Recruiting Forum: Football Talk XII

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#3,552
#3,552
NashVOL93 said:
Good post. Not sure if anyone saw on the national news about the big sinkhole opening up in a display room at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, but it was some wild stuff. The crazy thing is that I was there with my family just a month earlier. Walked right over where the sinkhole opened up and everything and you never would have guessed something like that would happen, but what do you know, just a month later...
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Your walking on it is probably what caused it. :whistling:
 
#3,554
#3,554
:)
DeusExMachina said:
.
But, I digress from the original question/topic. Why might the DL be better than expected?? Look at the talent we have coming in. That talent's going to push what we already have to get better, and if what we have now doesn't get better......they get passed up and get to ride pine. No simpler way of putting it than that.

Why might the DL be worse than expected?? Remember when I said (paraphrasing)"I don't even know who this guy is"?? We're relying on a LOT of freshmen to come in and make an immediate impact. It's something that I can see them doing.....but it's also the SEC. (knock on wood and God forbid) If we hit a rash of injuries, the DL play at UT has the potential to be worse than it was during the tenure of the Italian dude that came over from the Gumps.

My thoughts?? I think we're going to be pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately, there's not going to be a single redshirt to be had on the DL. The new kids are gonna have to play and play well. However, I think they're talented enough and GOOD enough to do just that, without much of a dropoff from what's already here.

And oh, yeah.......GO BIG ORANGE.
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I think Butch got some playmakers. IMO the DT's are an upgrade. Hood was undersized and McCullers was a bad fit for the 4-3. I think things will click. I want to see Vereen and Maggitt make a nice high / low sack on somebody!
 
#3,555
#3,555
LynxVol said:
Y'all are expecting a lot out of true freshmen DL in the SEC; moreover, the players listed above have minimal experience outside of maybe Saulsberry, Williams, and O'Brien. I expect the DL to be the weakest area of our football team this year. I think our pass rush will get better, but I think, overall, DL will be an issue.
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How can you think that the DL will be the weakest unit on the team when the logic you use to support your opinion (i.e. minimal experience) would be more appropriate for the OL?

I understand (and share, although not the same degree) the concern people have for the DL but, the players who will start this season were situational guys last year who saw plenty of playing time. That's how it should work on an SEC line. Having your entire starting line leave is never ideal but at the very least we're replacing them with guys who've seen live action, with consistency.


Our outgoing offensive linemen were entrenched as starters since they were freshman and, with the exception of Marcus Jackson, there is little to no experience within our projected five starters this year.

VN likes to harp on talent and how it's the end-all-be-all proof positive that we will be as good this year, if not better than, last year on the OL. It's an asinine assumption, IMO. All we have to do is look back four years...and watch Matt Simms run for his life, game after game. Sure, there was talent, as evidenced by this year's draft, but it had not had the time to develop--physically or fundamentally--to competitive SEC standards.

Talent is a premium in CFB but young talent, without experience, can be beaten by inferior talent with better fundamentals and experience.
 
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#3,557
#3,557
Catbone said:
I asked this earlier in the year I'll ask again. Is DL, OL, or QB our biggest concern?
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OL---#1 need them for running and passing game
QB---#2 can help OL look better than they are
DL---#3 I think people will be surprised how well they play
 
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#3,559
#3,559
orangeblood79 said:
How can you think that the DL will be the weakest unit on the team when the logic you use to support your opinion (i.e. minimal experience) would be more appropriate for the OL?

I understand (and share, although not the same degree) the concern people have for the DL but, the players who will start this season were situational guys last year who saw plenty of playing time. That's how it should work on an SEC line. Having your entire starting line leave is never ideal but at the very least we're replacing them with guys who've seen live action, with consistency.


Our outgoing offensive linemen were entrenched as starters since they were freshman and, with the exception of Marcus Jackson, there is little to no experience within our projected five starters this year.
VN likes to harp on talent and how it's the end-all-be-all proof positive that we will be as good this year, if not better than, last year on the OL. It's an asinine assumption, IMO. All we have to do is look back four years...and watch Matt Simms run for his life, game after game. Sure, there was talent, as evidenced by this year's draft, but it had not had the time to develop--physically or fundamentally--to competitive SEC standards.

Talent is a premium in CFB but young talent, without experience, can be beaten by inferior talent with better fundamentals and experience.
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Understand your viewpoint and agree with some of it. Take issue with the section in bold. Most of the former O-line went through a couple of system changes, three blocking scheme changes, and three position coaches. The last season they were in a system and scheme that only one was competent in due to a lack of quickness. Being experienced in their case meant very little other than what to expect from a physicality standpoint. They practiced against a bottom tier SEC front four that did nothing to make them better.

All of that has now changed. There are four or five that are stepping up after a year in the system and only having had two position coaches. They have gotten some playing time and are physically prepared for SEC play. They need to work out the LT slot obviously. JMO.
 
#3,568
#3,568
orangeblood79 said:
How can you think that the DL will be the weakest unit on the team when the logic you use to support your opinion (i.e. minimal experience) would be more appropriate for the OL?

I understand (and share, although not the same degree) the concern people have for the DL but, the players who will start this season were situational guys last year who saw plenty of playing time. That's how it should work on an SEC line. Having your entire starting line leave is never ideal but at the very least we're replacing them with guys who've seen live action, with consistency.


Our outgoing offensive linemen were entrenched as starters since they were freshman and, with the exception of Marcus Jackson, there is little to no experience within our projected five starters this year.

VN likes to harp on talent and how it's the end-all-be-all proof positive that we will be as good this year, if not better than, last year on the OL. It's an asinine assumption, IMO. All we have to do is look back four years...and watch Matt Simms run for his life, game after game. Sure, there was talent, as evidenced by this year's draft, but it had not had the time to develop--physically or fundamentally--to competitive SEC standards.

Talent is a premium in CFB but young talent, without experience, can be beaten by inferior talent with better fundamentals and experience.
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Kerbyson and Weisman saw a decent amount of playing time last year. Marcus Jackson played as a back-up for an entire season, and he did very well. Luckily, we were fortunate enough to be able to RS him this past season due to personnel already on the OL. Those are more than likely, at this point, three starters with SEC experience and time in the weight room. Mack Crowder is another player that has seen some playing time, but less than the others listed above.

Obviously, so far, this is a pretty vague statement, but we have three very solid players that already have SEC playing experience and time in the weight room. I fully expect Saulsberry, J. Williams, and O'Brien to play a significant role on the DL this year. However, I think the core of players that make up the OL is a bit stronger than the DL at this point.

Before I start to sway farther away from my real argument here, I want to emphasize again how difficult it is for a true freshman DL to make a significant impact in their first season. These kids have to get in shape and get in the weight room. We have a lot of freshmen coming in on defense that a lot of people are expecting to just step in right away and be productive. VN makes the claim every year, and it typically only happens with one or two players.
 
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#3,569
#3,569
Vols4us said:
Understand your viewpoint and agree with some of it. Take issue with the section in bold. Most of the former O-line went through a couple of system changes, three blocking scheme changes, and three position coaches. The last season they were in a system and scheme that only one was competent in due to a lack of quickness. Being experienced in their case meant very little other than what to expect from a physicality standpoint. They practiced against a bottom tier SEC front four that did nothing to make them better.

All of that has now changed. There are four or five that are stepping up after a year in the system and only having had two position coaches. They have gotten some playing time and are physically prepared for SEC play. They need to work out the LT slot obviously. JMO.
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I think this OL has a chance to be better once their college careers are over. As you mentioned, coaching staff stability is very important and, barring 2015 being an utter failure (which I don't think it will) or staff leaving for better jobs, I don't foresee any shakeups to this staff anytime soon. Also, CBJ and Co. will be afforded time to recruit OL who are a better fit for this blocking scheme, an issue for which you and I agree that the last group wasn't well-suited.

One of the things that I think "might" save the OL is the pace of the offense and...Worley.

CBJ wants to run a ton of plays, which means less time for the DL to get to the QB. While I think Dobbs is the best QB we have, I don't think he'll be consistent enough to win the starting job. All Worley has to do is limit his mistakes and keep the offensive pace fast but smooth. Doing so will mitigate mistakes made by our young OL...hopefully.

That said, none of our guys have gone up against top-flight SEC linemen yet. That translates to OL woes through at least the middle of the season, possibly beyond.
 
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#3,570
#3,570
I think it's a little unfair to compare the 2010 offensive line to this years. The 2010 line started four freshman and a sophomore if I remember right. They also had to learn a new system on top of getting stronger. This year we are starting three red-shirt juniors on the interior and either a senior of junior at Left Tackle (Granted that spot worries me). The only really young guy will be Thomas at right tackle, but at least he got the spring.

I'm pretty optimistic about this years line. They have been in the system for about two years and have had the same coach too. I'm more worried about the defensive line than the offensive, but I think defensive line will be much better than last years group. I wouldn't be surprised to see Worley have about 2500 yards passing coupled with our running game getting around 2,000 yards again. I think we have that potential.
 
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#3,571
#3,571
Just had a UGA fan down here in GA tell me we will win four games. Can't wait to see Malone, North, Pearson, Pig, etc. destroy their awful secondary.
 
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#3,572
#3,572
OddFuture said:
Just had a UGA fan down here in GA tell me we will win four games. Can't wait to see Malone, North, Pearson, Pig, etc. destroy their awful secondary.
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Eh they're just repeating what that one ESPN guy predicted. A lot of SEC fans are because they know it's a good way to get under our skin.
 
#3,573
#3,573
nicksjuzunk said:
Predicting/expecting a bowl win vs an unknown opponent... before the season begins, is asinine beyond words
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I guess I am asinine then; I expect the Vols to win every game (prior to the start of the game) regardless of the opponent. I do not freak out or fall apart if the Vols lose any game however. I really hope this team makes it to a good bowl, but if they do not, I will still be rooting for them next year too.

Kiffin playing to lose with a close score bothered me. Dooley and Sal losing when they should not also bothered me. They are gone now; I am still pulling for the Vols. In CBJ I trust to get the Vols back to where even "the realists" think we have a chance to beat anyone again. :)
 
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#3,574
#3,574
UTProf said:
Eh they're just repeating what that one ESPN guy predicted. A lot of SEC fans are because they know it's a good way to get under our skin.
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I guess. We will be young, but we will have the most talent or comparable talent on the field of every team we play except Bama and possibly Oklahoma. Not just going on stars either
 
#3,575
#3,575
OddFuture said:
I guess. We will be young, but we will have the most talent or comparable talent on the field of every team we play except Bama and possibly Oklahoma. Not just going on stars either
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One good recruiting class doesn't give us more talent than anyone else. If you believe that, you believe Dooley was an elite recruiter and left Butch top of the SEC talent.
 
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