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Lane Kiffin's confidence has been evident from his first press conference as Tennessee's football coach.
He vowed to hire a great coaching staff. And with the help of UT's bankroll, he did just that.
Then, despite playing catchup in the recruiting chase, Kiffin and his staff pulled in a class that might have exceeded even their expectations.
His confidence was apparent again Tuesday at a gathering with local media, which precedes the SEC football media days in Birmingham today through Friday. He wasn't talking hiring or recruiting. He was talking play-calling.
It was obvious from his comments he has a passion for it.
More and more head coaches are relinquishing play-calling duties, even if they excelled at them. Kiffin, who called plays as an offensive coordinator at Southern California and as a head coach with the Oakland Raiders, isn't ready to let go.
He certainly has a viable option. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney is an accomplished play caller. While Kiffin says Chaney will figure prominently in the play-calling process, the head coach will take the lead.
That speaks volumes for Kiffin's self-confidence as a play-caller. It also provides fresh material for Kiffin critics, who regard his confidence as arrogance.
Surely, an SEC head coach has plenty of roles to play without assuming the crucial task of calling plays. Moreover, assigning that chore to a coordinator gives the head coach a nice buffer when the offense goes south. Remember in the worst of times when former UT coach Phillip Fulmer would wonder aloud about the thought process of offensive coordinator Randy Sanders?
There's an obviously good reason for a head coach to call plays from the sideline: He's good at it. There's also a less obvious reason: It strengthens his bond with the quarterback.
Assistant David Reaves has the title of quarterbacks coach, but Kiffin is very much involved with the position he once played. He wasn't a star quarterback, and perhaps that gives him a greater appreciation for the difficulties inherent in the position.
Kiffin has said repeatedly that he will do his best to put his quarterbacks in position to be successful. And if they aren't successful, he "will take the heat."
Those must be encouraging words for quarterbacks Jonathan Crompton and Nick Stephens, both of whom struggled last season. Kiffin's comments also must be appealing to quarterback prospects like Jesse Scroggins, who is expected to announce his college choice today.
As vital as a big-time quarterback might be to any offense, a great running back isn't far behind in Kiffin's mind. At Southern California, he had the good fortune of putting the ball in the hands of Reggie Bush, who was as good of a running back as college football has ever seen. Later, as a head coach with the Raiders, Kiffin learned how significant the running game is to the overall well-being of a football team.
Kiffin's play-calling this fall should reflect that. But those plays will go only as far as the running backs can carry them.
First of all, UT's offensive line must improve dramatically over last season. Second, veteran hard-running tailback Montario Hardesty needs to stay healthy. And third, sophomore Tauren Poole needs to pick up where he left off during an impressive spring.
But it's just as important that freshman Bryce Brown is as good as billed. Rated as the No. 1 high school running back, Brown seemingly has the size, speed and instincts to excel at the position. He at least has the potential to give UT the complete running back it hasn't had in awhile.
If Brown can achieve that as a freshman, he will enhance Kiffin's status as both a recruiter and play caller. But don't get the idea that the rookie college head coach will overload a young back.
Kiffin is asking as much of himself as he is anyone else on the team or staff.
He has told his quarterbacks, "I've got your back." He also has assumed the daunting task of calling plays for an offense that ranked 115th nationally last season.
And he has established himself as a hands-on coach who is so confident in his ability and his staff's, that he's not worried about covering his derriere.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 12
Slimjim_Vols writes:
Wow..... JA wrote something interesting! I like how Kiffin isn't afraid to have his players backs in the tough times..... What I like even more is how we are hearing more about the freshmen and sophs because they have the talent to contribute more than getting water for the upperclassmen...... GO VOLS!
smashmouth98 writes:
Scroggins' announcement has moved to Thur 3pm.
yeavols#228407 writes:
Hey guys..a little pick me up for all VOLS..
http://www.geocities.com/jerrybecker/...
DennisVols writes:
The positives will add up to wins for this new coach.
I know the company line "He hasn't even coached a single game in the SEC"
He has a great learning curve though.
He coached the offense at USC under Pete Carroll who many consider one the better coaches in college. Pete was also not so successful at the NFL level.
He was a head coach for one of, if not the most dysfunctional teams in the NFL. I had family living in the Oakland area when the Raiders became known as the Trader Raiders for moving to LA. Being as young as Kiffin is and trying to coach a bunch of over paid, under achieving players was probably not as easy as trying to tell your older brother how to do his job.
Kiffin's confidence is reassuring, refreshing and diffently different from what we have seen the past few years as a head coach. His willingness to take the heat, to stand up for his players will pay dividends both on the field and in recruiting.
Believing you can is always the first step in doing it. I see a plan here now. Something I have not seen in the "we'll look at the films", "workin like heck" approach before.
Kiffin has been open as to what he plans on doing, what he expects of his staff and the players. This has been a quite summer, the best in many a year on campus concerning our players. I expect someone will mess up sooner or later but Kiffin's no nonsense attitude and willingness to throw a player to the curb will keep it at a minimum.
It is all good and this year will be better even if it is just a step in the right direction on the journey back to respectability.
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!
imavolsfanforlife writes:
John, I don't know if you are scrolling VolNation for material, but regardless of where you are getting your ideas to write about, you are putting some really good stuff together. I am finding much of what is being discussed between fans on that web site being well summarized and expanded upon into my favorite recent reads. You have made sense of some ideas as well as put some concerns to rest that even I have brought up on VolNation. Kudos to you.
OrangeAppeal writes:
How small-minded and juvenile. You obviously need some attention and are no different from the Florida trolls that roam the board.
lildhoss76ut#638162 writes:
STFU and get back up on that porch and play your banjo.
NashvillePreds writes:
Kiffin is the man. With any luck we'll actually look like we have practiced, and worked hard over the summer. It seems that the past few years with Fulmer, the team was trying to figure out who they were, and what they should be doing through games 1-3.
Volunatic writes:
"Remember in the worst of times when former UT coach Phillip Fulmer would wonder aloud about the thought process of offensive coordinator Randy Sanders?"
No, I don't remember that at all. I recall that Fulmer was always publicly supportive, until circumstances (reality) necessitated the removal of Randy Sanders as OC.
givehim6 writes:
One thing I like about CLK is he calling his on plays says, I am taking responsible for what UT does this season, no one is set up as skate goat.
OrangePride writes:
I like the message that he gave his quarterbacks: A) We will create packages you CAN be succussful with, B) I have your back. The quarterback position last year took an unmerciful level of heat........agreed, not totally undeserved. BUT, you cannot build on low-confidence and low-support at the QB post. LK and staff are doing a great job in turning that aspect around. PREDICTION:I think, since Scroggins moved the time again, Tennessee is going to get the nod. I know that is contrary to the public opinion, but I just think that if he were going to USC, he would have pulled the trigger on that move earlier. If I'm wrong, then I still think this staff will find a good signal caller for 2010.
I am so on fire for this season to start!! I feel like a kid looking forward to Christmas! GO VOLS!
OrangePride writes:
And you, my friend, are a moron with an IQ obviously lower than Crompton's jersey number. There is no need for that kind of nastiness here. Grow up.
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