Channing Fugate

#77
#77
I think this is pretty deft move. Fugate is a better athlete than Austin Johnson (not to take anything away from AJ) and has great size for ILB in a 3-4.

He also seems like a pretty smart guy. You have to think that he has a real shot at starting if Sal is asking him to make the switch. You also have to think that they may not feel great about Lather's at this point.

I would MUCH rather have Fugate in there than for us to have to start more true freshman at LB. I think he can be a real leader on the defense which we desperately need. I know that Couch will be a good leader, but we need somebody in the middle of the field as well. Lather's can play that role as well, IF he can play
 
#80
#80
Austin Johnson came in as a LB, but it was Kiffin who made him a FB. IIRC, Austin Johnson had an ungodly amount of tackles as a HS LB.
 
#82
#82
Tallman said:
I hated seeing Fugate's talent being wasted last year. I was wishing they would try him at tailback. Just glad to see him getting a chance to see the field.
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I agree. I think Fugate would be a great FB or TB option for short yardage and goal line situations.
 
#84
#84
Happy about this news. We needed another LB, so let's hope that Fugate makes us forget about Santos. To do that, CF will really have to bring a lot; my guess is that he'll be all in and at this point will like hitting ball carriers more than blocking for them. He should know the book and bring a ton of talent. Will he develop the skills to read the plays, react quickly, close in traffic, and tackle hard? A lot of Vol fans would love to see it happen.
 
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#85
#85
How about CF being a modern day Dion Sanders and play both offense and defense.
 
#90
#90
This move excites me. I heard alot about his defensive skills when he was in high school. Seems like several schools were interested in him as a linebacker. Be fun to watch him progress.
 
#93
#93
The only regret of moving him to LB is that we do not know if they ever gave him a shot at RB. The kid has speed. He showed that in a swing pass that he caught against Kentucky year before last.
 
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#94
#94
SCvol333 said:
this is a great move - he has a lot of athleticism and needs to get on the field - i could see him turning into a really good inside backer - anyone know which LB position they are grooming him for
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Surely it's one of the two ILB positions. I can't see him being used as a pass rusher.
 
#95
#95
Vols would have been bowl eligible if they had played Fugate at RB in short yardage. He is a phenomenal athlete both on offense and defense. He will hit and attack unlike the east - west backs getting playing time in 2011. Maybe he did not block as well as Bartholomew but good grief as poor as the running game was last year not giving him a chance to play in a single back set was ridiculous. Redshirting him would have been a great option if he was not going to get off the bench.

Anyone who saw this kid in high school knows that the Vol offensive staff's failure to utilize Fugate and play him vs. UK was asinine. Randy Sanders brought in a wide receiver to play qb - all the Vols had to do was hand or toss Channing Fugate the ball and it would have been a different outcome.

The lack of a RB coach and offensive confusion really cost the team and Fugate himself. Fugate is a gamer like Dale Jones - he would have been a star in Kiffin's offense but was wrong place = wrong time with Dooley's system. Maybe Sunseri can rescue him and give him a realistic shot to play as LB depth is desperately needed.

I will say this for Johnny Majors = he would give a big man like William Howard or Sam Henderson a chance to play running back - everything was not on a set formula and a big guy as a change of pace was welcome.
 
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#96
#96
knox73 said:
Vols would have been bowl eligible if they had played Fugate at RB in short yardage. He is a phenomenal athlete both on offense and defense. He will hit and attack unlike the east - west backs getting playing time in 2011. Maybe he did not block as well as Bartholomew but good grief as poor as the running game was last year not giving him a chance to play in a single back set was ridiculous. Redshirting him would have been a great option if he was not going to get off the bench.

Anyone who saw this kid in high school knows that the Vol offensive staff's failure to utilize Fugate and play him vs. UK was asinine. Randy Sanders brought in a wide receiver to play qb - all the Vols had to do was hand or toss Channing Fugate the ball and it would have been a different outcome.

The lack of a RB coach and offensive confusion really cost the team and Fugate himself. Fugate is a gamer like Dale Jones - he would have been a star in Kiffin's offense but was wrong place = wrong time with Dooley's system. Maybe Sunseri can rescue him and give him a realistic shot to play as LB depth is desperately needed.

I will say this for Johnny Majors = he would give a big man like William Howard or Sam Henderson a chance to play running back - everything was not on a set formula and a big guy as a change of pace was welcome.
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Excellent post. This kid is a gamer and I think that there may have been something personal between either him or Chaney or Dooley to have kept him off the field. He did his job very well in 2010. The irony is that going into the season they told him that they had a package for him on offense and he was very excited to get the season started.

I am very happy that Sunseri came along and can give this kid a chance.
 
#97
#97
CF lost his spot to Bart. I can only assume it was because he didnt know the playbook or Bart out played him. Honestly couldnt tell the difference when he was replaced. His st play makes me believe he will do something for Sal.
 
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