SEC Country ranks Vols OL worst in SEC

#53
#53
UT Hill Man said:
Washouts. Most of the highly ranked OL from '13 and'14 were washouts. We do have a lot of 3 star guys still around.
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Why were they washouts? Did everyone get it wrong about their potential or have they not been taught or coached sense they arrived?
 
#54
#54
cd12 said:
Regardless of who it is. The scheme won't change. And as it was explained to me by a VFL/NFL center. That's where the problems arise.
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Care to try to pass on what you were told?
My guess is it will be too hard of a job for me to understand. But please try in as few words as possible.
Thanks
 
#55
#55
swchandler1988 said:
Coleman Thomas was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list prior to last season. You're going to tell me that one of the "strengths" of our line having serious ankle injuries didn't hurt our line? His injuries compounded the problems since it started a never-ending shuffle throughout the season. Enter Jack Jones injury, Robertson's injury, Wiseman getting a concussion at AM, Kendrick getting injured in the Bama game, Chance Hall coping with recovery from surgery throughout the season...pretty sure that's every starter from last season.

In addition to dealing with injuries to every starter on the line, Richmond was getting his first experience playing in an actual football game at LT, one of the hardest positions to play especially in the SEC (not to mention the kid played RT in high school). We never even had Austin Sanders this season due to injury. Hell we were forced to play a true freshman against Da'shawn Hand and Johnathan Allen.

Looking at next year, I absolutely think we'll be light years better at O line.

LT: Richmond, Smith
LG: Roberston, Boulware
C: Thomas, Johnson
RG: Jones, Sanders
RT: Kendrick, Hall

If nothing else I think it'll be some combination of that rotation. Who knows where Marcus Tatum, Nathan Niehaus and Locklear end up. Richmond should be much more comfortable at LT, and Smith will be there pushing him. I would love to see Kendrick and Hall duke it out for that RT spot. I think G, on either side, is the most settled at this point. Boulware was a bright spot this past season.

*Seems like I remember there was some talk about those close to the program that there were concerns about the O-line not quite being there in regards to strength. Rock can solve that problem.
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"Our OL will be light years/much better next year".....where have I heard this before? This makes 3 years running now. I'm in full wait and see mode.
 
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#56
#56
swchandler1988 said:
Coleman Thomas was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list prior to last season. You're going to tell me that one of the "strengths" of our line having serious ankle injuries didn't hurt our line? His injuries compounded the problems since it started a never-ending shuffle throughout the season. Enter Jack Jones injury, Robertson's injury, Wiseman getting a concussion at AM, Kendrick getting injured in the Bama game, Chance Hall coping with recovery from surgery throughout the season...pretty sure that's every starter from last season.

In addition to dealing with injuries to every starter on the line, Richmond was getting his first experience playing in an actual football game at LT, one of the hardest positions to play especially in the SEC (not to mention the kid played RT in high school). We never even had Austin Sanders this season due to injury. Hell we were forced to play a true freshman against Da'shawn Hand and Johnathan Allen.

Looking at next year, I absolutely think we'll be light years better at O line.

LT: Richmond, Smith
LG: Roberston, Boulware
C: Thomas, Johnson
RG: Jones, Sanders
RT: Kendrick, Hall

If nothing else I think it'll be some combination of that rotation. Who knows where Marcus Tatum, Nathan Niehaus and Locklear end up. Richmond should be much more comfortable at LT, and Smith will be there pushing him. I would love to see Kendrick and Hall duke it out for that RT spot. I think G, on either side, is the most settled at this point. Boulware was a bright spot this past season.

*Seems like I remember there was some talk about those close to the program that there were concerns about the O-line not quite being there in regards to strength. Rock can solve that problem.
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Same depth chart for three years running and it's still a huge question mark heading into the season.

It's lousy coaching and development, plain and simple.

Coleman Thomas has one of the worst first steps in the league and constantly lunges at guys instead of maintaining his balance and getting into position.

Jones and Hall have a nasty streak that serves them well but overall strength and physical play tends to elude this unit more often than not.
 
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#57
#57
:pepper:Coach Jones chose not to retain offensive line coach Sam Pitman when he took over from Dooley. Pitman wanted to stay at Tennessee and is recognized as one of the best in the business...so we are now ranked #14 in the SEC..last!!!

VOLywood said:
Here's the big reason we were in close games to inferior teams and lost games we shouldn't have. I hope Trey Smith provides a lift and the coaches get the scheme, communication, and technique fixed. Our OL last year was flat out embarrassing. If not for Dobbs and Kamara, the season would have been much worse.

https://www.seccountry.com/sec/sec-offensive-lines-rankings-2016-auburn-kentucky

Have we had a decent OL since the 2012 group?
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#58
#58
You want to see improvement at all positions but having a dominate line (on both sides of the ball) is so fundamental I always look for improvements there...

Richmond did play better as the year progressed but in several games where I was able to watch him, he seemed slow...not sure if this is a result of our scheme as some have suggested or what but I saw him get beat a number of times by smaller, quicker guys...I hope he is personally challenged to become the dominate player he was projected to be because we desperately need it...

We redshirted 4 star Ryan Johnson and 3 star Nathan Niehaus out of last years class while 3 star Marcus Tatum did get some playing time...those three need to really push the returning starters...

Of course Trey Smith is an early enrollee and a highly ranked player so he, too, should be pushing the returning starters...Riley Locklear is another 4 star OL in this year's class but in an ideal world, we will be able to redshirt him...

I think this is the list of all returning OL:
50 Venzell Boulware
51 Drew Richmond
55 Coleman Thomas
57 Nathan Niehaus
63 Brett Kendrick
64 Tommy Sprague
65 Clay Keaton
66 Jack Jones
67 Joe Keeler
68 Marcus Tatum
70 Ryan Johnson
75 Jashon Robertson
76 Chance Hall
78 Charles Mosley


Some are walk ons that won't contribute in games but there's enough talent there to be a good unit...and we need it
 
#59
#59
swchandler1988 said:
Coleman Thomas was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list prior to last season.
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The pre-season Rimington list includes every center that played more than half his team's snaps during the previous season. Thomas made than list with more than half the centers in the country. It's not a terribly meaningful accomplishment.
 
#60
#60
Spook1 said:
:pepper:Coach Jones chose not to retain offensive line coach Sam Pitman when he took over from Dooley. Pitman wanted to stay at Tennessee and is recognized as one of the best in the business...so we are now ranked #14 in the SEC..last!!!
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He's doing a good job at Arkansas...
 
#61
#61
bamawriter said:
The pre-season Rimington list includes every center that played more than half his team's snaps during the previous season. Thomas made than list with more than half the centers in the country. It's not a terribly meaningful accomplishment.
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If true, this makes sense given what we've see of Thomas to date. Only time I've ever been particularly impressed with Coleman is when he's shown some very good athletic ability for his size when pulling from his center position. The fact that he and the other guys who have been in the system for awhile are returning for another year does not inspire confidence imo.
 
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#62
#62
UpstateVol613 said:
This has actually held us back since Butch has been here. It all comes back to coaching and Don Mahoney sucks. He has been by far the worst position coach on staff the last few years. That was one thing Dooley did a lot better then Butch. He got Sam Pittman to coach the O line who is awesome. At least there is a silver lining though. Mahoney's contract is up in a month and HE GONE!!
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Why did it Jones this long to realize Mahoney wasn't getting the job done? That's the big question.
 
#64
#64
Butch better get a solid OL coach in here. Neither QB next year has enough experience anyway, much less have to handle SEC Defenses blowing up our OL as in years past.
 
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#65
#65
bamawriter said:
The pre-season Rimington list includes every center that played more than half his team's snaps during the previous season. Thomas made than list with more than half the centers in the country. It's not a terribly meaningful accomplishment.
Click to expand...

Off topic but are the rumors about Sark true?
 
#66
#66
savannahfan said:
Why were they washouts? Did everyone get it wrong about their potential or have they not been taught or coached sense they arrived?
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I don't know...

Offensive line players generally take more time to develop than other positions, and you need guys who are willing to work hard to become good enough to compete around the league.

That being said, I have noticed that most of our highest ranked OL prospects from '13 and '14 have washed out or under performed - is it because 4* prospects have so much smoke blown up their ass that they don't work as hard as the 2 and 3 star guys?

That got me curious, so I looked at Kentucky's roster since they were ranked 2nd best OL in the linked story. Their starting 5 in '16 was comprised of 2 three*, 2 two* and a former walkon.

The sample size is small, but I think there is something to this theory.
 
#67
#67
swchandler1988 said:
Coleman Thomas was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list prior to last season. You're going to tell me that one of the "strengths" of our line having serious ankle injuries didn't hurt our line? His injuries compounded the problems since it started a never-ending shuffle throughout the season. Enter Jack Jones injury, Robertson's injury, Wiseman getting a concussion at AM, Kendrick getting injured in the Bama game, Chance Hall coping with recovery from surgery throughout the season...pretty sure that's every starter from last season.

In addition to dealing with injuries to every starter on the line, Richmond was getting his first experience playing in an actual football game at LT, one of the hardest positions to play especially in the SEC (not to mention the kid played RT in high school). We never even had Austin Sanders this season due to injury. Hell we were forced to play a true freshman against Da'shawn Hand and Johnathan Allen.

Looking at next year, I absolutely think we'll be light years better at O line.

LT: Richmond, Smith
LG: Roberston, Boulware
C: Thomas, Johnson
RG: Jones, Sanders
RT: Kendrick, Hall

If nothing else I think it'll be some combination of that rotation. Who knows where Marcus Tatum, Nathan Niehaus and Locklear end up. Richmond should be much more comfortable at LT, and Smith will be there pushing him. I would love to see Kendrick and Hall duke it out for that RT spot. I think G, on either side, is the most settled at this point. Boulware was a bright spot this past season.

*Seems like I remember there was some talk about those close to the program that there were concerns about the O-line not quite being there in regards to strength. Rock can solve that problem.
Click to expand...

Surprise team of 2017: The Tennessee Volunteers. Can't wait!
 
#70
#70
BigOrangeMojo said:
Off topic but are the rumors about Sark true?
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ESPN reporter Adam Schfter says Sark is headed to Atlanta, Shanahan is now the HC of the '49ers. Saban confirmed he talked with Chip Kelly prior to NC game. Helfrich is also in the discussion. :hi:
 
#75
#75
pimo1 said:
Most of the problems on Oline have been a direct product of injury. It has not really been a talent thing for the most part just guys having to get out there before it was time and O-line is the one place that's rarely gonna turn out good.

The offensive line is the one place on a football team where experience and chemistry trump talent in most cases. When Mahoney had healthy bodies his guys produced. Even in the past 2 years given the sheer amount of injuries they have suffered and the issues we had from a couple big names being busts and the dearth at tackle caused by the class of 2012 they did OK.

Worst in the SEC is not good but it has to be put in perspective. The worst O-line in the beat league is still nowhere near the worst period. I honestly think the biggest problem on the O-line came from S&C and that terrible field probably hasn't helped either
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This is a really good post. But I'm honestly sick of hearing it. Can we just keep a consistent and healthy group on the OL for once? Is that too much to ask. We've shuffled more than a Vegas blackjack dealer the past 3 seasons.

We are talented and deep this year. If they can actually go to Spring ball, fall camp, and stay on the field for 12 games, I expect a really good year for our OL.

** Caveat: I have to put the early season Coleman Thomas debacle squarely on the back of coaching. He was injured. But I've never seen a UT lineman thrown around like a placekicker for 3 games like that. Those weren't 1st round draft picks either iirc. How could our staff put him on the playing field like that. Truly embarrassing. /End rant
 
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