Jeremy Banks named to Butkus Award watchlist

[VAVol85]

His overall defensive grade was 28th out of all LBs in the SEC. His run defense grade was worse than that. He made a lot of tackles and is getting exposure for that. That's a great thing, but he has a long way to go. There's reasons to love him (how hard he plays), but we need him to take a major step this season.

You can argue PFF player grades aren't perfect (and I would agree), but they're not so far off that he was an elite LB and ranked 28th.

Edit: To be completely fair you could call him 27th because Brown was a transfer meaning that 87.5 grade wasn't against the SEC. There may be other transfers on that list but the point still remains

View attachment 475438

Banks was named 3rd team pre-season All-SEC LB which sounds about right to me. He gets to the ball well, tackles well (and often), and is a durable, high energy guy. He gets hung-up on downfield blocks, is so-so in pass coverage (maybe scheme related) and sometimes out of position so he ends up chasing the play. If he works hard and lives in the film room, he can have a good payday.

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

Literally, Big Orange Train repeatedly says that when brought up.
LITERALLY

Well there's your problem. Absolutely nobody should listen to him.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

There's a large list above you.

And it's based on what exactly? If I am not mistaken, Banks was 2nd in tackles in SEC last year, and first in tacklers returning, yet there are not one, not two, not three, but four LSU linebackers on this list above Banks? I live in Baton Rouge and read the sports page every day, but have never heard of West Weeks. So, again I ask, whose list is this, and based on what?

 

[Vol8188]

And it's based on what exactly? If I am not mistaken, Banks was 2nd in tackles in SEC last year, and first in tacklers returning, yet there are not one, not two, not three, but four LSU linebackers on this list above Banks? I live in Baton Rouge and read the sports page every day, but have never heard of West Weeks. So, again I ask, whose list is this, and based on what?

It's mentioned in the original post. Those are PFF grades. PFF (Pro Football Focus) is a site that grades every play and works with NFL teams in evaluating players. So they're saying based on his game film last year, he was the 27th best LB in the SEC.

 

[Vol8188]

Banks was named 3rd team pre-season All-SEC LB which sounds about right to me. He gets to the ball well, tackles well (and often), and is a durable, high energy guy. He gets hung-up on downfield blocks, is so-so in pass coverage (maybe scheme related) and sometimes out of position so he ends up chasing the play. If he works hard and lives in the film room, he can have a good payday.

I agree with most of this. I don't dislike him. There's a lot to love (plays hard, tough, comeback story, etc). He's just not arrived at an elite status as of today, but I would love to see it.

 

[vettefool]

It's ironic, if you know who Dick Butkus is and what he is known for. Banks fits the profile perfectly. It was once stated during Butkus' playing days that he alone accounted for the majority of the penalties on the Bears defense. So Banks, Butkus the heck out of the opposition. They shouldn't be on the field anyway.

It is possible that Dick Butkus was the meanest, nastiest, fiercest linebacker to ever put on a helmet. More than a quarter of a century after his retirement, there remains the Butkus image: the middle linebacker wrapping up a running back and viciously slamming him to the ground like an unwanted toy. There is also the famous photograph of No. 51 with his lips curled in contempt taken during a game in 1968. Source: ESPN.com: Butkus was one mean Bear

Great, now we are comparing Banks to Dick Butkus. You people kill me.

 

[overseasorange2]

Banks is a little above avg, but he is no T'oo'to (?)

 

[Vol8188]

... and we had a significant group here at VN that wanted this young man run out of town on a rail .... because of something he said. Granted he had no business saying that kind of tripe but I'm tickled he did what was necessary to turn things around and play for UT.

He threatened to stalk and kill a young woman. Saying things like how he wouldn’t forget her and how where he’s from they kill cops. The outrage wasn’t misplaced, but I’m still glad to see him doing well and hopefully he’s grown. We’ve all been young and dumb, but on that night he took it pretty far

 

[KnoxToTheBoro93]

I’ve made it clear on multiple threads that 33 is a dog and my favorite defender on the roster… most ppl too stuck on his past that he has more than made up for and can’t see how much he has developed… he plays with a passion and motor that you can’t coach is he perfect no but give me 11 players that play with his level of intensity and we would be the best defense in the country… correct me if I’m wrong but I can’t remember any PF penalties over the last 2/3 of last season… year 2 with all his experience and tape and he is going to have a huge year for us GBO.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Please google West Weeks and explain how he is a better linebacker than Banks. Also the Vanderbilt linebackers (yes, plural). And while you are at it remove all the ones who are no longer in the SEC, as the question is how good of a linebacker in the SEC at this time. LOL.

 

[Vol8188]

Please google West Weeks and explain how he is a better linebacker than Banks. Also the Vanderbilt linebackers (yes, plural). And while you are at it remove all the ones who are no longer in the SEC, as the question is how good of a linebacker in the SEC at this time. LOL.

I can remove everyone from last year, sure. I can't remove transfers (Brown and Weeks). But it's still not good. 14th/22 LBs who played enough to be graded.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

I can remove everyone from last year, sure. I can't remove transfers (Brown and Weeks). But it's still not good. 14th/22 LBs who played enough to be graded.
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West Weeks is also a transfer. He has 0 tackles in the SEC. But he has started in a college football game. One of them. At Virginia. But ... someone on the internet said he is better than Banks, so, gosh, I guess it must be true. And by the way, Pro Football Focus is the product of Gator Chris Collinsworth. SMDH.

 

[Vol8188]

West Weeks is also a transfer. He has 0 tackles in the SEC. But he has started in a college football game. One of them. At Virginia. But ... someone on the internet said he is better than Banks, so, gosh, I guess it must be true. And by the way, Pro Football Focus is the product of Gator Chris Collinsworth. SMDH.

So you think they intentionally risk their own business by underrating UT players as some sort of revenge because he played for Florida? Especially given the only Florida LB on the list is below Banks

More likely scenario: Weeks played really well in limited time at Virginia which is why he was able to transfer to LSU.

 

[LittleVol]

Yup...that's what I thought .

No one could counter agrue.
Nobody.

Banks will be a NFL starter two + years from THIS DAY. And Pruitt will have been right about him haha.

 

[Vol8188]

Yup...that's what I thought .

No one could counter agrue.
Nobody.

Banks will be a NFL starter two + years from THIS DAY. And Pruitt will have been right about him haha.

This is one weird move. Ignore all counter arguments and then proclaim victory.

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

Yup...that's what I thought .

No one could counter agrue.
Nobody.

Banks will be a NFL starter two + years from THIS DAY. And Pruitt will have been right about him haha.

Not sure about that. He reminds me of Maggit. Fairly decent to good at times but never gonna make much of a mark in the NFL. He's the best we got though, no doubt about that.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Great, now we are comparing Banks to Dick Butkus. You people kill me.

Fact 1: My post wasn't a comparison. It was a statement that given Banks' aggressiveness, and being on the Butkus Award watch list was irony given who Butkus is and what he was known for. A dig at some fans on VN who consider Banks' too penalty prone due to said aggressiveness.

Fact 2: If you want to bemoan Banks being compared to Dick Butkus, lay into the people nominating him for the award watch list. While the award has glorified intentions, it exists in part due to DB's seed money, and in part, a great part actually, to DB's fearsome fame as a LB. Further, topping it off are past winners below, none of who you'd want to meet, shall we say, across the middle.

Three players have won both the collegiate and professional Butkus Awards: former linebacker Patrick Willis (2006, 2009), Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (2010, 2012), and Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017)

Now since you people kill you, that's a crime, I'll report it to the nearest police department. I know, I know, I know, I is am an ebil person.

 

[LittleVol]

Not sure about that. He reminds me of Maggit. Fairly decent to good at times but never gonna make much of a mark in the NFL. He's the best we got though, no doubt about that.

Hahaha.
He had more tackles in one season than Maggit had his WHOLE CAREER at UT .
Only thing they have in common is dreadlocks and playing for Tennessee!

Nice try, but you didn't answer the question.
Who's a better ILB than him?

 

[jackaro]

... and we had a significant group here at VN that wanted this young man run out of town on a rail .... because of something he said. Granted he had no business saying that kind of tripe but I'm tickled he did what was necessary to turn things around and play for UT.

Just imagine wanting consequences for someone that overtly threatened a police officer and an innocent college coed. Wow, some people! Don't they know that football is more important than all of that.

 

[stevenrich2003]

Personally, I am very proud of Banks. I know he got into some trouble when he first landed in Knoxville. There were a lot of people ready to run him off. I am glad to see that he has kept his behavior in check and his play on the field has been outstanding. Lord knows I have done plenty of stupid in my life.... Just not in the public eye like him. GO BANKS!!!

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Personally, I am very proud of Banks. I know he got into some trouble when he first landed in Knoxville. There were a lot of people ready to run him off. I am glad to see that he has kept his behavior in check and his play on the field has been outstanding. Lord knows I have done plenty of stupid in my life.... Just not in the public eye like him. GO BANKS!!!

He's like a valuable gemstone. Started out rough, flawed (we're all flawed), but has polished himself up quite a bit over the years. Still probably some rough edges to work on, but much better appreciated today than when he first arrived.

 

[EODVOL]

I’ve made it clear on multiple threads that 33 is a dog and my favorite defender on the roster… most ppl too stuck on his past that he has more than made up for and can’t see how much he has developed… he plays with a passion and motor that you can’t coach is he perfect no but give me 11 players that play with his level of intensity and we would be the best defense in the country… correct me if I’m wrong but I can’t remember any PF penalties over the last 2/3 of last season… year 2 with all his experience and tape and he is going to have a huge year for us GBO.

The dude plays hard much like Juan Jennings. I recall when even JJ wasn't a fan favorite but by his final year the man could do no wrong. Crazy how much a young man can mature in a couple of years. Vols need to cut Banks some slack. The guy was young, and not acclimated to those environments outside of what he was conditioned. I am willing to bet he has learned a lot.

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

Hahaha.
He had more tackles in one season than Maggit had his WHOLE CAREER at UT .
Only thing they have in common is dreadlocks and playing for Tennessee!

Nice try, but you didn't answer the question.
Who's a better ILB than him?

I wasn't the one having that argument with you so I don't know what you're even talking about. He certainly did have as good a career here as say, JRM had here. And his nfl career has been decent but certainly not great. Banks might make the NFL, but it'll be on a practice squad.

 

[LittleVol]

I wasn't the one having that argument with you so I don't know what you're even talking about. He certainly did have as good a career here as say, JRM had here. And his nfl career has been decent but certainly not great. Banks might make the NFL, but it'll be on a practice squad.

You still aren't answering the question!

Just say "I don't know ".

Yeah people like you are the same ones saying Alontae Taylor would go undrafted . You're just making a bunch of statements without ANY ounce of analysis.

Practice squad lol.
One of the top returning LBs in the best conference of college football will just be a practice squad player in the NFL at best .
Sure buddy

Edit: FP#1
(This is a prediction stamp that I can reference back to later on)

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

You still aren't answering the question!

Just say "I don't know ".

Yeah people like you are the same ones saying Alontae Taylor would go undrafted . You're just making a bunch of statements without ANY ounce of analysis.

Practice squad lol.
One of the top returning LBs in the best conference of college football will just be a practice squad player in the NFL at best .
Sure buddy

Edit: FP#1
(This is a prediction stamp that I can reference back to later on)

Nah I knew AT would be a high pick. I expect ALL-PRO type career from him. But Banks just isn't on that level yet. I sincerely hope he gets there this season.