ESPN -> SEC spring practice: Arkansas, Tennessee

#1
Fingers

Fingers

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#1
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (7-6, 3-5 SEC last season)

2014 postseason: Defeated Iowa in Taxslayer Bowl
Final AP rank: NR
Returning starters: 10 offense, 8 defense, 1 specialist (via Phil Steele)
2015 ESPN FPI rank: 14th
Spring game: April 25

2015 storylines:

• Will recruiting rankings turn into wins?

Recruiting has blossomed under coach Butch Jones: The Volunteers have signed top-5 recruiting classes each of the last two years. Tennessee welcomes 10 early enrollees this spring, including three defensive linemen each ranked in the top 115 of the ESPN 300. The gem of the class might be junior college transfer running back Alvin Kamar, who scored 18 touchdowns in nine games last year for Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College, averaging more than 130 yards a game.

• Dobbs is the guy

Quarterback Josh Dobbs entered spring practice as the full-time starter for the first time in his three years on Rocky Top. Dobbs led the Volunteers to a 4-1 record as a starter in the final five games last season. Tennessee's offense was 13 points better in games Dobbs started last season.

Dobbs’ 72.9 Total QBR in 2014 ranked seventh out of 14 SEC quarterbacks with at least 250 action plays. If his per-game passing and rushing yards were extrapolated to a 13-game season, he would surpass 2,500 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing, something only Heisman Trophy winners Cam Newton and Johnny Manziel have done in the SEC.

• Making moves along the lines

Tennessee returns an SEC-high 10 starters on offense, but the Volunteers need to make improvements up front. Tennessee allowed 43 sacks last season, tied for sixth-most in the country and seven more than any other team in the SEC. Tennessee allowed 85 quarterback knockdowns, also the most in the conference. At times last season, the Volunteers started two true freshmen on the offensive line, and freshman could get playing time in 2015. Tennessee signed Drew Richmond, the No. 5 offensive tackle in the ESPN 300 recruiting rankings, but he is not on campus this spring.

On the other side of the ball, Curt Maggitt and Derek Barnett combined for 21 sacks last season. They are the fourth set of SEC teammates to each record 10 sacks in one season over the last 25 years. Maggitt will miss spring practice after undergoing shoulder surge
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SEC spring practice preview: Arkansas Razorbacks, Tennessee Volunteers - ESPN
 
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#3
#3
Dude. Seeing the extrapolation of Dobbs numbers for a whole season got my attention. Geez Louise.
 
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#5
#5
livefaith said:
Dude. Seeing the extrapolation of Dobbs numbers for a whole season got my attention. Geez Louise.
Click to expand...

And he's gonna be even better this year. Another year of development, a better offensive line, better weapons around him. Oh yes.
 
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#6
#6
To bad Dobbs can only play Kentucky and South Carolina once a year. Extrapolating the Vanderbilt and Missouri game doesn't look so good.
 
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#11
#11
GLDunlap said:
To bad Dobbs can only play Kentucky and South Carolina once a year. Extrapolating the Vanderbilt and Missouri game doesn't look so good.
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What about the OOC games he didn't play? Wouldn't they have boosted his stats even more? He looked pretty good against bama too.
 
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#12
#12
ACvol3 said:
What about the OOC games he didn't play? Wouldn't they have boosted his stats even more? He looked pretty good against bama too.
Click to expand...

What about Oklahoma Florida Georgia Mississippi? Let me check my crystal ball and I'll get back to you. Look I like Dobbs but he isn't suddenly a great QB. Good teams will shut down his legs and he will have to prove himself by throwing the ball. He hasn't done it yet so imo we should be a little more cautious then some are. Kamara and a healthy receiving corps will help but Dobbs still has a lot of improving to do. No need to put the cart before the horse.
 
#14
#14
Special Ed said:
Why include Arkansas in the thread, OP?
We don't care about Arky.
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Of the 7 sec teams analyzed, only AL was on a page by itself -- we were paired w/ Arky, as linked.


We must hold to a punt/cannot allow AL to score on its first play, of its first (or any) possession this year.

Not to forget: "Five of the last six BCS/CFP champions were led by first-year starting quarterbacks."
 
#16
#16
UT-Rex said:
Of the 7 sec teams analyzed, only AL was on a page by itself -- we were paired w/ Arky, as linked.


We must hold to a punt/cannot allow AL to score on its first play, of its first (or any) possession this year.

Not to forget: "Five of the last six BCS/CFP champions were led by first-year starting quarterbacks."
Click to expand...

I meant to say thread title, not thread.
Brain cells ain't the only thing I'm losing in my old age.
 
#19
#19
Say what you will about Dobbs' numbers. But consider this when he took over, he took over as a backup late in the season and injuries to our receivers had already started to mount up. So you have to balance the "look who he played" comments with that. This year, all of our receivers should be healthy to start the season and Dobbs' is the #1 and will practice with the #1's from the start. There is no crystal ball but I think he will put up better numbers this year because the game will slow down for him.
 
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#20
#20
GLDunlap said:
What about Oklahoma Florida Georgia Mississippi? Let me check my crystal ball and I'll get back to you. Look I like Dobbs but he isn't suddenly a great QB. Good teams will shut down his legs and he will have to prove himself by throwing the ball. He hasn't done it yet so imo we should be a little more cautious then some are. Kamara and a healthy receiving corps will help but Dobbs still has a lot of improving to do. No need to put the cart before the horse.
Click to expand...

I agree. SC's defense was our 2012 defense in a nutshell. The Vandy game was pitiful. Although, he was impressive against Bama though. I hope he really focused this offseason on passing and comes in with the confidence and swagger to be a solid QB. He has the talent himself and the talent around him to have a great season.
 
#21
#21
GLDunlap said:
What about Oklahoma Florida Georgia Mississippi? Let me check my crystal ball and I'll get back to you. Look I like Dobbs but he isn't suddenly a great QB. Good teams will shut down his legs and he will have to prove himself by throwing the ball. He hasn't done it yet so imo we should be a little more cautious then some are. Kamara and a healthy receiving corps will help but Dobbs still has a lot of improving to do. No need to put the cart before the horse.
Click to expand...


Thank you Mr. Wet Blanket. Why should we be optimistic when we could always look on the "doom & gloom" side like you? GO VOLS! GO DOBBS!:blink:
 
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#22
#22
GLDunlap said:
To bad Dobbs can only play Kentucky and South Carolina once a year. Extrapolating the Vanderbilt and Missouri game doesn't look so good.
Click to expand...

I guess we'll see. Our team, based on games played, will be a lot more experienced than last year's team.

2015's non-conference schedule is definitely easier, with Utah State, Arkansas State, and UT Chattanooga getting replaced by Bowling Green, Western Carolina, and North Texas.

In conference, Ole Miss is replaced by Arkansas.

Other than that, the schedule is the same. Our bowl opponent will likely be tougher, though.
 
#23
#23
livefaith said:
Dude. Seeing the extrapolation of Dobbs numbers for a whole season got my attention. Geez Louise.
Click to expand...

Just a matter of time before somebody jumps in to tell you just how bad Dobbs really is, how he nearly cost us the bowl game, and how one of the freshmen will surely beat him out.
 
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