Tennessee's new OC - Dave Clawson

[CoachCB]

I posted this on another forum after doing some research on the new UT OC. I knew little about the coach, but knew he was a head coach at a very successful D1AA program (they are pre-season #3 this coming season). I was reading the "week 1 upset" thread and it was obvious that most on here don't know much about the guy. Richmond ran a modified spread option...very successfully. They were more Run than Pass. Here it is:

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Dave Clawson was the HEAD COACH at a successful 1AA program, The University of Richmond. He left to take the OC job at Tennessee and brought his top assistant with him. He went 11-3 and lost to the eventual (and defending) National Champion - Appalachian State - in the second round of the 1AA playoffs.

Last year Richmond averaged 35ppg. They scored 31 or more 10 times, including going over 40 points five times (62 season high). They put up 17 on D1 Vandy. And scored 35 against 1AA National Champion Appalachian State.

Richmond averaged over 400 ypg, including 236 rushing (5.6 ypc). They averaged 32 minutes time of possession per game. 18 TD passes/39 rushing TDs on the year. They ran a modified spread offense.

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[GoSooners]

I saw a preseason preview on television of their new offense a few weeks ago and I was really impressed..This team will have a much different look this season...Fulmer is definitely going the right direction in hiring Clawson...I also like the fact that just about the entire staff is under 40..Lots of new ideas by proven coaches, and judging by the players attitude, they'll play with alot of fire and with a lot of different schemes on offense...It should be a fun team to watch.

 

[CoachCB]

GS,

If Clawson has any success at UT he'll get a D1 Head Coaching job. He didn't leave his job as the head coach at Richmond to be an OC only. I'm sure he's thinking if he can put up some good numbers there, maybe win an SEC title, he'll land a D1 job. I'm not sure what he got paid at Richmond...but I'm sure UT matched or beat it. But not many people give up a head coaching job like that. He left a stacked team at Richmond, as told by the preseason #3 ranking. I'm impressed with the guy. There's talent at UT and with the right coaching they can have a big year. People forget that they won the SEC East last year!


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[Conan]

And so it goes, another of the old success stories, Cutcliff, is nothing more than a bygone.

Here's an interesting angle. Gary Crowton usually doesn't have 2 good years and moves on. That's happened 5 or 6 times so far. He's changed jobs that many times in 10 or 12 years. There's a reason why.

Beware LSU people.
When Crowton left Oregon, he had trouble with Dennis Dixon. They didn't get along. Dennis went on to better things and Gary, well he did well his first year as he's known to do but then..... will history repeat as it often has with that guy?

UT is on the right track with a young OC full of juice. Just like Chip Kelly at Oregon now... this guy looks like he's on the rise. Good move Fulmer.

 

[GoSooners]

GS,

If Clawson has any success at UT he'll get a D1 Head Coaching job. He didn't leave his job as the head coach at Richmond to be an OC only. I'm sure he's thinking if he can put up some good numbers there, maybe win an SEC title, he'll land a D1 job. I'm not sure what he got paid at Richmond...but I'm sure UT matched or beat it. But not many people give up a head coaching job like that. He left a stacked team at Richmond, as told by the preseason #3 ranking. I'm impressed with the guy. There's talent at UT and with the right coaching they can have a big year. People forget that they won the SEC East last year!


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They not only won the East, they very nearly beat LSU..If Ainge hadn't got hurt, we may not be talking about LSU being defending national champs. They don't have the talent of Florida..But they have as much as 95% of the other teams out there..It's just a matter of how quickly these players take to his system. Outside of QB, there's a lot of experience on this team...If Fat Phil can just keep his players out of jail, they might do something this year.

 

[SoonerBS]

They not only won the East, they very nearly beat LSU..If Ainge hadn't got hurt, we may not be talking about LSU being defending national champs. They don't have the talent of Florida..But they have as much as 95% of the other teams out there..It's just a matter of how quickly these players take to his system. Outside of QB, there's a lot of experience on this team...If Fat Phil can just keep his players out of jail, they might do something this year.

To me, that's the really big question. Like I said in another thread (and my original thread on the SEC) if Tennessee is a dog against UCLA, I'll play on them because I think they beat UCLA this early in the season. But, the best times to play on Tennessee, I think, will be mid to late season after they kind of have the offensive schemes down and the new skill players get some experience. If for some reason this happens quicker than I think, they could be very good all season long due to their offensive and defensive line strengths. But, I'll be content to sit on the sidelines and watch how they come out of the starting gates.

 

[GoSooners]

To me, that's the really big question. Like I said in another thread (and my original thread on the SEC) if Tennessee is a dog against UCLA, I'll play on them because I think they beat UCLA this early in the season. But, the best times to play on Tennessee, I think, will be mid to late season after they kind of have the offensive schemes down and the new skill players get some experience. If for some reason this happens quicker than I think, they could be very good all season long due to their offensive and defensive line strengths. But, I'll be content to sit on the sidelines and watch how they come out of the starting gates.

Tennessee was a 6 point dog to CAL last year. And with UCLA not expected to be as good as that CAL team, I would think the line will be pretty close to pickem. I agree that Tennessee might be a better team to play in midseason. But in this case they're playing team in full transisiton. So I don't see any kind of advantage here for UCLA other than their playing at home. I do agree that there will probably be better games to play on opening day..I'm probably going to be too busy with what's happening in the Big 12 to worry about what is happening way out west..Though this could end up being a very good game.

 

[trentmoney]

Tennessee was a 6 point dog to CAL last year. And with UCLA not expected to be as good as that CAL team, I would think the line will be pretty close to pickem. I agree that Tennessee might be a better team to play in midseason. But in this case they're playing team in full transisiton. So I don't see any kind of advantage here for UCLA other than their playing at home. I do agree that there will probably be better games to play on opening day..I'm probably going to be too busy with what's happening in the Big 12 to worry about what is happening way out west..Though this could end up being a very good game.

i'm not as familiar w/ pac 10 but in my thread i made this game

tenn -4.5 48
ucla

if it's pick i will be all over tenn... the more i look at tenn they are real deep and talented... if they weren't in sec east behind uf and uga they would be getting a lot more pub...

GS- this game is monday night. the last game of the weekend... so yes, you WILL be playing it..!!

:toast:

 

[GoSooners]

GS- this game is monday night. the last game of the weekend... so yes, you WILL be playing it..!!

:toast:

Trent....You know me too well.:nohead:

 

[Conan]

i'm not as familiar w/ pac 10 but in my thread i made this game

tenn -4.5 48
ucla

if it's pick i will be all over tenn... the more i look at tenn they are real deep and talented...

UCLA would need at least that much for me to ever consider them now that Olson is QB instead of Cowan.