Let’s Talk Defensive Line

#1
mitzustu

mitzustu

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#1
Looking at our roster do you guys think we are in as much trouble as everyone is acting like? If we count scholarship guys that are already eligible I see 7 defensive tackles (just used everyone 290 and above).

Savion, Simmons, Garland, Harris, Emerson, Gooden, Middleton

That’s deeper than last year IMO. Then you have guys like Taylor that can come down to end in passing downs....

48Ja'Quain BlakelyDL R-Jr. 6-2 283
50Savion WilliamsDL Fr. 6-4 315
51Elijah SimmonsDL Fr. 6-2 344
53Dawson StephensDL R-Jr. 6-1 292
54Kingston HarrisDL R-Fr. 6-3 312
79Kurott GarlandDL R-Fr. 6-3 303
88LaTrell BumphusDL Jr. 6-3 264
90Greg EmersonDL R-Fr. 6-3 310
93Emmit GoodenDL Sr. 6-3 302
94Matthew ButlerDL Jr. 6-4 285
96Airin SpellDL R-Fr. 6-1 284
97Darel MiddletonDL Jr. 6-7 290
98Aubrey SolomonDL Jr. 6-5 306
99John MinceyDL So. 6-3 280
 
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#6
#6
They can "potentially" be serviceable. On paper they don't look bad. Hardly the caliber of other SEC teams though. This is assuming Aubrey Solomon can be ruled eligible and that Savion Williams steps in and is a difference maker right away as people expect. Even with those two things, the depth just isn't there.
 
#7
#7
Jonny Nash once sung "There are more questions than answers"

But the plan is than we just need 3 space eaters to allow the Linebackers to do their work (Taylor, Bituli, To`oto`o, Crouch, JJ etc)
 
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#8
#8
I have a feeling they will be playing with a purpose! And with some help from the back end i believe they will get the job done.
 
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#11
#11
The team has guys with the ability to play in the 3/4. Building a 3 deep that is committed to doing to is the question. I believe that staff can build and develop those guys in year 2 to allow the LBs to preform in the 3/4 well enough to not need to play a 5/2 like we saw last year that gapped the middle.
 
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#13
#13
OK, their are more questions than answers. But, here's the orange colored glasses version that gets our base Front 3 into the "SEC Average" category in quality and depth. This is truly a 6 player rotation position. That's where this group needs to be in order for us to reach our potential in 19'. I'm saying that is 7-5/8-4 and that's maybe on the high side.

Starters who will perform well after a yr of S/C & coaching ...
Emerson / Butler / Gooden

Next 3 who's goal is to not drop off when rotating in ...
Middleton / Mincey / Blakely

Any 2 of these wilcards performing well could be huge, especially by November ...
Solomon(xfer), Garland(rs), Harris(rs), Williams(newb), Simmons(newb), Bumphus(new position)

Here's hoping for at least an SEC Average rotation that allows Pruitt/Ansley to lean on the quality at the 2nd & 3rd levels. If we can improve our D from last season, then our offense should offer a hope of an improved team.
 
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#16
#16
mitzustu said:
Looking at our roster do you guys think we are in as much trouble as everyone is acting like? If we count scholarship guys that are already eligible I see 7 defensive tackles (just used everyone 290 and above).

Savion, Simmons, Garland, Harris, Emerson, Gooden, Middleton

That’s deeper than last year IMO. Then you have guys like Taylor that can come down to end in passing downs....

48Ja'Quain BlakelyDL R-Jr. 6-2 283
50Savion WilliamsDL Fr. 6-4 315
51Elijah SimmonsDL Fr. 6-2 344
53Dawson StephensDL R-Jr. 6-1 292
54Kingston HarrisDL R-Fr. 6-3 312
79Kurott GarlandDL R-Fr. 6-3 303
88LaTrell BumphusDL Jr. 6-3 264
90Greg EmersonDL R-Fr. 6-3 310
93Emmit GoodenDL Sr. 6-3 302
94Matthew ButlerDL Jr. 6-4 285
96Airin SpellDL R-Fr. 6-1 284
97Darel MiddletonDL Jr. 6-7 290
98Aubrey SolomonDL Jr. 6-5 306
99John MinceyDL So. 6-3 280
Click to expand...

Good grief...14 listed as DL. I would surely hope that Rocker can get a solid, SEC-quality rotation of 7-8 out of that. Thanks for posting, OP.
 
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#17
#17
livefaith said:
OK, their are more questions than answers. But, here's the orange colored glasses version that gets our base Front 3 into the "SEC Average" category in quality and depth. This is truly a 6 player rotation position. That's where this group needs to be in order for us to reach our potential in 19'. I'm saying that is 7-5/8-4 and that's maybe on the high side.

Starters who will perform well after a yr of S/C & coaching ...
Emerson / Butler / Gooden

Next 3 who's goal is to not drop off when rotating in ...
Middleton / Mincey / Blakely

Any 2 of these wilcards performing well could be huge, especially by November ...
Solomon(xfer), Garland(rs), Harris(rs), Williams(newb), Simmons(newb), Bumphus(new position)

Here's hoping for at least an SEC Average rotation that allows Pruitt/Ansley to lean on the quality at the 2nd & 3rd levels. If we can improve our D from last season, then our offense should offer a hope of an improved team.
Click to expand...
I almost agree 100% with your post, except I would move S. William's higher up in your levels. I do understand you are saying he is not yet a proven known producer, but I really like what we know of him so far. Watch out!
 
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#19
#19
No matter the season I can’t help but to argue with optimism ha. It’s a fault I cannot overcome.
 
#20
#20
mitzustu said:
Looking at our roster do you guys think we are in as much trouble as everyone is acting like? If we count scholarship guys that are already eligible I see 7 defensive tackles (just used everyone 290 and above).

Savion, Simmons, Garland, Harris, Emerson, Gooden, Middleton

That’s deeper than last year IMO. Then you have guys like Taylor that can come down to end in passing downs....

48Ja'Quain BlakelyDL R-Jr. 6-2 283
50Savion WilliamsDL Fr. 6-4 315
51Elijah SimmonsDL Fr. 6-2 344
53Dawson StephensDL R-Jr. 6-1 292
54Kingston HarrisDL R-Fr. 6-3 312
79Kurott GarlandDL R-Fr. 6-3 303
88LaTrell BumphusDL Jr. 6-3 264
90Greg EmersonDL R-Fr. 6-3 310
93Emmit GoodenDL Sr. 6-3 302
94Matthew ButlerDL Jr. 6-4 285
96Airin SpellDL R-Fr. 6-1 284
97Darel MiddletonDL Jr. 6-7 290
98Aubrey SolomonDL Jr. 6-5 306
99John MinceyDL So. 6-3 280
Click to expand...
Absolutely. 100% yes.
 
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#21
#21
FlyFishnVol said:
Will UT be the best run defense? NO Will they be better than last year? YES
Will UT be the best Pass Defense? YES
LBs are going to be key to UT's Run Defense.

Go Vols!!
Click to expand...

So opposing teams will just need to run the ball?
 
#22
#22
mitzustu said:
I’m sorry but Tuttle (with how injured he was), Bain, etc from last year were not any better than these guys.
Click to expand...
Agree theoretically. Last year’s DL was very bad, but at lest they had some guys with some experience. We’re screwed this year unless we have 3-4 guys just come out of nowhere and play at a very high level.
 
#25
#25
Seems a lot of freshmen, and those who aren't, most seem under 300lbs. So I'm a mite more concerned than I was before.
 
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