Recruiting Forum Football Talk XXX

[GoBigOrangeVols]

Let's have a look at next year's roster:

QB: Dormady or S. Jones or Guarantano
RB: Kelly, Fils-Aime, Chandler
WR: Malone, Jennings, Byrd, Smith, Callaway, Johnson, George, L. Williams, Perry
TE: Et. Wolf, El. Wolf, Pope, Jakob Johnson
LT: Richmond/Kendrick
LG: Robertson, Boulware
C: Thomas/Jack Jones
RG: Boulware/Jack Jones
RT: Kendrick/Hall/Tatum

DE: Kongbo, Mixon, Austin Smith
DE: Phillips, Taylor, McDaniel
DT: Vickers, Tuttle, MacKenzie, Alexis Johnson, Picou, Butcher, Bain
OLB: Sapp, Elliott Berry, McDowell, Blakely
MLB: Kirkland, Jumper, Bituli, Bates, Bryant
CB: Moseley, Osborne, Freshman
CB: Martin/Buchanan, Freshman
NB: Gaulden, Osborne, Freshman
S: Kelly Jr., Griffin, Henderson
S: Abernathy, Warrior, Ev. Berry

K: Medley
P: Daniel

KR: Ev. Berry
PR: Callaway

This list barely takes into account any freshman and frankly I don't see us having to rely on very many freshman, save at RB, DL and in the secondary.

So, going off of this, I think our WR, RB, and OL will be the strengths of the roster. We have a ton of talent and experience returning at those positions. QB is a question mark because we don't have any one with significant game experience, but all three have a lot of talent -- I feel confident in saying that whoever wins the battle is a good QB.

On Defense, we are thin all across the DL. Many of the players coming back have seen significant experience, but the results have been mixed. At DT, we are talented but injury prone. At DE, there will be very little returning production. So far, we have 7 DL committed in this recruiting class and I wouldn't be surprised if we added another 1 or 2. However, relying on freshman DL in the SEC is never a recipe for success.

At LB, if healthy, Kirkland and Sapp can be a solid combination. Behind those two are guys we've seen enough of this year to know we don't want them playing significant snaps on D.

We will return 3/5 of the starting secondary and plenty of guys with experience, but we are very thin at corner. This recruiting class currently contains 4 CBs, and hopefully we'll add another. Corner is a spot where talented freshmen can play, but expect growing pains.

Our Special Teams should continue to be a strength when healthy. Medley is relatively solid, and Daniel is one of the best in the league. If Evan Berry can be back to being himself, he is a threat each time he touches the ball.

All-in-all, we have a solid roster for 2017. Hats off to Butch for that. We are still thin at DL and in the secondary, particularly at CB.

We don't yet know what the future holds, but whatever the staff makeup is for next year, those coaches will have a talented and experienced team returning.

This year's team had only 9 scholarship seniors, and is losing a couple underclassmen to the NFL in Kamara and Barnett. So we are losing 11 players.

Next year we will have as many as 21 scholarship seniors.

TL;DR version: We have a lot of talent and experience coming back next year. The coaching staff (whatever that group may look like), will have a pretty stocked cupboard for a run at the SEC in 2017.

 

[McGeesPub]

sjt is pretty well respected with your crowd. Along with attrition, he argued that S&C was a major problem that needed to be fixed. There were many that followed his lead.

This wasn't a memory I made up...so take that as a "whiff". The players turning on Lawson was brought up in The War Room...I used to have a peek in there.

Not sure who sjt is but I've always wanted to be in a crowd. I'll keep an eye out for him.

I'll concede on forgetting/not knowing the whole story with regard to Lawson, but do specifically remember fall camp intensity being an issue last year than S&C. But with the circumstances being what they were, why frame it as a fan issue when it was clearly the players- as legitimate stakeholders- wanting change?

 

[Nashvegas31]

Blackburn is the only choice for AD because we need a Tennessee man who actually cares about the program leading the way. And if she is blocking him, as it has been said, she's already a witch in my book because what the hell does she care about Tennessee or football for that matter? She probably only cares about academics. Hell Vanderbilt does that and is better at sports than us- makes me sick. I hate being a Tennessee fan sometimes, it's a miserable existence. I love the team so much it hurts, but we have the stupidest people making decisions and it appears to never change. Firing Fulmer was the worst mistake that could have been made.

I haven't seen anything about Chancellor blocking anything. Only thing I have seen is Charlie Anderson doing he blocking and throwing the fit about DB because of some argument they had because Blackburn told Him he would regret the day he pushed TN to hire Dooley. Basically sounds like he doesn't like someone smarter than him about football in place.

 

[Dust10]

Let's have a look at next year's roster:

QB: Dormady or S. Jones or Guarantano
RB: Kelly, Fils-Aime, Chandler
WR: Malone, Jennings, Byrd, Smith, Callaway, Johnson, George, L. Williams, Perry
TE: Et. Wolf, El. Wolf, Pope, Jakob Johnson
LT: Richmond/Kendrick
LG: Robertson, Boulware
C: Thomas/Jack Jones
RG: Boulware/Jack Jones
RT: Kendrick/Hall/Tatum

DE: Kongbo, Mixon, Austin Smith
DE: Phillips, Taylor, McDaniel
DT: Vickers, Tuttle, MacKenzie, Alexis Johnson, Picou, Butcher, Bain
OLB: Sapp, Elliott Berry, McDowell, Blakely
MLB: Kirkland, Jumper, Bituli, Bates, Bryant
CB: Moseley, Osborne, Freshman
CB: Martin/Buchanan, Freshman
NB: Gaulden, Osborne, Freshman
S: Kelly Jr., Griffin, Henderson
S: Abernathy, Warrior, Ev. Berry

K: Medley
P: Daniel

KR: Ev. Berry
PR: Callaway

This list barely takes into account any freshman and frankly I don't see us having to rely on very many freshman, save at RB, DL and in the secondary.

So, going off of this, I think our WR, RB, and OL will be the strengths of the roster. We have a ton of talent and experience returning at those positions. QB is a question mark because we don't have any one with significant game experience, but all three have a lot of talent -- I feel confident in saying that whoever wins the battle is a good QB.

On Defense, we are thin all across the DL. Many of the players coming back have seen significant experience, but the results have been mixed. At DT, we are talented but injury prone. At DE, there will be very little returning production. So far, we have 7 DL committed in this recruiting class and I wouldn't be surprised if we added another 1 or 2. However, relying on freshman DL in the SEC is never a recipe for success.

At LB, if healthy, Kirkland and Sapp can be a solid combination. Behind those two are guys we've seen enough of this year to know we don't want them playing significant snaps on D.

We will return 3/5 of the starting secondary and plenty of guys with experience, but we are very thin at corner. This recruiting class currently contains 4 CBs, and hopefully we'll add another. Corner is a spot where talented freshmen can play, but expect growing pains.

Our Special Teams should continue to be a strength when healthy. Medley is relatively solid, and Daniel is one of the best in the league. If Evan Berry can be back to being himself, he is a threat each time he touches the ball.

All-in-all, we have a solid roster for 2017. Hats off to Butch for that. We are still thin at DL and in the secondary, particularly at CB.

We don't yet know what the future holds, but whatever the staff makeup is for next year, those coaches will have a talented and experienced team returning.

This year's team had only 9 scholarship seniors, and is losing a couple underclassmen to the NFL in Kamara and Barnett. So we are losing 11 players.

Next year we will have as many as 21 scholarship seniors.

TL;DR version: We have a lot of talent and experience coming back next year. The coaching staff (whatever that group may look like), will have a pretty stocked cupboard for a run at the SEC in 2017.

We are utterly screwed at corner. I'm hoping Byrd jumps back to that side of the field and becomes all SEC.

 

[bUTchplease2]

Let's have a look at next year's roster:

QB: Dormady or S. Jones or Guarantano
RB: Kelly, Fils-Aime, Chandler
WR: Malone, Jennings, Byrd, Smith, Callaway, Johnson, George, L. Williams, Perry
TE: Et. Wolf, El. Wolf, Pope, Jakob Johnson
LT: Richmond/Kendrick
LG: Robertson, Boulware
C: Thomas/Jack Jones
RG: Boulware/Jack Jones
RT: Kendrick/Hall/Tatum

DE: Kongbo, Mixon, Austin Smith
DE: Phillips, Taylor, McDaniel
DT: Vickers, Tuttle, MacKenzie, Alexis Johnson, Picou, Butcher, Bain
OLB: Sapp, Elliott Berry, McDowell, Blakely
MLB: Kirkland, Jumper, Bituli, Bates, Bryant
CB: Moseley, Osborne, Freshman
CB: Martin/Buchanan, Freshman
NB: Gaulden, Osborne, Freshman
S: Kelly Jr., Griffin, Henderson
S: Abernathy, Warrior, Ev. Berry

K: Medley
P: Daniel

KR: Ev. Berry
PR: Callaway

This list barely takes into account any freshman and frankly I don't see us having to rely on very many freshman, save at RB, DL and in the secondary.

So, going off of this, I think our WR, RB, and OL will be the strengths of the roster. We have a ton of talent and experience returning at those positions. QB is a question mark because we don't have any one with significant game experience, but all three have a lot of talent -- I feel confident in saying that whoever wins the battle is a good QB.

On Defense, we are thin all across the DL. Many of the players coming back have seen significant experience, but the results have been mixed. At DT, we are talented but injury prone. At DE, there will be very little returning production. So far, we have 7 DL committed in this recruiting class and I wouldn't be surprised if we added another 1 or 2. However, relying on freshman DL in the SEC is never a recipe for success.

At LB, if healthy, Kirkland and Sapp can be a solid combination. Behind those two are guys we've seen enough of this year to know we don't want them playing significant snaps on D.

We will return 3/5 of the starting secondary and plenty of guys with experience, but we are very thin at corner. This recruiting class currently contains 4 CBs, and hopefully we'll add another. Corner is a spot where talented freshmen can play, but expect growing pains.

Our Special Teams should continue to be a strength when healthy. Medley is relatively solid, and Daniel is one of the best in the league. If Evan Berry can be back to being himself, he is a threat each time he touches the ball.

All-in-all, we have a solid roster for 2017. Hats off to Butch for that. We are still thin at DL and in the secondary, particularly at CB.

We don't yet know what the future holds, but whatever the staff makeup is for next year, those coaches will have a talented and experienced team returning.

This year's team had only 9 scholarship seniors, and is losing a couple underclassmen to the NFL in Kamara and Barnett. So we are losing 11 players.

Next year we will have as many as 21 scholarship seniors.

TL;DR version: We have a lot of talent and experience coming back next year. The coaching staff (whatever that group may look like), will have a pretty stocked cupboard for a run at the SEC in 2017.

Those corners scare the piss out of me

 

[butchna]

I remember it being the intensity of the practices more so than any S&C program that was at issue.

And if it was the players that requested the change, let's not get into the big bad fan base screwing Butch over narrative.

You found a new word. . And you're being disingenuous with my recount of such. I didn't excuse Butch or condemn him for the move...just provided background. If you perceived the hypocrisy and backtracking of this board in that? Oh well.

 

[BruinVol]

We are utterly screwed at corner. I'm hoping Byrd jumps back to that side of the field and becomes all SEC.

I disagree. There is plenty of talent at CB they just need to be coached up which is the problem.

 

[butchna]

Not sure who sjt is but I've always wanted to be in a crowd. I'll keep an eye out for him.

I'll concede on forgetting/not knowing the whole story with regard to Lawson, but do specifically remember fall camp intensity being an issue last year than S&C. But with the circumstances being what they were, why frame it as a fan issue when it was clearly the players- as legitimate stakeholders- wanting change?

I don't think Butch took his cue from Catbone and sjt. . But the injuries were talked about incessantly on this very board, and that's the platform from which we're having this discussion. Still your paranoia a tad. I'm not trying to form some message board defense of Butch. I just tire at the new threads from the same posters that complained ABOUT Lawson now using his firing as a mistake on the ledger.

 

[Dust10]

I disagree. There is plenty of talent at CB they just need to be coached up which is the problem.

I disagree with your disagreement. Byrd was an Army all American at corner, not WR. We are wasting a potential NFL corner on like 2 catches a game.

 

[Lovesomebigorange]

Yet another reason Blackburn is the only choice if he told Anderson he would regret the Dooley hiring. Anderson and the Haslam clan all need to stfu. The Davenport blocking Blackburn rumor is in the FF and Basilio who hasn't been completely off on things as of late, so there's probably truth there. Last week VQ was still talking like Blackburn was the leader and now?????? It's a national search is it not?

 

[McGeesPub]

I just tire at the new threads from the same posters that complained ABOUT Lawson now using his firing as a mistake on the ledger.

What was it you said to me in my response to Bruin above? "Oh well"?

 

[VOLinCO]

We are utterly screwed at corner. I'm hoping Byrd jumps back to that side of the field and becomes all SEC.

I agree on Byrd. However, I do hope a change is made with DB coaching as well.

 

[butchna]

What was it you said to me in my response to Bruin above? "Oh well"?

Like that? I'll write you some other original material.

 

[Nashvegas31]

I disagree with your disagreement. Byrd was an Army all American at corner, not WR. We are wasting a potential NFL corner on like 2 catches a game.

byrd def needs to be at either CB or S with just a package for offense. His impact there would be greater than at WR. We can find a way to make up his production at WR. We need more speed in secondary. Byrd and Moseley/Martin at CB, Gaulden at Nickel, warrior and Abernathy at S. Kelly Jr becomes a box Saftey or WLB. Then magically you have more speed on the field.

I wonder if Martin would be a S candidate if staff is frustrated with his CB play. Then again he may not even be here

 

[McGeesPub]

Let's have a look at next year's roster:

QB: Dormady or S. Jones or Guarantano
RB: Kelly, Fils-Aime, Chandler
WR: Malone, Jennings, Byrd, Smith, Callaway, Johnson, George, L. Williams, Perry
TE: Et. Wolf, El. Wolf, Pope, Jakob Johnson
LT: Richmond/Kendrick
LG: Robertson, Boulware
C: Thomas/Jack Jones
RG: Boulware/Jack Jones
RT: Kendrick/Hall/Tatum

DE: Kongbo, Mixon, Austin Smith
DE: Phillips, Taylor, McDaniel
DT: Vickers, Tuttle, MacKenzie, Alexis Johnson, Picou, Butcher, Bain
OLB: Sapp, Elliott Berry, McDowell, Blakely
MLB: Kirkland, Jumper, Bituli, Bates, Bryant
CB: Moseley, Osborne, Freshman
CB: Martin/Buchanan, Freshman
NB: Gaulden, Osborne, Freshman
S: Kelly Jr., Griffin, Henderson
S: Abernathy, Warrior, Ev. Berry

K: Medley
P: Daniel

KR: Ev. Berry
PR: Callaway

This list barely takes into account any freshman and frankly I don't see us having to rely on very many freshman, save at RB, DL and in the secondary.

So, going off of this, I think our WR, RB, and OL will be the strengths of the roster. We have a ton of talent and experience returning at those positions. QB is a question mark because we don't have any one with significant game experience, but all three have a lot of talent -- I feel confident in saying that whoever wins the battle is a good QB.

On Defense, we are thin all across the DL. Many of the players coming back have seen significant experience, but the results have been mixed. At DT, we are talented but injury prone. At DE, there will be very little returning production. So far, we have 7 DL committed in this recruiting class and I wouldn't be surprised if we added another 1 or 2. However, relying on freshman DL in the SEC is never a recipe for success.

At LB, if healthy, Kirkland and Sapp can be a solid combination. Behind those two are guys we've seen enough of this year to know we don't want them playing significant snaps on D.

We will return 3/5 of the starting secondary and plenty of guys with experience, but we are very thin at corner. This recruiting class currently contains 4 CBs, and hopefully we'll add another. Corner is a spot where talented freshmen can play, but expect growing pains.

Our Special Teams should continue to be a strength when healthy. Medley is relatively solid, and Daniel is one of the best in the league. If Evan Berry can be back to being himself, he is a threat each time he touches the ball.

All-in-all, we have a solid roster for 2017. Hats off to Butch for that. We are still thin at DL and in the secondary, particularly at CB.

We don't yet know what the future holds, but whatever the staff makeup is for next year, those coaches will have a talented and experienced team returning.

This year's team had only 9 scholarship seniors, and is losing a couple underclassmen to the NFL in Kamara and Barnett. So we are losing 11 players.

Next year we will have as many as 21 scholarship seniors.

TL;DR version: We have a lot of talent and experience coming back next year. The coaching staff (whatever that group may look like), will have a pretty stocked cupboard for a run at the SEC in 2017.

RB has the potential to be a very bad situation next year if Kelly gets hurt. I agree he has top end talent in this offense, but if he goes down, that will be a prime example of where we need a true freshman to not only step in, but excel. Possible recipe for disaster with a new QB.

 

[Nashvegas31]

I agree on Byrd. However, I do hope a change is made with DB coaching as well.

Would love for Fair to come back. CB technique hasnt been nearly as good since he left.

 

[BaldBiker]

I haven't been on here in a while. I'd would like to say it's because you are all crazy and don't deserve the time of day from me, but in fact, it's because I've had my lazy ass sitting on a nice warm beach for the last week and a half.

On to the more important issue of what we as a fan base should do in regards to how to handle and show our displeasure with how this year has turned out.

I for on have had enough. I vow right here....right now....on VN, for everyone to see......I, BaldBiker will only watch one more TN football game this football season. After that, win or lose, I will not watch another game (spring game excluded) until next football season!!

Let's show these people that as die hard UT Football fans we mean business! Whose with me?

 

[BruinVol]

I disagree with your disagreement. Byrd was an Army all American at corner, not WR. We are wasting a potential NFL corner on like 2 catches a game.

I don't have a huge opinion on Byrd unless Malone declares for the draft.

I do feel strongly that he would have sucked at CB this year just like the rest. Even Sutton was terrible this week. All that falls on coaching IMO.

 

[Nashvegas31]

Still so mad about losing to Vandy. Out of all the teams to lose to that was the worst one possible. Vandy was a thorn in our side under Franklin among mid state. He didn't get them all but he made you fight like heck for them. Vandy coming into TN game apparently had zero in state commits from the top group of prospects in state. You had them dead in the water with the foot on their throat and you let them back in the game to be a thorn in your side again. Kids will like Mason but didn't believe he could survive there and now you give them reason to think he can make it

 

[Dust10]

I don't have a huge opinion on Byrd unless Malone declares for the draft.

I do feel strongly that he would have sucked at CB this year just like the rest. Even Sutton was terrible this week. All that falls on coaching IMO.

I can agree that a coaching change in the secondary is needed.

 

[McGeesPub]

Still so mad about losing to Vandy. Out of all the teams to lose to that was the worst one possible. Vandy was a thorn in our side under Franklin among mid state. He didn't get them all but he made you fight like heck for them. Vandy coming into TN game apparently had zero in state commits from the top group of prospects in state. You had them dead in the water with the foot on their throat and you let them back in the game to be a thorn in your side again. Kids will like Mason but didn't believe he could survive there and now you give them reason to think he can make it

One win empowers the Vandy fan base like no other. Eating dinner with my Vandy in laws last night, they made the comment that they hoped I enjoyed last year, because it doesn't look like we'd be getting them back for awhile.

I mean really?

 

[Nashvegas31]

I don't have a huge opinion on Byrd unless Malone declares for the draft.

I do feel strongly that he would have sucked at CB this year just like the rest. Even Sutton was terrible this week. All that falls on coaching IMO.

Cam isn't close to 100 percent. What a waste of a comeback. He unfortunately puts some bad film on tape now because he did this for his team and coaches with hopes of something bigger. He didn't have to come back. The routes he gets beat on are jist smart calls by OC to test the stop/start ability with his ankle. He is fine straight up.

 

[Nashvegas31]

One win empowers the Vandy fan base like no other. Eating dinner with my Vandy in laws last night, they made the comment that they hoped I enjoyed last year, because it doesn't look like we'd be getting them back for awhile.

I mean really?

It's awful. Losers don't talk all season and were miserable and now they are cloud 9

 

[Aesius]

One win empowers the Vandy fan base like no other. Eating dinner with my Vandy in laws last night, they made the comment that they hoped I enjoyed last year, because it doesn't look like we'd be getting them back for awhile.

I mean really?

They are going to be back to believing that Tennessee is no longer their rival any day now and that they are instead competing with Florida for the SEC East.

 

[GoBigOrange86]

One win empowers the Vandy fan base like no other. Eating dinner with my Vandy in laws last night, they made the comment that they hoped I enjoyed last year, because it doesn't look like we'd be getting them back for awhile.

I mean really?

I don't care about Vanderbilt and their six fans. They're an annoyance and little else. I blame our coaching staff far more than I credit Vanderbilt for that game.