DiderotsGhost
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Time for a thought experiment. I was thinking about who would make a Vols "All-Decade" team for the 10's.
In spite of our run of futility this decade, it's surprising how good the offense on an All-Decade Team would be. What it really showcases to me is that we've had elite talent here, but we've squandered it.
Defense, on the other hand, is another story. It's very tough to come up with "All-Decade" guys for D. And it starts to become clear putting this together that defense has been a major issue this decade.
Who would make all decade team?
Quarterbacks
QB1: Josh Dobbs, 2016
QB2: Tyler Bray, 2012
QB3: Jarrett Guarantano, 2018
Don't think anyone would disagree that Josh Dobbs was the best QB we had this decade, but he could've been even better with some actual development. He excels more as a passer now with the Steelers, while he always struggled with consistency while here, partly because we had no real dedicated QB coach most of the time he was here. QB2 and QB3 is between Bray and JG; obviously Bray put up more prolific numbers, but he struggled with leadership, whereas JG is one of the least mistake-prone QBs in UT history.
Running Backs
RB1: Alvin Kamara, 2016
RB2: Ty Chandler, 2018
RB3: Jalen Hurd, 2015
RB4: John Kelly, 2017
Kamara was grossly underutilized while at UT, in spite of putting up some of the most impressive stats in UT history on a per play basis. Now, he's an NFL superstar. RB2 and RB3 is debatable, but I like Chandler at RB2. I think he's severely underrated primarily because he's played behind the worst run-blocking O-line in college football last season. Hurd is our short yardage back and John Kelly was a prolific playmaker in spite of lacking much in the way of help from the O-line.
Wide Receivers
WR1: Justin Hunter, 2012
WR2: Cordarelle Patterson, 2012
WR3: Marquez North, 2013 (pre-injury)
WR4: Marquez Callaway, 2018
WR5: Josh Malone, 2016
WR6: Jauan Jennings, 2016 / 2018
We've had a surprising amount of talent at WR; albeit between passing game and O-line struggles in the Butch Jones years, it has been somewhat squandered. Also injuries hampered Marquez North's career (injuries will be a running theme throughout this list).
Offensive Line
OT: Juwaun James, 2012
OG: Zach Fulton, 2012
OG: Dallas Thomas, 2012
OT: Trey Smith, 2017 (pre health problems)
C: James Stone
OG/OT: Chance Hall (pre-injury)
OG/OT: Jack Jones (pre-injury)
Once again, many had careers cut short by injuries. If this were a real team, would probably lack depth at OL, but the starting 5 would be good.
Defensive Line
DE: Derek Barnett, 2016
DE: Malik Jackson, 2011
DT: Shy Tuttle, 2016 (pre-injury)
DE: Kyle Phillips, 2018
DE: Cory Vereen
OK, this is admittedly the one position group where it's still tough to find much talent. We had Derek Barnett and Malik Jackson. Shy Tuttle, before his injuries, was also a beast. Those are the only 3 superstars / potential superstars I can name. Albeit, Kyle Phillips had a great senior campaign.
Linebackers
LB: Jalen Reeves-Maybin, 2016
LB: A.J. Johnson, 2014
OLB: Darrell Taylor, 2018
LB: Daniel Bituli, 2018
OLB / DE: Curt Maggitt
LB: Darrin Kirkland, 2015 (pre-injuries)
Taylor could either go as a DE in a 4-3 or an OLB in a 3-4. DK Jr looked like a potential 1st round draft pick as a Freshman, before all the injuries hampered his career.
Secondary
CB: Cam Sutton, 2016
S: Rashaan Gaulden, 2017
Struggling a bit on this one, as well. Sutton and Gaulden are obvious picks, but who else would you all throw out there?
Special Teams
P: Trevor Daniel
K: Michael Palardy?
KR/PR: Berry + Patterson
Who else would be on the list? Who am I missing
Overall
Feel like if you take our best players from the decade, we have an incredible offense. Our depth on defense is still pretty bad. Nevertheless, it does showcase what could've been. So many injuries and so much bad player development (under Butch); also throw in a little bad luck (e.g. Trey Smith). All that stuff has undermined us and led to poor results on the field.
In spite of our run of futility this decade, it's surprising how good the offense on an All-Decade Team would be. What it really showcases to me is that we've had elite talent here, but we've squandered it.
Defense, on the other hand, is another story. It's very tough to come up with "All-Decade" guys for D. And it starts to become clear putting this together that defense has been a major issue this decade.
Who would make all decade team?
Quarterbacks
QB1: Josh Dobbs, 2016
QB2: Tyler Bray, 2012
QB3: Jarrett Guarantano, 2018
Don't think anyone would disagree that Josh Dobbs was the best QB we had this decade, but he could've been even better with some actual development. He excels more as a passer now with the Steelers, while he always struggled with consistency while here, partly because we had no real dedicated QB coach most of the time he was here. QB2 and QB3 is between Bray and JG; obviously Bray put up more prolific numbers, but he struggled with leadership, whereas JG is one of the least mistake-prone QBs in UT history.
Running Backs
RB1: Alvin Kamara, 2016
RB2: Ty Chandler, 2018
RB3: Jalen Hurd, 2015
RB4: John Kelly, 2017
Kamara was grossly underutilized while at UT, in spite of putting up some of the most impressive stats in UT history on a per play basis. Now, he's an NFL superstar. RB2 and RB3 is debatable, but I like Chandler at RB2. I think he's severely underrated primarily because he's played behind the worst run-blocking O-line in college football last season. Hurd is our short yardage back and John Kelly was a prolific playmaker in spite of lacking much in the way of help from the O-line.
Wide Receivers
WR1: Justin Hunter, 2012
WR2: Cordarelle Patterson, 2012
WR3: Marquez North, 2013 (pre-injury)
WR4: Marquez Callaway, 2018
WR5: Josh Malone, 2016
WR6: Jauan Jennings, 2016 / 2018
We've had a surprising amount of talent at WR; albeit between passing game and O-line struggles in the Butch Jones years, it has been somewhat squandered. Also injuries hampered Marquez North's career (injuries will be a running theme throughout this list).
Offensive Line
OT: Juwaun James, 2012
OG: Zach Fulton, 2012
OG: Dallas Thomas, 2012
OT: Trey Smith, 2017 (pre health problems)
C: James Stone
OG/OT: Chance Hall (pre-injury)
OG/OT: Jack Jones (pre-injury)
Once again, many had careers cut short by injuries. If this were a real team, would probably lack depth at OL, but the starting 5 would be good.
Defensive Line
DE: Derek Barnett, 2016
DE: Malik Jackson, 2011
DT: Shy Tuttle, 2016 (pre-injury)
DE: Kyle Phillips, 2018
DE: Cory Vereen
OK, this is admittedly the one position group where it's still tough to find much talent. We had Derek Barnett and Malik Jackson. Shy Tuttle, before his injuries, was also a beast. Those are the only 3 superstars / potential superstars I can name. Albeit, Kyle Phillips had a great senior campaign.
Linebackers
LB: Jalen Reeves-Maybin, 2016
LB: A.J. Johnson, 2014
OLB: Darrell Taylor, 2018
LB: Daniel Bituli, 2018
OLB / DE: Curt Maggitt
LB: Darrin Kirkland, 2015 (pre-injuries)
Taylor could either go as a DE in a 4-3 or an OLB in a 3-4. DK Jr looked like a potential 1st round draft pick as a Freshman, before all the injuries hampered his career.
Secondary
CB: Cam Sutton, 2016
S: Rashaan Gaulden, 2017
Struggling a bit on this one, as well. Sutton and Gaulden are obvious picks, but who else would you all throw out there?
Special Teams
P: Trevor Daniel
K: Michael Palardy?
KR/PR: Berry + Patterson
Who else would be on the list? Who am I missing
Overall
Feel like if you take our best players from the decade, we have an incredible offense. Our depth on defense is still pretty bad. Nevertheless, it does showcase what could've been. So many injuries and so much bad player development (under Butch); also throw in a little bad luck (e.g. Trey Smith). All that stuff has undermined us and led to poor results on the field.
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