Telling Quote from the O-Line Coach in Practice.

[armchair]

Confidence level should not be a big deal with linemen and blocking. It's not like there is a specialized skill in putting your body on someone else and keeping him occupied for a few seconds. It requires some agility and some strength, but not really a lot of confidence. You can either block people or you can't.

 

[FootVolintheFall]

Based on their play so far this year, I doubt they can block it out of their minds either.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

MAHONEY: "I don't think our group's confidence level is high right now. I tell them to block it all out. But they have to play better."


Doesn't give much hope for this week for those expecting better O-Line play.

Kids are probably reading VN and seeing themselves trashed by their fanbase.

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

Confidence level should not be a big deal with linemen and blocking. It's not like there is a specialized skill in putting your body on someone else and keeping him occupied for a few seconds. It requires some agility and some strength, but not really a lot of confidence. You can either block people or you can't.

You really think playing OL is just putting a body on someone?

 

[titansvolsfaninga]

I have said it before and I will say it again...name me ANY all-sec or all-american olineman in UT history..and I will show you how they were buried on the depth chart or red shirted for their freshman season.

Don't see how it is so hard to understand.

True and also has been pointed out, we are playing 4 guards and a center. There is not a true tackle that starts on the line.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

They need to hear it..... I hope it pisses them off. I played OL. Play hard and smart. Work extra. Get better.... That should be the message. There is no excuse the way they have played up to this point. Some of that goes to youth but some of these guys have been around the program long enough and honestly are better atheletes than what they have shown up to this point. They need to get it together and take care of thier QB.....

The 2 that have been around the program, Jackson and Crowder, are actually playing ok. It is the freshman that are really struggling. Can't imagine why they are not playing like veterans 6 games into their college careers.

 

[Wildasamink16]

Oline on the grind its time to shine put the past behind, raise up the future is in your grasps, so reach back and thunder punch olemiss in the @ss, and make them respect you, look at woorly and say we will protect you and we got your back, so play like you smoked abunch of crack and smack and back hand olemiss let the world know your pissed that they would doubt you if we win all praise will be about you so give your all and lets sing its great to be a Tennessee vol!!!!!

 

[Sin City Vol]

MAHONEY: "I don't think our group's confidence level is high right now. I tell them to block it all out. But they have to play better."


Doesn't give much hope for this week for those expecting better O-Line play.

Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy

 

[Bluetic]

MAHONEY: "I don't think our group's confidence level is high right now. I tell them to block it all out. But they have to play better."


Doesn't give much hope for this week for those expecting better O-Line play.

Bad advice...they have a hard time blocking. He should have just told them to ignore it.

 

[obxvol]

Some of these guys were playing on a high school field last year. Now they are going up against, in some cases, next year's NFL draftees. That is a tough assignment.
Go Vols.

 

[smokey8555]

Try one or more of these:
1) Shuttle pass
2)Quick bubble screens
3)QB keep
4) Middle screen
or if all else fails, then

5)CUT BLOCK!

Should at least give an extra second or two and cast doubt in the rushers

 

[vol66]

This is simply not true. If you will go back to Kiffin's year and remember they had the Sullins brothers blocking at C and G that weighed a grand total of 260 lbs. each. Played well enough to win 7 games and go to a bowl.

Technique matters greatly in a timing (Jones) offense no matter the size and strength.

The depth chart from the 2009 Va. Tech game:

TE Luke Stocker (Jr)*, Jeff Cottam (Sr.)
LT Chris Scott (Sr)*, Dallas Thomas (Fr)*
LG Cory Sullins (Sr), Vladamir Richard (Sr.)
C Cody Sullins (Sr.), Cory Sullins (Sr.), Josh McNeil (Sr.)
RG Jacques McClendon (Sr.)* William Brimfield (So.)
RT Aaron Douglas (Fr.), Jarrod Shaw (Jr.)

WR Gerald Jones (Jr.)
WR Denarious Moore (Jr.)*
RB Montario Hardesty (Sr.)*
RB Bryce Brown (Fr.)*
RB David Oku (Fr.)
RB Tauren Poole (So.)*
FB Kevin Cooper (Jr.)
FB Austin Johnson (So.)*
QB Johnathon Crompton (Sr.)

*denotes current NFL player

I agree that technique is important, wouldn't you agree that the technique of a senior in the vast majority of cases will be better for a senior than a freshman?

In 2009 we had a senior NFL LT and a senior NFL RG, so on both sides of the ball we had guys with a ton of experience to help the new guys as well as an experienced NFL TE to help Douglas as well.

 

[Bluetic]

Heard yesterday that this season P. Manning is getting the ball out in about 2 secs. I get that its the nfl, but obviously there are plays that protect your o-line and qb. There are potential remedies, we just dont seem to have them or use them.

 

[92volalum]

So according to most we are to accept youth as an excuse for all the losses..so who gets the credit the few games they have won????! Is that youth getting it done?

Oh wait we are in the its great to win but if you lose its OK because its not your fault.. Its because you are young and here is your medal...

 

[I_Bleed_Orange77]

This is absolutely true if we were entering a weight lifting contest-but we're playing football! Technique DOES matter, calls and assignments do MATTER. Keeping your man away from your QB for 4 seconds-does not mean you must be stronger than they guy you're assigned to, or taller, or have a cooler tattoo, it means you use the TECHNIQUES your were coached (all the way back to HS) to control the line. Even if you're giving ground, you give it in a manner that buys TIME. If what I've just ranted about is false, then why do we have Oline coaches? If it just boils down to physical strength, then our school could save a lot of money, fire the Oline coaches and hire a couple extra coaches in the weight room.:crazy::whistling::hi:

I didn't say technique doesn't matter at all, I'm saying sometimes just physical strength is enough to beat technique. Let's say you were taught technique from the best dl coach in the country then you tried to block, say, J.J. Watt. He'd physically destroy you every play no matter how much technique you've be taught. Period.

 

[walkenvol]

I have said it before and I will say it again...name me ANY all-sec or all-american olineman in UT history..and I will show you how they were buried on the depth chart or red shirted for their freshman season.

Don't see how it is so hard to understand.

Cosey Coleman - only started 3 years because he declared after junior season, Chad Clifton, Scott Wells although he may have red shirted. Was J. James ever all-SEC?

 

[FEARinSEC]

So according to most we are to accept youth as an excuse for all the losses..so who gets the credit the few games they have won????! Is that youth getting it done?

Oh wait we are in the its great to win but if you lose its OK because its not your fault.. Its because you are young and here is your medal...

I feel my IQ just went down a few points just from reading this incoherent drivel. Thanks! :good!:

 

[golf437]

Confidence level should not be a big deal with linemen and blocking. It's not like there is a specialized skill in putting your body on someone else and keeping him occupied for a few seconds. It requires some agility and some strength, but not really a lot of confidence. You can either block people or you can't.

Not true.

 

[wmcovol]

well, this is big-boy football and no one is gonna feel sorry for them. This is what they signed up for and they have an obligation to their teammates to step it up and play better.

If their confidence is lacking, imagine if they were Worley getting the **** knocked out of him and unable to defend himself!

 

[volbeast33]

Who coaches these kids to block?

Why don't they just stop recruiting and just pick up five guys from volnation since all it takes is coaching to be an sec lineman.

 

[66volfan]

Its not the players most of us are blaming for the terrible line play

I think some of the ones blaming the players are also the ones making excuse for the coaches

This!!! If these coaches knew anything at all about football they'd be posting on here instead of coaching for a living. You could stick a glass eye in a goats azz and see that. Tell em one more time Count. I think they are confused about how you feel about this.:crazy:

 

[Smokey1210]

Who coaches these kids to block?

The coach! The same coach that was able to coach 4 NFL lineman last year or wait? Did they just have the talent and not need coaching? Hmmmmm

 

[pimo1]

This is absolutely true if we were entering a weight lifting contest-but we're playing football! Technique DOES matter, calls and assignments do MATTER. Keeping your man away from your QB for 4 seconds-does not mean you must be stronger than they guy you're assigned to, or taller, or have a cooler tattoo, it means you use the TECHNIQUES your were coached (all the way back to HS) to control the line. Even if you're giving ground, you give it in a manner that buys TIME. If what I've just ranted about is false, then why do we have Oline coaches? If it just boils down to physical strength, then our school could save a lot of money, fire the Oline coaches and hire a couple extra coaches in the weight room.:crazy::whistling::hi:

this makes no sense by your logic with the irght coach me at 5-10 and 180 could start on our oline at tackle and be all america with the right coach. that just isn't true.. it si a combination of talent the right tools and coaching. you can coach a great center all you want but if he does not have the physical tools to play left tackle he is gonna be horrible put him at center and he is all world.

 

[jcvet]

I watched a replay of The Utah St. game last night. We had offensive linemen getting pancaked backwards by one man. One flew three yds. backwards and landed on his back sacking Worley. They weren't freshmen either.

 

[vol66]

So according to most we are to accept youth as an excuse for all the losses..so who gets the credit the few games they have won????! Is that youth getting it done?

Oh wait we are in the its great to win but if you lose its OK because its not your fault.. Its because you are young and here is your medal...

I don't think anyone is saying that, I'm not. It is a fact that the starting LT got hurt and the guy playing RT (and has been his whole career) had to move over. It's a fact that making that move forced a true freshman in at RT. That would be a difficult move for a seasoned guy, but Kerbyson had no starts coming into this season...it's not like he'd been playing LT in camp all summer either.

So yes we have youth on the line but we also have guys that have been in the program...they lack game experience.

Someone made the comparison to the 2009 OL, but this line more closely resembles the 2010 OL which gave up 40 + sacks and had Volnation talking about how gritty Matt Sims was for standing in there and taking all the hits. Sound familiar?

Nothing I've put in this post is an excuse. For the record, I thought the whole offensive side of the ball played their worst game of the season against UTC in terms of blocking. That not only includes the OL, but TE's, RB, and WR's. With Hurd and Lane out for most of the game, it's understandable I guess as far as the RB's are concerned.

The OL coach said that the OL play in the UTC game was unacceptable. Maybe it was just a classic case of over looking an opponent, I'm not sure.

The guys playing DE for UTC were experienced seniors. The Tull kid from Bearden has been the conference defensive player of the year twice and will probably earn it again, so those guys have certainly played enough games to know the tricks of the trade and if some folks expectation is that our freshman RT is going to be able to stop guys like that the whole game without giving up some negative plays...it's unrealistic.

They played bad and it's unacceptable because it's not up to the standard set at UT. While searching for the why they played that way the easiest thing to do is blame a coach and ignore all the deficiencies most reasonable people pointed to before the season. I get that.