O-line is the #1 need for 2015

#1
highspeed

highspeed

hijueputa!
Joined
Aug 1, 2011
Messages
3,531
Likes
14,219
#1
We have signed only 5 high school O-linemen in the last 3 years. This year we got Thomas and Raulerson. Last year we took Wiesman, Sanders, and Kendrick. The year before that, Doolittle came up with the brilliant idea of not signing a single one. That is flat out scary. There is no depth, no room for a bust, no one to pick up the slack if there is an injury.

I realize that we picked up a huge juco player this year and that 1-2 of our recent D-line signees may move to the O-line. That helps ease my fears a little, but I still think this is the single biggest need for next year's class.

Discuss!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#3
#3
Wouldn't surprise me to see a DL signee or two end up moving to the OL. Robertson would be my first pick.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 8 people
#4
#4
I trust Butch Jones.

we're gonna land one of the top tackles in the nation.

Entire line is back for 2015 season. So there's time.

V,B
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#5
#5
005 said:
I trust Butch Jones.

we're gonna land one of the top tackles in the nation.

Entire line is back for 2015 season. So there's time.

V,B
Click to expand...

Already have in Jack Jones

And Zach Stewart is really good too
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#11
#11
Where is Mosley projected to play? Some sites have him listed as DL only, but Rivals has him at OL/DL.
 
#14
#14
PassedOutAwake said:
some of the rivals/247 guys predicted Robertson to play OL. butch likes athletic linemen
Click to expand...

I think if one of the DL kids go to OL it would be Robertson. IMO Mosley would need to lose 30-40lbs to play OG for UT. I think he needs to lose 20+lbs to be effective on the DL.
 
#16
#16
No doubt. However, I just flat out don't think we've had a good oline for quite some time. I don't care how many stars those guys had out of HS or how many are going to get drafted... They weren't very good. We weren't good at running or passing. Maybe it was just the culture. Who knows, but I really am ready for a change.

But you're right, we're thin. We go from taking care of one need (or more) only to end up desperately thin at another spot. Oline and qb would be our biggest needs Imo.We have kyberson, stone, and Wiseman that allseem to be ready to play. Aside from them, we need a couple of newcomers to step up and just hope like hell we avoid injuries.
 
#17
#17
We already have two OL and are in great shape with Richmond and Austin Clark, both in the top 100 on Rivals. They might move a guy or two over from the DL but I also wouldn't be surprised if they signed a 5th OL in '15. Tyree St. Louis out of FL is very high on the Vols and might do something soon.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#20
#20
highspeed said:
We have signed only 5 high school O-linemen in the last 3 years. This year we got Thomas and Raulerson. Last year we took Wiesman, Sanders, and Kendrick. The year before that, Doolittle came up with the brilliant idea of not signing a single one. That is flat out scary. There is no depth, no room for a bust, no one to pick up the slack if there is an injury.

I realize that we picked up a huge juco player this year and that 1-2 of our recent D-line signees may move to the O-line. That helps ease my fears a little, but I still think this is the single biggest need for next year's class.

Discuss!
Click to expand...


I agree, and have said so on here with several recent posts. With Orlando Brown not signing I was really hoping Coach Jones would try and go after another OL. But, that said, yes, I trust that he knows what he's doing.

As you said, two of the DLine signees, after all, can be converted to OL if need be, which is comforting.

Besides, I think it's obvious that OL is already THE top priority going forward--slightly ahead of QB--and we have a huge jump on the 2015 class with JJones and Stewart. Also several other highly rated prospects have listed us among their favorites. So we are probably fine unless we get wiped out by injuries--which is always a possibility at any position. But the lack of depth definitely makes it a scary situation on the OL.
 
#21
#21
OP is just starting the conversation and it is a valid observation IMO.

Personally, I am not concerned because they have a really solid top 7-8, many of which play multiple positions, with only one or two that could be gone the following year. Only one in that group, Blair, will not have been in the system last season. However, he is an EE and a junior, so I am not expected any issues there. Add in the 3 of this year's class plus a couple of D-linemen that could move over as the staff determines their abilities. I can see them taking 5 or so in the next class, which will fill in any gaps for the future.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#22
#22
Need enough OL to begin the Red-shirt, Play, Dominate the line cycle.
 
#23
#23
One negative consequence of a lack of depth at OL is that it's going to be hard to dominate the 4th quarter in 2014, IMO. The quality guys we do have are going to be sucking wind by then if they don't have someone to spell them.
 
#24
#24
Vols4us said:
Personally, I am not concerned because they have a really solid top 7-8, many of which play multiple positions...
Click to expand...

Who would you count among those 7-8? I think we can scrape up a fairly solid group of starters, but after that we have nothing but question marks and only 5 bodies to work with (not counting future DL converts).

I like Blair, Wiesman, Crowder, Jackson & Kerbyson as our starting five but even that group has very little experience (194 snaps collectively last year, though Jackson has 6 career starts under his belt). Pair is simply not SEC caliber, I'm afraid, and everyone else is a freshman.

Overall, our depth is perilously thin and if we lose a starter or two at some point, we could very well find ourselves starting 2 or 3 freshmen against the best def. lines in college football. That said, I think Coleman Thomas has terrific promise and would not be surprised to see him supplant Kerbyson at some point next year, but it's always potentially dicey when you start a true frosh OL in the SEC.

I really look forward to having at least 13-15 OL on scholarship, hopefully starting in '15.
 
#25
#25
TNinOR said:
One negative consequence of a lack of depth at OL is that it's going to be hard to dominate the 4th quarter in 2014, IMO. The quality guys we do have are going to be sucking wind by then if they don't have someone to spell them.
Click to expand...

OL isn't as fatiguing as DL. Most OL don't sub unless injury or some type of package change.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top