Our best OL combo

[keenobserver]

RT: Mays
RG: Carvin
C: Kennedy
LG: Smith
LT: Morris

I hate to sound dramatic, but if you watch carefully, Mays is the best OL we've had in a long time. The overwhelming majority of our long runs today involved Mays driving someone out of the TV screen. He's quick off the LOS and obviously powerful. He was extremely comfortable road grating and in pass protection.

I know he flip flopped from OG to OT, but his work at OT was something to behold. I'm not against Wright playing some, but it's glaringly obvious who the best 5 are...

 

[chazman]

RT: Mays
RG: Carvin
C: Kennedy
LG: Smith
LT: Morris

I hate to sound dramatic, but if you watch carefully, Mays is the best OL we've had in a long time. The overwhelming majority of our long runs today involved Mays driving someone out of the TV screen. He's quick off the LOS and obviously powerful. He was extremely comfortable road grating and in pass protection.

I know he flip flopped from OG to OT, but his work at OT was something to behold. I'm not against Wright playing some, but it's glaringly obvious who the best 5 are...

Thats why I hated losing him to start with If I remember correctly we would have had the # 1 offensive lineman 2 years in a row coming out of high school

 

[Eastknox865]

One thing I do know it's going to be a battle Saturday in the trenches

 

[LordBolton]

Remembering Shy Tuttle, I think the biggest concern I have is UGA cheapshots, especially against Mays.

 

[NighthawkVol]

RT: Mays
RG: Carvin
C: Kennedy
LG: Smith
LT: Morris

I hate to sound dramatic, but if you watch carefully, Mays is the best OL we've had in a long time. The overwhelming majority of our long runs today involved Mays driving someone out of the TV screen. He's quick off the LOS and obviously powerful. He was extremely comfortable road grating and in pass protection.

I know he flip flopped from OG to OT, but his work at OT was something to behold. I'm not against Wright playing some, but it's glaringly obvious who the best 5 are...

I’ll disagree on two points:
1) Trey Smith is the best OL we’ve had in a long time.
2) I prefer Mays at RG with Wright at OT. Having Smith, Kennedy, and Mays on the interior is our best chance to blow open holes in the run game. I like Carvin, but Wright is a former 5* who will play on Sundays.

 

[TAF]

It's nice to have choices...and combinations...

And NOT just the Sullins Bros...

 

[tennesseepride84]

One thing i do know for certain... I love wanye on the pulling kick out blocks while the other lineman wash down, we need to do a heavy dose of that next week

 

[spyfish007]

Mays played great and showed his ability. There are multiple guys playing at that level. Did you hear EG in a post game interview going on about the work Wayna did? You are seeing the combined line impact when there are not major holes to be exploited. True test starts next week.

 

[ThreatLevelOrange]

RT: Mays
RG: Carvin
C: Kennedy
LG: Smith
LT: Morris

I hate to sound dramatic, but if you watch carefully, Mays is the best OL we've had in a long time. The overwhelming majority of our long runs today involved Mays driving someone out of the TV screen. He's quick off the LOS and obviously powerful. He was extremely comfortable road grating and in pass protection.

I know he flip flopped from OG to OT, but his work at OT was something to behold. I'm not against Wright playing some, but it's glaringly obvious who the best 5 are...

I’ll take Trey. But Mays has a nasty attitude that we need badly.

Morris was straight up destroying people yesterday.

 

[EtowahVol]

Remembering Shy Tuttle, I think the biggest concern I have is UGA cheapshots, especially against Mays.

Remembering Shy Tuttle, I think the biggest concern I have is UGA cheapshots, especially against Mays.

They are a dirty bunch of bastards. The lineman that done that should have been barred for life

 

[Doberman]

I think the big takeaway is that it seemed Cade raised the level of every other lineman's game.

That is a very good thing.

 

[Buzzbait]

I think the big takeaway is that it seemed Cade raised the level of every other lineman's game.

That is a very good thing.

Couldn't agree more. Other than Smith and Kennedy, if the others want playing time , they better give it all when in the game.

 

[TJVol95]

Mays will probably end up at RG.

 

[BJSforVols]

I thought the Oline looked better when Mays was at OG and Wright was at OT. The good thing is, the OLine looked very good no matter the configuration we had out there.

I's also argue Wanye looked like our best O lineman yesterday. That's not a knock against Trey or Cade though.

 

[tn4elvis]

I thought the Oline looked better when Mays was at OG and Wright was at OT. The good thing is, the OLine looked very good no matter the configuration we had out there.

I's also argue Wanye looked like our best O lineman yesterday. That's not a knock against Trey or Cade though.

Nice to be having a discussion on which one of our ol looked the best in a sec game. I personally thought Cade was absolutely dominant. With him and who ever they put beside him on the right side we are much more balanced. Teams can no longer say that we are going to run behind 73 in crucial parts of the game. They all played very well.

 

[Roustabout]

I’ll disagree on two points:
1) Trey Smith is the best OL we’ve had in a long time.
2) I prefer Mays at RG with Wright at OT. Having Smith, Kennedy, and Mays on the interior is our best chance to blow open holes in the run game. I like Carvin, but Wright is a former 5* who will play on Sundays.

Carvin is one of your top 5. Period. Get the best 5 out there. They have shuffled because Pruitt says their conditioning is down due to the number of days players were out due to contact tracing.

 

[igotworms]

I’ll disagree on two points:
1) Trey Smith is the best OL we’ve had in a long time.
2) I prefer Mays at RG with Wright at OT. Having Smith, Kennedy, and Mays on the interior is our best chance to blow open holes in the run game. I like Carvin, but Wright is a former 5* who will play on Sundays.

Point number 2 is spot on

Point number 1 is not even close
Mays is better than Smith. noticeable difference

 

[keenobserver]

I’ll disagree on two points:
1) Trey Smith is the best OL we’ve had in a long time.
2) I prefer Mays at RG with Wright at OT. Having Smith, Kennedy, and Mays on the interior is our best chance to blow open holes in the run game. I like Carvin, but Wright is a former 5* who will play on Sundays.

1) I definitely didnt intend to start a who's better between Trey and Cade debate, so my bad on that front. Obviously Trey has been a Vol alot longer and will go down as probably one of the GOATS on the all time oline lists at TN.

My point was Cade's play on Saturday is the best I've saw from a UT offensive lineman in a long time. The others including Trey played real good, but Mays looked like the overall best player on the field (regardless of position) IMO. I might be a little biased bc I'm an old offensive lineman and I play close attention to the big uglies every play.

2) We'll see what ends up happening, but I really, really liked Mays at tackle on Sat. There were very few instances when edge rushers came close to JG on his side. He also looks 3x quicker on his first step in zone blocking than Wright. So unless Wright can play OG (which I don't think he does), I like Carvin there and Mays at OT. Wright has improved but he still looks a little less mobile and versatile than where he needs to be. Conversely, Morris looks like a noticeably better player at this point than Wright. I promise CJP isn't the type that'll say "we need to make sure Wright starts bc he was a 5 star in hs"...

 

[NighthawkVol]

1) I definitely didnt intend to start a who's better between Trey and Cade debate, so my bad on that front. Obviously Trey has been a Vol alot longer and will go down as probably one of the GOATS on the all time oline lists at TN.

My point was Cade's play on Saturday is the best I've saw from a UT offensive lineman in a long time. The others including Trey played real good, but Mays looked like the overall best player on the field IMO. I might be a little biased bc I'm an old offensive lineman and I play close attention to the big uglies every play.

2) We'll see what ends up happening, but I really, really liked Mays at tackle on Sat. There were very few instances when edge rushers came close to JG on his side. He also looks 3x quicker on his first step in zone blocking than Wright. So unless Wright can play OG (which I don't think he does), I like Carvin there and Mays at OT. Wright has improved but he still looks a little less mobile and versatile than where he needs to be. Conversely, Morris looks like a noticeably better player at this point than Wright. I promise CJP isn't the type that'll say "we need to make sure Wright starts bc he was a 5 star in hs"...

1) I gotcha. When you put it that way, I don’t disagree.

2) You’re an old Olineman, I’m not...so I’ll defer to you on this matter. In fact, I really appreciate this analysis. I’m also one who watches the lines on both sides, so I love hearing someone more knowledgeable than me give his take on the line play.

And yeah, Morris looks good. And Jahmir Johnson was hurt yesterday. I wonder if, when he’s healthy, he could flip to RT with Cade at RG. Or if Morris could play RT with Jahmir at LT. Just thinking of different combos to get the best 5 on the field.

 

[bpalmer28]

I’ll disagree on two points:
1) Trey Smith is the best OL we’ve had in a long time.
2) I prefer Mays at RG with Wright at OT. Having Smith, Kennedy, and Mays on the interior is our best chance to blow open holes in the run game. I like Carvin, but Wright is a former 5* who will play on Sundays.

Wright seemed to have a tough time picking guys up in space. Just my observation

 

[SteveG]

This GA game is a huge opportunity for the Vols. I have never been more excited due to the OL & defense.

 

[BJSforVols]

Carvin is one of your top 5. Period. Get the best 5 out there. They have shuffled because Pruitt says their conditioning is down due to the number of days players were out due to contact tracing.

Not sure I agree with Carvin being in the top 5. He's in the top 5 on most any power conference school for sure. TN may be one of the few where it's debatable if he is in the top 5.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

I’ll disagree on two points:
1) Trey Smith is the best OL we’ve had in a long time.
2) I prefer Mays at RG with Wright at OT. Having Smith, Kennedy, and Mays on the interior is our best chance to blow open holes in the run game. I like Carvin, but Wright is a former 5* who will play on Sundays.

We need to play the lineman who are the best now.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

Not sure I agree with Carvin being in the top 5. He's in the top 5 on most any power conference school for sure. TN may be one of the few where it's debatable if he is in the top 5.

How many snaps did Spraggin get ? Someone stated yesterday he also played well. I’m all for rotating lineman and keeping them fresh as long as we only rotate lineman who have done a good job in the first two games.

 

[keenobserver]

1) I gotcha. When you put it that way, I don’t disagree.

2) You’re an old Olineman, I’m not...so I’ll defer to you on this matter. In fact, I really appreciate this analysis. I’m also one who watches the lines on both sides, so I love hearing someone more knowledgeable than me give his take on the line play.

And yeah, Morris looks good. And Jahmir Johnson was hurt yesterday. I wonder if, when he’s healthy, he could flip to RT with Cade at RG. Or if Morris could play RT with Jahmir at LT. Just thinking of different combos to get the best 5 on the field.

Appreciate the props on the analysis.

I will concede that I'm sure CJP and staff likely envision Mays at OG and Wright at OT and that's probably the permanent combo that we'll end up seeing at some point in the season (perhaps this weekend). I was just giving my opinion (which obviously doesn't matter at all) on who I thought was the best 5 at this moment. I watched Mays some at GA and I anticipated him being the starter at OG as well. I was really surprised how athletic he was at OT. OT is the 2nd hardest position in all of football IMO (as evident by how their compensated in the NFL). Good one's are extremely hard to find. Gotta have a huge base (315-330), a long reach, and be athletic enough to block probably the best athletes on the field (SEC Edge rushers).

I agree about J. Johnson. It seems like staff like him at least as well as D. Wright at the moment as evidence by his week 1 start. It could be Wright is just a little behind on his conditioning due to missed practice, Covid, etc and they've been playing him into shape. At times, Wright looks like he's picking his feet up out of cement.