'15 LB FL Cecil Cherry (former Vol commit)

#1,426
#1,426
mreynoldsdvm said:
Smh. You're completely missing the point. A MLB stuffs a RB in the hole and stops forward momentum, and the great ones drive him backwards. With all due respect to AJ, who is a VFL no doubt, he grabs them up high and slings them, no matter where he is on the field. Most of those tackles results in the offensive player going forwards for an extra 2-3 or more yards. If he stuffs it, then less yards are given up, which is huge over the course of many plays. Stats sometimes do not tell the whole story. I really hope Thig shows AJ proper tackling technique for a MLB, and gets him to stop that slinging junk.
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No man I'm not. I would say when A.J. hits a running back attempting to run in the middle of the field, he hits them with authority. Where he gets in trouble with tackling technique is when he is forced to cover sideline to sideline, and he just lacks the speed to get there. However, I do not think he should be asked to make most of those plays where he should have help from an OLB or a DB. I'm not sure what he was referencing with the Georgia game, probably one play where a RB got the better of A.J. up the middle, which rarely happens. I just wanted to give evidence that he was certainly not a liability.
 
#1,427
#1,427
roosterjbh said:
No man I'm not. I would say when A.J. hits a running back attempting to run in the middle of the field, he hits them with authority. Where he gets in trouble with tackling technique is when he is forced to cover sideline to sideline, and he just lacks the speed to get there. However, I do not think he should be asked to make most of those plays where he should have help from an OLB or a DB. I'm not sure what he was referencing with the Georgia game, probably one play where a RB got the better of A.J. up the middle, which rarely happens. I just wanted to give evidence that he was certainly not a liability.
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If you are seeing A.J. make big hits, you're watching a completely different game from everyone else.
 
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#1,429
#1,429
roosterjbh said:
No man I'm not. I would say when A.J. hits a running back attempting to run in the middle of the field, he hits them with authority. Where he gets in trouble with tackling technique is when he is forced to cover sideline to sideline, and he just lacks the speed to get there. However, I do not think he should be asked to make most of those plays where he should have help from an OLB or a DB. I'm not sure what he was referencing with the Georgia game, probably one play where a RB got the better of A.J. up the middle, which rarely happens. I just wanted to give evidence that he was certainly not a liability.
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Once again, with all due respect to AJ because I'm thankful that he chose to be a VFL, I have not seen him hit anyone with authority in his 3 years. Has he made some good plays? Absolutely. But he hasn't blown up a RB at the LOS ever IIRC. I hope we see him doing that this year. I really hope he will break his grabbing and slinging tendency, and lower his shoulder pads into the gut with the helmet on the football. Those type hits are what create fumbles, that's why we haven't seen many footballs on the ground the last few years. We started to see some better tackling from a few last year, and I fully expect that trend to increase this year.
 
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#1,433
#1,433
roosterjbh said:
You mean this game?

12 tackles, for 15th career double-figure tackles including 1.5 TFLs

Stats not included, he may have not made some plays you thought he should. You still shouldn't discredit a whole body of work because of one game. However, statistically he had a great game and we would have been much worse off without him.
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Stats are for losers. You haven't seen a real SEC MLB at UT in so long you have forgotten what they look like. Also it is not just AJs timed speed that is the problem. It is his instincts cause him to play even slower. All that being said, I think AJ is a credit to UT. He is a great kid, and I am proud he chose to play for us. I hope he improves this year, and makes the legit criticism moot.
 
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#1,435
#1,435
He isn't a downhill player, but when the ball carrier gets to him, that's as far as he is getting. You don't often see a player that can deliver hits like that while standing still, which means he hasn't the hardest part of tackling figured out. Not many high school and even college LBs can load their hips and blast through a RB like he does in every single play on his film. If you have time, watch his film again you will see what I mean.
 
#1,436
#1,436
Ulysees E. McGill said:
Stats are for losers. You haven't seen a real SEC MLB at UT in so long you have forgotten what they look like. Also it is not just AJs timed speed that is the problem. It is his instincts cause him to play even slower. All that being said, I think AJ is a credit to UT. He is a great kid, and I am proud he chose to play for us. I hope he improves this year, and makes the legit criticism moot.
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AJ was the best player on our defense last year and was the 1st team All-SEC MLB. If he isn't a real SEC MLB, I would like to know what the other 13 teams are playing with.
 
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#1,437
#1,437
I think most of AJ's criticism is brought on by the lack of talent around him. If he had a legit SEC DL in front of him, and legit SEC LB's to his left and right (not undersized baseball players), the last few years, I think those criticism's would be far less.

I'm really glad he's back for his senior season. UT is MUCH better this fall with AJJ on the field.
 
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#1,438
#1,438
I am happy to see some changes from his Soph to his JR films. In his JR film, you see him drop back in coverage a lot more. Hopefully he gets more coverage work next season.
 
#1,439
#1,439
Ron Swanson said:
I think most of AJ's criticism is brought on by the lack of talent around him. If he had a legit SEC DL in front of him, and legit SEC LB's to his left and right (not undersized baseball players), the last few years, I think those criticism's would be far less.

I'm really glad he's back for his senior season. UT is MUCH better this fall with AJJ on the field.
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No doubt. Getting AJ back for his senior year was like getting an immediate impact 5-star JUCO LB. There's a reason Jones called him "our most important recruit". I also think getting Curt back in combination with AJ is going to have a really solid impact.
 
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#1,440
#1,440
Aside from the fact that AJ will be a fine NFL LB for years after leaving Knoxville, people need to remember AJ kept his commitment to us at what might have been UT's most un-popular time in recent Volunteer football history.
 
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#1,441
#1,441
Madkins8 said:
AJ was the best player on our defense last year and was the 1st team All-SEC MLB. If he isn't a real SEC MLB, I would like to know what the other 13 teams are playing with.
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This...couldn't agree more. All AJJ does is produce. If he isn't to be considered a "real" SEC MLB then someone please point one out to me. I'm thrilled he came back for his senior season. Can't wait to see him enjoy his last year in Knoxville and have continued success. He will make some team very happy on Sundays as well imo...
 
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#1,442
#1,442
Here, here! I also appreciate AJ Johnson. He deserves some respect. One man can't do it all. He pretty much did. Cheers to AJJ.
 
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#1,446
#1,446
@RyanBartow
4-star LB Cecil Cherry says he's transferring from Frostproof (FL) to Lakeland (FL) Victory Christian. #Tennessee commit @RyanCallahan247
 
#1,447
#1,447
Ron Swanson said:
@RyanBartow
4-star LB Cecil Cherry says he's transferring from Frostproof (FL) to Lakeland (FL) Victory Christian. #Tennessee commit @RyanCallahan247
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Ruh roh. When that stuff happens in East Tennessee, something negative may cause the switch (see ... Camion Patrick and Jaylon Woods). Will be interesting to see if anything else is brewing.
 
#1,448
#1,448
Mike4Vols said:
Ruh roh. When that stuff happens in East Tennessee, something negative may cause the switch (see ... Camion Patrick and Jaylon Woods). Will be interesting to see if anything else is brewing.
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I would say it is just a parent getting their child out of a poor school and into a better school thanks to an athletic scholarship.
 
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#1,449
#1,449
Madkins8 said:
I would say it is just a parent getting their child out of a poor school and into a better school thanks to an athletic scholarship.
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I know it happens with more frequency -- with fewer negative connotations -- in middle TN. In east TN, when we see a kid transfer schools, something is typically amiss.

Is he transferring to a private school? I'm not familiar with that area.
 
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