So were now stating 2 freshmen LBs...

#1
K-town Vol Fan

K-town Vol Fan

Blood Runneth Orange
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#1
And people say we aren't REALLY young. The bad part is I still see more and more people on here clamoring for even more freshmen to start. This just goes to show we need to temper our expectations. 2 freshmen LBs starting and Malik Foreman really struggling....could spell trouble against some teams.
 
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#3
#3
I understand there are clearly still gaps in talent and depth/experience on both sides of the ball.

The most frustrating aspect to me is our inability to maximize the potential of positions where we DO have a clear advantage in skill and experience.. We've got a stable of talented WRs that clearly should have had more touches on Saturday. Even if it's WR screens and quick hitches to get them in space and make a play.

If nothing else, just throw the ball up to your future NFL WR (North) down the field and let him make a play on a ball. If nothing else, you have the opportunity to draw a PI and get some "free" yards.
 
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#6
#6
Carlitovol said:
I understand there are clearly still gaps in talent and depth/experience on both sides of the ball.

The most frustrating aspect to me is our inability to maximize the potential of positions where we DO have a clear advantage in skill and experience.. We've got a stable of talented WRs that clearly should have had more touches on Saturday. Even if it's WR screens and quick hitches to get them in space and make a play.

If nothing else, just throw the ball up to your future NFL WR (North) down the field and let him make a play on a ball. If nothing else, you have the opportunity to draw a PI and get some "free" yards.
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How can you throw down field if the QB has no time to throw? That's asking for trouble. The OL is still a work in process. They are better than they were last year, but not close to where they need to be.
 
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#7
#7
K-town Vol Fan said:
And people say we aren't REALLY young. The bad part is I still see more and more people on here clamoring for even more freshmen to start. This just goes to show we need to temper our expectations. 2 freshmen LBs starting and Malik Foreman really struggling....could spell trouble against some teams.
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This is where coaching stability comes into play. Really hope people don't overreact if things don't go our way. Still gotta ways to go as far as building quality depth across the board. Atleast now we have a coach who is recruiting at an elite level, and has us set on the right path. Here's to hoping these freshmen grow up quick fast and in a hurry!
 
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#8
#8
Carlitovol said:
If nothing else, just throw the ball up to your future NFL WR (North) down the field and let him make a play on a ball. If nothing else, you have the opportunity to draw a PI and get some "free" yards.
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Pretty sure that was the plan on the last play of OT. North seems to struggle getting speration and being physical.
 
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#9
#9
DNBVOL said:
This is where coaching stability comes into play. Really hope people don't overreact if things don't go our way. Still gotta ways to go as far as building quality depth across the board. Atleast now we have a coach who is recruiting at an elite level, and has us set on the right path. Here's to hoping these freshmen grow up quick fast and in a hurry!
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Have you not seen the craziness on here the past 5 days? It's still going on...VN always overreacts. Remember Marquez North injury?
 
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#11
#11
K-town Vol Fan said:
And people say we aren't REALLY young. The bad part is I still see more and more people on here clamoring for even more freshmen to start. This just goes to show we need to temper our expectations. 2 freshmen LBs starting and Malik Foreman really struggling....could spell trouble against some teams.
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Oh, people are also clamoring for Weatherd (senior) and Bynum (RS junior) to start, and don't forget Maggitt (RS senior) is coming back, hopefully sooner (Alabama game, at the 6-week mark) rather than later.

All teams have awesome freshmen who contribute. We're kinda thin in our junior and senior classes, so our freshmen and sophomores contribute a bit more than average. But we still have 18 seniors (more than half of whom start, or would if they were healthy) and 19 juniors (ditto). Which isn't that far off the norm for Power 5 teams.
 
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#12
#12
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#13
#13
We do have a young team and as we've had some injuries (Jackson, McNeil and Maggitt) that have pressed some younger players into action who otherwise wouldn't be playing right now. But we still have upperclassmen all over the place and, despite assertions to the contrary, we are not younger this year than last, nor is our team comprised of 17 and 18 year old kids.
 
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#15
#15
titansvolsfaninga said:
How can you throw down field if the QB has no time to throw? That's asking for trouble. The OL is still a work in process. They are better than they were last year, but not close to where they need to be.
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I get that, but you don't need a ton of time to throw a "go" route. Bowling Green proved that during the first game. Their QB got the ball out quickly and even with pressure we had a hard time getting to him.

Maybe go max protection and put North and Pearson wide on the edges?

Look, I'm not an Xs & Os guru.. And I know that Dobbs isn't the best "down-field" passer. But what I do know is that we absolutely have to be able to find ways to get our best and most talented players a chance to make a play on the ball. Period.
 
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#16
#16
K-town Vol Fan said:
Pretty sure that was the plan on the last play of OT. North seems to struggle getting speration and being physical.
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That was a horribly thrown pass from Dobbs. There was no pressure, Hurd stayed in as a blocker. North was one on one running an out route. The ball has to be thrown in front of the receiver in man coverage since the defender will be trailing the receiver. Dobbs put the ball about 2-3 feet behind North. In that situation, to err on the side of caution, you put the ball too far in front of the receiver and let him make a play. So either the receiver catches it or it goes out of bounds.
 
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#18
#18
Not making excuses for this team, plain and simple we lost to OU because of bad coaching Saturday, but we cant keep getting player hurt and beat the elite every time we turn around we are losing a impact player and this team is to young to lose our elite player and expect to play with the elite i dont know what the problem is just bad luck or the FOOTBALL GODS have it in for us.
 
#19
#19
Carlitovol said:
I understand there are clearly still gaps in talent and depth/experience on both sides of the ball.

The most frustrating aspect to me is our inability to maximize the potential of positions where we DO have a clear advantage in skill and experience.. We've got a stable of talented WRs that clearly should have had more touches on Saturday. Even if it's WR screens and quick hitches to get them in space and make a play.

If nothing else, just throw the ball up to your future NFL WR (North) down the field and let him make a play on a ball. If nothing else, you have the opportunity to draw a PI and get some "free" yards.
Click to expand...

Agree. Take some deep shots. Swain agrees.
 
#21
#21
titansvolsfaninga said:
How can you throw down field if the QB has no time to throw? That's asking for trouble. The OL is still a work in process. They are better than they were last year, but not close to where they need to be.
Click to expand...

Get the ball out really quick on the Go Route. Don't have to throw it 50 yards just get it out there for the WR to make a play and beat the DB.
 
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#22
#22
Carlitovol said:
I get that, but you don't need a ton of time to throw a "go" route. Bowling Green proved that during the first game. Their QB got the ball out quickly and even with pressure we had a hard time getting to him.

Maybe go max protection and put North and Pearson wide on the edges?

Look, I'm not an Xs & Os guru.. And I know that Dobbs isn't the best "down-field" passer. But what I do know is that we absolutely have to be able to find ways to get our best and most talented players a chance to make a play on the ball. Period.
Click to expand...

Yep and need to back those DBs out of the box.
 
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#23
#23
08Vol said:
That was a horribly thrown pass from Dobbs. There was no pressure, Hurd stayed in as a blocker. North was one on one running an out route. The ball has to be thrown in front of the receiver in man coverage since the defender will be trailing the receiver. Dobbs put the ball about 2-3 feet behind North. In that situation, to err on the side of caution, you put the ball too far in front of the receiver and let him make a play. So either the receiver catches it or it goes out of bounds.
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Happened at 7:45 mark of 3rd quarter. Db was running step for step with North, it was a back shoulder throw, timing was off between him and Dobbs. It wasn't a horrible throw at all.
 
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#24
#24
K-town Vol Fan said:
And people say we aren't REALLY young. The bad part is I still see more and more people on here clamoring for even more freshmen to start. This just goes to show we need to temper our expectations. 2 freshmen LBs starting and Malik Foreman really struggling....could spell trouble against some teams.
Click to expand...

If they were starting because there were no other options (like Kiffin was forced to do with Fr who would never start again) OR if this were year one or even two.... then you'd have a point. They have a RS Jr and former starter as an option. They have a former starter now a back up TE who was moved BECAUSE OF DEPTH AT MLB. You have Bates, McDowell, and Bryant in their 2nd years. Weatherd is a RS Sr.

Expecting 8 wins this year IS TEMPERED EXPECTATIONS. FAR more was expected of Dooley in his 3rd year who started with a bad situation also and had a roster with weak spots.

We all hope Butch doesn't fail to that extent... but 8 wins does not constitute an outrageous expectation.
 
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#25
#25
BigOrangeD said:
Get the ball out really quick on the Go Route. Don't have to throw it 50 yards just get it out there for the WR to make a play and beat the DB.
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Absolutely correct.

The huge difference between Bray and Simms in Bray's first year is that he made quick decisions and good pre-reads. He got the ball out quickly whereas Simms held it.

BUT... one of the WR's needs to prove they can consistently get off press coverage.
 
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