Recruiting Forum Football Talk [RIP 9.3.2019]

Status
Not open for further replies.
#174,026
#174,026
nicksjuzunk said:
Sitting here thinking about how 6 months ago, we didn’t know if @chargervol was going to be around much longer... how much prayer we put in for him, and although we didn’t see the “divine miracle”, his health is much better now.

These are good days Volnation
Click to expand...

K8TyNMO.gif

Kidding, me and the wife had more than one "if" conversation.
Had all but given up on anything working after so long.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Neyland Rising, Orange Studs, JustSomeVolFan and 19 others
#174,032
#174,032
Brad Shepard shared a nice long post last night on 247...

Good evening, gents!

I told you all I'd try to post a little more, and this is my first effort to do so. Talked to a trusted source tonight. As you all know, Wes and Ryan say they're my friends, but neither of them actually ever really talk to me anymore, which means I have to find other means of Vol knowledge. They know things, but they just don't tell them to me anymore. I guess they think I'm going to blab them on the board, which, I mean, I probably would. So, no harm, no foul.

Thankfully, I'm a pretty nice dude who makes friends easily so others tell me things. They don't even mind if I put them on the board as long as I don't source them. Which is awesome, because it makes me look like I know what I'm talking about when I live 3.5 hours from Knoxville, so hey, I like it. Anyway, my dude has watched a lot of practice, and here are some things I think you guys may want to know.

1. There are some truly great freshmen in this class. Not great like "hey-we've-sucked-for-10-years-and-these-guys-can-walk-in-a-straight-line-without-crapping-down-their-leg," Butch-Jones-bricks-great, but truly potentially great. Eric Gray, to hear this guy tell it, is "special." He doesn't throw that around often. The last one he said that about was Alvin Kamara. He said he's just the kind of running back Tennessee needs and hasn't had. Henry To'oto'o is a guaranteed starter and the best freshman linebacker Tennessee has had since Curt Maggitt. Any of you who really remember Curt as a freshman remembers how good he was before injuries crushed his career. The Warren Burrell buzz isn't just lip service. He's going to play A LOT of snaps this year if not start. Q Couch, Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright all are potentially strong contributors right away, too. A couple of guys getting some talk but not as much who he's really high on are Roman Harrison (my favorite player in the class) and Jerrod Means. He said both of them are going to have really good careers for Tennessee.

2. As far as quarterbacks go, Jarrett is doing much better. Chaney is going to get the most out of him. He thinks Pruitt is a little too rah-rah on him publicly and doesn't really see the potential there to hop his senior year for the NFL. But he thinks JG is going to be steady, and the gulf between him and the backups is massive. Loves Maurer's future, though. Just says he doesn't even really know how good he can be.

3. Because JG kinda is what he is, Chaney is going to run a lot of short- and intermediate stuff, which is what Helton should have done last year. That's why there's been so much talk about DWA and Ty Chandler lining up all over the field. It shouldn't be a shock at all to see TC and EG on the field at the same time because of TC's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. UT is going to use him a lot catching the ball this year, and it's a wrinkle that will really help the offense. With the OL deficiencies and the prowess of those two, it could spell a lot of big numbers for those two receiving the ball. Plus it helps with JG's internal clock speeding up the game like they did with Ainge. Could mean positive things.

4. Jauan Jennings isn't going to be Jauan Jennings again, but my dude says he's going to have "a big game or two" this year, and that he just wills the team to bigger things. IMO, he's going to have a Wes Brown-type senior year where he has some crucial moments at pivotal times despite not being a superstar.

5. Josh Palmer and Jordan Murphy are exciting players, and Chaney will get them the ball.

6. As far as the OL, it's still worrisome. Simply because the DL isn't going to blow anybody's socks off, and that side of the ball is holding its own against our guys up front. That's not really a reason to worry yet. He expects Smith will try to play and will eventually be solid up front, and he completely changes the line. He really loves Kennedy in the middle, too. Once Wanya and Wright get their sea legs, this O-line is going to get better and better. But there are no quick fixes here.

7. Lots of questions on the DL. Middleton needs consistency, though he shows flashes. Savion is having a tough time right now, but he's got a lot of potential. As the year goes on, Elijah Simmons and Kingston Harris will become more and more dependable. Pretty much everybody is excited about Emerson right now and what he can give them. There are no WOW players up front, but if they can just be stable, the linebackers are going to be much, much better this year.

8. Nobody knows anything about Solomon. That question got shut down quickly.

9. IMO, our linebacking corps was every bit as bad as our Oline last year. Won't be the case this season. Ignont and Reid may not start but they're going to be excellent depth guys who get a ton of snaps. Both know what they're doing, even if they're not athletically flashy. Q and HT are very flashy and so is Harrison. Of that group, HT knows what he's doing as much as anybody on the D not named Bituli and Taylor. "He's picked up the defense like one of those old Alabama linebackers like Rolando McClain," my dude said. That's encouraging and exciting. There will be some misses, but that group could be exciting, IMO. Much, much better.

10. The DBs are the best position group on the team. Warrior's early returns are encouraging. Thompson, Flowers, Taylor and Burrell really solidify the bunch, and Shamburger is a player everybody hopes gets his head on straight because he can be a difference-maker. Baylen loss will be felt in the snaps department, but he's out-classed talent-wise.

Finally, he feels like this team can get to eight wins, though seven with a bowl win in a favorable matchup is "the safe pick". I know this isn't what we all WANT to hear, but he feels like this is a necessary step forward. Need to stay healthy, and need some good things to happen, but he really believes Chaney and Ansley are worth a win or two. The team is in really good hands with this coaching staff.

Also believes recruiting is still "trending fine" with "nothing to worry about." Just wanted to pass along. Hope you all are well.

Again, I know this is probably going to get blabbed as gospel. I haven't watched one lick of practice, and I just started blogging again for Bleacher Report after 4 months off, so I've been out of the game. I'm just repeating what I heard, so don't come with your pitchforks when we go 4-8 again :D
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Neyland Rising, BarrythesnoUT, tbones0711 and 47 others
#174,036
#174,036
Ulysees E. McGill said:
Yes...and it would be glorious..I am glad we got Pruitt, I think in the long run he is the better overall choice..BUT..I was super excited when it looked like Leach was a real chance. He would have done good, maybe even great here with the right staff around him.
Click to expand...
I was psyched the night of Currie’s Last Stand. Just wanted SOMETHING done and thought Leach was a much better choice than Doeren...or Cut for that matter. Even entertained the thought that Alex Grinch would bring some new energy that MIGHT translate in recruiting. Hindsight illuminates the lack of SEC contacts for recruiting and that THE would have snapped up Grinch anyway. No matter how much our Gator yap dog wants to sell it, Leach doesn’t transform our program for any long-term success...merely an entertaining stopgap.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VOLSanon, tbones0711, JacketVol and 11 others
#174,039
#174,039
butchna said:
I was psyched the night of Currie’s Last Stand. Just wanted SOMETHING done and thought Leach was a much better choice than Doeren...or Cut for that matter. Even entertained the thought that Alex Grinch would bring some new energy that MIGHT translate in recruiting. Hindsight illuminates the lack of SEC contacts for recruiting and that THE would have snapped up Grinch anyway. No matter how much our Gator yap dog wants to sell it, Leach doesn’t transform our program for any long-term success...merely an entertaining stopgap.
Click to expand...
I voted yes simply because of "better than what we had" and definitely would have been fun.

Crazy, exciting 6-10 win seasons but never once thought NC rings.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SweetasSoda, Paper_Towel, jakez4ut and 1 other person
#174,042
#174,042
butchna said:
I was psyched the night of Currie’s Last Stand. Just wanted SOMETHING done and thought Leach was a much better choice than Doeren...or Cut for that matter. Even entertained the thought that Alex Grinch would bring some new energy that MIGHT translate in recruiting. Hindsight illuminates the lack of SEC contacts for recruiting and that THE would have snapped up Grinch anyway. No matter how much our Gator yap dog wants to sell it, Leach doesn’t transform our program for any long-term success...merely an entertaining stopgap.
Click to expand...

I will never forget this night. I was in a hotel room in Cookeville because we was playing for the state championship the next day. So I was tore up with nerves for the game and then the Leach news hit it completely made me sick to my stomach. I just knew we was going to still suck and be looking for another coach in less than 3 years probably. I did not sleep at all that night, just set in the dark following on here and twitter.

The next day was glamours we fired Currie that morning. My step son scored a walk off TD in double overtime to win the state championship and we named Coach Fulmer AD. It was a wild 36 hours.
 
  • Like
Reactions: appyvol, SmokinBob, OptimusPrimerib and 7 others
#174,046
#174,046
bignewt said:
Youtubetv for the win.


F disney.
Click to expand...
I get that..plus I need to add to my earlier comment to springbok..I did lose a lot of saved stuff I really wanted to save, like the last round of this years Masters, on Hulu recently because I forgot to clean out my DVR, and it kicked off my oldest stuff...that was a bummer. That 50 hour limit is almost a deal breaker.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bignewt
#174,047
#174,047
Ulysees E. McGill said:
I get that..plus I need to add to my earlier comment to springbok..I did lose a lot of saved stuff I really wanted to save, like the last round of this years Masters, on Hulu recently because I forgot to clean out my DVR, and it kicked off my oldest stuff...that was a bummer. That 50 hour limit is almost a deal breaker.
Click to expand...

Yep I get to watch Braves games whenever I want and my wife gets to dvr all the different Snapped shows she wants it will be the same for football. I do think 6 months is the time limit on the youtubetv dvr though but I may be mistaken.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ulysees E. McGill
New posts
Status
Not open for further replies.
Advertisement



Back
Top