Marcus Tatum building on experience from debut

[kamoshika]

"We have confidence in him," DeBord said. "We've had it all the way through. He's a great athlete. He's smart. He's tough. The thing he lacks right now is experience and size, and when I say size I'm talking about weight basically and strength.

"He's a guy we may have to continue to use down the road here, too. We had confidence, and he did some good things and he did some things that he looks back at and says, 'Gosh, I wish I would have done this or that.' That's just part of playing, especially when you're young."

Tennessee's plan was not to play Tatum this season. The Vols loved his potential, his long arms and tall frame and his athleticism. It didn't take him long in preseason practices to show he was ahead of fellow rookies Ryan Johnson and Nathan Niehaus.
Vols' freshman Marcus Tatum building on experience from debut | Times Free Press

 

[OuterBanksVol]

Ideally, he should have redshirt this year instead of having to been pressed into playing. He' only around 260 lbs. Having said that, welcome to SEC level ball and hang in there kiddo.

 

[Roustabout]

the appearance of Tatum really calls into question the roster management and development of this staff. People forget about Blair and you have to scratch your head and wonder why a 4 star prospect couldn't have at least provided emergency snaps. His leaving the program didn't draw much attention.
After all the problems on the Oline you have to start wondering if the problems aren't on the staff.
this article is spin and it's sad we don't have journalists willing to ask tough questions instead of puff pieces.

 

[walkenvol]

Thank God we have VN members like yourself who will second guess every move the coaching staff makes.

 

[Chilmonty]

I hope I live long enough to see a player actually BE redshirted as planned!?! :blink:





Hint: This is Sarcasm!


.

 

[volintheham]

the appearance of Tatum really calls into question the roster management and development of this staff. People forget about Blair and you have to scratch your head and wonder why a 4 star prospect couldn't have at least provided emergency snaps. His leaving the program didn't draw much attention.
After all the problems on the Oline you have to start wondering if the problems aren't on the staff.
this article is spin and it's sad we don't have journalists willing to ask tough questions instead of puff pieces.

It's called terrible online recruiting prior to the Butch years and injuries. Tough question? My 6th grade football player's first comment about Bama was line related about injuries at the game.

 

[vollygirl]

the appearance of Tatum really calls into question the roster management and development of this staff. People forget about Blair and you have to scratch your head and wonder why a 4 star prospect couldn't have at least provided emergency snaps. His leaving the program didn't draw much attention.
After all the problems on the Oline you have to start wondering if the problems aren't on the staff.
this article is spin and it's sad we don't have journalists willing to ask tough questions instead of puff pieces.

Your opinion of Patrick Brown explains a lot.

 

[Roustabout]

It's called terrible online recruiting prior to the Butch years and injuries. Tough question? My 6th grade football player's first comment about Bama was line related about injuries at the game.

I'm not discounting injuries.
Butch's best line was the one Dooley left him. Most those guys have played and are still playing in the NFL. Butch has not recruited the same level of o-lineman. this is year 4. he has signed large he classes without signing an appropriate # of lineman. Especially when u consider attrition.

 

[Roustabout]

Your opinion of Patrick Brown explains a lot.

is this some sort of insult. I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[LittleVol]

I'm not discounting injuries.
Butch's best line was the one Dooley left him. Most those guys have played and are still playing in the NFL. Butch has not recruited the same level of o-lineman. this is year 4. he has signed large he classes without signing an appropriate # of lineman. Especially when u consider attrition.

Hall was injured
Thomas was playing Center because Wiesman went down
Kendrick was injured.

That's 3 guys not available to play tackle. Richmond was manning the left tackle.

Look out our roster... who else was going to play? The best of the 3 true freshman.

Why do people look past injury?

I don't get that lol. What happened to us this year I haven't seen EVER at Tennessee, and haven't seen anywhere else since Florida lost 8 games 2 years back.

 

[Biopsyman]

In this league..Asking guards to play tackle does not work . The DE's are too fast,,,, Overall our Tackle play has been awful especially at LT for several years in a row..

 

[NorthDallas40]

I'm not discounting injuries.
Butch's best line was the one Dooley left him. Most those guys have played and are still playing in the NFL. Butch has not recruited the same level of o-lineman. this is year 4. he has signed large he classes without signing an appropriate # of lineman. Especially when u consider attrition.

That wasn't all Dooleys line tho. And the trend of not recruiting enough linemen started on Dooleys watch not Butchs.

When Butch took the helm he had minimal talent at the skill positions and a void roster of linemen. He was screwed either way he went. Prioritize the skill positions and not have enough sheer bodies for line or add extra bodies in line while not reloading at skill positions? Lose lose. Frankly I think he's done an excellent job at talent acquisition thus far with the choices he's had to make.

 

[JohnD13]

the appearance of Tatum really calls into question the roster management and development of this staff. People forget about Blair and you have to scratch your head and wonder why a 4 star prospect couldn't have at least provided emergency snaps. His leaving the program didn't draw much attention.
After all the problems on the Oline you have to start wondering if the problems aren't on the staff.
this article is spin and it's sad we don't have journalists willing to ask tough questions instead of puff pieces.

No it's sad we have people like you who are fans of UT...or are you?

 

[butchna]

is this some sort of insult. I have no idea what you are talking about.

Patrick Brown is a respected writer , so your opinion looks foolish? :good!:

 

[vollygirl]

Patrick Brown is a respected writer , so your opinion looks foolish? :good!:

Hyams is an excellent journalist.
Multiple sources say Hall is dressed but doing little to no work at practice. Same for Weisman.

The only issue with this is it isn't what you want to hear.

:blink:

 

[TNnative]

the appearance of Tatum really calls into question the roster management and development of this staff. People forget about Blair and you have to scratch your head and wonder why a 4 star prospect couldn't have at least provided emergency snaps. His leaving the program didn't draw much attention.
After all the problems on the Oline you have to start wondering if the problems aren't on the staff.
this article is spin and it's sad we don't have journalists willing to ask tough questions instead of puff pieces.

And this particular post calls into question your intelligence and maturity. You mention Blair and his 4 star rating. Those ratings are made by sports writers, many of whom are idiots. You scratch your own empty head over it. I don't have to. Busts happen. Every program has some. Deal with it.

If you want to criticize the staff, make an intelligent observation to explain where you see their failings that others have missed. We have heard enough puff piece complaints from the band camp crowd.

 

[TNnative]

Hall was injured
Thomas was playing Center because Wiesman went down
Kendrick was injured.

That's 3 guys not available to play tackle. Richmond was manning the left tackle.

Look out our roster... who else was going to play? The best of the 3 true freshman.

Why do people look past injury?

I don't get that lol. What happened to us this year I haven't seen EVER at Tennessee, and haven't seen anywhere else since Florida lost 8 games 2 years back.

When you see the list of injuries that have been released, there is no specific pattern to them. Not for the overall team or to a specific position group. Interesting you mention that Florida team, but you are right, they did have a similar bad run that basically got Muschamp fired.

As to who else was going to play, I know there are some guys listed on the OL who are here to make the honor roll, and be practice bodies. However, in times like these, I gotta ask if these guys are just here to mop up against Tennessee Tech. You only live once. Stand up, knock a few 5 stars on their ass, and have something grand to brag to your grandkids about, and not just that one of your room mate's bust is in Canton.

 

[CreiveHallVol]

the appearance of Tatum really calls into question the roster management and development of this staff. People forget about Blair and you have to scratch your head and wonder why a 4 star prospect couldn't have at least provided emergency snaps. His leaving the program didn't draw much attention.
After all the problems on the Oline you have to start wondering if the problems aren't on the staff.
this article is spin and it's sad we don't have journalists willing to ask tough questions instead of puff pieces.

OR you could take one look at the injuries along the oline and see we needed all hands on deck.

 

[Roustabout]

Hall was injured
Thomas was playing Center because Wiesman went down
Kendrick was injured.

That's 3 guys not available to play tackle. Richmond was manning the left tackle.

Look out our roster... who else was going to play? The best of the 3 true freshman.

Why do people look past injury?

I don't get that lol. What happened to us this year I haven't seen EVER at Tennessee, and haven't seen anywhere else since Florida lost 8 games 2 years back.

Are you illiterate? I just said, im not discounting injury.
Thus my point about Blair. they couldnt get a 4star ready to contribute AT ALL. im not talking about 1st round pick. im talking servicable depth. He left the program with not even a shoulder shrug.

And, also my point about recruiting. 32 players signed one year and how many olinemen? two of which left program.
And my point in another thread about Sanders. And my point about how we're told the Olinemen learn multiple positions in case of injury.

Did I miss anything.

 

[Roustabout]

And this particular post calls into question your intelligence and maturity. You mention Blair and his 4 star rating. Those ratings are made by sports writers, many of whom are idiots. You scratch your own empty head over it. I don't have to. Busts happen. Every program has some. Deal with it.

If you want to criticize the staff, make an intelligent observation to explain where you see their failings that others have missed. We have heard enough puff piece complaints from the band camp crowd.

Hear that everyone. Bama's 4 and 5 stars are only rated so, because of idiot sports writers.
Deal with it.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

the appearance of Tatum really calls into question the roster management and development of this staff. People forget about Blair and you have to scratch your head and wonder why a 4 star prospect couldn't have at least provided emergency snaps. His leaving the program didn't draw much attention.
After all the problems on the Oline you have to start wondering if the problems aren't on the staff.
this article is spin and it's sad we don't have journalists willing to ask tough questions instead of puff pieces.

The 2012 recruiting class. The gift that keeps on giving.

 

[LittleVol]

Are you illiterate? I just said, im not discounting injury.
Thus my point about Blair. they couldnt get a 4star ready to contribute AT ALL. im not talking about 1st round pick. im talking servicable depth. He left the program with not even a shoulder shrug.

And, also my point about recruiting. 32 players signed one year and how many olinemen? two of which left program.
And my point in another thread about Sanders. And my point about how we're told the Olinemen learn multiple positions in case of injury.

Did I miss anything.

I'm not saying you're wrong...
but you are wrong!

See how that works?

You say you're not discounting injuries and then ask why we're playing true freshman .

Uhm... INJURY.

You don't have to thank me for answering your question.

You just wanted to complain is all.

Be better.

 

[vollygirl]

I'm not saying you're wrong...
but you are wrong!

See how that works?

You say you're not discounting injuries and then ask why we're playing true freshman .

Uhm... INJURY.

You don't have to thank me for answering your question.

You just wanted to complain is all.

Be better.

I imagine it's hard when you're a relative. Perspective is different.

 

[Roustabout]

I'm not saying you're wrong...
but you are wrong!

See how that works?

You say you're not discounting injuries and then ask why we're playing true freshman .

Uhm... INJURY.

You don't have to thank me for answering your question.

You just wanted to complain is all.

Be better.

A person jumps out of a plane without a parachute, why did he die. one might say because he didn't have a parachute, the other might say because he defied the law of gravity.

The injuries reveal the lack of depth, the lack of development and attrition.
Tatum played because of paper thin depth and other O-linemen who aren't trusted to fill in on emergency, which again falls back to recruiting and development.
Thus, I'm not discounting injuries. Just showing that the injuries are a factor, but only a revealing cause. The depth and development was bad prior to any injury.

It's simple, if Blair was still on the team and even modestly developed, would Tatum have entered the game?

 

[LittleVol]

A person jumps out of a plane without a parachute, why did he die. one might say because he didn't have a parachute, the other might say because he defied the law of gravity.

The injuries reveal the lack of depth, the lack of development and attrition.
Tatum played because of paper thin depth and other O-linemen who aren't trusted to fill in on emergency, which again falls back to recruiting and development.
Thus, I'm not discounting injuries. Just showing that the injuries are a factor, but only a revealing cause. The depth and development was bad prior to any injury.

It's simple, if Blair was still on the team and even modestly developed, would Tatum have entered the game?

Yeah I think Tatum would have. They are very high on him.

They were never high on Blair.

We lost 3 guys that could be tackle. Thats is a lot! For any team. Even Bama would have been hurting.