Jayson Swain Quits Football

[WA_Vol]

I talked to my buddy Bob the other day and Bob said, don't be surprised if Jayson graduates and becomes a G.A. at Tennessee or another school. Bob said, that through his dealings around Jayson, Jayson is a student of the game and would make a really good coach.

Bob Kesling?

 

[The Dude]

As this wide receiver class exits, it also gives fans some insight into the actual level of talent UT has fielded over the past few years.

I was thinking the same thing, specifically regarding this year's passing attack and our situation at WR. Considering Ainge helped make Swain look like a good college possession receiver and made Bret Smith look like a nice occasional playmaker, it really makes me feel a little better about this year. Smith wasn't even drafted and by all accounts was immature, which leads me to question what his work ethic and mental capacity for game was. Swain was a keen, intelligent player, who succeeded despite his athletic shortcommings. This incomming WR class, per recruiting gurus, seems to have enough talent. Let's just hope they are more of the mold of Jayson Swain, not Bret Smith. If this is the case, we will have no problems (minus a EA injury, which could happen or is likely, depending on your view).

 

[kptvol]

I was thinking the same thing, specifically regarding this year's passing attack and our situation at WR. Considering Ainge helped make Swain look like a good college possession receiver and made Bret Smith look like a nice occasional playmaker, it really makes me feel a little better about this year. Smith wasn't even drafted and by all accounts was immature, which leads me to question what his work ethic and mental capacity for game was. Swain was a keen, intelligent player, who succeeded despite his athletic shortcommings. This incomming WR class, per recruiting gurus, seems to have enough talent. Let's just hope they are more of the mold of Jayson Swain, not Bret Smith. If this is the case, we will have no problems (minus a EA injury, which could happen or is likely, depending on your view).

I don't think Swain was athletically incapable. I recall him being really highly rated coming out of high school. Those recruiting services are all about athletic ability. I think injuries just really piled up on him and took away speed and agility. Still, as you said, he was a good player because of his smarts and dedication. It would be nice if he were here next year to act as a leader.

Actually, I remember when Tony Brown left after the 2004 season (he was the only senior WR) I thought "no big loss." However, given how outstanding our wide receivers were in 2004 and how pathetic they looked in 2005, I wonder if his leadership didn't help out Swain, Smith, and Meachem.

 

[The Living Legend]

I'm not going to say who Bob is. Bob said, he would like to known as "Bob" and that's it, so I will honor his wishes. I trust his sources so we will see what happens with Swain.

 

[Lexvol]

I don't think Swain was athletically incapable. I recall him being really highly rated coming out of high school. Those recruiting services are all about athletic ability. I think injuries just really piled up on him and took away speed and agility. Still, as you said, he was a good player because of his smarts and dedication. It would be nice if he were here next year to act as a leader.

I don't think he was athletically incapable, and I think injuries did hamper him quite a bit. Yet at the same time he was never really the dominant receiver he was recruited to be either. There are several different factors that contributed to this. It really seemed like it took a while for the "light bulb" to go off with all three of these guys.

I guess my point was that if all three of these guys had lived up to their potential as recruits or if they were actually as good as advertised, they would have been open more often. There is little doubt that Meachem was the only burner in the class, but he waited four years to show it.

 

[rexvol]

Swain seems like a natural for the arena league, he's certainly big enough to play LB on the other side of the ball since most arena guys have to play both ways.

 

[ut 4 me]

i didn't know a lot of arena players played both ways

 

[kptvol]

I don't think he was athletically incapable, and I think injuries did hamper him quite a bit. Yet at the same time he was never really the dominant receiver he was recruited to be either. There are several different factors that contributed to this. It really seemed like it took a while for the "light bulb" to go off with all three of these guys.

I guess my point was that if all three of these guys had lived up to their potential as recruits or if they were actually as good as advertised, they would have been open more often. There is little doubt that Meachem was the only burner in the class, but he waited four years to show it.

I don't know if you ever listend to Cutcliffe when he got on the radio during the 2005 debacle, but he mentioned that the WR's just didn't know how to get open. I think they weren't running very good routes and basically were technically and fundamentally awful. If Trooper Taylor or some other competent coach had been instructing these guys for four years, I think they'd have produced much better and received more NFL attention.

 

[govols182]

I don't know if you ever listend to Cutcliffe when he got on the radio during the 2005 debacle, but he mentioned that the WR's just didn't know how to get open. I think they weren't running very good routes and basically were technically and fundamentally awful. If Trooper Taylor or some other competent coach had been instructing these guys for four years, I think they'd have produced much better and received more NFL attention.

SWEET!