Recruiting Forum Football Talk XXVI

[Orange And Garnet]

JG may be good enough to be the number 2 guy before the end of the year. But assuming Dobbs stays healthy, JG redshirts and the battle for the 2017 starter goes all the way to 1st game. I don't think Butch will tip his hand this season because if he names JG the number 2 QB at any point in 2016 QD and Jones will likely transfer and we are left with 1 scholarship QB and whoever they might sign in the 2017 class.

Exactly. Red shirt JG and be done with it. I think Dormady is plenty good enough to step in for Dobbs and win a game. Jones too. Our QB depth is very underrated. Even though the back ups haven't played much

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

Not that this is an end-all, but Hurd seems faster than Henry.

Hurd is faster, more shifty, better at pass pro, better receiver, better at making people miss, and just a better overall running back. Henry was harder to tackle once he got going down the field, but if he didn't get a head of steam he would go down easy. Jalen doesn't get truck sized holes to run through and still gets big yardage. Even Fournette, I know that at one point during the season, he was averaging 5 yards before contact. That is huge. No wonder he had big numbers. Jalen on the other hand was only averaging around 1.5 if memory serves. And yet he is still under 900 yds from Vols all time rushing record even without the advantages those two guys have had.

 

[005]

Hurd is faster, more shifty, better at pass pro, better receiver, better at making people miss, and just a better overall running back. Henry was harder to tackle once he got going down the field, but if he didn't get a head of steam he would go down easy. Jalen doesn't get truck sized holes to run through and still gets big yardage. Even Fournette, I know that at one point during the season, he was averaging 5 yards before contact. That is huge. No wonder he had big numbers. Jalen on the other hand was only averaging around 1.5 if memory serves. And yet he is still under 900 yds from Vols all time rushing record even without the advantages those two guys have had.

Good post here.

 

[jacobyvoln27]

Hurd is faster, more shifty, better at pass pro, better receiver, better at making people miss, and just a better overall running back. Henry was harder to tackle once he got going down the field, but if he didn't get a head of steam he would go down easy. Jalen doesn't get truck sized holes to run through and still gets big yardage. Even Fournette, I know that at one point during the season, he was averaging 5 yards before contact. That is huge. No wonder he had big numbers. Jalen on the other hand was only averaging around 1.5 if memory serves. And yet he is still under 900 yds from Vols all time rushing record even without the advantages those two guys have had.

Only one game but Hurd looked much better then fournette against Alabama!

 

[BigOrange15]

Me personally, I think in terms of top speed Henry may be a step faster but in literally every other way, like you both said, Hurd is superior. Hurd is also quicker to get to his top speed so that matters as well. JMO.

 

[BigZiti09]

Doug Mathews just said it is hard to see Alexis Johnson play this year. Possibly return for future seasons.

DT is arguably the most important position on the field in the SEC and it is our weakest and most uncertain.

We need Alexis to be cleared and we need Tuttle at 100%. Not only that we really don't even know if Alexis is any good.

Concerning.

 

[Orange And Garnet]

I've been reading Phil Steele's magazine and found this line.
"in the past three years Georgia has been favored in 36 of their 39 games but had a record of 28-11".

Talk about underachieving

 

[Aesius]

DT is arguably the most important position on the field in the SEC and it is our weakest and most uncertain.

We need Alexis to be cleared and we need Tuttle at 100%. Not only that we really don't even know if Alexis is any good.

Concerning.

DT could potentially be a concern through 2018. Also, I don't think Johnson plays this year. He has missed too much time and he may be more valuable in 2017 and 2018.

2016:

KMack/O'Brien/Picou (unlikely to get many/any snaps)
Vickers/Tuttle (backup until he is full speed again)

2017:

KMack/Johnson/Picou
Tuttle/Vickers

2018:

Johnson
Picou

KMack and Tuttle both have the potential to leave as juniors. Not taking a high school DT in 2016 was a bad move, IMO. We really need the guys we take this cycle to be ready to play in 2018 as sophomores/redshirt freshmen and potentially take 2 JUCO guys as insurance.

Ideally, we need Tuttle to be ready by SEC play, redshirt Johnson this season, and have a current DE bulk up to play DT (Butcher) as soon as possible--possibly even this year. Also need at least one out of KMack and Tuttle to stay through their senior season. Someone like Kongbo being a force at DT outside of obvious passing situations would also help mitigate any major issues.

 

[BigZiti09]

DT could potentially be a concern through 2018. Also, I don't think Johnson plays this year. He has missed too much time and he may be more valuable in 2017 and 2018.

2016:

KMack/O'Brien/Picou (unlikely to get many/any snaps)
Vickers/Tuttle (backup until he is full speed again)

2017:

KMack/Johnson/Picou
Tuttle/Vickers

2018:

Johnson
Picou

KMack and Tuttle both have the potential to leave as juniors. Not taking a high school DT in 2016 was a bad move, IMO. We really need the guys we take this cycle to be ready to play in 2018 as sophomores/redshirt freshmen and potentially take 2 JUCO guys as insurance.

Ideally, we need Tuttle to be ready by SEC play, redshirt Johnson this season, and have a current DE bulk up to play DT (Butcher) as soon as possible--possibly even this year. Also need at least one out of KMack and Tuttle to stay through their senior season. Someone like Kongbo being a force at DT outside of obvious passing situations would also help mitigate any major issues.

Kyle Phillips needs to be a Malik Jackson type.

 

[chavisut]

Butcher

Kongbo

 

[RiseToTheTop]

Butcher

Kongbo

true. Butcher and Kongbo are already pushing 280.

 

[chavisut]

Kyle Phillips needs to be a Malik Jackson type.

We still need ends. Lose our 3 top returning ends after this year.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Butcher

Kongbo

Yup. Hubbs said this week that Butcher is 275 and Kongbo is 270.

I'm sure Shoop will work it out just fine with the personnel he has. He's done really well with far less talented DL's.

Can't wait to see this DL. Guys like Kongbo, Phillips, Butcher, slimmer KM, healthy Shy, etc...Should be fun.

 

[butchna]

Mathews also said:

Tuttle is ahead of schedule but probably won't be 100% conditioning right away.

He expects a big year from Philips. He's now healthy and maturing.

Marquill Osborne is having a big summer and will get a lot of playing time.

JG will likely overtake QD at some point this season.

Ryan Johnson has been very impressive. The coaches are surprised at how well he has been doing.

Preston Williams from a pure ability stand point is up there with the best we have ever had.

Nigel Warrior is gonna make some noise at safety

Sounding more and more like Ryan Johnson is going to be a monster guard.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I honestly think that most of our DL is versatile enough to play inside and out. I'm not nearly as worried as many are about DT depth. I think we could line up in a 4 "DE" front and still dominate even on non-passing downs.

I think a front 4 of Phillips, Barnett, Kongbo, and Vereen is good enough to handle any situation. And that's strictly using guys that are defensive ends.

IMO, Barnett should be used inside and out. He was dominant from inside last year when he slid in. Let him showcase his versatility and create mismatches.

 

[BigZiti09]

Yup. Hubbs said this week that Butcher is 275 and Kongbo is 270.

I'm sure Shoop will work it out just fine with the personnel he has. He's done really well with far less talented DL's.

Can't wait to see this DL. Guys like Kongbo, Phillips, Butcher, slimmer KM, healthy Shy, etc...Should be fun.

Scary part is that almost all those guys you listed are not SEC proven. Khalil being the exception. Tuttle is proven but you listed a healthy Tuttle which we don't have yet. Phillips has some experience but we don't know how much of a factor he can be. Kongbo should be great but it sometimes takes JUCO guys a while to hit their stride. Butcher has not played at all yet unless I'm mistaken.

Chances are that a couple of those guys will end up being ready to go day 1 and help out but we are an injury or two away from being in serious trouble at DT.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Scary part is that almost all those guys you listed are not SEC proven. Khalil being the exception. Tuttle is proven but you listed a healthy Tuttle which we don't have yet. Phillips has some experience but we don't know how much of a factor he can be. Kongbo should be great but it sometimes takes JUCO guys a while to hit their stride. Butcher has not played at all yet unless I'm mistaken.

Chances are that a couple of those guys will end up being ready to go day 1 and help out but we are an injury or two away from being in serious trouble at DT.

You can't bring me down, BigZiti! No matter how hard you try.


15-0

 

[BigZiti09]

You can't bring me down, BigZiti! No matter how hard you try.


15-0

Ha ha! Sorry man. I think part of it is battered wife syndrome on my part. The Vols have tortured me for so long I just kinda have to be cautious about being excited.

10-2 and beat UF would make me extremely happy.

 

[MrVolton]

Sure we don't have ideal depth at DT yet but we're prob still in better shape there than we've been in over a decade.

We also seem to have quite a few tweener guys At DE that could slide inside if needed. I think Shoop and Stripling will get a little creative here and we'll be more than alright.

I'm actually more concerned about depth at MLB, TE, and OT than anywhere on DL.

 

[Aesius]

I just really want the Vols to be 6-deep at DT every year with a couple of DEs who are capable of playing inside when the situation calls for it also in the mix.

2 elite starters, 2 good backups, and 2 spares who can contribute on the field without a huge dropoff.

 

[vol2002]

I just really want the Vols to be 6-deep at DT every year with a couple of DEs who are capable of playing inside when the situation calls for it also in the mix.

2 elite starters, 2 good backups, and 2 spares who can contribute on the field without a huge dropoff.

It would be great to have a perfect roster but I don't think you need a perfect roster to win big. We have enough talent as is to achieve big things.

 

[Aesius]

It would be great to have a perfect roster but I don't think you need a perfect roster to win big. We have enough talent as is to achieve big things.

I agree, but having depth at DT and along the front four helps make every other position better on the field. If you can consistently generate pressure upfront for 60 minutes, you can have some holes in your roster elsewhere and be okay.

Look at Mizzou in 2013 and 2014.

 

[BigZiti09]

I agree, but having depth at DT and along the front four helps make every other position better on the field. If you can consistently generate pressure upfront for 60 minutes, you can have some holes in your roster elsewhere and be okay.

Look at Mizzou in 2013 and 2014.

Good post.

Biggest difference in SEC football and everywhere else is DT.

 

[005]

I agree, but having depth at DT and along the front four helps make every other position better on the field. If you can consistently generate pressure upfront for 60 minutes, you can have some holes in your roster elsewhere and be okay.

Look at Mizzou in 2013 and 2014.

I think we can generate pressure, and I think a big assist will be our ability to control the game offensively.

 

[RiseToTheTop]

Scary part is that almost all those guys you listed are not SEC proven. Khalil being the exception. Tuttle is proven but you listed a healthy Tuttle which we don't have yet. Phillips has some experience but we don't know how much of a factor he can be. Kongbo should be great but it sometimes takes JUCO guys a while to hit their stride. Butcher has not played at all yet unless I'm mistaken.

Chances are that a couple of those guys will end up being ready to go day 1 and help out but we are an injury or two away from being in serious trouble at DT.

shy was much better than KM when he was healthy and playing though. They should both be good.