Coleman Thomas ready to rebound from freshman struggles

#1
kamoshika

kamoshika

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#1
Looking back, Thomas said he's thankful for the opportunity he had last season.

He also insists he's a much-improved player who's ready to bounce back.

"It's definitely different," he said. "I have experience, and I'm very confident right now. Talking about playing center, it helped me understand the scheme and gist of our offense better at tackle. I've just been focusing on getting better every day and really focusing on my details."
Vols OL Thomas ready to rebound from freshman struggles | Local News | Times Free Press
 
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#2
#2
Expect Brad Matthews to report he's out for the season...right about...now. :glare:
 
#3
#3
hope so. feel like the kid is not getting developed properly bc he is not a tackle. Hes being done a bit of a disservice.
 
#6
#6
No offense, but he didn't look too different last Saturday night when Kahlil ran through him like he wasn't there.
 
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#10
#10
RiseToTheTop said:
hope so. feel like the kid is not getting developed properly bc he is not a tackle. Hes being done a bit of a disservice.
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Agree completely. I keep trying to trust Butch with regards to the OL because I'm certainly not the expert here, he is. But I just keep scratching my wooden head based on what I see with my own eyes and what I read/hear from people much more qualified than me to pass judgment on some of these OL decisions, Thomas at tackle being the most baffling one. Just gotta keep the faith I guess.
 
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#11
#11
I will be pleasantly stunned if Thomas is significantly improved. Kahlil knocked him flat on the ground with minimal pushback. Other teams may not have a Kahlil, but we'll be facing some pretty stout Ds. Glad Thomas is confident and ready to play, though. That's a start.
 
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#12
#12
RiseToTheTop said:
hope so. feel like the kid is not getting developed properly bc he is not a tackle. Hes being done a bit of a disservice.
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He is accustomed to playing center. He has had success at center most of his football playing career.

But he has the body and most importantly the athleticism of a tackle which is hard to find.
Anybody will look like crap if they don't know what they are doing, also from a physical standpoint he isn;t where you want him to be, yet. He has gotten better.

Jones is trying to create competition with limited talented/experienced bodies to make them better.
Thomas will be better...
 
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#13
#13
ajvol01 said:
Lots of OL learn more than one position. It is a huge help when injuries occur.
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i know that but not all kids are the same. They arent robots. For some, its not meant to be. He doesnt have the footspeed or reactive quickness to play Tackle. However, he is a natural center.
 
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#14
#14
We see a minute of video and we're all experts. Coaches see hours of practice drills, rewatch it all on hours of video and are idiots. VN logic.
 
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#15
#15
YorkVol said:
We see a minute of video and we're all experts. Coaches see hours of practice drills, rewatch it all on hours of video and are idiots. VN logic.
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and nobody has ever seen him win a rep at Tackle. Ever.

Not trying to knock him bc i think hes a good interior player. Really trying to defend him bc hes not getting used right. He gets abused worse than anybody on the roster at Tackle. Its actually pretty clear to see. Whether it be a minute video, spring game, open practice or primetime on ABC against Oklahoma.

maybe sometimes people are right.
 
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#16
#16
I was thinking about Josh Smith as a freshman today. He dropped more easy passes than I've ever seen by a Tennessee receiver. At the end of the season, he made the comment about how he appreciated all the faith the coaches had in him and that he would do better. I thought the coaches missed on him and had given him more than enough opportunities. Year two, Smith is a completely different player.

Can Thomas transform in the same way? Thomas is built like a tackle. He isn't strong enough for interior line play (not yet at least). I've not seen enough to feel comfortable that he should be our starting RT. But, I trust CBJ's judgement.

Most of the current staff have proven they can develop players. The jury is still out on Mahoney. This is a make or break year for him, IMO. Hopefully, along with the help of DeBord, they'll get the job done. With all the weapons on offense, the OL doesn't have to be great. They just have to be decent.
 
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#17
#17
KBVol said:
Agree completely. I keep trying to trust Butch with regards to the OL because I'm certainly not the expert here, he is. But I just keep scratching my wooden head based on what I see with my own eyes and what I read/hear from people much more qualified than me to pass judgment on some of these OL decisions, Thomas at tackle being the most baffling one. Just gotta keep the faith I guess.
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Who are these "more qualified" people? Must be the VN armchair QBs and the Hyams led media giants. Of course, the coaching staff is completely ignorant and determined to play people who will lose games. :crazy:
 
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#18
#18
titansvolsfaninga said:
In his defense, Khalil will run a lot of lineman over that aren't paying attention. It was a stunt and Thomas was blindsided so to speak. He was squared up to take on Philips and Khalil just bulldozed him.
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I believe it was Barnett that abused Thomas... but that's no real shame either.
 
#19
#19
sometimes you just have to use your eyes. Its not about getting in a pissing match all the time. The guy gets destroyed at Tackle. We all know it. He is a center. Probably a good one.
 
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#20
#20
volroadwarrior said:
Who are these "more qualified" people? Must be the VN armchair QBs and the Hyams led media giants. Of course, the coaching staff is completely ignorant and determined to play people who will lose games. :crazy:
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In KB's defense, I think he was very measured in his "doubts". The coaches are better informed and qualified than we are. At least 98% of the time, they're absolutely right and we're wrong... but there is that 2 or so percent.

I hope Thomas does great and embarrasses all of us who have questioned him.
 
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#21
#21
RiseToTheTop said:
and nobody has ever seen him win a rep at Tackle. Ever.

Not trying to knock him bc i think hes a good interior player. Really trying to defend him bc hes not getting used right. He gets abused worse than anybody on the roster at Tackle. Its actually pretty clear to see. Whether it be a minute video, spring game, open practice or primetime on ABC against Oklahoma.

maybe sometimes people are right.
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Everybody is citing the k-mac reps as the reason he shouldn't be at tackle. Maybe I'm missing something, but if that's your argument, then how would he fare any better on the interior when he would routinely be going against a huge DT?
 
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#22
#22
RiseToTheTop said:
sometimes you just have to use your eyes. Its not about getting in a pissing match all the time. The guy gets destroyed at Tackle. We all know it. He is a center. Probably a good one.
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According to some, he moved back to OT because he couldn't handle the mental part of being a C.
 
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#24
#24
KBVol said:
Agree completely. I keep trying to trust Butch with regards to the OL because I'm certainly not the expert here, he is. But I just keep scratching my wooden head based on what I see with my own eyes and what I read/hear from people much more qualified than me to pass judgment on some of these OL decisions, Thomas at tackle being the most baffling one. Just gotta keep the faith I guess.
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Coleman has to be the best at that spot. He's gotta be better than our true Tackles... or he wouldn't be there IMO. Sounds like Richmond, Jones, Hall, and Blair still need time.
 
#25
#25
Paul Fortenberry was just on Josh and Will's show talking about how Thomas has improved.

He will be better. It isn't his fault Dooley left Jones with few options at the Oline.
 
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