Josh Palmer is the ##1

#26
#26
The Vols should always have ball magnets who can get behind and outrun the coverage and/or find the crease, get open, catch the ball, and run for extra yards. I recall when Kent would seemingly always find the hole and Price and Nash would get behind the corners, catch the ball on the fly, and outrun the safeties. "... 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, touchdown Tennessee!" By the time John Ward had just started to utter "five," Price or Nash would already be crossing the goal line. Speed, baby. Nothing human was going to catch them.
I couldn't agree more on every point about the receivers. I will question using the time John Ward got from 5 to the goal line as a measuring stick for the speed of a receiver. At times a slightly winded tortoise could just about make it. I heard more than once where he would pretty much go from "give him six - touchdown TENNESSEE" to an immediate "and the kick is up and good". It was a lot of fun turning off the sound on the TV and listening to the radio.
 
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#27
#27
He showed no “flashes” whatsoever as a freshmen, it was just the opposite, highlighted by several drops, the most memorable a certain td at UF that he dropped in the end zone.

Last year he had moments last year vs ETSU and especially vs Auburn, but he was wildly inconsistent and struggled, like all our other WRs, in getting any separation from opposing DBs.

Hopefully he’s somehow gotten much, much better with another offseason and a new OC....but I’m very skeptical until we see more, much, much more. I’ve heard these stories before where shining reports come out of spring practice that rave about this player and that player as being greatly improved, making great plays, etc, etc.............and then the season starts.

He's been praised by coaches and media observers since his first practices and he saw playing time in all 12 games as a freshman. So he's clearly shown flashes of his potential ability.
 
#29
#29
Keep in mind he really only played 1 year of serious HS football. Player his senior year in FL, his junior year he was still in Canada, and Canadian football is 🙄. So he’s learning things daily I’m sure, and sounds like he’s putting things together quickly
 
#31
#31
That’s disappointing to hear. Palmer made a handful of plays last year and is talented. But there’s no way he should be more than a 2nd or 3rd option on a legit SEC WR corps. Oh well, it is what it is.
Wow KB. A kid with good size and speed can't get better and is second rate and you throw the whole WR corps (along with the OL) under the bus... but then you complain about criticism of JG?
 
#35
#35
He [Palmer] showed no “flashes” whatsoever as a freshmen, it was just the opposite, highlighted by several drops, the most memorable a certain td at UF that he dropped in the end zone.

Last year he had moments last year vs ETSU and especially vs Auburn, but he was wildly inconsistent and struggled, like all our other WRs, in getting any separation from opposing DBs.

Hopefully he’s somehow gotten much, much better with another offseason and a new OC....but I’m very skeptical until we see more, much, much more. I’ve heard these stories before where shining reports come out of spring practice that rave about this player and that player as being greatly improved, making great plays, etc, etc.............and then the season starts.

KB, I think maybe you're confusing Josh Palmer with Brandon Johnson. It was Johnson who had the drop in the end zone against Florida. Your other comments (about his lack of speed, not having the potential of JJ or Callaway, etc) seem more applicable to Johnson than Palmer, as well.
 
#36
#36
JJ is another Michael Crabtree or even a Hines Ward. He's a 4.7 at best but he always finds the ball. Great perimeter blocker.

I agree about Callaway.
Palmer is much more talented than you are giving him credit for.
All 3 the past 2 seasons have not been able to produce to their potential. That's for certain.
JJ has fantastic ball skills, really good hands and he’s relentless. That’s good enough to be a good a solid, productive SEC WR. But because of his lack of speed and tight hips I just don’t see him being more than a practice squad guy who can make a 53-man squad as a special teams guy and maybe a 4th/5th wr.
 
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#37
#37
JJ has fantastic ball skills, really good hands and he’s relentless. That’s good enough to be a good a solid, productive SEC WR. But because of his lack of speed and tight hips I just don’t see him being more than a practice squad guy who can make a 53-man squad as a special teams guy and maybe a 4th/5th wr.

Anquan Boldin, very slow and a very good NFL WR= JJ
 
#38
#38
To judge WRs as "play makers" you first must get them the ball, last season JG was on his butt more than connecting with his WRs . . . Let's judge them this year under a new OC and hopefully a much improved OL . . . Just sayin' . . . If JG can stay clean, read his progressions and get the ball out to the WRs then we'll see what we truly have on the perimeter - either the catch the ball or not.

GBO
 
#39
#39
I think Palmer’s drops were a matter of mental...not his actual hands. Properly coached up...and that’s just now happening with Johnson and Tee the past two...he’s a beast in waiting. I believe we see that this season. Think a better Josh Malone.
 
#40
#40
He's been praised by coaches and media observers since his first practices and he saw playing time in all 12 games as a freshman. So he's clearly shown flashes of his potential ability.
I’ve stated in this thread that he’s shown flashes. But I’ve added other honest critique about his low level of production and inconsistent play. We got guys saying he’d definitely an nfl wr who will undoubtedly be in somebody’s 3-man rotation. I’ve only said that he’s made no impact to date on Saturdays that would suggest that. He’s averaged 1.5 catches and 27 yards receiving per game with 2 career tds in 21 games played.....and in 13 of those 21 games has 1 or 0 catches. That type of on-field production ain’t getting him drafted and an nfl career imo.

Perhaps he takes a huge step forward and morphs into the next great wr at Tennessee. But please recall that he was being praised last year during spring and summer practices as our best, most dynamic WR (Swain mentioned this several times), only to post a 23 catch, 2 TD season in 12 games.
 
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#41
#41
You’ve seen him for two years now, including last year when he was one of our 3 starters with JJ and Callaway....did you at any point think he’s better than either of those two? Yeah, me neither.
(Raises hand) This kid has a higher ceiling than any other WR on our roster. Now--I know that doesn't mean much due to a lack of production by our corps over the last couple years but the kid has a ton of potential.
 
#42
#42
Josh Palmer showed flashes last year... he hasn’t the build and the athletic ability to be very good... his head was spinning a little bit as a freshman... we knew he would be a potential NFL receiver when we recruited him. Projection is one thing, production is another... he still hasn’t to put it together on saturdays but you can tell the game has slowed down for him. But Callaway is still Callaway
 
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#44
#44
We need T Martin to invigorate Tyler Byrd's game. It's been so long since he's been a factor, but he was a tough matchup as a true freshman. Good hands with speed and major ups! Ran hard. Him and Jennings were 3rd down conversions machines in 2016.

I'm hopeful that there is perfect storm brewing for the WR group. These guys have seen a lot and they have left a lot of production on the field. They're a talented bunch.
 
#45
#45
I’ve stated in this thread that he’s shown flashes. But I’ve added other honest critique about his low level of production and inconsistent play. We got guys saying he’d definitely an nfl wr who will undoubtedly be in somebody’s 3-man rotation. I’ve only said that he’s made no impact to date on Saturdays that would suggest that. He’s averaged 1.5 catches and 27 yards receiving per game with 2 career tds in 21 games played.....and in 13 of those 21 games has 1 or 0 catches. That type of on-field production ain’t getting him drafted and an nfl career imo.

Perhaps he takes a huge step forward and morphs into the next great wr at Tennessee. But please recall that he was being praised last year during spring and summer practices as our best, most dynamic WR (Swain mentioned this several times), only to post a 23 catch, 2 TD season in 12 games.

I don't disagree. Considering the same thing was said about him last season by Jayson Swain, it only makes sense to take a wait-and-see attitude.
 
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#46
#46
All 3 guys have had flashes of being game breakers. Jennings was arguably the most important WR in 2016 with Josh Malone as a teammate.
Callaway has been brilliant sometimes. (Ga Tech 2017, UK 2018) and his return skills when he actually returns it are very good. Palmer showed very good skill as a freshman, except being able to hold on to the ball. But he was always open deep. Palmer can flat out run and with limited opportunities he began to shine in 2018.

Jennings became discontent in 2017. Byrd has been missing since 2017 after a very promising freshman season. Callaway has yet to fully emerge, and he first got to start in 2017.
There is a common denominator in all those instances. If Chaney can't fix this ongoing "situation". Then I have no doubt he'll give another situation a chance.

Byrd is still just as talented as he was as a freshman. Palmer, Jennings, and Callaway are all Sunday rotation WRs's. Not number Ones, but guys that can have a career in the NFL
What makes a wide receiver a game breaker is the ability to consistently get open and make big plays (catch and yac) without dropping passes. We have been without a game breaker on our roster at wide receiver for years. Hopefully that will change this year.
 
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#47
#47
Between Palmer, Callaway, and Jennings, we have one of the best WR corps in the nation. You can argue over who is the best, but frankly, I'm just happy to have all three of them.

The real question IMO is whether anyone can emerge as a big contributor beyond the "Big 3".
As evidenced by our stellar offense last year (one of the worst in the nation)?
 
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#49
#49
You've got to be kidding. JJ isn't 1/4 the player that Anquan Bolden was.

I was referring to his speed. Boldin ran a 4.7 40 which equals JJ's. Boldin was drafted right after Eddie Moore so most NFL teams weren't expecting what they got.JJ just might suprize some teams too.
 
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#50
#50
We need T Martin to invigorate Tyler Byrd's game. It's been so long since he's been a factor, but he was a tough matchup as a true freshman. Good hands with speed and major ups! Ran hard. Him and Jennings were 3rd down conversions machines in 2016.

I'm hopeful that there is perfect storm brewing for the WR group. These guys have seen a lot and they have left a lot of production on the field. They're a talented bunch.

Byrd caught like 15 balls in 2016. He’s never been a factor or a machine.
 
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