The Atlanta Braves - Hello darkness my old friend

#49,889
#49,889
Brad Sheppard (Bleacher Report) update on 247 last night
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
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