Honest Question about the Oline...

[RoaminVol]

How much improvement do we see in the Oline? I understand we are getting some new hog mollies but since they are only freshman, how big of a difference will it make even with Trey Smith coming back?

 

[SoddyAllVol]

I’m still worried about the o-line. Seems to be a recurring theme. I highly highly doubt smith will ever play again and we’ll most likely be starting two true freshman. That is if wright comes. I just hope it’s not more of the same. Although it can’t get any worse....at least I hope not.

 

[TrueVolsGBOInsider]

Depth breeds competition, competition breeds success. It will make a huge difference in the overall attitude of the offensive line. It may be 2 years before we see huge leaps but I’m sure next year we will see a group of tough/physical guys on the o line. If smith can somehow play next year then it’s gonna help out tremendously because that’s 1 spot on the O-line that you wont have to worry about having deficiencies at. Not to mention smith can help the young freshman who were heavily hyped up coming out of high school seeing as he knows all about that with his recruitment. We’re gonna need Kennedy to stay healthy though too because he’s gonna be a leader for the line with all his experience around the SEC.

 

[jakez4ut]

How much improvement do we see in the Oline? I understand we are getting some new hog mollies but since they are only freshman, how big of a difference will it make even with Trey Smith coming back?

It's a developmental position at it's core.

So you hope the returning guys get better as a result of an additional year.

We get an infusion of young talent. Most of it we'll be asked to contribute, Especially Morris and wright (assuming we finish with him).

I think it's fair to exit them to be better. Are they going to get confused for some of the better o lines in the conf? No. But we really shouldn't see as many whiffs and blown assignments as we did this year. That in and of itself will probably help with the sack#'s and run game.... Just knowing where to be, who to block and improved communication.

But we should have a legit 2 deep. You get Kennedy back. Doubtful we get Smith back.

 

[swampfoxfan]

How much improvement do we see in the Oline? I understand we are getting some new hog mollies but since they are only freshman, how big of a difference will it make even with Trey Smith coming back?

I believe it will be solid next year, much better after that, I think Carvin will be a hoss in the future with Kennedy back we are in good shape. I wish the best for Trey Smith.

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

Assuming Smith is unable to return...

We wont have average SEC line until 2020. Next year, we wont have the worst line in the SEC but will still be in bottom tier.

 

[TAF]

They’ve SUCKED for some time...

 

[MSME Vol]

They say this is the year that we should see dividends of an actual weight program. If it is all it is cracked up to be, then hopefully our returners will show up actually able to compete strength wise this year. It was rather apparent last year they just couldn't at times.

Also hopefully all snaps played together from this past year and not losing anyone to draft or graduation will allow some instinctive harmony amongst them on assignments.

 

[savannahfan]

I’m still worried about the o-line. Seems to be a recurring theme. I highly highly doubt smith will ever play again and we’ll most likely be starting two true freshman. That is if wright comes. I just hope it’s not more of the same. Although it can’t get any worse....at least I hope not.

Nice statement.
To expand on freshmen.. They ARE freshmen, the will still be boys among men when playing most SEC teams. If and that is a big if, they can hold their own, down the stretch they will lose some energy ( young, not mature bodies) TIME, TIME, TIME this will take time. Like they say about a good wine "it takes time to mature".

 

[TrueVolsGBOInsider]

They say this is the year that we should see dividends of an actual weight program. If it is all it is cracked up to be, then hopefully our returners will show up actually able to compete strength wise this year. It was rather apparent last year they just couldn't at times.

Also hopefully all snaps played together from this past year and not losing anyone to draft or graduation will allow some instinctive harmony amongst them on assignments.

I’m excited to see what Fitz can do with a whole year now to get these guys bulked up. We should have some “Freaks of the week” all over the position groups if Fitz can replicate what he’s done at his other stops prior to UT. I’m anxious to see what he can do with some of our EArly Enrolles coming in at the beginning of the new year. Fingers crossed that our Two TE commits can be ready to play meaningful ball come September 2019, cause we need their help in our blocking schemes.

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Well we got some absolute studs this recruiting cycle and if we add Wright that is a grand slam on the OL.

Tatum and Niehaus are coming along and Jamir Johnson is already good, he just needs to add 30 pounds.

Trey Smith and Kennedy are the wildcards. If they come back healthy, then we have a tremendous upside.

Richmond is getting better, but it is at a snails pace.

I'm confident our OL will be better than last season. I'm hopeful it will be among the top 7 teams in the SEC.

 

[Chilmonty]

What Oline???

.

 

[ruger1234]

Cut the missed assignments and false starts in half and you’ll see plenty of improvement on the scoreboard. Hopefully we have two tackles other than DR and he’s able to slide into a guard spot

 

[ConantheVolbarian]

They say this is the year that we should see dividends of an actual weight program. If it is all it is cracked up to be, then hopefully our returners will show up actually able to compete strength wise this year. It was rather apparent last year they just couldn't at times.
.

Strength wasn't the issue. At least every few plays defensive players were coming through completely untouched. It would be one thing if our o-linemen were stepping in to block and just got overpowered, but they often didn't even try at all. Go back and watch film and you will see it.

 

[Kinglberry]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. This Oline, besides needing depth, size and skill fit for the offense, needs an attitude adjustment. There has to be at least a few guys with toughness, meanness, and tenacity. When you don't have any, there's no one there to drive these chess players to get physical and fight. Looking at this incoming class, I see a few guys that appear to be that. Losing Kennedy last year was a detriment, without his leadership and persona permeating through the line, we got guys who when it got tough, folded far too often. I'm ready for some Al Wilson, Cosey Coleman grit to return to the line and linebackers. Too many nice guys.

 

[MSME Vol]

Strength wasn't the issue. At least every few plays defensive players were coming through completely untouched. It would be one thing if our o-linemen were stepping in to block and just got overpowered, but they often didn't even try at all. Go back and watch film and you will see it.

Overall I do kind of agree with you, but when you consistently don't believe you can convert 3 & 1or2 then I would argue strength is an issue.

 

[dcm3w]

I've said for about 4 to 5 years now that our OL couldn't get any worse and I've been mistaken every year.

Pruitt is doing well recruiting OL and if he gets Wright, he will have an A in that category.

However, it'll be hard for the OL to be a top unit next year with so much inexperienced talent. So we'll likely reap the rewards the season after. But they have a chance to be way better than last year and that could help us win games.

If Smith can come back which he probably will not, it could really anchor down that line.

 

[shotgun83]

I'm hoping that having the same S&C coach they will get a lot stronger again. They've reduced injuries, now they need to push defenses backwards

 

[NUMBER1VOLFAN]

All you guys are right. The Oline suffered from no competition. That breeds complacency in the starters. We sure saw that. No desire to make that extra effort to make that block. They were like a swinging door, Plus being undersized, we made the other team look loaded with AA's. Bring on a legitimate bench of good 2nd teamers, and, bench a few of those lousy starters. Right now, I enter next season with some optimism, just some, Anybody blown out by Vandy for 2 yrs in a row had better realize he's got a long way to recuperate.

 

[81Orange]

Our oline has been undersized. S&C will help but it takes two years to bulk up most high school players so they can play in this conference. So I think another year is needed.

Under jones zone blocking scheme the footwork was totally different. Most of our linemen haven’t developed the footwork needed. They are slow to react and get off balance. A second year of drills and skills will help, but I think some just don’t have the talent. Jones didn’t recruit it.

And I agree with other posters blown assignments was our biggest problem. Most of the time it seemed like they just didn’t understand their assignments. You have care enough to study and train yourself. You have to watch yourself play and find away to make yourself better. The coaches don’t get enough time with the players to spoon feed them. You have to put in the work. Competition will help.

If the blown assignments can be fixed we can improve. I don’t see the line any better than mid conference due to lack of talent. Year after next much better.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

They’ve SUCKED for some time...

What was that last play all about???!!!

 

[FLVOL_79]

If the new kids on the OL can do simple things like remember who they are supposed to block, this team might be able to pull out six wins next year.

 

[Voljlt]

Overall I do kind of agree with you, but when you consistently don't believe you can convert 3 & 1or2 then I would argue strength is an issue.

Strength isn’t the issue. Two other factors are much bigger...JG calling the right protection (ie reading a blitz) and technique. There were a lot of third downs that defenses just blew right past our guys because they didn’t put out any effort to block. The right side of the line was especially bad for a majority of the season. It just appeared they weren’t taking any coaching or didn’t know the plays.

 

[gnm53108]

A lot depends on the new OC.

 

[Cartervol]

Can't be any worse..