Bleacher Report - Articles by Chris Brakebill

Philip Fulmer Steps Down at Tennessee

Chris Brakebill — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:33:09 -0500

After 16 years as head coach at Tennessee, Volquest.com's Brent Hubbs reports that Philip Fulmer has agreed to step down. There will be a press conference this afternoon at 5 PM where it will be made official.

Fulmer has had a brilliant career, long having one of the highest winning percentages for any active head coach. He led the Vols to back to back SEC titles in '97 and '98 as well as the 1998 National Championship. During his time, Tennessee produced great talents like Peyton Manning, Jamal Lewis, and John Henderson.

However, the turn of the century has not been kind to the Vols. They have been to the SEC Championship three times since 2001, but lost all three games. In 2005, they finished 5-6 suffering their first losing season since 1988. Former Offensive Coordinator David Cutcliffe returned in 2006 bringing new life to the Tennessee offense, but his departure to Duke at the end of last season has been particularly harsh on the Vols.

They currently sit at 3-6 (1-5 SEC). Their offense has been horrendous this year particularly in three big losses to rivals Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. This weekend they were blown out by a South Carolina team that had only beaten them once in the past 15 years.

The Vols are currently sitting on a pretty strong recruiting class so it will be interesting to see how Fulmer stepping down will affect that. Potential candidates for the head coaching job include Cutcliffe, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, among many others.

NCAA Champions: Kansas Finally Proves Worth in San Antonio

Chris Brakebill — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:42:00 -0400

It took a few weeks, and Kansas finally had to beat a couple of real teams, and the Jayhawks earned an National Championship in the process.

Through the first two weekends of the NCAA tournament, the Jayhawks plowed through a series of overmatched opponents.

In the first weekend, they easily handled 16-seed Portland State and eight-seed UNLV, typical opponents for a top seed on opening weekend.

However, the next weekend, the weakness in their region gave them an easy ride against less-than-qualified teams. Kansas merely had to beat 11-seed Villanova and 10-seed Davidson to advance to the Final Four.

Yes, that's correct. The best team (or at least the highest seed) that Kansas had to beat to get to the Final Four was UNLV.

One could argue that Davidson was the best team in their way, but that's just more evidence that the selection committee got things all wrong.

Compare this to the situation in the East region. Butler, the No. 7 seed in the region, was ranked No. 11 going into the tournament. To get to the Final Four, Tennessee would have had to beat three of the top 13 teams in the country.

North Carolina came out of the East region, as most people expected, but the Tar Heels seemed to have nothing left in their game against Kansas.

Or maybe Kansas was just finally ready to prove that they belonged.

While the Jayhawks’ road to get to the Final Four was undoubtedly pretty easy, what they did once they got there was not.

They dismantled a North Carolina team that was widely regarded as the favorite to win the tournament. Then they scrapped to beat a Memphis team that had just set an NCAA record for wins in a single season.

The committee seemed to make some serious mistakes in seeding this tournament, giving Kansas an easy road to the Final Four.

But once Kansas got there, they beat two of the best teams in the country and earned the right to be called National Champions.

Pearl Got the Point...Almost

Chris Brakebill — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:18:34 -0400

A lot of people questioned what Bruce Pearl was doing when he shook up his starting lineup in the middle of the NCAA tournament.

Why would a team with 30 wins need a change, especially at the all important point guard position?

It's no secret to anyone that follows Tennessee basketball that the usual contributors at the point guard position— well, they weren't really contributing.

Ever since Jordan Howell sang "Let's Get It On" on his designated senior night, he has been doing anything but that, scoring a total of 6 points in 10 games. He also has a very meager average of 1.1 assists per game. His shooting percentage during that stretch is an embarrasing 4.8%, hitting 1-of-21 shots.

Ramar Smith has been a little better, averaging 3.0 assists per game to 2.2 turnovers during that same stretch. However, Bruce Pearl has not been too impressed with his intensity

Another obvious problem during that stretch was that J.P. Prince was not getting enough quality minutes.

Prince makes so many things happen on the court. His athleticism makes it easy for him to open up his teammates for shots and he always seems to me making plays around the rim.

Pearl knew he had to find a way to get Prince more minutes. However the first mistake he made was to split those minutes with Jordan Howell. Thought this might have been a calculated 'mistake' to give Ramar Smith a little extra motivation, it still seems like the wrong choice.

When you look at the results of Pearl's decision, it is very easy to criticize his decision. He was the first to do it. But the only criticism he deserves is the one he gave himself, and that was leaving Prince in during the last 2 minutes.

Pearl should have put the more experience point guard, Ramar Smith, in for that situation.

Prince made two almost costly turnovers during that last minute, giving him a total of 6. However, those quick to criticize Prince, should look also to Tyler Smith, who ended up with 7 turnovers.

Prince ended up with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Not a bad game for someone starting his first game at point guard against the #10 ranked team in the country. A team known for its offensive and defensive discipline.

The combination of J.P. Prince and Ramar Smith should prove to be a very formidable one this Thursday when the Vols take on the up-tempo, pressing style of the Louisville Cardinals. A style that is very familiar to them.

Big Brian
Another key player to look out for in that matchup is Brian Williams. He didn't get a lot of playing time in the first two games, but that's probably because the teams they were playing had smaller quicker centers that made life difficult for him on defense.

In 11 short minutes in the second half, he put up 3 points and pulled down 4 rebounds. Look for all of those numbers to increase when the Vols have to play against David Padgett and Derrick Caracter.

Tennessee Volunteers: E-VOL-ution

Chris Brakebill — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:22:06 -0500

A look at the box score of Saturday night's Tennessee-Memphis game will tell you everything you need to know about how Bruce Pearl has engineered the magnificent turnaround that led the Volunteers passed the Tigers, 66-62.

Chris Lofton, the greatest 3-point shooter in SEC history and Tennessee's 13th all time leading scorer, attempted only four 3-point shots the entire game.

He finished the game with a mere seven points, but the Vols still managed to knock off No. 1 Memphis.

In Lofton's first two years at Tennessee, the Volunteers were a very average 4-6 when he scored seven points or less, which included a loss at home to UT-Chattanooga.

Two years ago when the Vols went to Memphis, Lofton put up 16 but the Vols couldn't beat a Tiger squad that didn't have current freshman star Derrick Rose. Last year Lofton lit up the nets with 34 points in a home romp over a still Rose-less Memphis.

So this year, when Memphis has it's best team yet, Lofton scores just seven and Tennessee wins?

How did this happen?

This answer lies in the coaching, recruiting, and charisma of Bruce Pearl and how that has changed the supporting cast around Lofton.

The first player you have to mention when talking about Tennessee's improvement is Tyler Smith.

The guy is like Dane Bradshaw, but with with the body of an NBA small forward. He makes a living attacking the middle of opposing defenses and making it nearly impossible to guard all of the Tennessee shooters.

He's got a turnaround jumper that is almost Karl Malone-esque and, most importantly, he is a threat to record a triple double every night with his rebounding and his ability to find open teammates.

One of Tyler Smith's favorite guys to find in the open court is J.P. Prince.

Prince is the talk of the country after his dismantling of the Tigers' transition defense saturday night. He is a remarkable athlete and a really fiery competitor.

This wasn't the first time Prince has had an explosive half. In December, Prince put up sixteen on Xavier in the first half, on his way to scoring twenty-three points in twenty minutes.

His resemblance to cousin Tayshaun Prince is apparent but he doesn't just want to be known as Tayshaun's cousin. He and Tyler Smith have clearly developed chemistry that makes the future look very promising for Tennessee.

Jajuan Smith came to Tennessee as an athletic walkon just looking for a chance.

In his early years he was a great defender who could occasionally get hot from outside the arc.

However he was also prone to make stupid plays.

Under Pearl he has blossomed into an really steady all around player, who now has NBA scouts checking him out. He's averaging 14.1 points a game, shooting 38 percent from three-point range, and 78 percent from the free throw line.

He has become every bit as clutch as Chris Lofton, not something to sneeze at.

He has shown he can score bunches of his own as well, outscoring Middle Tennessee State for more than three quarters of a game on his way to a career-high 32 points.

He matched that high against Arkansas when Lofton was having an off night.

On saturday night he scored nine points, but more importantly he pulled down 10 rebounds as the Vols dominated Memphis on the boards.

Those three are most certainly not the only catalysts for Tennessee's emergence.

Ramar Smith is steadily growing into a solid point guard and a serious NBA prospect.

Wayne Chism and Duke Crews have become legitimate threats inside who have held their own against the likes of Al Horford, Brandan Wright, and Greg Oden.

Bruce Pearl has brought in more talent and coached all of the talent he has to a level never seen before in Tennessee basketball.

People may still doubt that the Vols have the down low presence to win in March. Tyler Smith, Chism, and Crews think otherwise.

They also say they aren't consistent enough in the halfcourt to win a national title.

Tennessee has too many weapons not to score consistently. When the pressure is up in March, they have two seniors in Lofton and Jajuan Smith who will make sure they can score the clutch baskets the team needs.

The box score says it all.

2008 NFL Draft: Mock Draft

Chris Brakebill — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:03:00 -0500

Here's an early take on who will go where in April...

1. Miami Dolphins - Matt Ryan (QB - Boston College)

Ryan is a strong-armed, savvy quarterback who knows how to play the game. He is just the kind of guy the Tuna would like to pick to build his franchise.

2. St. Louis Rams - Glenn Dorsey (DT - LSU)

Dorsey is a strong, exlposive interior defensive lineman. He will immediately improve the Rams poor run defense which gave up 16 touchdowns, 4th worst in the league.

3. Atlanta Falcons - Brian Brohm (QB - Louisville)

The Falcons need a quarterback to help them move on from the Michael Vick era. Brian Brohm is too experienced to pass up.

4. Oakland Raiders - Chris Long (DE - Virginia)

Seems too perfect that Oakland could pick up the son of Raiders' great Howie Long, but Long is worthy of the selection. There are a lot of places the Raiders could go with this pick but Long will give them a very good end opposite of Derrick Burgess.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Jake Long (OT - Michigan) - Long is just what the Chiefs need to improve a rushing offense that was dead last in the league. Not to mention the fact that they gave up fifty five sacks last year, also worst in the NFL.

6. New York Jets - Darren McFadden (RB - Arkansas)

There is just no way the Jets can pass on a talent like McFadden. He immediately brings an explosive factor to the Jets offense. A quarterback is also a possibility with this pick.

7. New England Patriots - Kenny Phillips (S - Miami)

New England's aging defense needs some young talent. Phillips is the next great Miami safety, so expect plenty of success in his future. Though don't be surprised if the Patriots go for Sedrick Ellis.

8. Baltimore Ravens - Andre Woodson (QB - Kentucky)

They Ravens would love for Brian Brohm to slip to them but Woodson would be a great choice as well. He is a strong armed, accurate quarterback, but he must work on cutting down his turnovers.

9. Cincinnati Bengals - Sedrick Ellis (DT - USC)

Cincinnati desperately needs help at a lot of defensive positions, and the best place to start is interior linement. Ellis is quick and will be able to put lots of pressure on the quarterback, something the Bengals were not able to do very much of last year. They finished last in the NFL with 22 sacks.

10. New Orleans Saints - Reggie Smith (CB - Oklahoma)

The Saints need someone to improve their secondary. Jason David just isn't getting it done at cornerback. Smith has great size and speed which means a very bright future.

11. Buffalo Bills - Malcolm Kelly (WR - Oklahoma)

Kelly is a big, strong wide receiver with good speed, just what the Bills need to really complete their offense. They want a playmaker and Kelly is very good after the catch.

12. Denver Broncos - Calais Campbell (DE - Miami)

The Broncos need lots of help on their defense, mainly stopping the run. Campbell gives them a big lineman to help slow down opposing runners.

13. Carolina Panthers - Vernon Gholston (DE - Ohio St.) - Gholston has played both linebacker and end at Ohio State and would provide the Panthers with an explosive and versatile talent on defense.

14. Chicago Bears - Jonathan Stewart (RB - Oregon)

Stewart is a strong inside runner but he also has the speed to break big runs. The Bears need someone with a little more speed and Cedric Benson isn't going to be that guy.

15. Detriot Lions - Antoine Cason (CB - Arizona) - The Lions need help on a pass defense that gave up way too many yards (31st in NFL) and touchdowns (32nd). Cason is a playmaking corner, though there are concerns about his speed.

16. Arizona Cardinals - Ryan Clady (OT - Boise St.)

The Cardinals will gladly take Clady at this point in the draft. He is a quick tackle who could really help protecting whichever quarterback starts and making holes for Edgerrin James.

17. Minnesota Vikings - DeSean Jackson (WR - Cal)

The Vikings need a playmaker at wide receiver to help their quarterbacks. Jackson will help not only on offense, but also in the return game.

18. Houston Texans - Keith Rivers (OLB - USC)

Rivers will immediately give the Texans one of those most talented young linebacking corps in the NFL. Combined with Demeco Ryans he could make this Texans defense very tough.

19. Philadelphia Eagles - Dan Connor (LB - Penn St.)

A lot of people will want the Eagles to pick up a wide receiver, but they need a little help on defense (Plus whose counting out the possibility of Randy Moss?) Connor is a tough player who could come and play very soon, though he or Omar Gaither would have to move outside.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Early Doucet (WR - LSU)

The Buccanneers need a playmaking wide reciever, because Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard are starting to show their age. Doucet is just that, a playmaker.

21. Washington Redskins - Derrick Harvey (DE - Florida)

Harvey is a monster pass rusher who can put tons of pressure on the quarterback, which is something the Washington defense needs a little more of. They ranked 16th in the NFL in sacks. A good pass rush could also lead to more turnovers.

22. Dallas Cowboys - Mike Jenkins (CB - South Florida)

Jenkins is a very athletic corner who will improve the depth of the Cowboys secondary. But don't be surprised to see the Cowboys go for someone in the front seven here.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Curtis Lofton (LB - Oklahoma)

The Steelers love their linebackers, and in a few years Lofton could be a premier linebacker in the NFL. He's got good size and speed and was very productive at Oklahoma.

24. Tennessee Titans - Limas Sweed (WR - Texas)

Sweed is kind of a wildcard in this draft. Noone knows what to expect from him because he's been injured this season. He is a big talented receiver, and getting Vince Young and Sweed back together could be good for Young's development as a passer.

25. Seattle Seahawks - Rashard Mendenhall (RB - Illinois)

The Seahawks may have some talent in the backfield, but they just can't pass on Mendenhall if he drops this far. He is an explosive running back, and they just aren't getting that type of play from Shaun Alexander and Maurice Morris.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars - Earl Bennett (WR - Vanderbilt)

The Jaguars need another surehanded target for David Garrard to throw to. You won't find a guy with better hands than Bennett. He's not exactly slow either.

27. San Diego Chargers - Quentin Groves (DE - Auburn)

Groves could be a great edge rusher in the Chargers' 3-4 defense. He is that tweener type that doesn't quite fit as an end or a linebacker, but he's too good of a playmaker to keep off of the field.

28. Dallas Cowboys - Sam Baker (OT - USC)

The Cowboys need to pick a tackle to take over in the near future for Flozell Adams. Baker had an injury filled senior season so he still has to prove he is worth a first round pick.

29. San Francisco 49ers - Aqib Talib (CB - Kansas)

Talib is a talented cornerback with a ton of potential. He showed in his junior year that he is a playmaker, on offense, defense, and special teams. If the 49ers offense doesn't improve, they will need some scoring help from their defense and special teams.

30. Green Bay Packers - Felix Jones (RB - Arkansas)

Jones is too talented not to take at this point. If he runs well at the combine, he may not be available to the Packers here. Combining Jones with Ryan Grant could make the Packers offense tough to stop.

31. New York Giants - Lawrence Jackson (DE - USC)

Will Strahan be back next year? Maybe so but the Giants could use a talented end to be ready if he can't go. Jackson is very athletic and could improve his stock at the combine.