Offensive Line will be a strength for the 2025 Vols

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

If you're dominant on both lines of scrimmage you'll win a lot of games even if the passing game is less than desired. That's how Saban won most of his national titles at Alabama. They just beat you up on defense and ran the ball. That will always be a formula for success.

That and the 1st round picks and Heisman finalists and winners he recruited at QB, running backs, and wide receiver. And the first round picks at linebacker and DB. Actually in retrospect, it seems like he won because he recruited a bunch of elite guys at every position every single year.

 

[1974Vol]

its hard to be worse than it was last year, especially in pass protection. Hopefully those guys have a chip on their shoulder. If I hear one more national pundit say that "we are replacing 4 of 5 starters on the o-line" I might lose it. We got two of the best guards in the portal with lots of experience and two five stars at tackle spots gtfo with that ********.

Last years OL was an outstanding run blocking group. Sampson didn't break the all time rushing record on his own. A lot of those sacks came because when under pressure Nico's eyes came down. He did not have the instincts that Hooker had to avoid rushers while focusing down field to make a play. That said this years group looks the part. Huge, cut, no jelly belles. You have to be fast and athletic to run stretch plays because you're not blocking the guy in front of you you're reaching outside to the next defender. It forces defenses to be discipled and stay in their gap and try to run the play into the sideline. There is no "hole" per se, the RB is looking for a cutback lane. If you get cute and try to crash the backside DE and run the play down from behind the QB can keep it for a big gain because you've given up your backside contain. Should be fun to watch. P.S. Nico's daddy is about to find out what a truly bad OL looks like when the Bruins get into the heart of that BIG 10 schedule.

 

[JohnnyJava]

Wonder why only Merk had the Go Pro on his helmet. Speculation?

 

[DPMVOLS]

We haven’t had a good replacement for the 2022 OPOY to date.

How about a guy be the name of Dylan Sampson? It doesn’t have to be a quarterback every year!

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

How about a guy be the name of Dylan Sampson? It doesn’t have to be a quarterback every year!

No it doesn’t. But our track record of replacing those guys is not good, and someone acted as if we will be fine losing one. Granted, it is easier to replace a running back than a QB.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

They were also by far the best unit of the team in 2023 and returned pretty much everyone but Baron, so he wasn’t exactly going out on a limb.

Say, OP, are there any units on the team that aren’t going to be outstanding?

I think we're at best looking at a game manager at QB. WR depth leaves a lot to be desired. We'll need our top 3 WRs to stay healthy. Those are really the only question marks on this team. And possibly depth in the secondary cause we'll have tons of true freshman and redshirt freshman providing depth.

All other positions look loaded.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

I think we're at best looking at a game manager at QB. WR depth leaves a lot to be desired. We'll need our top 3 WRs to stay healthy. Those are really the only question marks on this team. And possibly depth in the secondary cause we'll have tons of true freshman and redshirt freshman providing depth.

All other positions look loaded.

I just can’t imagine your excitement if we ever do have a truly loaded team. In reality this team has medium-sized to enormous question marks at each positional unit. We will probably like the answer to some of those, but there are too many for the answers to all come back in our favor.

 

[dduncan4163]

Last years OL was an outstanding run blocking group. Sampson didn't break the all time rushing record on his own. A lot of those sacks came because when under pressure Nico's eyes came down. He did not have the instincts that Hooker had to avoid rushers while focusing down field to make a play. That said this years group looks the part. Huge, cut, no jelly belles. You have to be fast and athletic to run stretch plays because you're not blocking the guy in front of you you're reaching outside to the next defender. It forces defenses to be discipled and stay in their gap and try to run the play into the sideline. There is no "hole" per se, the RB is looking for a cutback lane. If you get cute and try to crash the backside DE and run the play down from behind the QB can keep it for a big gain because you've given up your backside contain. Should be fun to watch. P.S. Nico's daddy is about to find out what a truly bad OL looks like when the Bruins get into the heart of that BIG 10 schedule.

Top Comment

 

[dduncan4163]

Last years OL was an outstanding run blocking group. Sampson didn't break the all time rushing record on his own. A lot of those sacks came because when under pressure Nico's eyes came down. He did not have the instincts that Hooker had to avoid rushers while focusing down field to make a play. That said this years group looks the part. Huge, cut, no jelly belles. You have to be fast and athletic to run stretch plays because you're not blocking the guy in front of you you're reaching outside to the next defender. It forces defenses to be discipled and stay in their gap and try to run the play into the sideline. There is no "hole" per se, the RB is looking for a cutback lane. If you get cute and try to crash the backside DE and run the play down from behind the QB can keep it for a big gain because you've given up your backside contain. Should be fun to watch. P.S. Nico's daddy is about to find out what a truly bad OL looks like when the Bruins get into the heart of that BIG 10 schedule.

Oh yeah he has a bunch of 3 Stars protecting him and more 3 Stars catching his passes. I can't wait to see his return to The Shoe. He will have sunburns on the bottom of his feet come Sunday morning

 

[swampfoxfan]

Oh yeah he has a bunch of 3 Stars protecting him and more 3 Stars catching his passes. I can't wait to see his return to The Shoe. He will have sunburns on the bottom of his feet come Sunday morning

Hopefully so.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

I just can’t imagine your excitement if we ever do have a truly loaded team. In reality this team has medium-sized to enormous question marks at each positional unit. We will probably like the answer to some of those, but there are too many for the answers to all come back in our favor.

The questions are mostly because of inexperience not talent. On paper this will be Huepel's most talented roster since he got here. Given what he's been able to do with less I don't get the pessimism with this team. Yes we're inexperienced but that doesn't mean we can't be great.

I think this will be Huepel's best team yet.

 

[207 others]

Last year I correctly predicted the d-line would be one of the best in the country:

2024 Vols will have the best d-line in the country....BY FAR

Just watched some of the early footage from day 1 of fall camp and it looks like we have a loaded roster. Talent all over the field. But the group that stands out above the rest is the d-line. It's insane how much talent and depth we have at that position. We literally can go 3-deep at every...

www.volnation.com

Well this year I'm predicting the offensive line will be just as good. Just watching clips from practice and WOW the big boys on the o-line look mighty impressive this year. They are totally different physically from the soft flabby guys we saw last year taking their shirts off before the Ohio State game.

David Sanders does not look like a freshman. He looks like a franchise left tackle in the NFL. Lance Heard looks way better than he did last year. And behind them I see loads of depth.

Expect the run game to be dominant once again and whatever QB we have under center will look good thanks to our dominant offensive line in 2025.

You have predicted a lot of things well. The d line prediction was pretty damn good, no one really thought we'd be top 5 d line but d4h lol

 

[utchs81]

I'm always skeptical of a D4H prediction, once bitten and all that stuff, but am hoping this one is accurate to the max. But just imagine all of crowing we'll have to endure if it comes to fruition.

 

[nomads-11]

Last year I correctly predicted the d-line would be one of the best in the country:

2024 Vols will have the best d-line in the country....BY FAR

Just watched some of the early footage from day 1 of fall camp and it looks like we have a loaded roster. Talent all over the field. But the group that stands out above the rest is the d-line. It's insane how much talent and depth we have at that position. We literally can go 3-deep at every...

www.volnation.com

Well this year I'm predicting the offensive line will be just as good. Just watching clips from practice and WOW the big boys on the o-line look mighty impressive this year. They are totally different physically from the soft flabby guys we saw last year taking their shirts off before the Ohio State game.

David Sanders does not look like a freshman. He looks like a franchise left tackle in the NFL. Lance Heard looks way better than he did last year. And behind them I see loads of depth.

Expect the run game to be dominant once again and whatever QB we have under center will look good thanks to our dominant offensive line in 2025.

Well, whatever happens, happens, but I hope you're as right as you were last year. I'm so satisfied to hear this not only here, but from many of the talking heads online as well - such as Austin Price, etc. This is the first year, in several, where they're actually saying the OL has a chance to be really good. Whether they are or not due to whatever (under performance or injury) its nice to hear. And the talking heads are usually not that far off, and you can watch short clips that visually show they look MUCH differently than the past.

It's always disturbed me that CJH, touted as an offensive minded coach, would even let question marks surround his OL, much less put out one out there that seemed to have the most questions of any offensive group (and they were right IMO). Many of us will agree, this is a trenches league and last year's DL was pretty darn good. Imagine what could happen if an OL matched it, delivering an even better running game, red zone results and providing the QB an extra second or two in the passing game. That might sound small....an extra second, better red zone performance, but they're difference makers. So, again, I hope you are right - because that means we'll be very competitive.

 

[camp_steveo]

Last year I correctly predicted the d-line would be one of the best in the country:

2024 Vols will have the best d-line in the country....BY FAR

Just watched some of the early footage from day 1 of fall camp and it looks like we have a loaded roster. Talent all over the field. But the group that stands out above the rest is the d-line. It's insane how much talent and depth we have at that position. We literally can go 3-deep at every...

www.volnation.com

Well this year I'm predicting the offensive line will be just as good. Just watching clips from practice and WOW the big boys on the o-line look mighty impressive this year. They are totally different physically from the soft flabby guys we saw last year taking their shirts off before the Ohio State game.

David Sanders does not look like a freshman. He looks like a franchise left tackle in the NFL. Lance Heard looks way better than he did last year. And behind them I see loads of depth.

Expect the run game to be dominant once again and whatever QB we have under center will look good thanks to our dominant offensive line in 2025.

That's what I like to hear!

GBO

 

[Vol8188]

“Last year I correctly predicted the group everyone knew was elite, would be elite”-D4H.

Solid work!

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

“Last year I correctly predicted the group everyone knew was elite, would be elite”-D4H.

Solid work!

Go back and read that thread. It was not universal that we would be THAT good. There's levels to it. Most thought we would be good cause we were the previous year. However, few predicted we would be as DOMINANT as we turned out to be. Remember for parts of the year last season our d-line was the talk of the league. They were out there dominating like nobody else in the country. Especially in terms of depth. So yes while most thought we would be good few thought we would be as dominant we turned out to be.

 

[Vol8188]

Go back and read that thread. It was not universal that we would be THAT good. There's levels to it. Most thought we would be good cause we were the previous year. However, few predicted we would be as DOMINANT as we turned out to be. Remember for parts of the year last season our d-line was the talk of the league. They were out there dominating like nobody else in the country. Especially in terms of depth. So yes while most thought we would be good few thought we would be as dominant we turned out to be.

You have an amazing ability to completely misrepresent everything.

1. You claimed we would have the absolute best dline in the country. We didn’t.

2. You claimed Ross and Jenkins would break out. You were wrong here too.

Now you’re intentionally changing to claim to “one of the best in the country”. Everyone knew that. Pierce has already been talked about as a potential number 1 overall pick

 

[#1fulmerite]

On paper they do look amazing. If they can gel quickly they have a chance to be elite so I'm buying with you're selling

Feels like ‘98!

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

You have an amazing ability to completely misrepresent everything.

1. You claimed we would have the absolute best dline in the country. We didn’t.

2. You claimed Ross and Jenkins would break out. You were wrong here too.

Now you’re intentionally changing to claim to “one of the best in the country”. Everyone knew that. Pierce has already been talked about as a potential number 1 overall pick

Jayson Jenkins did break out. Why do you think Florida State paid him? He made plays for us all year.

And if we didn't have the best d-line who did? I think we were definitely in the conversation. We only made it as far as we did last year because of their dominance. Especially during that stretch in the middle of the season where we couldn't score in the first half.

 

[Vol8188]

Jayson Jenkins did break out. Why do you think Florida State paid him? He made plays for us all year.

And if we didn't have the best d-line who did? I think we were definitely in the conversation. We only made it as far as we did last year because of their dominance. Especially during that stretch in the middle of the season where we couldn't score in the first half.

Probably Michigan or Ohio State. But no, leaving and breaking out aren’t the same thing. We have numerous guys who left and went to big schools who didn’t “break out”

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Probably Michigan or Ohio State. But no, leaving and breaking out aren’t the same thing. We have numerous guys who left and went to big schools who didn’t “break out”

Michigan was trash last year. How could they have had the best d-line? And just cause you win the national title doesn't mean you were the best at every position group. Who on Ohio State's d-line got drafted ahead of Pearce and Norman-Lott?

With regard to Jayson Jenkins you might not think he was that good but I did. Which is why if you check the transfer portal thread I was very disappointed when we let him walk. I know we had Tyre West who is another stud at strongside defense end but I thought Jenkins was a future pro and you don't let future NFL players leave imo.

 

[Vol8188]

Michigan was trash last year. How could they have had the best d-line? And just cause you win the national title doesn't mean you were the best at every position group. Who on Ohio State's d-line got drafted ahead of Pearce and Norman-Lott?

With regard to Jayson Jenkins you might not think he was that good but I did. Which is why if you check the transfer portal thread I was very disappointed when we let him walk. I know we had Tyre West who is another stud at strongside defense end but I thought Jenkins was a future pro and you don't let future NFL players leave imo.

Michigan was trash or their defensive line was? That’s obviously not the same question, you think a Duke grad would understand that.