Linebackers: 2020 outlook

[FlyFishnVol]

Do not sleep on JJ Peterson. Kid seems to have finally gotten in playing shape and also picked up the playbook. Bowl game may be his coming out party.

Like I said.........in a 3-4..........these are the guys you want playing for you, sideline to sideline or shooting gaps, I wouldn't be surprised if UT's sack numbers jump..big time next year.

 

[Pride85]

CJP gonna run a 2-7-2 defense with all these LB's

Well, it does require two more LBs in the two deep for a 3-4 than a 4-3.

 

[FlyFishnVol]

Could we just say LBU?

 

[HooahVol]

I really like most of what I am reading here. The one area of the game I have absolute faith in Pruitt is on defense. It is his bread and butter. He struggled a little trying to implement his defense here but now it is full entrenched and looking at this signing day I think it is obvious Pruitt is bringing in "his" guys. I bet by 2021 once some of these youngsters get some experience we are absolutely ferocious on that side of the ball.

 

[FlyFishnVol]

I really like most of what I am reading here. The one area of the game I have absolute faith in Pruitt is on defense. It is his bread and butter. He struggled a little trying to implement his defense here but now it is full entrenched and looking at this signing day I think it is obvious Pruitt is bringing in "his" guys. I bet by 2021 once some of these youngsters get some experience we are absolutely ferocious on that side of the ball.

I believe it will be that in 2020, these men are men among men.........if there is such a thing, land of the giants.

 

[volroadwarrior]

Don't get too excited about our new toys starting immediately. They are talented, but most (or maybe none) will go through spring practice. They will get their chances at some point during the season, but not right away. I was particularly excited about Eason. He is a stud. At last some depth is developing so we won't wear down late in games or in the season.

 

[RAVOL]

I believe the Freshman D Lineman will play their 4 games and Red shirt unless injuries hit upperclassman. And Yes Simmons will play alot at NT.

 

[rikberry31]

Given time and a healthy career, Henry T could surpass even the great Al Wilson.
This Linebacker group looks exactly like what you want in a 3-4 defense. They all can run and hit and have the physicality to take on O-lineman.

I think Crouch is more like Al Wilson, HT reminds me of Junior Seau in build and play style.

 

[vegasvolfan]

So frustrating. Took an hour to peck out a response on my phone only to be logged out and lose my post. We need a draft feature with autosave lol.

Keeping this shorter.

You listed four underclassmen as a strength. Tototoo is good, but the others havent proven anything yet. People were saying the same thing about our DBs being the strength of our team this year and they were not. We dealt with youth issues off the field and we lost the BYU game because one of those DBs letting a receiver get behind him.

I think this year said as much about our seniors as it did Pruitt. He rightfully gave them credit. I like Pruitt, but jury is still out. We are improving every year. He sets realistic expectations. He is my guy. I don’t believe in putting unrealistic expectations on my guy.

That said, I thought we might have a chance to take the East in 2020 and potentially the entire thing in 2020, but that required us to be both exceptional at RB & QB with an emergence of a couple of really good receivers. After 2019 none of the above is a reality as of yet and we are clearly not on that schedule.

We have way too many questions at way too many positions. We will severely miss Trey Jones and the depth and experience Tatum and Johnson filled and that will impact the average at best QB and RB play we have thus far. Bituli was insane and he will be terribly missed on D. Losing DT at the LB position as well is a huge hit. He was leading the SEC in sacks at one point until his seasons stalled. The emerging Warrior will also be hugely missed and leave a ? at the safety position. Jennings may be our biggest loss. Calloway along with him? Just a really bad couple of losses with noone really looking like a star receiver and only one (Palmer) looking like a better than average player. Hard to believe this is the case, because we have both Tee and Johnson on staff.

That said, we have a ton of talent on this team. I think this year will tell us more about our coaching staff than any other year. We have the bowl. It’s Pruitts third year. We are deep with experience at DL, DB, RB and QB. Our OL will still have a little less depth and severely miss TJ, but more talent on it than any of those positions.

Based on all the above, I think we are looking at another season like last year, but have more potential to do better.

Date Opponent Location

Sept. 5 Charlotte Knoxville W

Sept. 12at Oklahoma Norman, Okla. L

Sept. 19Furman Knoxville W

Sept. 26 Florida *Knoxville L

Oct. 3 Missouri *Knoxville W

Oct. 10 at South Carolina *Columbia, S.C. W*

Oct. 17 BYE WEEK

Oct. 24Alabama *Knoxville L

Oct. 31at Arkansas *Fayetteville, Ark. W*

Nov. 7 Kentucky *Knoxville W*

Nov. 14at Georgia *Athens, Ga. L*

Nov. 21TroyKnoxville W

Nov. 28 at Vanderbilt *Nashville, Tenn. W

* are games we could easily lose or win


I had us going most likely 6-6 to 8-4 this year and picked 7-5. That’s what we did. This year I am going with the same thing. 6-6 to 8-4. If we go 9-3 it is because we got really good towards the end of the year and went to Georgia and beat them. I doubt that happens. 8 wins means we won all the games we won this year and don’t lose the games we should not have lost this year. We could go 6-6 because we play AT SC who has had the upper hand every year except last year and AT Arkansas towards the end of the year. Kentucky may be a handful too, but those are all games we have every right to expect to win. We drop one, and we go 7-5.

To add to the 9 wins or better comment, our OL HAS to play well this year and take a step forward even with the loss of TJ. LBs will have to play like upper classmen. We will have to have two receivers emerge. Our QBs will have to be consistent. Again, we need at least two receivers to emerge. Our TE will need to be at least as good as DWA. LBa are our youngest group. Our DL and DBs are the only returning position that are proven. We need someone to come on strong at safety as well. I don’t see all of that happening in one year, but if it does it is due to coaching. There is no reason to actually be concerned at ANY position this year, but I still think 2021 is now our year. Don’t get high hopes for next year.

 

[OH-Vol]

Flowers? Burrell? Gooden?

 

[Tennesseefan2019]

So frustrating. Took an hour to peck out a response on my phone only to be logged out and lose my post. We need a draft feature with autosave lol.

Keeping this shorter.

You listed four underclassmen as a strength. Tototoo is good, but the others havent proven anything yet. People were saying the same thing about our DBs being the strength of our team this year and they were not. We dealt with youth issues off the field and we lost the BYU game because one of those DBs letting a receiver get behind him.

Altogether, thought we might take the East in 2020 and potentially the entire thing in 2020, but that required us to be both exceptional at RB & QB with an emergence of a couple of really good receivers and super deep OL.

We will severely miss Trey Jones and the depth and experience Tatum and Johnson filled and that will impact the average at best QB and RB play we have thus far. Bituli was insane and he will be terribly missed on D. Losing DT at the LB position as well is a huge hit. He was leading the SEC in sacks at one point until his seasons stalled. The emerging Warrior will also be hugely missed and leave a ? at the safety position. Jennings may be our biggest loss. Calloway along with him? Just a really bad couple of losses with noone really looking like a star receiver and only one (Palmer) looking like a better than average player. Hard to believe this is the case, because we have both Tee and Johnson on staff.

I think this year said as much about our seniors as if did Pruitt. He rightfully gave them credit. But right now we have way too many questions at way too many positions. That said, we have a ton of talent on this team. I think this year will tell us more about our coaching staff than any other year. We have the bowl. It’s Pruitts third year. We are deep with experience at DL, DB, RB and QB. Our OL will still have some depth, but more talent on it than any of those positions.

Based on where we are at now, I think we are looking at another season like last year, but have a more potential to do better.

Date Opponent Location

Sept. 5 Charlotte Knoxville W

Sept. 12at Oklahoma Norman, Okla. L

Sept. 19Furman Knoxville W

Sept. 26 Florida *Knoxville L

Oct. 3 Missouri *Knoxville W

Oct. 10 at South Carolina *Columbia, S.C. W*

Oct. 17 BYE WEEK

Oct. 24Alabama *Knoxville L

Oct. 31at Arkansas *Fayetteville, Ark. W*

Nov. 7 Kentucky *Knoxville W*

Nov. 14at Georgia *Athens, Ga. L*

Nov. 21TroyKnoxville W

Nov. 28 at Vanderbilt *Nashville, Tenn. W

* are games we could easily lose or win


I had us going most likely 6-6 to 8-4 this year and picked 7-5. That’s what we did. This year I am going with the same thing. 6-6 to 8-4. If we go 9-3 it is because we got really good towards the end of the year and went to Georgia and beat them. I doubt that happens. 8 wins means we won all the games we won this year and don’t lose the games we lost this year. We could go 6-6 because we play AT SC who has had the upper hand every year except last year and AT Arkansas towards the end of the year. Kentucky may he a handful too, but I don’t see is losing all of those games.

To win 9 wins or better, our OL HAS to play well this year and take a step forward even with the loss of TJ. LBs will have to play like upper classmen. We will have to have two receivers emerge. Our QBs will have to be consistent. I don’t see all of that happening in one year, but if it does it is due to coaching. I think 2021 is now our year. Don’t get high hopes for next year.

Charlotte W
@Oklahoma W
Furman W
Florida L
Missouri W
@South Carolina W
Alabama L
@Arkansas W
Kentucky W
@Georgia L
Troy W
@Vanderbilt W

Tennessee 9-3 and 5-3 in the SEC

 

[901 Orange]

Theo Jackson would play before Fields. Flowers before Jackson. Lawrence will be the best one period imo.

DE D Middleton 6'7 315 Sr, Butler 6'4 290 Sr, J Blakely 6'2" 290 Sr
NT G Emerson 6'4 310 RSo, K Garland 6'4 305 RSSo, O Thomas 6'5 300 Fr
DE A Solomon 6'5 300 JR E. Gooden 6'3 300 RSSr, L Bumphis 6'3 285 Sr WOW D-line!!

CB B Thompson 5'11 195 Jr, W Burrell 6'0" 188 So
CB A Taylor 6'0 190 Jr, K George 6'0 200 SR
SS J McCullogh 6'0 205 So, D Slaughter 5'11" 195 FR
FS K Lawrence 6'1" 200 FR, T Jackson 6'1" 200 SR
NB T Flowers 5'11 190 RSJr, K Lawrence

I think Simmons makes a huge jump this offseason as well

 

[Seattle Hillbilly]

So frustrating. Took an hour to peck out a response on my phone only to be logged out and lose my post. We need a draft feature with autosave lol.

Keeping this shorter.

You listed four underclassmen as a strength. Tototoo is good, but the others havent proven anything yet. People were saying the same thing about our DBs being the strength of our team this year and they were not. We dealt with youth issues off the field and we lost the BYU game because one of those DBs letting a receiver get behind him.

I think this year said as much about our seniors as it did Pruitt. He rightfully gave them credit. I like Pruitt, but jury is still out. We are improving every year. He sets realistic expectations. He is my guy. I don’t believe in putting unrealistic expectations on my guy.

That said, I thought we might have chance to take the East in 2020 and potentially the entire thing in 2020, but that required us to be both exceptional at RB & QB with an emergence of a couple of really good receivers. After 2019 none of the above is a reality as of yet and we are clearly not on that schedule.

We have way too many questions at way too many positions. We will severely miss Trey Jones and the depth and experience Tatum and Johnson filled and that will impact the average at best QB and RB play we have thus far. Bituli was insane and he will be terribly missed on D. Losing DT at the LB position as well is a huge hit. He was leading the SEC in sacks at one point until his seasons stalled. The emerging Warrior will also be hugely missed and leave a ? at the safety position. Jennings may be our biggest loss. Calloway along with him? Just a really bad couple of losses with noone really looking like a star receiver and only one (Palmer) looking like a better than average player. Hard to believe this is the case, because we have both Tee and Johnson on staff.

That said, we have a ton of talent on this team. I think this year will tell us more about our coaching staff than any other year. We have the bowl. It’s Pruitts third year. We are deep with experience at DL, DB, RB and QB. Our OL will still have a little less depth and severely miss TJ, but more talent on it than any of those positions.

Based on all the above, I think we are looking at another season like last year, but have more potential to do better.

Date Opponent Location

Sept. 5 Charlotte Knoxville W

Sept. 12at Oklahoma Norman, Okla. L

Sept. 19Furman Knoxville W

Sept. 26 Florida *Knoxville L

Oct. 3 Missouri *Knoxville W

Oct. 10 at South Carolina *Columbia, S.C. W*

Oct. 17 BYE WEEK

Oct. 24Alabama *Knoxville L

Oct. 31at Arkansas *Fayetteville, Ark. W*

Nov. 7 Kentucky *Knoxville W*

Nov. 14at Georgia *Athens, Ga. L*

Nov. 21TroyKnoxville W

Nov. 28 at Vanderbilt *Nashville, Tenn. W

* are games we could easily lose or win


I had us going most likely 6-6 to 8-4 this year and picked 7-5. That’s what we did. This year I am going with the same thing. 6-6 to 8-4. If we go 9-3 it is because we got really good towards the end of the year and went to Georgia and beat them. I doubt that happens. 8 wins means we won all the games we won this year and don’t lose the games we should not have lost this year. We could go 6-6 because we play AT SC who has had the upper hand every year except last year and AT Arkansas towards the end of the year. Kentucky may he a handful too, but I don’t see is losing all of those games.

To win 9 wins or better, our OL HAS to play well this year and take a step forward even with the loss of TJ. LBs will have to play like upper classmen. We will have to have two receivers emerge. Our QBs will have to be consistent. I don’t see all of that happening in one year, but if it does it is due to coaching. I think 2021 is now our year. Don’t get high hopes for next year.

That’s the short version?

 

[vegasvolfan]

That’s the short version?

I knew someone would say that. Think I said shortER but maybe should have said less lengthy.

 

[vegasvolfan]

Charlotte W
@Oklahoma W
Furman W
Florida L
Missouri W
@South Carolina W
Alabama L
@Arkansas W
Kentucky W
@Georgia L
Troy W
@Vanderbilt W

Tennessee 9-3 and 5-3 in the SEC

I just don’t see why anyone would think we are going to Norman early next year and beating a playoff team. Could it happen? Sure. To expect it is to set yourself up for disappointment in my opinion, because nothing really points to that. Of course, I hope you are right.

 

[Tennesseefan2019]

I just don’t see why anyone would think we are going to Norman early next year and beating a playoff team. Could it happen? Sure. To expect it is to set yourself up for disappointment in my opinion, because nothing really points to that. Of course, I hope you are right.

The game is early in the season and it's the perfect time to pull off a big upset

 

[HooahVol]

Holy cow. We broke Arkansas (Memphis 4). I hate that we have left Chavis' defense so desperate that there CB coach is begging for players on twitter:

 

[buckfama]

I just don’t see why anyone would think we are going to Norman early next year and beating a playoff team. Could it happen? Sure. To expect it is to set yourself up for disappointment in my opinion, because nothing really points to that. Of course, I hope you are right.

Why not? If you go strictly by recruiting classes and stars like some on here seem to do, our recruiting class this year is ranked higher than theirs. Last year as well. So by default it's an automatic win.. right?

Lol. I know it doesn't work that way. But I think the way this staff develops players that it will be a competitive game. Oklahoma loses Hurts so I'm not sure who they have to replace him.

If this team continues to progress like they have then anything is possible. These bowl practices were huge this year for development. It will pay dividends on the field.

 

[vegasvolfan]

The game is early in the season and it's the perfect time to pull off a big upset

I appreciate your optimism. Key word here is upset Noone should expect us to win an upset. But hope for it? Sure! Not sure who is playing behind Hurts but him no longer being there is a good thing I think.

 

[vegasvolfan]

Why not? If you go strictly by recruiting classes and stars like some on here seem to do, our recruiting class this year is ranked higher than theirs. Last year as well. So by default it's an automatic win.. right?

Lol. I know it doesn't work that way. But I think the way this staff develops players that it will be a competitive game. Oklahoma loses Hurts so I'm not sure who they have to replace him.

If this team continues to progress like they have then anything is possible. These bowl practices were huge this year for development. It will pay dividends on the field.

I agree with possibilities. I am just looking at expectations. Sometimes us fans have a hard tome separating the two.

 

[LittleVol]

Sounded awful, I respect litttle vol, was really just teasing the man. My apologies.

Thanks man.

 

[LittleVol]

I see one noticeable player missing from this depth chart. I do not see our 6’1” 340 monster D.L. from 2019 Elija Simmons on there. An oversight?

...
Honestly, Our D-line has just become that deep. Simmons is awesome. He's not a slouch. He may start in 2021.
So not oversight, but I'm not sure he's in the top 3 at NT. Omari Thomas is the top player in the state according to some, and he might be able to redshirt...
Just the way the D-line is with 5 seniors next year

 

[Tennesseefan2019]

...
Honestly, Our D-line has just become that deep. Simmons is awesome. He's not a slouch. He may start in 2021.
So not oversight, but I'm not sure he's in the top 3 at NT. Omari Thomas is the top player in the state according to some, and he might be able to redshirt...
Just the way the D-line is with 5 seniors next year

Hopefully Simmons will become a dominator like Albert Haynesworth

 

[LittleVol]

What's your opinion on DT Dominic Bailey?

Very good player. Long arms. I watched St Frances play Mater Dei this year... I didn't see him out there. Not sure if he was injured, but it wouldn't have mattered because Bryce Young was a monster that night.
Bailey is bigtime! He's a DE in our base and can stay in on 3rd and long and rush from the middle in our odd package.

redshirt guy. but will really give us some good depth and ability the 4- 5 years.

 

[LittleVol]

Do not sleep on JJ Peterson. Kid seems to have finally gotten in playing shape and also picked up the playbook. Bowl game may be his coming out party.

He needs to stay healthy and continue to build his upper body strength. Has all the talent to start ILB, and let Crouch move OLB full-time