How good can our linebacker corps be in 2018.

#28
#28
JRVOL11 said:
Linebackers are gonna be nice, especially once Peterson makes it in .
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misquoted wrong post
Pepe said:
It is my opinion that linebackers are the biggest key to a successful defense
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gunner said:
I would say a dominant defensive line is more important. Football games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage.
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Gotta have the combination of both. Line has to be good enough to keep the LBs clean so they can get to the ball. LBs have to be good enough to recognize, read, react and then make the play.
 
#29
#29
gunner said:
I would say a dominant defensive line is more important. Football games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage.
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I guess I show off my Rugby fandom. Almost everyone playing rugby is linebacker sized
 
#31
#31
Just hearing 3-4 scares me (thanks dooley) but I truly believe in Pruitt TEACHING these men and DEVELOPING them also. We might not have the bodies up front to successfully run and execute a 3-4 but I believe Pruitt and staff are smart enough to coach around it. Hes a defensive mastermind, he'll use his strengths to cover the weakness. Put pressure on the qb and that relieves the secondary. I see him putting alot off emphasis on the outside backers to get in the backfield. I see a lot of hiccups against wvu but will get them worked out over the next two cupcakes to be ready to slap FL and pull out a W in a low scoring game
 
#33
#33
Pepe said:
Word was that actor Dooley's leadership ran off Wilcox and Company that there was no one in the coaching profession that would touch that job with a ten-foot pole. Dooley was forced to hire his buddy from Alabama
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Lance Thompson, then LB coach, really wanted the job but rumors were he told Dooley that UT did not have personnel to run 3-4 so he was ran off too.
 
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#35
#35
volmandu said:
Lance Thompson, then LB coach, really wanted the job but rumors were he told Dooley that UT did not have personnel to run 3-4 so he was ran off too.
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I think the whole thing about the 3/4 being the reason for the Vols ineptitude was just an attempt how to put a label on the issues that we had. The truth is we just did not have the coaches that knew how to set up a defense of any kind properly. We are still looking for that animal. I think Pruitt Scherer and Rumph should be able to accomplish that task.
 
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#36
#36
Everything swings on injuries. We cannot afford another season where first-team talent is decimated by injuries early. Hopefully conditioning will improve, but I think we have had ridiculously bad luck keeping first-team talent on the field for at least two years. When walk-on Colton Jumper is forced to become our leading linebacker, we were depleted. This is in no way intended to insult Colton Jumper, who played admirably.
 
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#37
#37
As long as they are able to stay healthy then it should be one of the best position groups on the field this year.
 
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#38
#38
I expect our defense will be like our offense “multiple”.

To me that means we will put the pressure on the teams we play on both sides of the ball.

It’s time to get pumped for 2018. It’s about to get good.
 
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#39
#39
CroKev said:
So how exactly is the new 3-4 different than the one Sunseri failed to install a few years ago?
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Pruitt himself said against certain teams you just can't run a 3-4. So we will be in 4-3 alot. However, Pruitts 3-4 is a hybrid anyways so a lot of times it will look like a 4-3 anyways.
 
#40
#40
cHiZzLeVOL said:
Pruitt himself said against certain teams you just can't run a 3-4. So we will be in 4-3 alot. However, Pruitts 3-4 is a hybrid anyways so a lot of times it will look like a 4-3 anyways.
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We'll be in 4-2 quite a bit.

Look at Kongbo. Let's say before the snap...he has hand in the ground. 4-3.
Suddenly offense shifts. He shifts...to OLB. Boom...3-4. Qb audibles. Kongbo puts hand back down....ball snapped.... Sapp drops deep middle and TK covers the flat while Taylor, Tuttle, Kongbo, Phillips, A Johnson rush...4-2-5 at the snap...

Every position on Pruitts defense are mulitiple in nature.
Don't get caught up in our "scheme"

It's about fundamentals and executing with speed.
 
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#41
#41
Old Geezer said:
Everything swings on injuries. We cannot afford another season where first-team talent is decimated by injuries early. Hopefully conditioning will improve, but I think we have had ridiculously bad luck keeping first-team talent on the field for at least two years. When walk-on Colton Jumper is forced to become our leading linebacker, we were depleted. This is in no way intended to insult Colton Jumper, who played admirably.
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IMO, Colton Jumper embodies what it means to be a volunteer. He always gave his all for Tennessee and that’s what we need more of. I don’t know this for sure, but I think jumper helped guys like sapp and Bituli make a step to the next level. Guys feed off of players like jumper, what he lacked in athleticism he more Than made up with heart. I’d drink a beer with him any day of the week!!!
 
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#44
#44
TrueVolsGBOInsider said:
Back in the spring, we got news that Darrin Kirkland jr would be transferring from the university of Tennessee. Then the football gods answered our prayers and CJP was able to convince DK to stay. With that we have two possible all sec caliber players in DK and Bituli in the middle. Then we have Austin smith, and quarte sapp, both guys have shown the ability to be high level linebackers when healthy. Then you look at guys like Dillon bates, Darrell Taylor, Jonathan Kongbo, and Deandre Johnson, who have not logged a lot of time at LB but they have shown potential to be good pass rushers and high energy players. Then you add in some of the unproven younger players like JJ Peterson, Shannon Reid, Will Ignont, Jordan Allen, and Solon Page III. Those last guys I mentioned are unproven but most were highly touted during their recruitments. Can CJP get the younger LBs in a position where they could earn playing time and really push the perceived starters in practice? How good can this LB core be once we iron out starters? I for one think Bituli and Kirkland playing together has the potential to be one of the better LB duos in the SEC, but I only believe that’s possible if they can play their game and not have to worry about covering others mistakes. Overall, I think we have talent at the LB position, how far can that talent take us on defense this year is the question.


GBO
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Other than Bituli, DKJr and Sapp, they’re all unproven. Nobody else listed, that’s in the line backing corp has proven anything, upperclassmen, JUCO transfer or incoming freshman.

As far as both Taylor and Kongbo playing “linebacker”, they’ll essentially be pass rushing DEs, as JP has said...and quite honestly, we badly need Allen or somebody else to leapfrog Kongbo as quickly as possible.

That said, I am more confident in the linebacker position than I am on any other on defense. JP, Sherrer, Fair, Rocker, Kelly and Rumph have some serious work ahead of them. Good thing is that that’s an outstanding group of defensive coaches so I believe we’ll eventually get there. I hope that we’ll see the defense take great strides by the last 1/2-1/3 of the season.
 
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#45
#45
gunner said:
I would say a dominant defensive line is more important. Football games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage.
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Agree 100%. Upfront guys, DTs and DEs are the key, are the most important. Without them you’re screwed.
 
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#46
#46
KBVol said:
Other than Bituli, DKJr and Sapp, they’re all unproven. Nobody else listed, that’s in the line backing corp has proven anything, upperclassmen, JUCO transfer or incoming freshman.

As far as both Taylor and Kongbo playing “linebacker”, they’ll essentially be pass rushing DEs, as JP has said...and quite honestly, we badly need Allen or somebody else to leapfrog Kongbo as quickly as possible.

That said, I am more confident in the linebacker position than I am on any other on defense. JP, Sherrer, Fair, Rocker, Kelly and Rumph have some serious work ahead of them. Good thing is that that’s an outstanding group of defensive coaches so I believe we’ll eventually get there. I hope that we’ll see the defense take great strides by the last 1/2-1/3 of the season.
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We just need an edge rusher to be productive and disruptive. It doesn't really matter where it comes from.

I think there's a strong argument that we need Kongbo to finally play to his full potential than we need him leapfrogged by younger guys. He's got the maybe the highest ceiling of any of our DE/OLB type guys. Pruitt/Sherer/Rumph getting a big year out of him and maybe getting him drafted would be good publicity and something nice to use on the recruiting trail.

I'm not necessarily holding my breath that we see that actually happen or suggesting that he should be played over anybody on potential alone (honestly, I'm expecting him to see the field less than Taylor and maybe Deandre Johnson), but the coaches getting Kongbo to live up to expectations is one of the best case scenarios for our defense this year.
 
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#47
#47
Darth_Shiveman said:
We just need an edge rusher to be productive and disruptive. It doesn't really matter where it comes from.

I think there's a strong argument that we need Kongbo to finally play to his full potential than we need him leapfrogged by younger guys. He's got the maybe the highest ceiling of any of our DE/OLB type guys. Pruitt/Sherer/Rumph getting a big year out of him and maybe getting him drafted would be good publicity and something nice to use on the recruiting trail.

I'm not necessarily holding my breath that we see that actually happen or suggesting that he should be played over anybody on potential alone (honestly, I'm expecting him to see the field less than Taylor and maybe Deandre Johnson), but the coaches getting Kongbo to live up to expectations is one of the best case scenarios for our defense this year.
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Honestly, after watching Kongbo for 2 seasons, I don’t see the talent. The expectations are unfounded for him. He looks great walking around campus, getting off the bus, stretching in warmups. But when the ball is put down and the game kicks off, he’s shown little to no burst, little quickness and no ability whatsoever to get off a block. God bless the kid, not trying to dog him, just trying to objectively state what I’ve seen. I think we need a better athlete at DE/OLB to supplant him and I’m hopeful that that guy is on this roster. Somebody needs to emerge and be a disruptive edge rusher and I just don’t believe that guy is Kongbo.
 
#48
#48
FLVOL_79 said:
I think the LB group should be nasty. The secondary should be stout as well. I would wager a Schlitz Malt Liquor that the defense will be adequate or better this year..its the O that is worrisome.
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I think worrisome Is the right word for the whole team. Defense: because the change to 3-4. I understand this will be a hybrid year but still this change takes time for most teams. Offense: because of, well every area, but o line mostly. Special Teams: must find a replacement of one of the best punters we've had in a long time, hope field goal results improve and kick return will need to not fall off. Depth of all: experience takes time which this team doesn't have. AND Coaching: looks to be (how could it not) better than before, here again, time will tell...... Go Vols looking forward to September and beyond.
 
#49
#49
LittleVol said:
We'll be in 4-2 quite a bit.

Look at Kongbo. Let's say before the snap...he has hand in the ground. 4-3.
Suddenly offense shifts. He shifts...to OLB. Boom...3-4. Qb audibles. Kongbo puts hand back down....ball snapped.... Sapp drops deep middle and TK covers the flat while Taylor, Tuttle, Kongbo, Phillips, A Johnson rush...4-2-5 at the snap...

Every position on Pruitts defense are mulitiple in nature.
Don't get caught up in our "scheme"

It's about fundamentals and executing with speed.
Click to expand...

Yup. Good info LittleVol.
 
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#50
#50
KBVol said:
Honestly, after watching Kongbo for 2 seasons, I don’t see the talent. The expectations are unfounded for him. He looks great walking around campus, getting off the bus, stretching in warmups. But when the ball is put down and the game kicks off, he’s shown little to no burst, little quickness and no ability whatsoever to get off a block. God bless the kid, not trying to dog him, just trying to objectively state what I’ve seen. I think we need a better athlete at DE/OLB to supplant him and I’m hopeful that that guy is on this roster. Somebody needs to emerge and be a disruptive edge rusher and I just don’t believe that guy is Kongbo.
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I totally get that. I'm very skeptical about his ability to be a productive football player as well. But I think we disagree about his athleticism. When you take size/strength/speed into account, he might be our best athlete up front. He just hasn't translated any of that into being a good football player.
 
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