Dork!!!!!
chattaboogievol writes:
Does anyone have any new news on how the visits went this weekend?
chattaboogievol writes:
Orange,
It's pretty well known that CPF had a lot of "input" on the offensive play calling (outside of CDC's OC tenure). Are you sure this would really be a new perspective? I am excited as anyone about all of the changes and potential this staff has, but that statement shivers me timbers!!
Go4Two writes:
Bingo WR are great but big D lineman win championships. Just look at Tennessee's success during the championship years and how many great lineman we had.
TommyJack writes:
Why us? Was it something we said?
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