London Vol
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2015
- Messages
- 990
- Likes
- 8,430
WHATS IN THE GARDEN THIS YEAR
This is the time of year where you look at your garden and start to imagine how lovely it will be in the fall. Remember last year, the lawn was covered in Moss, the potatoes had Blight and the trees even had Dutch Elm disease. 12 months on let’s have a peek what it might look like this year.
THE COACHING STAFF
Of course, the quality of the bulbs and saplings are important but don’t underestimate the importance of the gardeners. Well, we “luckily” landed up with not only a great head gardener but also a team of helpers who know what there are doing and are all on the same page. Last year they had to spend so much time clearing away the debris of many years, that has largely been done and now they can spend much more time feeding the lawn and watering the flowers. We are very very fortunate that the coaching staff is largely intact.
QUARTERBACKS
All looks rosy here. The return of Hendon Hooker was huge for the Vols (he must have been shocked how this year’s quarterbacks fared in the draft and wondering should he have gambled this year?). He will have a very big year and at last we do not have a quarterback controversy. The talk is that Joe Milton is wooing the coaches and is buying into the team first mantra, but until proven otherwise its “buyer be aware” here. Tayven Jackson looks really promising to me especially with his fast release. I think he might be sneaky good and I believe Nico Imaleava will not be automatically anointed next year.
RUNNING BACKS
I’m relaxed with the Running Back department. Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright were both success stories last year and one hopes they will be even better in year 2. There is a lot of buzz about Justin Williams-Thomas and he just might be the bigger back we need especially in short yardage situations. As for Len`neth Whitehead I still believe he should he in the Linebackers room instead of the Running Backs room.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Now my excitement really takes off. Although we lost quite a bit of production the Wide Receivers are probably the deepest department we have although quite a bit of it is still unproven. Like Hooker it was huge to get Cedric Tillman back and he could put up video numbers this year. There is a lot of talk that Jalin Hyatt has made a jump this winter and seems to be penciled in the Slot Receiver position. Ramal Keyton and Jimmy Calloway will compete to start on “the other side” especially if Bru McCoy does not transfer in. Finally, don’t rule out one of the four Freshmen leapfrogging the aforementioned (my sneaky guess is for “Squirrel” White).
TIGHT ENDS
Nothing new here, Jacob Warren and Princeton Fant will be serviceable both in pass blocking and receiving.
OFFENSIVE LINE
People keep rating our Offensive Line as potentially elite, I’m not so sure and I would rate them at this stage as only good to OK. However, Left Tackle still makes me nervous. Jeremiah Crawford looks to be slightly ahead of Gerald Mincey and Dayne Davis but none of them stand out yet and as the saying goes “if you have three quarterbacks you probably have none”
DEFENSIVE LINE
I actually really like this area of the team and particularly the “gardener” Rodney Garner. Omari Thomas, Elijah Simmons and Tyre West look strong at tackle and Tyler Baron and Roman Harrison should lock up one end. The other end is where I get really excited as I believe Byron Young will make national headlines this fall. We also have James Pearce in the depth chart waiting for his chance.
LINEBACKERS
I now get concerned again. Jeremy Banks is fine and at the end of the season he was even starting to cut out those dumb penalties he was known for, I even think he will be All SEC this year. But its his partner where it gets dicey. Juwan Mitchell has yet to show his Texas form and Aaron Beasley and Solon Page are limited at best. So, I’m hoping that Elijah Herring can step up even though its unfair on him but we are going to need somebody.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The Star position is very important when you only play two linebackers and there are hints that Trevon Flowers could be moved here and he is already embracing this opportunity. If that happens then Jaylen McCullough and Andre Turrentine (welcome home young man) will be fine at Safety. At Corner Back I would use Dee Williams (unknown quantity) and Christian Charles (not a natural here but a real gamer that I’m high on). Although there are also a number of other bodies I have yet to have confidence in any other them.
Overall, I think we could have the best garden I have known for the 13 years I have been a VFL and there is a chance this year’s garden is going to win many accolades and even maybe shortlisted for “best in the show”
I always enjoy your comments and observations
GO VOLS
This is the time of year where you look at your garden and start to imagine how lovely it will be in the fall. Remember last year, the lawn was covered in Moss, the potatoes had Blight and the trees even had Dutch Elm disease. 12 months on let’s have a peek what it might look like this year.
THE COACHING STAFF
Of course, the quality of the bulbs and saplings are important but don’t underestimate the importance of the gardeners. Well, we “luckily” landed up with not only a great head gardener but also a team of helpers who know what there are doing and are all on the same page. Last year they had to spend so much time clearing away the debris of many years, that has largely been done and now they can spend much more time feeding the lawn and watering the flowers. We are very very fortunate that the coaching staff is largely intact.
QUARTERBACKS
All looks rosy here. The return of Hendon Hooker was huge for the Vols (he must have been shocked how this year’s quarterbacks fared in the draft and wondering should he have gambled this year?). He will have a very big year and at last we do not have a quarterback controversy. The talk is that Joe Milton is wooing the coaches and is buying into the team first mantra, but until proven otherwise its “buyer be aware” here. Tayven Jackson looks really promising to me especially with his fast release. I think he might be sneaky good and I believe Nico Imaleava will not be automatically anointed next year.
RUNNING BACKS
I’m relaxed with the Running Back department. Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright were both success stories last year and one hopes they will be even better in year 2. There is a lot of buzz about Justin Williams-Thomas and he just might be the bigger back we need especially in short yardage situations. As for Len`neth Whitehead I still believe he should he in the Linebackers room instead of the Running Backs room.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Now my excitement really takes off. Although we lost quite a bit of production the Wide Receivers are probably the deepest department we have although quite a bit of it is still unproven. Like Hooker it was huge to get Cedric Tillman back and he could put up video numbers this year. There is a lot of talk that Jalin Hyatt has made a jump this winter and seems to be penciled in the Slot Receiver position. Ramal Keyton and Jimmy Calloway will compete to start on “the other side” especially if Bru McCoy does not transfer in. Finally, don’t rule out one of the four Freshmen leapfrogging the aforementioned (my sneaky guess is for “Squirrel” White).
TIGHT ENDS
Nothing new here, Jacob Warren and Princeton Fant will be serviceable both in pass blocking and receiving.
OFFENSIVE LINE
People keep rating our Offensive Line as potentially elite, I’m not so sure and I would rate them at this stage as only good to OK. However, Left Tackle still makes me nervous. Jeremiah Crawford looks to be slightly ahead of Gerald Mincey and Dayne Davis but none of them stand out yet and as the saying goes “if you have three quarterbacks you probably have none”
DEFENSIVE LINE
I actually really like this area of the team and particularly the “gardener” Rodney Garner. Omari Thomas, Elijah Simmons and Tyre West look strong at tackle and Tyler Baron and Roman Harrison should lock up one end. The other end is where I get really excited as I believe Byron Young will make national headlines this fall. We also have James Pearce in the depth chart waiting for his chance.
LINEBACKERS
I now get concerned again. Jeremy Banks is fine and at the end of the season he was even starting to cut out those dumb penalties he was known for, I even think he will be All SEC this year. But its his partner where it gets dicey. Juwan Mitchell has yet to show his Texas form and Aaron Beasley and Solon Page are limited at best. So, I’m hoping that Elijah Herring can step up even though its unfair on him but we are going to need somebody.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The Star position is very important when you only play two linebackers and there are hints that Trevon Flowers could be moved here and he is already embracing this opportunity. If that happens then Jaylen McCullough and Andre Turrentine (welcome home young man) will be fine at Safety. At Corner Back I would use Dee Williams (unknown quantity) and Christian Charles (not a natural here but a real gamer that I’m high on). Although there are also a number of other bodies I have yet to have confidence in any other them.
Overall, I think we could have the best garden I have known for the 13 years I have been a VFL and there is a chance this year’s garden is going to win many accolades and even maybe shortlisted for “best in the show”
I always enjoy your comments and observations
GO VOLS
