Becoming Physical & Tough

[photovol]

Can the Vols become physical and tough enough for Florida, Georgia, Alabama & Texas A&M?

I have my opinion, but want to hear from others

 

[ItsAllVols]

Yes, but we spent so much time on making sure we got thru the summer practice without injuries that we are just starting to see it, lookout OHIO it maybe a long afternoon.

 

[livefaith]

Can the Vols become physical and tough enough for Florida, Georgia, Alabama & Texas A&M?

I have my opinion, but want to hear from others

Believe me when I say "We know your opinion". The restraint is appreciated.

To answer the Q. No. We either are or aren't. Toughness cannot be developed in 2 weeks if it has not already gotten there in 3mos - 4 years. We either are or ain't.

 

[photovol]

Believe me when I say "We know your opinion". The restraint is appreciated.

To answer the Q. No. We either are or aren't. Toughness cannot be developed in 2 weeks if it has not already gotten there in 3mos - 4 years. We either are or ain't.

The Vols better get tough and physical in the trenches or it could get ugly quick starting with SEC play

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

It's inexperience buddy, it's inexperience. Nobody wants to hear that, but it's just like I told you in the preseason. Overtime someone goes down, overtime we have to substitute, and we are doing it with inexperience. You can't put that much on the field at once. I'm using alabama a lot this season because they are really earning a lot of cred with me right now. They have three areas of inexperience... center, QB, running back. Go figure the Oline is making all the mistakes, they have, to date no run game at all, and people keep asking "is he or isn't he the guy?" What they have done is surround those positions with a LOT of experience. That's what's saving them. We need that depth of experience. We need an entire team. We need an online that can do their job, we need a D that can do their job, we need a special teams unit who can do their job, we need receivers who can separate and do their job. That way when we put in inexperience they are surrounded by experience. We can make up for deficiencies. Right now, we are depending on DOBBS to win the game. He is the most experienced. God bless that young man he is doing it. He is finding a way to win. he can't do it by himself though and it doesn't take a genius to see we are playing with fire and not expecting to get burned. We need depth of EXPERIENCE. We need a lot of people on the field who have played a lot of ball together.

 

[KBVol]

It's inexperience buddy, it's inexperience. Nobody wants to hear that, but it's just like I told you in the preseason. Overtime someone goes down, overtime we have to substitute, and we are doing it with inexperience. You can't put that much on the field at once. I'm using alabama a lot this season because they are really earning a lot of cred with me right now. They have three areas of inexperience... center, QB, running back. Go figure the Oline is making all the mistakes, they have, to date no run game at all, and people keep asking "is he or isn't he the guy?" What they have done is surround those positions with a LOT of experience. That's what's saving them. We need that depth of experience. We need an entire team. We need an online that can do their job, we need a D that can do their job, we need a special teams unit who can do their job, we need receivers who can separate and do their job. That way when we put in inexperience they are surrounded by experience. We can make up for deficiencies. Right now, we are depending on DOBBS to win the game. He is the most experienced. God bless that young man he is doing it. He is finding a way to win. he can't do it by himself though and it doesn't take a genius to see we are playing with fire and not expecting to get burned. We need depth of EXPERIENCE. We need a lot of people on the field who have played a lot of ball together.

Inexperience??? Thomas, junior and 3 year starter. Wiesman, senior and 2 year starter. Robertson, junior and 3 year starter. Kendrick, RSJr with a lot of starts/experience. Jack Jones, sophomore who played a lot of football last year as a freshman and is, quite honestly, one of our 1-2 best OLs IMO despite being the least experienced. Only Richmond comes into this year as truly inexperienced and we saw what happened last Saturday when he wasn't playing well, he had a seat.

I've heard Doug Mathews say a million times in his shows, that some of Phil Fulmer's best offensive lines when he was at Tennessee were comprised of 5 guys, and only 5 guys, playing every snap of every game. We don't need 8 or 9 guys, we need 5-6 very good ones, and we just don't have that right now. Playing 8 or 9 guys is a luxury we don't have since our first 5 have been putrid the first 2 games. And for reason, perhaps our best one, Jack Jones, is struggling to see the field despite clearly outplaying others who are playing ahead of him.

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

I know nobody wants to hear it. But this unit hasn't played a lot together. They are going through their growing pains NOW. Right before our eyes. During the season. Go ahead and flame away.

 

[KBVol]

I know nobody wants to hear it. But this unit hasn't played a lot together. They are going through their growing pains NOW. Right before our eyes. During the season. Go ahead and flame away.

Kerbyson is literally the only difference between this year's and last year's OL. These guys have been together for awhile now and rather getting better, they've shown to be worse. Something else going on that needs to get fixed ASAP.

 

[aaronvol]

Is jack Jones playing? is Chance Hall? If so, we get real physical real fast.

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

Kind of funny I'm listening to Shannon sharp right now on sports radio talking about very talented but immature teams. Says "immaturity gets you beat every time."

 

[JC61]

Kerbyson is literally the only difference between this year's and last year's OL. These guys have been together for awhile now and rather getting better, they've shown to be worse. Something else going on that needs to get fixed ASAP.

quite true...and as much grief as he got last year he may have been the cog that made a difference in the line; which, while not stellar appears better than what we've had on the field so far this year.

 

[bigdaddy]

Too soon to throw the new strength and conditioning coach under the bus?

 

[JC61]

Too soon to throw the new strength and conditioning coach under the bus?

yes....don't think it has anything to do w/ the current issues.

OL has struggled, but hasn't been garbage the entire game....and no one will convince me they aren't being coached up / enough to play better than they're playing.

SJT has made some insightful observations; the OL has looked lost at times, which may have as much to do w/ leadership and chemistry as anything else. I think that unit needs an Alpha to get them together - as noted above, maybe Kerbyson filled that role last year and they've yet to find it this year. Easy to put that on the coaches, but I also believe one of those 5 has got to emerge and get the unit in synch as well.

I know some will call this hogwash, but individually these guys are talented enough...they just aint hittin' all cylinders as a unit. When the right combination is found (as SJT noted in another thread) or an OL leader emerges I think this unit will start to impress.

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

I got two questions for you guys.

1: do you thing this team will get better as the season goes on?

2: we should get most or all our preseason starters back by Alabama. Do you think will look better then?

My answer to both questions is yes.

 

[Doberman]

We are incredibly soft.

That much is quite clear.

IF Jack Jones doesn't get inserted into the starting line up NOW, then I just don't know what to say......

 

[KBVol]

quite true...and as much grief as he got last year he may have been the cog that made a difference in the line; which, while not stellar appears better than what we've had on the field so far this year.

KK was physically limited last year but he was tough, had a great attitude, gave great effort, was a vocal leader and was serviceable to pretty good at a very important position that he'd never played before. A lot of our current more physically gifted OLs could use those sane intangibles that seem to be severely lacking thus far.....outside of Jack Jones that is.

 

[swchandler1988]

Kerbyson is literally the only difference between this year's and last year's OL. These guys have been together for awhile now and rather getting better, they've shown to be worse. Something else going on that needs to get fixed ASAP.

Really? I don't mean to come off as aggressive but what about Chance Hall? Robertson started several games last year but he was constantly hampered by injuries. Jack Jones only started 1 game last year (played in 9). Here is our depth chart from the Northwestern game.

Left Tackle Kyler Kerbyson (Sr)
Left Guard Jashon Robertson (So)
Center Coleman Thomas (So)
Right Guard Dylan Wiesman (Jr)
Right Tackle Chance Hall (Fr)

So now we're missing both our starting tackles from last year, and moving the guards around. Someone said it before, they're definitely going through growing pains. Not to mention perhaps the most important position on the team is replacing our LT (Kerbyson) with a guy who played RT in high school and hasn't played a football game in 2 years.

 

[orangeluvr]

"You want your team to be so physical and tough that other teams dread playing you".....nick satan.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Sherion Jones needs to be hired as OL coach.

 

[vtvol98]

Yes, but we spent so much time on making sure we got thru the summer practice without injuries that we are just starting to see it, lookout OHIO it maybe a long afternoon.

I agree. The lack of physicality in summer practice has spilled into the regular season. It seems like the defense is just now learning how to tackle.

 

[volstuff37641]

I got two questions for you guys.

1: do you thing this team will get better as the season goes on?

2: we should get most or all our preseason starters back by Alabama. Do you think will look better then?

My answer to both questions is yes.

why you ask a question if you were gonna answer it?:crazy:

 

[livefaith]

I got two questions for you guys.

1: do you thing this team will get better as the season goes on?

2: we should get most or all our preseason starters back by Alabama. Do you think will look better then?

My answer to both questions is yes.

1. Definitely. Unfortunately, all our opponents will too.

2. Probably. But with 4 games & practice until then, we may obtain new injuries. Time favors them due to their biggest question mark. A freshman quarterback. He'll have some experience by then. Who looks best. I have to go with Bama. They have deeper talent and proven winners coaching.

We just need to find a way to win on that day.

 

[ButchAintOne]

I too believe some of our problems come from a soft spring camp. We look slow off the line and don't seem to want to be very physical blocking. I believe we have to get j.j. in the lineup and leave him there now

 

[Johnnyreb#VFL]

Jalen Hurd is almost physical and tough enough for the whole offense. Oline needs to follow his lead. Defenders know they played against Hurd the next day. Now it's time for the linemen to put that same kind of hurt onto others.

 

[Biopsyman]

Going back to zone read vs power I