ESPN's SEC spring breakout candidates: Jason Croom

#51
#51
zmaxwell31 said:
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Makes me nervous the way we use our TE when we do use them...
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When will Jones quit running the ol' "Floppy Knee to the Face Bones" play?? We really need to think of better ways to use our TE's.

Pretty sure we run standard stuff. That appears to be a common but uncomfortable hazard of the game pictured there.
 
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#52
#52
KBVol said:
A poster said he'd be "shocked" if Croom, coming off an entire season missed due to injury and moving to a new position, didn't far exceed both the number of catches and amount of receiving yards of our best TE from a year ago. I just tried to actually discuss the subject rationally rather than throw out some arbitrary statistics that he's just not likely to reach based on history and factors that we know. IMHO, it's analagous to saying "Dobbs is moving from QB to RB, is gonna split carries with Hurd and I'll be shocked, shocked I tell ya, if he doesn't run for 1,500 yards and 18 tds this year". Why would anyone agree with that?
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Yes sir. But just as I am stopping short of pledging that he will post staggering stats in this new position for him ... I am saying we just may not know enough to predict that he won't. :hi:
 
#54
#54
KBVol said:
Any idea how much weight Eli has put on? Iirc, he was about 215 last year and I recall seeing Elliot Berry throw him around like a rag doll in practice "highlight film". I've heard that he's a pretty talented athlete and pass catcher, but I'm assuming he needs much more size and strength compared to last year before he can get on the field.
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He was always going to need 2-3 years in the weight room to have a shot. Next spring will be big for him, especially if Johnson and/or Creamer don't step up and show they can contribute this year.
 
#55
#55
Croom has been thought of as a sleeper for years now. Now late in his college career a position change.

When do you admit that the physical talent may be there but the personal drive to succeed is not? I think that time is now. We may be better off trying others at TE.
 
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#56
#56
Is Croom a RSSr? Being able to go to a 2 TE set and use the Play Action = a LONG week of planning for opposing Defensive Coordinators! GBO!!
 
#57
#57
1982Alum said:
Croom has been thought of as a sleeper for years now. Now late in his college career a position change.

When do you admit that the physical talent may be there but the personal drive to succeed is not? I think that time is now. We may be better off trying others at TE.
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Croom has been through 2 different head coaches, 3 different offensive coordinators, and now 3 different position coaches. Add to that he's lost 2 seasons to injury. And he's been in a group of talented WRs who, as a group, have under-performed for a variety of reasons.

No, I don't think he has a lack of drive. Croom has drawn the short straw. Yet, he's still fighting. He could have transferred, left early, resisted the position change, etc. He didn't.
 
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#58
#58
BACKDOC said:
Ainge says he does not have enough time to pick up the blocking. It's not easy to block an SEC DE, especially when you are a Sr. in college and you haven't done it. I think the coaches are just trying to get somebody halfway ready in case Wolfe were to go down with an injury.
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I think they'll use him more in 2 TE sets. To create mismatches. To keep the opposition guessing a little. At least, that is my hope.
 
#59
#59
Kristy* said:
I think they'll use him more in 2 TE sets. To create mismatches. To keep the opposition guessing a little. At least, that is my hope.
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This is my hope as well.

It's also worth noting that we use our TEs a lot of different ways in the run game. They're not always blocking DEs (I'm also skeptical about Croom's ability to effectively take on DL in the run game). We have a lot of looks and plays where TEs end up being asigned to block LBs or safeties who creep up into the box.
 
#61
#61
Kristy* said:
Croom has been through 2 different head coaches, 3 different offensive coordinators, and now 3 different position coaches. Add to that he's lost 2 seasons to injury. And he's been in a group of talented WRs who, as a group, have under-performed for a variety of reasons.

No, I don't think he has a lack of drive. Croom has drawn the short straw. Yet, he's still fighting. He could have transferred, left early, resisted the position change, etc. He didn't.
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Oh. He is a victim I guess? Nice try but fail. He is not the only player that has had multiple coaches or systems in their careers on the Hill.
 
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#63
#63
1982Alum said:
Oh. He is a victim I guess? Nice try but fail. He is not the only player that has had multiple coaches or systems in their careers on the Hill.
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And he is also not the only receiver that didn't live up to potential. The entire passing game was subpar, not just Croom but "nice try" though.
 
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#64
#64
On a positive note Croom enjoys his SR yr, stays injury-free, and is a reliable target for Dobbs

Staying with the positive trend since the millennium Tennessee has had three sets of bros play TE, with Ethan's production (to-date) alone puts the Wolf boyz atop and still there's plenty to come
 
#66
#66
I would love for Croom to have a monster year. It's definitely not a question of drive, or he wouldn't be on the team anymore.
 
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#70
#70
Anybody doubting Crooms drive go back & watch which receiver who doesn't have the ball quits blocking last.
 
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#71
#71
Jason Croom came up with the idea on his own in the middle of a season that, for him, never really began.

Croom was still recovering from knee surgery in October when he asked Tennessee coach Butch Jones if, once he got back, he could move from wide receiver to tight end. He viewed the idea as his last chance to make an impact.

"I think it can definitely help me out in the future," said Croom, who is working exclusively at tight end in spring practice as he prepares for his fifth year with the Vols. "That's why I decided to go for it. ... I don't want to be a guy who just came through here. I want to be somebody that they talk about when I'm gone. I want people to talk about me when I'm gone, really just leave my legacy. I feel like going to tight end, I can have that opportunity."
Jason Croom can be a 'mismatch' for UT at tight end
 
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#72
#72
KBVol said:
A poster said he'd be "shocked" if Croom, coming off an entire season missed due to injury and moving to a new position, didn't far exceed both the number of catches and amount of receiving yards of our best TE from a year ago. I just tried to actually discuss the subject rationally rather than throw out some arbitrary statistics that he's just not likely to reach based on history and factors that we know. IMHO, it's analagous to saying "Dobbs is moving from QB to RB, is gonna split carries with Hurd and I'll be shocked, shocked I tell ya, if he doesn't run for 1,500 yards and 18 tds this year". Why would anyone agree with that?
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i kinda get what you're saying and i agree, i don't expect croom to turn into gronk in 1 year and obliterate the record books. actually antonio gates is a better more hopeful comparison. gates picked up playing te on a high level very quickly, in which he went from 3rd string to starter by november in his first season playing te in the nfl.

no one said croom was going to double up wolf's stats and no one for sure said he was going to break every record at ut. which is what you insinuated with dobbs breaking every rushing stat in ut history, is not rational at all.

also to note, wolf didn't exactly set the world on fire last year stats-wise so croom exceeding his stats isn't as unbelievable as you think. i think especially since debord is figuring out his pieces a lot more in year 2 of his offense, i expect the offense to have progressed nicely going forward.
 
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#73
#73
I think the major difference in croom being out there this year is those 30 yard seam passes ellis hauled in last year will be scores. Nothing against ellis but croom is faster, stronger and more physical.
 
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#74
#74
Ertel said:
I think the major difference in croom being out there this year is those 30 yard seam passes ellis hauled in last year will be scores. Nothing against ellis but croom is faster, stronger and more physical.
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Ellis put up pretty good numbers at his Pro day though. Would have been top 2-3 among TEs at the combine in pretty much every category.
 
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#75
#75
Ertel said:
I think the major difference in croom being out there this year is those 30 yard seam passes ellis hauled in last year will be scores. Nothing against ellis but croom is faster, stronger and more physical.
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Faster - yes a bit but Ellis ran a 4.6 so he's not slow.
Stronger - probably a wash there.
More physical - you lost your credibility there as that's been the knock on Croom since he's been at UT.

Overall I agree with you that Croom can be an effective weapon at TE if he can somehow stay healthy...don't think he's made it through a complete season yet without injury?
 
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