Bigger concern: Tennessee’s OL or the Vols’ defense?

[BarnesIsCaliparisDaddy]

The defence had lots of help doing it to from the men with whIstles and striped shirts.
JS

And they will continue to

 

[NeverWe'llSever]

Multiple players on the O-line will play in the NFL. And a couple most likely go in the first 4 rounds. I’ve seen a mock draft of Darnell Wright going 26th overall. How many linebackers and secondary that you can see as of now? I’m thinking maybe 1 and he’d probably be a late (6th-7th) round guy (Banks).

 

[DuckinVol]

He was not very good

And you are not very good at evaluating offensive line play. Tell me again how many sacks he allowed.

 

[miket4god]

I don't remember him playing in 10 games

That's what the UT sports site showed, started 10 out of the 13 games. Missed Alabama, Vandy and Purdue.

 

[NighthawkVol]

We gonna miss Cade

He didn’t play that much. When he did, he wasn’t great because was out of position as a Tackle, but better than Davis. That said, if Mincey develops as he should and/or Crawford has come along, OT spot opposite Wright should be an improvement.

 

[NighthawkVol]

NFL doesnt draft players that are "not very good" SMH

They drafted him as a Guard. As a Tackle, he really wasn’t very good.

 

[VolForLife83]

That's what the UT sports site showed, started 10 out of the 13 games. Missed Alabama, Vandy and Purdue.

Pretty sure he missed more. He may have STARTED a couple games, but actually only played a couple snaps. He missed more than those stats would have you think. I believe Ole Miss was one he missed also.

 

[Allvols1996]

I have a feeling that the OL will struggle again especially protecting the QB. I thought maybe should have brought in another transfer or 2 for the OL. We’ll see.

If Heupel can’t knit those guys into a formidable unit, then he’ll never succeed at UT. Returning 4 talented and highly recruited upperclassmen starters, plus several players who have started games, and a quality transfer. I’d say Carvin and Wright are both capable of playing long careers in the NFL. I’m baffled by those who don’t expect great things from this unit this year.

 

[miket4god]

Pretty sure he missed more. He may have STARTED a couple games, but actually only played a couple snaps. He missed more than those stats would have you think. I believe Ole Miss was one he missed also.

Per UT sports he played in almost 500 of the 900+ offensive snaps last season. Played in 478 of the 660 offensive snaps in 2020. Definitely missed plenty of time but hardly played is much too harsh.

 

[LWSVOL]

They drafted him as a Guard. As a Tackle, he really wasn’t very good.

that would be a staff issue, playing him in the wrong position. JMO

 

[thunder5]

Tennessee’s defense, easy.

Tennessee’s offensive line was beat-up throughout the 2021 season, which didn’t allow the unit to completely gel. Four starters return, and there’s other experience, too. It’s certainly not a group that ranks in the top-half of the conference, but it should be serviceable in an offensive system designed to wear out defensive lines. The Vols should not allow the most sacks (44 last season) in the SEC again, partly because quarterback Hendon Hooker should be more comfortable in Josh Heupel’s system in Year 2 and won’t hold onto the ball as much.

Defensively, the answers aren’t so simple. The Vols’ defense was legitimately good at creating negative plays (program-record 102 tackles for loss, second-most in the SEC), but they hemorrhaged explosive plays almost as often (61 plays allowed over 20 yards, fourth-most in the league). They were also terrible on third downs and couldn’t get a stop on key passing downs. Tennessee should be better against the run in 2022, but it still enters the fall with continued questions in the secondary. The Vols’ defense will hold down the team’s overall ceiling until Tim Banks’ unit gets more talent.

#MeansMoreMailbag: Billy Napier strikes back, top playmaker in the SEC, concerns for Tennessee

Neither…cause WGWTFA!!!!

 

[NighthawkVol]

that would be a staff issue, playing him in the wrong position. JMO

More of a roster one, IMO. He was just filling a hole. Guessing if he’d come back in 2022, he’s a Guard.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

So long as the offensive line, especially Cooper, is healthy I think it will be good enough for us to accomplish what we need to get done on offense.

So defense. Get to the QB and get off the field!

 

[hUTch2002]

Hell Cade rarely played here you can't miss something you never had

Cade’s dad tried to figure out why Cade couldn’t stay healthy but he just couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Sorry, I had to do it.

 

[gunner]

Tennessee’s defense, easy.

Tennessee’s offensive line was beat-up throughout the 2021 season, which didn’t allow the unit to completely gel. Four starters return, and there’s other experience, too. It’s certainly not a group that ranks in the top-half of the conference, but it should be serviceable in an offensive system designed to wear out defensive lines. The Vols should not allow the most sacks (44 last season) in the SEC again, partly because quarterback Hendon Hooker should be more comfortable in Josh Heupel’s system in Year 2 and won’t hold onto the ball as much.

Defensively, the answers aren’t so simple. The Vols’ defense was legitimately good at creating negative plays (program-record 102 tackles for loss, second-most in the SEC), but they hemorrhaged explosive plays almost as often (61 plays allowed over 20 yards, fourth-most in the league). They were also terrible on third downs and couldn’t get a stop on key passing downs. Tennessee should be better against the run in 2022, but it still enters the fall with continued questions in the secondary. The Vols’ defense will hold down the team’s overall ceiling until Tim Banks’ unit gets more talent.

#MeansMoreMailbag: Billy Napier strikes back, top playmaker in the SEC, concerns for Tennessee

Finding suitable CB’s, and pass rushers will be the key to winning 9 or more games this season.

 

[Volfan1000]

Tennessee’s defense, easy.

Tennessee’s offensive line was beat-up throughout the 2021 season, which didn’t allow the unit to completely gel. Four starters return, and there’s other experience, too. It’s certainly not a group that ranks in the top-half of the conference, but it should be serviceable in an offensive system designed to wear out defensive lines. The Vols should not allow the most sacks (44 last season) in the SEC again, partly because quarterback Hendon Hooker should be more comfortable in Josh Heupel’s system in Year 2 and won’t hold onto the ball as much.

Defensively, the answers aren’t so simple. The Vols’ defense was legitimately good at creating negative plays (program-record 102 tackles for loss, second-most in the SEC), but they hemorrhaged explosive plays almost as often (61 plays allowed over 20 yards, fourth-most in the league). They were also terrible on third downs and couldn’t get a stop on key passing downs. Tennessee should be better against the run in 2022, but it still enters the fall with continued questions in the secondary. The Vols’ defense will hold down the team’s overall ceiling until Tim Banks’ unit gets more talent.

#MeansMoreMailbag: Billy Napier strikes back, top playmaker in the SEC, concerns for Tennessee

Defense all night long.