Linebackers: 2020 outlook

[901 Orange]

I'll put Florida as a loss until I see Tennessee beat them on a regular basis Tennessee seems to be jinxed against Florida

We havent beaten them on a regular basis becuase they have been clearly better then us over the years. They are consistently amongst the top 10 schools every year. When was the last time we were top 10 back to back years??When we beat them in 2016 it wasnt a miracle. We were clearly the better team once we settled down. I believe we are closer to beating Fla then UGA, or Bama and thats the next step we have to take as a program. Imo beating Fla is the key to our success becuase that puts us in the hunt for an SEC East crown.

 

[901 Orange]

How in the world is beating Oklahoma and then losing to Florida the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard? It’s completely possible. Every year it’s a different team, but we’ve gotten the same result over the years.

OU in Norman is an entirely different monster then playing Fla. If u think we can walk in their place and get a win, why wouldnt u think we could beat Fla at home??? Over the last 4 years we are 1-1 at Neyland vs Fla. Which is more relevant becuase there are players there now during that span. If we beat OU do u know the type of environment Fla would be walking into with a undefeated UT at Neyland???

 

[LittleVol]

OU in Norman is an entirely different monster then playing Fla. If u think we can walk in their place and get a win, why wouldnt u think we could beat Fla at home??? Over the last 4 years we are 1-1 at Neyland vs Fla. Which is more relevant becuase there are players there now during that span. If we beat OU do u know the type of environment Fla would be walking into with a undefeated UT at Neyland???

I think he was originally referring to the notion that we suck against Florida-which is a fair statement. He could see is upsetting OU if we play to our ability, yet still poop the bed against Florida.

Even though OU would pound Florida....

 

[901 Orange]

I think he was originally referring to the notion that we suck against Florida-which is a fair statement. He could see is upsetting OU if we play to our ability, yet still poop the bed against Florida.

Even though OU would pound Florida....

My whole premise is if CJP can get us up for OU there is no way in the world a UT team that beats OU in Norman will lay down vs Fla idc what kinda hex we think they got on us. Imo beating OU would would give us a nitro boost. We would be walking into Neyland with a 10 game winning streak (asuming we beat OU and IU). In that scenario it would be the 1st time in nearly 2 decades that we were considered the clear cut better team going into the game. When was the last time we had that type of momentum heading into the Fla game?? I get yal not believing becuase of past history but honestly i cant remember when the last time was that we were actually the favorite in that game which means the better team has usually been the winner

 

[LittleVol]

My whole premise is if CJP can get us up for OU there is no way in the world a UT team that beats OU in Norman will lay down vs Fla idc what kinda hex we think they got on us. Imo beating OU would would give us a nitro boost. We would be walking into Neyland with a 10 game winning streak (asuming we beat OU and IU). In that scenario it would be the 1st time in nearly 2 decades that we were considered the clear cut better team going into the game. When was the last time we had that type of momentum heading into the Fla game?? I get yal not believing becuase of past history but honestly i cant remember when the last time was that we were actually the favorite in that game which means the better team has usually been the winner

Fair points...
And, I Have to agree with you!

I can't say when the last time- IF ever.
Oregon would always pound us
So would OU. Those are the tough early season games pre- Florida that come to mind.

 

[UTVOLS1614]

We've recruited over Baylin imo.
Shamburger and Flowers are the guys there.
Or Shamburger and Lawrence.
Those injuries to Flowers leave a lot of unknown with him

I don’t see a scenario that buchannon doesn’t contribute

 

[nomads-11]

It's amazing that after only two seasons we are looking at the starters and 2 deep with this level of potential. I think on paper the front 7 looks the part of one that can compete with anyone in the league. Love when TN has a good D, personally, it keeps you in ball games.

It also says something about the ability of this staff to know what they want/need and being able to get and develop them.

 

[MikeVol44]

No matter what we hope for, Bituli will be missed for a while, hopefully before mid season we'll be running smoothly.

Henry T. will be more than able to take Bituli's place and make all the defensive calls Bituli made.....and Henry is just flat out BETTER than Bituli...
It's not a slight towards Bituli----Henry T is just that good.

Bituli's play against UGA was TURR'BULL...but he did improve afterwards and finished strong--maybe he was not fully recovered from his injury.

Henry T. has been good all year long---as a TRUE Freshman playing in the most physically demanding league in the land at ILB.

I think Henry T is the AL WILSON type of LB we've been missing for over a decade.

GO VOLS!

 

[LittleVol]

Henry T. will be more than able to take Bituli's place and make all the defensive calls Bituli made.....and Henry is just flat out BETTER than Bituli...
It's not a slight towards Bituli----Henry T is just that good.

Bituli's play against UGA was TURR'BULL...but he did improve afterwards and finished strong--maybe he was not fully recovered from his injury.

Henry T. has been good all year long---as a TRUE Freshman playing in the most physically demanding league in the land at ILB.

I think Henry T is the AL WILSON type of LB we've been missing for over a decade.

GO VOLS!

Yeah.
Al Wilson as a freshman was no Henry To'oto'o. Facts. If he stays healthy he's going to be an All-American and a leader of some of the best defenses we've ever fielded.

Because it's not just him. We've got a few young guys that can ball on Defense. Thompson and McCullough really helped our defense.

And yeah, Morven Joseph is for real! I really do expect him to start. But now we have depth!

 

[PA Vol]

If what Ansley was saying about JJP is true, I expect that he will be starting alongside HT next year at MLB.

 

[LittleVol]

If what Ansley was saying about JJP is true, I expect that he will be starting alongside HT next year at MLB.

Can't wait to see him develop this Spring

 

[901 Orange]

Fair points...
And, I Have to agree with you!

I can't say when the last time- IF ever.
Oregon would always pound us
So would OU. Those are the tough early season games pre- Florida that come to mind.

Thats my whole point. If we can somehow get that upset i truly believe it would catapult the rest of our season. Momentum is real in football. The last time we got a win that big early in the season was 98

 

[Billy Ratliff]

If what Ansley was saying about JJP is true, I expect that he will be starting alongside HT next year at MLB.

What were his comments/where can I read them? TIA

 

[BlountvegasVol28]

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

What about Simmons at NG he will be in that rotation I would think

 

[MikeVol44]

Yeah.
Al Wilson as a freshman was no Henry To'oto'o. Facts. If he stays healthy he's going to be an All-American and a leader of some of the best defenses we've ever fielded.

Because it's not just him. We've got a few young guys that can ball on Defense. Thompson and McCullough really helped our defense.

And yeah, Morven Joseph is for real! I really do expect him to start. But now we have depth!

Agreed.

Not many would admit that Henry T looks better as a FR than Wilson did----but it's absolutely true!
I don't think he has Wilson's speed, but he definitely has the instincts and physicality.
His stop of the KY RB on 3rd down of that game was all him....
If he doesn't win that collision--we lose that game.

Our major weaknesses on D over the last several years have been at the Safety position.
Our secondary guys have IMPROVED ASTRONOMICALLY UNDER PRUITT!

I think our DL's ability to stop the run will shock people next year.
We need someone to step up and get pressure on the QB like Barnett did without having to blitz--that, IMO, is what was missing last year.
We need to be able to line up and pressure the QB with 4 on the DL--or stay in the 3-4 and bring a 4th rusher from somewhere unexpected.

If we can consistently stop the run and get pressure with 4 next year without blitzing---2020 could be a special season.

And I also agree that CJP will field some of the best Defenses we've ever seen at Tennessee over the next few years.

I think CJP has the highest FB IQ of any coach we've had at UT since Dickey--and will be the best coach we've seen at UT since Dickey.
GO VOLS!

 

[Vol524]

I honestly feel the level of competition to start on Defense has gone way up for next year. This will only make for a much better defense. I hate we are losing the players we are losing but I do believe we will be a force on Defense next year.

 

[LittleVol]

I honestly feel the level of competition to start on Defense has gone way up for next year. This will only make for a much better defense. I hate we are losing the players we are losing but I do believe we will be a force on Defense next year.

Losing Taylor, Bituli, and Warrior you would think would be devastating. I believe we're actually UPGRADING in talent at their positions. Key Lawrence and Morven Joseph are plug and play guys. We have a history of starting Freshman on defense because they're the best option under Pruitt

2019
Henry To'oto'o
Q Crouch
J McCullough

2018
B Thompson
A Taylor

And I believe Lawrence and Joseph are next.

I'd like if JJ Peterson to rise up and claim that spot next to To'oto'o. But right now i think Crouch will man that spot.

 

[TheMagnificantOne]

LittleVol's Projected starters:
(projected weight included)

JLB- Morven Joseph 6'3 230 lbs Fr.
WLB- Quvarius Crouch 6'2 252 lbs So.
MLB- Henry To'oto'o 6'3" 243 lbs So.
SLB- Roman Harrison 6'2 242 lbs So.

Outlook:
We're losing Daniel Bituli (258 tkls 4 sks 2TD's) and Darrell Taylor (112 tkls 18 sks 5 FF). These two really spearheaded the late defensive surge during the 2019 season.
Both are on NFL draft boards and take their leadership with them as they graduate on. A lot of programs would be hurting with this loss in talent but not the Vols.

DeAndre Johnson (12 tkls, 2.5 sks), and Kivon Bennett (24 tkls 2 sks) in 2019; will be two 4 year guys that can provide leadership on the field and in the locker room. Yet, the real talent is in the younger classes. Expect that talent
to rise to the top in 2020. To'oto'o was a Freshman All-American and started every game for the Vols in 2019. He will assume leadership of what I expect to be the best defense the Vols have fielded in 10 years.
Flanking him will be Crouch who can play every linebacker position (and even RB) at WLB. He will still line up outside on occasions and allow guys like JJ Peterson and Martavius French to play inside and provide the much needed size and depth missing from the rotation.
His preferred position is OLB, but right now he is the best "Inside" LB on the team next to Henry To'oto'o.
Bryson Eason at 6'2 270 can move for a big man and hits like a truck! He is a combo backer that will perhaps put his hand on the ground one day. Tyler Baron was a huge get right out of Knoxville, TN.
at 6'4 265 he is another jumbo player than can have an impact as a pass-rusher.
Harrison- The former 5A Georgia Defensive player of the year- dealt with injuries had a bit of learning curve
his true freshman season, but he already has a reputation of being one of the meanest, nastiest, most aggressive players on the team- strongest too. I expect him to earn the SLB spot through the fall and make this defense that much better.
Joseph is only a true freshman, but the 4 * Lakeland, FL native is a premier talent as a pass rusher and is simply to talented and smart to stay off the field.
Aaron Beasley, Solon Page, will look to continue their contributions on Special Teams.

Summary:
This group is maybe the best "looking' or most physically imposing group of Linebackers we've had in a long time. They're young, but experienced and extremely talented.
They will be one of the most exciting position groups in all the conference in 2020
* Guys like Len'Neth Whitehead and Jeremy Banks could also factor into the development later on depending on coaching decisions.

Please feel free to post your projections or just your opinion on this grossly talented group of linebackers we have.

Spot on analysis, but Bryson Eason will start at one of those LB spots by 3rd game

 

[LittleVol]

Spot on analysis, but Bryson Eason will start at one of those LB spots by 3rd game

TMO's projected Starters

OLB Q Crouch 6'2 250 lbs (So)
ILB B Eason 6'2 255 (Fr)
MLB H To'oto'o 6'3 242 (So)
OLB Roman Harrison 6'2 240 (So)

As the once again great Bob Shoop would say, " NO ONE, will run un us!"

 

[TheMagnificantOne]

TMO's projected Starters

OLB Q Crouch 6'2 250 lbs (So)
ILB B Eason 6'2 255 (Fr)
MLB H To'oto'o 6'3 242 (So)
OLB Roman Harrison 6'2 240 (So)

As the once again great Bob Shoop would say, " NO ONE, will run un us!"

That right there Will be an OC’s nightmare

 

[Mccage]

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.

we will have a chance to win every game next year. This is the first time in a long time were not an automatic win. That's the improvement I've been waiting on.

 

[Roustabout]

Agreed.

Not many would admit that Henry T looks better as a FR than Wilson did----but it's absolutely true!
I don't think he has Wilson's speed, but he definitely has the instincts and physicality.
His stop of the KY RB on 3rd down of that game was all him....
If he doesn't win that collision--we lose that game.

Our major weaknesses on D over the last several years have been at the Safety position.
Our secondary guys have IMPROVED ASTRONOMICALLY UNDER PRUITT!

I think our DL's ability to stop the run will shock people next year.
We need someone to step up and get pressure on the QB like Barnett did without having to blitz--that, IMO, is what was missing last year.
We need to be able to line up and pressure the QB with 4 on the DL--or stay in the 3-4 and bring a 4th rusher from somewhere unexpected.

If we can consistently stop the run and get pressure with 4 next year without blitzing---2020 could be a special season.

And I also agree that CJP will field some of the best Defenses we've ever seen at Tennessee over the next few years.

I think CJP has the highest FB IQ of any coach we've had at UT since Dickey--and will be the best coach we've seen at UT since Dickey.
GO VOLS!

Because the program was in a much different place. Wilson didn’t have to play the role as a true freshman. The program was in a much better place.

 

[sjt18]

Every year... The "new kid in town" is going to come in and dominate over the "new kids in town" from previous classes.

Even when they have extreme talent, freshmen take time to develop. UT has enough good players that there will be no reason to rush Joseph. If he's that good... great. But more likely he gets eased in while some experienced AND TALENTED guys from past classes come into their own.

 

[vegasvolfan]

we will have a chance to win every game next year. This is the first time in a long time were not an automatic win. That's the improvement I've been waiting on.

I do think we could quite easily be more competitive if our players take to the coaching. Still, 2021 I think we compete for SEC East and more.

 

[LittleVol]

Every year... The "new kid in town" is going to come in and dominate over the "new kids in town" from previous classes.

Even when they have extreme talent, freshmen take time to develop. UT has enough good players that there will be no reason to rush Joseph. If he's that good... great. But more likely he gets eased in while some experienced AND TALENTED guys from past classes come into their own.

D Johnson and K Bennett combined....for 4.5 sacks. That's not going to cut it.

I think Joseph can easily surpass that by himself.
Wanya Morris and Darnell came right in and took spots from Marcus Tatum and Jamir Johnson. Henry T came in and took Ignot spot...

Morven Joseph has already been playing the position of OLB in the 3-4 unlike Crouch and Harrison who had to try and learn on the fly. Luckily Crouch had that spring to help get up to speed faster.

FSU and UF both wanted this kid terribly. He is the next in line to earn a spot as true freshman.

Just like
Morris
Wright
To'oto'o
McCullough
Crouch in 2019

Thompson
Taylor
Flowers in 2018