Quote:
Originally Posted by kiddiedoc  Well, in 14 days we shall see.
What will the Clawson offense look like?
Will Crompton prove that his recruitment excitement was warranted?
Will Foster make a case for his status as a UT RB elite?
Who will distance themselves amongst our receivers?
Is Gerald Jones the playmaker that we think he is?
Will the OL turn weightroom strenghth into on-the-field brawn?
Will the DL have the depth for 4 quarters of pressure up front?
Will our linebackers step up and intimidate?
Will the defensive backfield be as good as advertised?
Will Colquitt's missteps cost us in the kicking game?
Will Lincoln be ready to hit some deep ones when we need them later in the year?
Again, we shall see.
The wait is on. . . . |
I definitely share in the excitement!
My $0.02 worth...
Crompton, while being the #1 guy starting the season for the first time, is old and mature enough for us to be successful. Its not like he's a true freshman, and what's best about the guy... he's tough and a natural leader, something I don't really think that the brittle Ainge was (nothing against Ainge).
I don't think Foster will be an elite RB by Tennessee standards regardless of whether he sets the all-time record. But while he's not in the same category as C Webb and J Lewis, he is good enough considering the other weapons that we have and the fact that we won't be one dimensional. And I do think our O line is going to do a pretty decent job in run blocking this year which will help foster's numbers.
I believe G Jones will be an elite Vol receiver before he leaves, right up there with Meachem, Stallworth, P Price, A Harper and maybe, maybe even C Pickens. I have much faith in Jones - in his limited action last year he proved to me he is SEC impact player talented and a baller.
Not sure we'll be as effective as we want at stopping the rush in the fourth quarter. This could be a problem as I see us in several dogfights late into the game this year. It will be incumbant upon our offense to sustain drives late to give our lack of depth on D line time to rest. Also, an injury to D Williams, D Bolden or W Fisher will be devastating.
Our linebackers will be the (somewhat) surprise. I'm not sure why these guys aren't getting more credit, because McCoy has shown he's a big time player, by all accounts G Williams is SEC ready... Wilson and Reviez coming off the bench don't give up much. Only question here for me is whether McKenzie or Myers-White are solid enough against the run.
DBs will be good, but due to the perception as Berry being the second coming and the remainder being the strongest we've had since...?? we are primed for a let down. However, I do think these guys will be good and allow us to blitz more... which plays into Chief's comfort zone.
Fingers crossed that Cunningham is servicable... I think he will be. We very very rarely have issues at punter... not since Leaverton at, gulp, UCLA in 1997.
Lincoln will hit most of what we need him to... kicker has been one of our most consistent positions over the years and I don't see any reason why that won't continue.
Without getting too drunk on the koolaid, I think we're going to be pretty good this year, best since 2001 - unless we get more injuries on the D line or Crompton doesn't play within himself.