The most important thing you can do in recruiting is to stack talented classes on top of each other for two primary reasons:
1) You create an internal culture full of competition and merit for the best players playing
2) I haven't run any kind of numbers on the topic but the reality is that there's a large % of 4 and 5 star players that for whatever reason will turn out to be JAGs or flame out for whatever reason
Smalls had every opportunity over the last 2-3 years to prove that he had a path to seeing significant snaps on the field ... he never proved that he was that guy
Wish him the best leaving the program but this is the right move for both sides
The worst thing that you can do when looking at recruiting is become too invested in the success of any individual player
But this is what happens with the Cult of TBS guys "This is the most important recruit in the history of the program".
It's just as silly as the mentality that interacting with teen bois on Twatter is affecting recruiting outcomes.
No big program wanted him after his Junior season which is why he included WSU in his top 6 that spring and not UW. I think he and Joey Thomas thought this would make UW work harder for him and it worked. By the time his senior year was halfway over it was down to UW, the Coug and Oregon for optics only. Just my theory
I will never get excited about a 5* recruit again. Go out and get a shitload of 3 and 4* guys with a chip on their shoulder, tell them they suck and to prove it otherwise, and see where things shake out.
I will never get excited about a 5* recruit again. Go out and get a shitload of 3 and 4* guys with a chip on their shoulder, tell them they suck and to prove it otherwise, and see where things shake out.
I like this strategy more with ignoring overrated four stars more than fives. Not all 5 stars built the same. Smalls and Huard were not in the same class as guys like Shaq or Reggie but ended up being 5 stars for suspect reasons. Put Shaq or Reggie on any of the UW teams 2016 and on other than the 2021 debacle and all us losers would have more to be excited about. I never saw elite measurables with Huard and Smalls.
I'm all for taking 3 stars with raw talent and drive over maxed out four stars. For example a Joe Tryon or Bralen Trice over the Potato Brothers.
I'd also throw in I thought McDuffie, Budda, and Jake Lockner were guys who should have been 5 stars.
The TSIO guys, at least Dennis Coker and this guy, would be starting Smalls day 1 because of his history and recruiting status, regardless of performance.
Superior culture decision.
But how is Smalls not a shining example of Fast Strategy?
I'll be kind to DDY and acknowledge it has it's place, but it's not the fulcrum of success DDY wants it to be.
The worst thing that you can do when looking at recruiting is become too invested in the success of any individual player
Have you shared this with Coker and DDY?
I said versions of this often on the podcasts ... never about any individual player
The fast strategy stuff has some merit but at it's core its misguided ... and those that took it in a racial direction are lazy fucktards that can't get deeper than surface level BS
The most important thing you can do in recruiting is to stack talented classes on top of each other for two primary reasons:
1) You create an internal culture full of competition and merit for the best players playing
2) I haven't run any kind of numbers on the topic but the reality is that there's a large % of 4 and 5 star players that for whatever reason will turn out to be JAGs or flame out for whatever reason
Smalls had every opportunity over the last 2-3 years to prove that he had a path to seeing significant snaps on the field ... he never proved that he was that guy
Wish him the best leaving the program but this is the right move for both sides
The worst thing that you can do when looking at recruiting is become too invested in the success of any individual player
But this is what happens with the Cult of TBS guys "This is the most important recruit in the history of the program".
It's just as silly as the mentality that interacting with teen bois on Twatter is affecting recruiting outcomes.
Interacting with teen bois on the Twitter is pretty damn low ... but let's be honest there are a lot of teen bois that want those high follower counts and having Joe Public suck them off (particularly if they can slide into some DMs along the way) and there are way too many members of Joe Public that love to suck off any teen boi or current player that they can. If you don't suck them off then you don't care like a true fan ... or something like that
It's very very rare for a single recruit to change the direction or history of a program. For as much as Joe Steele was a great Husky as a player, I'd argue that the impact of him coming to UW was far greater in that it validated Don James as the UW HC than anything else. However, if Joe Steele wasn't a great player on the field, then nobody would have given a shit about Joe Steele as the recruit and the validation of him going to UW had on Don James after 2 years.
No big program wanted him after his Junior season which is why he included WSU in his top 6 that spring and not UW. I think he and Joey Thomas thought this would make UW work harder for him and it worked. By the time his senior year was halfway over it was down to UW, the Coug and Oregon for optics only. Just my theory
Frankly, most Washington-based HS players are vastly overrated IMO
Way too many people blow smoke up their asses and tell them that they are better than they are
No big program wanted him after his Junior season which is why he included WSU in his top 6 that spring and not UW. I think he and Joey Thomas thought this would make UW work harder for him and it worked. By the time his senior year was halfway over it was down to UW, the Coug and Oregon for optics only. Just my theory
Frankly, most Washington-based HS players are vastly overrated IMO
Way too many people blow smoke up their asses and tell them that they are better than they are
TBH, most of those same dudes are Mariners Fans, Sounders Fans, and now Kraken Fans.
In other words, perpetual dreamers and wannabes who couldn't be objective if their sad lives depended on it.
The most important thing you can do in recruiting is to stack talented classes on top of each other for two primary reasons:
1) You create an internal culture full of competition and merit for the best players playing
2) I haven't run any kind of numbers on the topic but the reality is that there's a large % of 4 and 5 star players that for whatever reason will turn out to be JAGs or flame out for whatever reason
Smalls had every opportunity over the last 2-3 years to prove that he had a path to seeing significant snaps on the field ... he never proved that he was that guy
Wish him the best leaving the program but this is the right move for both sides
The worst thing that you can do when looking at recruiting is become too invested in the success of any individual player
But this is what happens with the Cult of TBS guys "This is the most important recruit in the history of the program".
It's just as silly as the mentality that interacting with teen bois on Twatter is affecting recruiting outcomes.
Interacting with teen bois on the Twitter is pretty damn low ... but let's be honest there are a lot of teen bois that want those high follower counts and having Joe Public suck them off (particularly if they can slide into some DMs along the way) and there are way too many members of Joe Public that love to suck off any teen boi or current player that they can. If you don't suck them off then you don't care like a true fan ... or something like that
It's very very rare for a single recruit to change the direction or history of a program. For as much as Joe Steele was a great Husky as a player, I'd argue that the impact of him coming to UW was far greater in that it validated Don James as the UW HC than anything else. However, if Joe Steele wasn't a great player on the field, then nobody would have given a shit about Joe Steele as the recruit and the validation of him going to UW had on Don James after 2 years.
It's the cringiest of cringe-worthy stuff and and a topic where I found myself in skrong disagreement with Coker, DDY, etc.
Big Penix Energry is already one of the most important recruits in UW history and has the opportunity with a few lucky breaks in 2023 to become the most important.
No big program wanted him after his Junior season which is why he included WSU in his top 6 that spring and not UW. I think he and Joey Thomas thought this would make UW work harder for him and it worked. By the time his senior year was halfway over it was down to UW, the Coug and Oregon for optics only. Just my theory
Frankly, most Washington-based HS players are vastly overrated IMO
Way too many people blow smoke up their asses and tell them that they are better than they are
This feels very true. I get the impression the current staff is saying who gives a fuck about hyped up local players and just signing the best players they can.
Comments
It's just as silly as the mentality that interacting with teen bois on Twatter is affecting recruiting outcomes.
I'm all for taking 3 stars with raw talent and drive over maxed out four stars. For example a Joe Tryon or Bralen Trice over the Potato Brothers.
I'd also throw in I thought McDuffie, Budda, and Jake Lockner were guys who should have been 5 stars.
The fast strategy stuff has some merit but at it's core its misguided ... and those that took it in a racial direction are lazy fucktards that can't get deeper than surface level BS
It's very very rare for a single recruit to change the direction or history of a program. For as much as Joe Steele was a great Husky as a player, I'd argue that the impact of him coming to UW was far greater in that it validated Don James as the UW HC than anything else. However, if Joe Steele wasn't a great player on the field, then nobody would have given a shit about Joe Steele as the recruit and the validation of him going to UW had on Don James after 2 years.
Way too many people blow smoke up their asses and tell them that they are better than they are
In other words, perpetual dreamers and wannabes who couldn't be objective if their sad lives depended on it.
Yes. It's True. I hate most of our fans.
Big Penix Energry is already one of the most important recruits in UW history and has the opportunity with a few lucky breaks in 2023 to become the most important.
This tells me Durfee is killing it and Heims is going to tear down the wall when back from injury.
Best players play.
Also Smalls has been classy at UW and a great ambassador for the program off the field.
He needs to find a 3-4 scheme, just hasn't been explosive enough off the edge
Citation?
Staff?