Recruiting Forum Football Talk LVII

[sccshortstop]

Boom!

Predators win President’s trophy. You might not care about hockey, but this is significant because a southern town in Tennessee can not only support a professional hockey team, but be one of the best fan bases and home ice advantages in the league. To me, this is further vindication that Tennessee sports fans love our own among the best in the world and can succeed, even with hockey.

Agreed!!! My blood has always run ORANGE and the Preds are my favorite non vol team period!! Never miss a game!

 

[ChattaTNVol]

Saw today where WVU has 2 of the top 5 WR in college football this year. Add Grier throwing them the football and that offense will be tough to stop.

Hope we can put some points in the board with the corners we’ll be trotting out there. Tough matchup.

From WVa Rivals writer:

Why West Virginia's Schedule Looms Large In 2018 Success

Matt Keller
Staff Writer

West Virginia's schedule is like a sandwich inversion.

It's got all the meat on the top and bottom, and a little fluff in the middle. With the nonconference wild card of a rebooted Tennessee, and NC State as the kicker, there's plenty to chew on over that three-game slate, not to mention a Big 12 schedule that features heavyweights Texas - and yes, the Longhorns will be a league contender - TCU, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to finish.

It's among the more daunting slates in school history, and the arrangement of games could well determine just how far the Mountaineers climb in a season that seems to be Big 12 title game or bust. Tennessee is under first-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt, former Alabama and Florida State assistant looking to retool the subpar Vols defense that was under one-time WVU assistant Butch Jones.

When Jones was fired, Pruitt emerged out of a botched coaching search that included Greg Schiano, Mike Gundy, Mike Leach and even Purdue's Jeff Brohm, among others. When Pruitt accepted, he took on a rebuilding job made a touch easier by the fact that plenty of talent resides at 1600 Phillip Fulmer Way. UT's classes ranked fifth in 2015, 15th in both 2016 and '17 and 20th last year in the Rivals' recruiting. That's trending in the wrong direction, but the match-up for West Virginia isn't a cake walk. With no surefire nose tackle and two new starters along the defensive front for the Mountaineers, along with an offensive line that was mediocre last season (and dominated in the bowl game by Utah), UT could well win this contest in the trenches.

Former Tennessee linebacker LaMarcus Thompson, whose career at the school spanned the tenures of Fulmer, Lane Kiffin and Derek Dooley, said Pruitt, a five-time national champion as an assistant, is approaching the job with a "win now" mentality, and a neutral site victory over a program expected to compete for a Big 12 title would be just the jumpstart needed. The Vols have road graders along the line, but have find a quarterback (Jarrett Guarantano perhaps?) and the skill set talent to pair with him. The defense needs three starting DBs, but gets the majority of the front seven back.

This opener is, frankly, a bigger game for West Virginia than Tennessee, which comes off a 4-8 season - the most losses in school history - including an 0-8 mark in the SEC. In a year of high hopes (read: 10 wins), a second straight stumble in the opener would be a reminder that all those who returned because of that "unfinished business" quoted by Dana Holgorsen still have a ways to go.

WVSports.com - Why West Virginia's Schedule Looms Large In 2018 Success

 

[Vols4us]

We will find out just how 'botched' the roster was handled the past couple of seasons in the very first game. Can't wait.

 

[Outofmyvolcanmind]

Anyone think he could get a shot in the league?

[Twitter]981887992473247744[/twitter]

NM

 

[Outofmyvolcanmind]

NHL can't have a southern team win it all can they

Well, considering Tampa or Nashville is going to win it.......

 

[volatil]

ESPN ranked the Predators the best Franchise in all sports.


The Home Ice Advantage is on another level.


Dear NHL,

You done messed up letting us get home advantage for playoffs.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

If i had to bet on for sure spots:

Safeties- Warrior and Ab
Jack- Darrel taylor
Nose- Shy
End- Kongbo

Buchanan and Osborne at CBs?

This would be my guess on how the 2-deep on defense looks in the fall:

DE - Jonathan Kongbo (RS Sr.)/Matthew Butler (So.)
NT - Shy Tuttle (Sr.)/Alexis Johnson (RS Sr.)
DE - Kyle Phillips (Sr.)/Greg Emerson (Fr.)

OLB - Darrell Taylor (RS Jr.)/Deandre Johnson (So.)
ILB - Daniel Bituli (Jr.)/Will Ignont (So.)
ILB - Darrin Kirkland Jr. (RS Jr.)/Quarte Sapp (RS Jr.)
OLB - Austin Smith (RS Jr.)/Jordan Allen (RS So.)

CB - Baylen Buchanan (Jr.)/ Carlin Fils-Aime (Jr.)
CB - Shawn Shamburger (So.)/Maliek Gray (RS Fr.)
Nickel - Theo Jackson (So.)/Marquill Osborne (Jr.)
FS - Micah Abernathy (Sr.)/Tyler Byrd (Jr.)
SS - Nigel Warrior (Jr.)/Cheyenne Labruzza (RS Fr.)

Defensive line and inside linebacker look loaded. We're thin at cornerback and outside linebacker.

If we can stay healthy, we can be ELITE on defense. We have a lot of very highly recruited players on that side of the ball.

 

[Mick]

This would be my guess on how the 2-deep on defense looks in the fall:

DE - Jonathan Kongbo (RS Sr.)/Matthew Butler (So.)
NT - Shy Tuttle (Sr.)/Alexis Johnson (RS Sr.)
DE - Kyle Phillips (Sr.)/Greg Emerson (Fr.)

OLB - Darrell Taylor (RS Jr.)/Deandre Johnson (So.)
ILB - Daniel Bituli (Jr.)/Will Ignont (So.)
ILB - Darrin Kirkland Jr. (RS Jr.)/Quarte Sapp (RS Jr.)
OLB - Austin Smith (RS Jr.)/Jordan Allen (RS So.)

CB - Baylen Buchanan (Jr.)/ Carlin Fils-Aime (Jr.)
CB - Shawn Shamburger (So.)/Maliek Gray (RS Fr.)
Nickel - Theo Jackson (So.)/Marquill Osborne (Jr.)
FS - Micah Abernathy (Sr.)/Tyler Byrd (Jr.)
SS - Nigel Warrior (Jr.)/Cheyenne Labruzza (RS Fr.)

Defensive line and inside linebacker look loaded. We're thin at cornerback and outside linebacker.

If we can stay healthy, we can be ELITE on defense. We have a lot of very highly recruited players on that side of the ball.

I like it.

 

[LA Vol]

Thought he was hurt and he's listed as 24. Did he switch?

TKJr switched to #24 to honor Zaevion Dobson after he was murdered.

 

[MrVolton]

This would be my guess on how the 2-deep on defense looks in the fall:

DE - Jonathan Kongbo (RS Sr.)/Matthew Butler (So.)
NT - Shy Tuttle (Sr.)/Alexis Johnson (RS Sr.)
DE - Kyle Phillips (Sr.)/Greg Emerson (Fr.)

OLB - Darrell Taylor (RS Jr.)/Deandre Johnson (So.)
ILB - Daniel Bituli (Jr.)/Will Ignont (So.)
ILB - Darrin Kirkland Jr. (RS Jr.)/Quarte Sapp (RS Jr.)
OLB - Austin Smith (RS Jr.)/Jordan Allen (RS So.)

CB - Baylen Buchanan (Jr.)/ Carlin Fils-Aime (Jr.)
CB - Shawn Shamburger (So.)/Maliek Gray (RS Fr.)
Nickel - Theo Jackson (So.)/Marquill Osborne (Jr.)
FS - Micah Abernathy (Sr.)/Tyler Byrd (Jr.)
SS - Nigel Warrior (Jr.)/Cheyenne Labruzza (RS Fr.)

Defensive line and inside linebacker look loaded. We're thin at cornerback and outside linebacker.

If we can stay healthy, we can be ELITE on defense. We have a lot of very highly recruited players on that side of the ball.

Move Marquille Osborne to starting outside corner opposite Buchanon and Shamburger to starting nickel, and that jives wth what all the practice reports have suggested. D should be much improved.

 

[VolGee4]

Agreed. Possession will be important this game. Can’t get the turnover bug either.

I knew Grier was a stud, just didn’t realize how good their receivers are this year.

They lost a 1,000 yard WR who had 12 TD's. Their #1 guy returns but strangely only had 1 TD.

Sills had good stats last year, but I don't believe he is a burner at all. They just throw the ball so dang much that guys are going to rack up stats.

I believe they also lost their #1 RB and some key defenders. I think we can beat them.

 

[LA Vol]

They finally announced Fulmer's new contract, subject to final board approval-- four years at $900K + incentives. They're also extending Rick Barnes and giving him a raise. Holly Warlick gets an extension, too.

 

[Mullins2010]

They finally announced Fulmer's new contract, subject to final board approval-- four years at $900K + incentives. They're also extending Rick Barnes and giving him a raise. Holly Warlick gets an extension, too.

Lol Holly

 

[zhangliao04]

They finally announced Fulmer's new contract, subject to final board approval-- four years at $900K + incentives. They're also extending Rick Barnes and giving him a raise. Holly Warlick gets an extension, too.

Uh oh...

I don't 100% agree with this.

 

[BigOrange15]

Uh oh...

I don't 100% agree with this.

Do you even partially agree with it?

 

[Sleegro]

TKJr switched to #24 to honor Zaevion Dobson after he was murdered.

Yeah I knew that, someone said he was number 6 so I was asking if he switched back. Do you know who is wearing 6 on defense this spring? Saw a 6 working with Pruitt and the cornerbacks in the videos today and he looked pretty good, but the only 6 on the roster is Taylor. But Taylor was in another video working with the receivers.

 

[LA Vol]

They're extending Holly for recruiting and negotiating the backend to limit the buyout. They'll probably bump bonuses to incentivize performance. Not sure how the numbers will work out. Fulmer wasn't going to fire her his first year and UT wants distance between messy coaching searches. She was never going to be fired this year.

 

[Brillovol]

They finally announced Fulmer's new contract, subject to final board approval-- four years at $900K + incentives. They're also extending Rick Barnes and giving him a raise. Holly Warlick gets an extension, too.

At first I...then I...

 

[LA Vol]

Yeah I knew that, someone said he was number 6 so I was asking if he switched back. Do you know who is wearing 6 on defense this spring? Saw a 6 working with Pruitt and the cornerbacks in the videos today and he looked pretty good, but the only 6 on the roster is Taylor. But Taylor was in another video working with the receivers.

Taylor was the only #6 they announced for the early enrollees. I think TKJr is still #24-- but he's working out on the sidelines. Must be one of the walk-ons.

 

[Catbone]

Very few people care about lady vols, and it doesn't bring in money. Holly is here to stay.

 

[Sleegro]

Taylor was the only #6 they announced for the early enrollees. I think TKJr is still #24-- but he's working out on the sidelines. Must be one of the walk-ons.

Yeah must be. He looked pretty good though.

 

[LA Vol]

Yeah must be. He looked pretty good though.

Well, that's good news. It's hard to keep up with the walk-ons. They come, they go...

 

[Big Sun]

random question: did i hear Saban say his favorite song was Gimme Shelter?

 

[ChismsHeadband]

I know these are just projections, but man, is it just me or do we always get the toughest SECW teams? We don't play LSU, so now they're the 2nd worst team in the west. We do play AU, so of course they're the 2nd best. Then there's Bama.

I'm sure it's not always that way, but it sure feels like it.

2017 LSU: 3rd place in the West (Alabama was 2nd); 9-4 (6-2)
2016 Texas A&M: 4th; 8-5 (4-4)
2015 Arkansas: 3rd; 8-5 (5-3)
2014 Ole Miss; 3rd; 9-4 (5-3)
2013 Auburn; 1st (Alabama was 2nd); 12-2 (7-1)
2012 Mississippi State; 4th 8-5 (4-4)
2011 LSU and Arkansas, 1st and 3rd respectively, with Alabama 2nd.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

This would be my guess on how the 2-deep on defense looks in the fall:

DE - Jonathan Kongbo (RS Sr.)/Matthew Butler (So.)
NT - Shy Tuttle (Sr.)/Alexis Johnson (RS Sr.)
DE - Kyle Phillips (Sr.)/Greg Emerson (Fr.)

I’m kind of expecting to see Gooden take some snaps from one of those DL or another. It wouldn’t surprise if they get a little creative with the fronts at times to cover up our lack of depth at NT.

There should be enough here to be decent at the very least. Not a lot of returning production pass rush wise (here or at OLB, for that matter), which could be scary when considering our CB depth. Depth is a bit scary, though.

OLB - Darrell Taylor (RS Jr.)/Deandre Johnson (So.)
ILB - Daniel Bituli (Jr.)/Will Ignont (So.)
ILB - Darrin Kirkland Jr. (RS Jr.)/Quarte Sapp (RS Jr.)
OLB - Austin Smith (RS Jr.)/Jordan Allen (RS So.)

If Ignont and Sapp show some promise at ILB this spring and DK Jr gets healthy, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Bituli play some OLB at times either. Our depth at ILB looks better than OLB on paper (depending on where Peterson ends up and how ready he is to contribute) and Bituli has the size and physicality to play some OLB on early downs at least.

There should be enough here for the coaches to get something out of. But we’re putting in a scheme that isn’t easy to learn, so I can see some growing pains happening.

CB - Baylen Buchanan (Jr.)/ Carlin Fils-Aime (Jr.)
CB - Shawn Shamburger (So.)/Maliek Gray (RS Fr.)
Nickel - Theo Jackson (So.)/Marquill Osborne (Jr.)
FS - Micah Abernathy (Sr.)/Tyler Byrd (Jr.)
SS - Nigel Warrior (Jr.)/Cheyenne Labruzza (RS Fr.)

Supposedly they’ve been working Shamburger at Nickel and Osborne has been with the first team outside. But I think they’ve got a handful of guys like Shamburger, Jackson, and maybe even Abernathy that they’re kind of counting on to be able to move around in the secondary a bit. It will be interesting to see how things shake out amongst the DBs.

I’m interested to see how Kelly figures into the picture at Safety once he’s healthy as well. I’m not sure guys like Labruzza or Byrd will wind up ahead of him in 2018.

Defensive line and inside linebacker look loaded. We're thin at cornerback and outside linebacker.
If we can stay healthy, we can be ELITE on defense. We have a lot of very highly recruited players on that side of the ball.

Mixed feelings here.

If the unit stays healthy, there’s obviously potential there. But a lot of these guys haven’t shown much reason to buy into the thought of them playing at a really high level yet. Changing to a new scheme (and a complex one at that) will be a challenge that could lead to some speed bumps.