Dave Ubben tweet on Eric Gray

#26
#26
Volarious said:
Perhaps it’s because he struggled in pass protection early on. Think man....
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Ya I’m not doubting that. But it’s not like he suddenly became a good blocker at the end if he year. He’s a smaller speedy back. He’s never going to be a great blocker. But at the end of the year they put him in more often and rarely asked him to stay in the backfield and block. They sent him out of the backfield into the flat and threw it to him quite a bit. They could’ve certainly used him more that way earlier in the season. Doesn’t matter. Coaches always have to figure out how best to use guys and I think our coaches have learned how to utilize Eric going forward
 
#27
#27
Frozevol said:
I agree. He’s really small, but very quick. Doesn’t have the size to block blitzing LBs on play action. We need a banger to shoulder the load and him to mix it up. I hope we teach him some routes outta the backfield. But he can’t be the every play back.
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Watch the Indiana coach talk after the game. He talks for like 3 min on Eric gray. I think he has a chance to be real good. He's quick on his cuts and fast too
 
#28
#28
Gray is shifty, fast, and has great vision. Big enough to be a great college back. He’s going to be fun to watch next year. He’s no Etienne, but he can be a great college back
 
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#30
#30
VOLnFLA said:
Watch the Indiana coach talk after the game. He talks for like 3 min on Eric gray. I think he has a chance to be real good. He's quick on his cuts and fast too
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Someone would have to be blind not to see he is going to tear up the SEC defenses before his career is over.
 
#31
#31
Holiday might end up being a version of what used to be called a scatback in the olden days. I think back in the Dooley days had two guys who also were elusive WRs who you could call sactbacks.
 
#32
#32
BACKDOC said:
The guy has talent; he showed that vs BYU, but for what ever reason the line did not block for him until the Vandy game. He aint gonna win the Heisman like some might think, and he definitely aint gonna run over anybody. He is pretty good though.
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The reason they didn't block for him was the same reason they didn't block for any of the backs. They couldn't. Toward the end they seemed to get better (or other teams got worse or injured or tired on their d-lines). But I think you are right that he is gonna have trouble running into or over folks for a whole season. Unlike the Travis Henry era spoken of, the running game now seems to require bigger guys to be "bell cow" backs. They must now be able to really block well, catch well, and on top of these things get you the tough 2-3 yards on third or fourth down. If they are able to break away in addition to these things, then you have a "world beater". There are not many of these types around.
 
#36
#36
volKano said:
I think people are expecting too much from him going into next year. He had 4 td’s and 3 were against Vandy along with almost half his yards for the entire season.
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Generally you know pretty quickly what you're going to get out of a RB. He will get better but he's not a Kamara
 
#37
#37
GAVol said:
I keep seeing people say that, yet I don't remember that happening much. Why would DCs bring extra defenders when we struggled to block 6 and 7 man fronts in the first place?
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A LOT of teams walk their Safeties down closer to the line of scrimmage and play 1 deep DB against us.....while playing man underneath on 1st and 2nd down....
It's ultimately gives them 8 in the box....without appearing like it.

Watch the UGA game again and see how many times UGa has 8 guys within 5-8 yards of the LOS...
Watch how they walked a DB/S down close--maybe not within the "box", but to within 5-6 yards of the LOS...

We do try to spread them out to keep them from doing that by going 3/4/5 wide...where UGA only has 5 guys in the box...
But UGA just blitzed their ILBs most of the time on those plays--and we couldn't make them pay by running the ball consistently with from a 4-WR set.

You must have a QB who can make them pay for their lack of respect for the Deep ball....
Maurer did that to Callaway on our 2nd possession--and also made a lot of plays throwing the ball against UGA for most of the first half by taking what was there...

But it didn't last.....

But that game shows how most DCs in the SEC are gonna play us--and have played us...

We just haven't had a QB who could take advantage of it consistently
 
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#38
#38
When asked about Gray as a high school recruit i told many that listened this kid had "it". When i saw him camp with us he just had an extra gear, a different dose of wiggle, and really special type of swag. In cat and mouse drill it was very hard for guys to even get close to putting a hand on him. Chandler was also a special talent but he has taken a beaten at UT. They could be very special with the revamped OL and execution with a competent qb.
 
#39
#39
de1conley said:
When asked about Gray as a high school recruit i told many that listened this kid had "it". When i saw him camp with us he just had an extra gear, a different dose of wiggle, and really special type of swag. In cat and mouse drill it was very hard for guys to even get close to putting a hand on him. Chandler was also a special talent but he has taken a beaten at UT. They could be very special with the revamped OL and execution with a competent qb.
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Barring injury--I think Gray is gonna be a STUD for us!

I think he needs to learn to stop jitter-bugging so much and finish runs falling forward.

However, the kid has a huge lower body that generates a lot of power for him.

To me--he's a faster version of Travis Henry!
 
#41
#41
Devo182 said:
We were 7th in the SEC in passing TDs. 13th in rushing TDs. Just imagine which most complaints are about - QBs or RBs? Predictable negavols.
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Taking a position and sticking with it no matter what reality dictates is the prime directive of many Vol fans and other insane people. In fact the the more evidence against them the more obnoxiously they defend.
It’s easier than learning the game and staying sober.
 
#42
#42
rikberry31 said:
Taking a position and sticking with it no matter what reality dictates is the prime directive of many Vol fans and other insane people. In fact the the more evidence against them the more obnoxiously they defend.
It’s easier than learning the game and staying sober.
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I learned the game and then decided I'd better get drunk if I'm going to enjoy whatever it is we've been doing the past 10 years.
 
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#43
#43
MikeVol44 said:
Barring injury--I think Gray is gonna be a STUD for us!

I think he needs to learn to stop jitter-bugging so much and finish runs falling forward.

However, the kid has a huge lower body that generates a lot of power for him.

To me--he's a faster version of Travis Henry!
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Nah T. Hen was a special guy. We don't have one of those types right now. He is ore of a Coker type with a better mental capacity.
 
#45
#45
Catbone said:
Generally you know pretty quickly what you're going to get out of a RB. He will get better but he's not a Kamara
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To be fair though... Kamara is 20 lbs bigger and it took him a couple of years to become Kamara. Personally I think Pruitt wants bigger backs and we'll see Gray morph into more of a hybrid role. To me, he's got 3rd down back written all over him.
 
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#46
#46
Remy said:
We actually DO see a lot of 8 man fronts. Most of the DCs who coach against us invite us to throw the ball in many cases.
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I didn’t. Drove me crazy watching defenses rush 4 and drop into a two deep zone and we can’t run. I think it’s opposite of what you say defenses were not afraid at all off our running game most of the season. Even Indiana played two deep the whole game.
 
#47
#47
Hey, just shows how great of a poker player CJP is. Holding cards in your hand to the last draw shows guts and smarts. Go Big Orange!
 
#48
#48
GAVol said:
To be fair though... Kamara is 20 lbs bigger and it took him a couple of years to become Kamara. Personally I think Pruitt wants bigger backs and we'll see Gray morph into more of a hybrid role. To me, he's got 3rd down back written all over him.
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Think so? Thatll be Hodge imo. Gray has cuts much more so than power but it'll be interesting to see if they try to put some pounds on him
 
#49
#49
de1conley said:
Nah T. Hen was a special guy. We don't have one of those types right now. He is ore of a Coker type with a better mental capacity.
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okay.....never said Henry wasn't a special talent...

But Henry was about 5'9-5'10"....200-220....and had a huge lower body that enabled him to run thru people--hence his nickname, the cheese.

Gray is about the same height--maybe just a little taller--same huge lower body....but a LOT faster than the Cheese...

When Gray learns to stop jitter-bugging and to plant that foot and head upfield thru the hole---and finish runs....he'll actually end up better than Henry.
 
#50
#50
de1conley said:
When asked about Gray as a high school recruit i told many that listened this kid had "it". When i saw him camp with us he just had an extra gear, a different dose of wiggle, and really special type of swag. In cat and mouse drill it was very hard for guys to even get close to putting a hand on him. Chandler was also a special talent but he has taken a beaten at UT. They could be very special with the revamped OL and execution with a competent qb.
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I thought Chandler would have a big year receiving out of the backfield with Chaney coming in. He only had 13 receptions for 63 yards no TDs. Hopefully next year Chaney will get him more touches out of the backfield.
 
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