Cruitin' Forum Football Talk V

[Kingston Vol]

Holy **** we're actually hearing good things from the first day of fall practice.

It's been, what, 3 years?

 

[PassedOutAwake]

Patrick Brown ‏@patrickbrownTFP 5m
#Vols tailback Rajion Neal upped his weight room numbers, to a 435-pound bench press and a 605-pound squat.

 

[LebanonVolunteer]

Patrick Brown ‏@patrickbrownTFP 5m
#Vols tailback Rajion Neal upped his weight room numbers, to a 435-pound bench press and a 605-pound squat.

If he can put together a 1000 yard season rushing, he would shine at the combine and teams would have to take notice. Hope the kid has a big year running the ball.

 

[BruinVol]

Holy **** we're actually hearing good things from the first day of fall practice.

It's been, what, 3 years?

We were hearing exactly the same thing last year. It's that time of year to be positive.


I got blasted for claiming that all the coaches were forced to be so positive in their talk last preseason. How quickly we forget.

 

[Vols4us]

Thanks for sharing the info. I am really looking forward to seeing this team in action. Great news on Worley as well. I think he will surprise alot of people. I see him having a 3000 yard season and playing like a winner out there.

You are welcome - will try to update every time I get a report from my friend. He plans to attend several.

I accidently left off Quinn until I saw the VQ related post above. My friend said that Butch stayed on Quinn's case the whole practice - which means he really likes his abilities and wants him to step up this fall or he would not be yelling so much at him. As far as a physical specimen he said he looks really big, strong, with reasonably good speed, and can jump well for a big man. Used to spiking the volleyball I guess.

 

[jave36]

Patrick Brown ‏@patrickbrownTFP 5m
#Vols tailback Rajion Neal upped his weight room numbers, to a 435-pound bench press and a 605-pound squat.

I think he has the fastest 40 on the team too. Kid is a physical freak, no reason he shouldn't be a top SEC RB with this OL. Hope they break through whatever mental block is holding him back.

 

[BruinVol]

I think he has the fastest 40 on the team too. Kid is a physical freak, no reason he shouldn't be a top SEC RB with this OL. Hope they break through whatever mental block is holding him back.

No reason our running game can't be elite as long as we keep games close. It's that aspect that makes us winning one surprise game probable IMO.

 

[TriCitiesVol]

"One player not on the field with the Vols today was Justin Meredith. It's been well documented that Meredith has been injured nearly his entire time at Tennessee. We're trying to find out the details of why he wasn't at practice."

-Fortenberry

 

[theutvolunteers]

"One player not on the field with the Vols today was Justin Meredith. It's been well documented that Meredith has been injured nearly his entire time at Tennessee. We're trying to find out the details of why he wasn't at practice."

-Fortenberry

:ermm: Unfortunatley not surprising.

 

[theutvolunteers]

I think he has the fastest 40 on the team too. Kid is a physical freak, no reason he shouldn't be a top SEC RB with this OL. Hope they break through whatever mental block is holding him back.

Neal should be able to bust through arm and ankle tackles. He has potential to be a very exciting player. Holding out hope he can put it together.

 

[Kingston Vol]

We were hearing exactly the same thing last year. It's that time of year to be positive.


I got blasted for claiming that all the coaches were forced to be so positive in their talk last preseason. How quickly we forget.

Oh, I know we hear the same stuff about "intensity, coaching, and players standing out". And that's all just BS camp talk, we'll both agree.

But I think this is the first time in a while we've heard about players knowing the scheme/not being confused. Which is cool.

 

[Vols4us]

We were hearing exactly the same thing last year. It's that time of year to be positive.


I got blasted for claiming that all the coaches were forced to be so positive in their talk last preseason. How quickly we forget.

Understand having been burned in the past. But once you see these guys - it is different. They may all be show ponies when the season starts. lol.

They are much different physically and emotionally. I get the feeling that Butch is much more into relationship building with everybody. That he truly likes being a Vol and that he has complete faith in his system and coaching staff. Having been around Dools a little and a couple of his assistant coaches some, I can tell you that my experience was that he had none of that going for him. The nucleus of this staff has been together for awhile and all of them knew and had coached with various members along the way. There is no interpretation of the system needed by the staff. They know what they are to do and how to do it. That was never the case with Dools, Kiffin or on the offense in the later Fulmer years. Much of the time it was a Keystone Cops comedy.

What we will not know until the season begins is if Butch's system will work successfully long term in the SEC. The better the talent the better the results will be. He is doing that really well. The intangibles all appear to be there. The roster is motivated, upbeat, excited to play again, and being taught to respect the traditions. You will see some really cool things happen to motivate them and rebuild the Vol nation over the season. Whether that translates into what we all hope to see remains to be seen. But the odds are greatly improving that it will IMO.

 

[TriCitiesVol]

I'm pretty sure Raijon has broken all of UT RBs weight records.

Nobody is holding him back more than himself. Neal has the tools. He's got speed, strength, but I think he lacks true vision.

It's all upstairs for 20. JMO

 

[Vols4us]

I think he has the fastest 40 on the team too. Kid is a physical freak, no reason he shouldn't be a top SEC RB with this OL. Hope they break through whatever mental block is holding him back.

I will put this nicely. In the past he has shied away from taking a strong hit. With Jones he will have to be willing to get his nose bloodied if he wants to play. If he does, he could easily have a break out season at exactly the right time.

Lane had the same problem with not trusting his knee fully. With Jones he will have to trust it fully if he wants to play.

 

[TriCitiesVol]

VQ had a little 6 minute video of practice. Riley looks good as far as throwing. Pretty accurate, good spin, and solid velocity. Alden Hill looked to be getting quite a few reps.

Maggitt, of course, practiced with a right knee brace. For Hubbs to say that it's one of the best opening Fall practices in 20 years, just pours on to the love fest of Butch and staff. Freakin awesome

 

[KnoxVillain]

"One player not on the field with the Vols today was Justin Meredith. It's been well documented that Meredith has been injured nearly his entire time at Tennessee. We're trying to find out the details of why he wasn't at practice."

-Fortenberry

So far he has been a wasted
Scholarship. Hate it for the guy but he's taking up a spot we could greatly use in the '15 class.

 

[buffaloblue]

I believe Meridith could end up medically out of the 85 limit after this year.

His hamstring is not good and never has recovered.

 

[jjay2518]

Saw where Coach Bajakian said Dobbs and Fergeson were both further along mentally at this point than any freshman he's ever coached.

 

[TriCitiesVol]

On Dobbs and Riley.

"[They] looked like freshmen," Jones said. "I think the speed of the game, I think everything was happening very, very fast for them. So it was kind of what we expected. I thought [Nathan] Peterman, [Justin] Worley showed good poise. I thought they showed a lot of confidence from having spring [practice]. But I still need more leadership. I still need more take charge, more assertiveness from them."

-VQ

 

[KoachKletus]

VQ had a little 6 minute video of practice. Riley looks good as far as throwing. Pretty accurate, good spin, and solid velocity. Alden Hill looked to be getting quite a few reps.

Maggitt, of course, practiced with a right knee brace. For Hubbs to say that it's one of the best opening Fall practices in 20 years, just pours on to the love fest of Butch and staff. Freakin awesome

Alden will get plenty of touches this fall. If Lane and Neal stay healthy we will have a solid 1-2-3 punch at RB.

 

[NapTownVol9]

Neal should be able to bust through arm and ankle tackles. He has potential to be a very exciting player. Holding out hope he can put it together.

Hopefully he starts running north instead of east/west. And worked on his footwork to avoid the shoelace tackles and grass monsters

Edit: Neal could really boost his stock this year, he has the strength and speed. And our OLine should help him get an interview for the big leagues. Really hoping big things for Neal.

 

[RockyTop85]

I really don't see lane being much of a factor this year unless Hill or Neal get hurt. Not that I don't like the guy, I thought he was our best back last year aside from some fumbles, but missing the whole first spring under a new regime has got to set him back.

I could be wrong and even so the odds that Neal and Hill stay healthy all season is pretty slim.

 

[ob79]

So far he has been a wasted
Scholarship. Hate it for the guy but he's taking up a spot we could greatly use in the '15 class.

True, unfortunately..sad too. I was really looking forward to how he'd develop but so far the only thing he's developed is a reputation of being so injury prone that he can't even see the practice field.

That's pathetic, I'm sorry to say...but it's the unknown that has always surrounded him that makes it even worse because it has fostered a perception, IMO, that he's soft.

 

[The Breakerboy]

I know some people were shocked when LaDarrell McNeill was placed ahead of Byron on the depth chart (as was I).

However from watching VQ's videos, they are really hyping up McNeill. He had a really good spring and summer. He could be there to stay.

I wasn't with CWM coaching. He's aggressive as a coach and likes aggressive players.

 

[The Breakerboy]

I'm pretty sure Raijon has broken all of UT RBs weight records.

Nobody is holding him back more than himself. Neal has the tools. He's got speed, strength, but I think he lacks true vision.

It's all upstairs for 20. JMO

I have no hope for 20. He only runs hard if he's close to the endzone. Just BS if you ask me. Can't wait for Hurd and Paulk to get here.