Chris Donald

#26
#26
Rasputin_Vol said:
That is interesting. Seems like Bama has been hitting home runs on the recruiting trail lately. USC, Florida, and LSU seem to get production out of their players and get them to produce early, but we seem to get busts or if we do have good talent, they seem to take forever to make it on the field.

If Hightower would have come to Tennessee, that guy would be on the bench, folks.
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I realize the truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but all these under-performing athletes tell me our staff isn't a mecca for developing talent. I'm sure some just don't pan out, but we seem to get more than our share when compared to the current top 25 schools. I agree it isn't all the staffs fault but I do believe our staff could prepare players better, staff taking plays off basically.
 
#27
#27
what I think is stupid is allowing players that obviusly struggle in game situations to keep playing. Would that qualify as suddenly getting stupid as coaches?
 
#30
#30
isn't Donald a true sophomore? He's not competing for playing time right now, but he's definitely not considered a bust at this point.
 
#31
#31
Mullet said:
isn't Donald a true sophomore? He's not competing for playing time right now, but he's definitely not considered a bust at this point.
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Good call Mullet...CD is/was until now a dominator. If he is "challenged" by the scheme...put him in with a preset playbook for a few specially designed sets...same for JC...build the talent!

I'm sorry CPF...that's called coaching and player development...my bad
 
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#32
#32
cotton said:
What, exactly, are we expecting out of a RS Frosh linebacker?
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Being a Freshman doesn't automatically give a player a free pass. NC State qb a freshman threw 3 td's against an undefeated ECU defense that had beaten 2 top 20 teams. But to your question I'd say a rs freshman by the time he's spent here should have significant increases in stregth, speed, but most importantly a working knowlege of Chavis' defense. We all know it ain't that complicated cheif just stares at you when you bring up mid game adjustments.
 
#33
#33
dan4vols said:
Being a Freshman doesn't automatically give a player a free pass. NC State qb a freshman threw 3 td's against an undefeated ECU defense that had beaten 2 top 20 teams. But to your question I'd say a rs freshman by the time he's spent here should have significant increases in stregth, speed, but most importantly a working knowlege of Chavis' defense. We all know it ain't that complicated cheif just stares at you when you bring up mid game adjustments.
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And he may have done all of those things. It isn't really much of a shame for a freshman to sit behind Jr.s and Sr.s, even the #1 linebacker in the nation. In fact, it is kind of the way it is supposed to work.
 
#34
#34
I figured Chris would not be starting untill atleast his junior year at TN. The competition level in West TN simply isn't that good. I pretty much thought the same about Jabari Greer as well. The only player in recent years overcome that huge gap of talent disperity was Patrick Willis. A classic example of men among boys in high school having to compete against men of their level or better in college.
 
#35
#35
Chris Donald is only a redshirt freshman right? I still think he has time to learn and become a big time player for us. Let's not give up on him yet.
 
#36
#36
Don't get me wrong; I can see where the complaints on the lack of production of our recruits are coming from. However, Tennessee was known for producing talent up until our momumental collapse of a season in 2005, which largely came as a result from a list of busted players in our supposedly stacked class in 2002. When Fulmer's recruiting is at its best, he can build a team using stacked classes, and the number of players we've put in the pros will back that up, but since we haven't recruited squat 2 out of the last 4 years, Fulmer doesn't have the personel anymore to make up for his lack of strategic ability. That's my two cents anyway...
 
#37
#37
AlphaVOL said:
I figured Chris would not be starting untill atleast his junior year at TN. The competition level in West TN simply isn't that good. I pretty much thought the same about Jabari Greer as well. The only player in recent years overcome that huge gap of talent disperity was Patrick Willis. A classic example of men among boys in high school having to compete against men of their level or better in college.
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I thought Jabari Greer played some as a freshman. I remember that fumble return for a touchdown against k state in the cotton bowl but that may have been in garbage time.
btw - another game in this centruy fulmer and co completely let us down.
 
#38
#38
sjt18 said:
John Chavis happened.

Donte Hightower is playing significant time for Bama.

Whatever happens out of this season, I hope it is Chavis' last at UT.
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That post makes a lot of sense. I mean over the years we have seen what a poor job Chavis does of developoing LB talent......


The kid played against very poor talent in high school and it gave him inflated numbers. Plus his athletic ability was so superior to the weak competition that he did not need to know anything about scheme or technique. In college, he doesnt have that same talent superiority and therefore he has to learn a lot to get him ready. He sill has time to develop. And, quit with this #1 LB in the country crap. We know what recruiting rankings mean...Crompton was obviously the 2nd best QB to come out in his class, right?
 
#40
#40
JZVOL said:
It is crazy though CD can't beat out Reviez who was a walk on.
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Actually, it makes perfect sense that Reviez would get on the field faster. Reviez played against much better competition in high school and was not at a big athletic advantage. Therefore he had to work hard in high school on understanding scheme and having good technique. So he came to UTK way ahead of Donald in those areas. He was more prepared to play early. Now once Donald catches up with Reviez in those areas he will pass him up because of his superior athletic ability.
 
#41
#41
therickbol said:
Actually, it makes perfect sense that Reviez would get on the field faster. Reviez played against much better competition in high school and was not at a big athletic advantage. Therefore he had to work hard in high school on understanding scheme and having good technique. So he came to UTK way ahead of Donald in those areas. He was more prepared to play early. Now once Donald catches up with Reviez in those areas he will pass him up because of his superior athletic ability.
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How confident are you that he will?
 
#42
#42
I do not see enough practices to be able to answer that question. I do know that he was far enough behind when he came in that just becuase he hasnt learned it by now is not a sign that he never will. Contrary to the belief of many posters on this site, football is a relatively complex game to learn at the SEC level. And starting from scratch and then learning to play without hesitation once you learn it is not an easy task. I hope he picks it all up because he is a great physical specimen.
 
#43
#43
therickbol said:
I do not see enough practices to be able to answer that question. I do know that he was far enough behind when he came in that just becuase he hasnt learned it by now is not a sign that he never will. Contrary to the belief of many posters on this site, football is a relatively complex game to learn at the SEC level. And starting from scratch and then learning to play without hesitation once you learn it is not an easy task. I hope he picks it all up because he is a great physical specimen.
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:) Preach it
 
#44
#44
therickbol said:
I do not see enough practices to be able to answer that question. I do know that he was far enough behind when he came in that just becuase he hasnt learned it by now is not a sign that he never will. Contrary to the belief of many posters on this site, football is a relatively complex game to learn at the SEC level. And starting from scratch and then learning to play without hesitation once you learn it is not an easy task. I hope he picks it all up because he is a great physical specimen.
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Thanks.

Me too.
 
#45
#45
therickbol said:
Actually, it makes perfect sense that Reviez would get on the field faster. Reviez played against much better competition in high school and was not at a big athletic advantage. Therefore he had to work hard in high school on understanding scheme and having good technique. So he came to UTK way ahead of Donald in those areas. He was more prepared to play early. Now once Donald catches up with Reviez in those areas he will pass him up because of his superior athletic ability.
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I played at the same HS as Reviez and you could be right but I'm not sure about that; as far as high school goes.

Once he got to UT I could see that.
 
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