Strengths and weaknesses

#51
#51
Is Jennings a break away speed type receiver or more of a crisp route running WR? Or Does he high point 50/50 balls? I haven’t seen him. So curious the type of receiver he is. You all are very high on him. Also why is he suspended for one half?

In regards to trey smith. He will have no trouble with our ends. Our interior d-line is serviceable.
Columbus, Indiana here, so I know quite a few Indiana fans. I like them more than Purdue fans (though my ex wife's family being huge Boilers fans probably helped that). My joke had been: How do you know if someone went to Purdue? Don't worry, they will tell you. This joke also seems to work with Ohio State fans, but thankfully there are far fewer of those around here.
As for Jennings, like others have mentioned, he is one of those WR whose whole is more than the sum of his parts. He may not have elite measurable, but his "willpower" overcomes any of those.
I would say Tennessee's biggest weakness is consistency. Almost every group can be really good, but also could be abysmal. QB is the most glaring if this, but WRs also dropped balls and failed to make plays and even "disappearing" for entire games almost. The freshman RB who had 200+ yards vs Vandy looked mediocre vs most of the rest of our schedule ( he had 30 yards rushing total for the previous 5 games). Our DBs can make great plays and then just totally blow a play. The team did get better in the latter half of the schedule with consistency, but it is still a team-wide issue.
 
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#52
#52
Trust me. I don’t know what the problem is with our defense. We have made Nebraska’s, Maryland’s and Purdue’s back up quarterbacks look like all conference players. Our defensive coordinator is in his first year as a coordinator. He’s 32 and was promoted due to his family ties with our head coach. I’m unsure if he will hold the position at years end. Your offense should be able to manage 24. And more than likely 30. Anytime we need a stop on 3rd down ( see penn state game) our defense gets in the fetal position.

We are not a Homerun hitting offense. Our quarterback takes what defenses give. And he usually dink and dunks his way down the field. I continue to see you all as a penn state caliber type team athletes wise and see this as a game played in the low 30’s or a blowout in your favor.
Historically UT has made Florida backups look like Hypeman contenders and first round NFL picks... I feel your pain in that area.
 
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#53
#53
My lord. That has to be a parody. I’ve heard of the commercial but never watched it. Those people are not our locals. Those are Kentucky transplants I promise you :)
Yep. I grew up in Kensucky. Them is Ky peeps for sure.
 
#54
#54
Columbus, Indiana here, so I know quite a few Indiana fans. I like them more than Purdue fans (though my ex wife's family being huge Boilers fans probably helped that). My joke had been: How do you know if someone went to Purdue? Don't worry, they will tell you. This joke also seems to work with Ohio State fans, but thankfully there are far fewer of those around here.
As for Jennings, like others have mentioned, he is one of those WR whose whole is more than the sum of his parts. He may not have elite measurable, but his "willpower" overcomes any of those.
I would say Tennessee's biggest weakness is consistency. Almost every group can be really good, but also could be abysmal. QB is the most glaring if this, but WRs also dropped balls and failed to make plays and even "disappearing" for entire games almost. The freshman RB who had 200+ yards vs Vandy looked mediocre vs most of the rest of our schedule ( he had 30 yards rushing total for the previous 5 games). Our DBs can make great plays and then just totally blow a play. The team did get better in the latter half of the schedule with consistency, but it is still a team-wide issue.
Cool architecture in Columbus... We took a pilgrimage there when I was at UT Arch back in the 80s.
 
#55
#55
Is Jennings a break away speed type receiver or more of a crisp route running WR? Or Does he high point 50/50 balls? I haven’t seen him. So curious the type of receiver he is. You all are very high on him. Also why is he suspended for one half?

In regards to trey smith. He will have no trouble with our ends. Our interior d-line is serviceable.
He is an old school pure willpower grown man type WR. No finesse in him. He owns the 50/50 ball and will hurt your feelings getting to his goal. Just a throwback.
 
#61
#61
Having Bob Knight didn’t help either. The school never wants a sport or coach to be considered larger than the university again.
Coach K says hi from Durham NC. They have not only not minded but encouraged it. Of course he hasn't show to have major anger issues or be batshit crazy.
 
#62
#62
Is Jennings a break away speed type receiver or more of a crisp route running WR? Or Does he high point 50/50 balls? I haven’t seen him. So curious the type of receiver he is. You all are very high on him. Also why is he suspended for one half?

In regards to trey smith. He will have no trouble with our ends. Our interior d-line is serviceable.
Jennings- no, not at all, not a speed guy. Big, strong, physical guy who runs through tackles as well as any collegiate WR I’ve ever seen. Decent route runner, just goes and gets the ball with great energy and intensity at 6’3-6’4. GREAT at high pointing 50/50 balls. Suspended for the first half for letting his emotions get away from him during some “extracurricular” activity with Vandy punt returner after a bone crushing special teams hit

Trey Smith is arguably the best OL in the SEC, possibly the country....despite not practicing with contact during game weeks due to a blood clot condition. He was the #1 player in the country according to ESPN coming out of high school 3 years ago.
 
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#63
#63
Welcome to the best College Sports Forum around; no one else really comes close.

Where are you from in Indiana? I myself was born in East Chicago, IN and moved from Hammond for High School in Tennessee.

I would say our strengths are our LBs, especially ILB and Safety is pretty good too. We had better play last season from our CBs but they are still pretty good. DL was very marginal to start the season but has come on strong lately.

Our OL is very young but they have started to gel really good, especially pass blocking. Running game could be better and should. Our TEs are very good. Pope is a great blocker and DWA is a very good pass catcher that you will see play on Sundays. Our WRs are very, very good. Jennings, Calloway and Palmer are solid; win 50/50 balls about 90% of the time and aren't easy to tackle.

QB play has been inconsistent but is much better than earlier this year. Guarantano has a nice deep ball but sometimes misses easier passes.

We have an above average punter and a great PK. We do well on punt return yardage and don't give up a lot of return yards.

All in all this Team is gritty and finds ways to win games (Defensive stands on the goal line, running out the clock 1st downs, long balls and in the last game with over 300 yards rushing in wet, windy conditions).

Current winning streak is 5 games. Started season with abysmal loss to Georgia State and blowing a 17ish point lead against BYU.

Team really regrouped and refocused after Florida shellacking.
You lost me at above average punter. This has been a problem all season long.
 
#64
#64
Historically UT has made Florida backups look like Hypeman contenders and first round NFL picks... I feel your pain in that area.
Florida backups, LSU backups....really, just any backups at QB or RB, we historically manage to make look like all-Americans.
 
#65
#65
You lost me at above average punter. This has been a problem all season long.
Agree 100%. Great place kicker? Yes. But “above average punter”? Our punter(s) was really good last year but just short of awful this year.
 
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