Tennessee's linebackers good to go

#1

kamoshika

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#1
Elliott Berry and Quart'e Sapp were running without pads Tuesday, their restricted spring practice routine. When they get cleared for play, they'll have to work their way back into a crowded linebacker depth chart. Tommy Thigpen, the man in charge of Tennessee's linebackers, gave a rather glowing report on his position after the 10th spring session.
http://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/mike-strange/2017/04/11/strange-tennessees-linebackers-good-go/100300882/
 
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#2
#2
We only two good ones on the field at a time and yet last year we were so beat up we were on 4th stringers.

We have a glut this season with: Kirkland, McDowell, Sapp, Bituli, El Berry, Jumper, Bates, A. Smith, Blakley and new guys Reid, Ignont and Page. Maybe we can actually redshirt a few or we may see a few more transfers after Spring ball.
 
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#5
#5
Shannon Ried is a kid that can make a significant contribution this season.

Super underrated.
 
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#9
#9
We only two good ones on the field at a time and yet last year we were so beat up we were on 4th stringers.

We have a glut this season with: Kirkland, McDowell, Sapp, Bituli, El Berry, Jumper, Bates, A. Smith, Blakley and new guys Reid, Ignont and Page. Maybe we can actually redshirt a few or we may see a few more transfers after Spring ball.

We weren't "on 4th stringers".

When 1st stringer JRM got tossed from the App State game, second-stringer Cortez McDowell replaced him, and proceeded to play in 11 of 13 games. Similarly, when 1st stringer DKJr when down to injury late vs VaTech in the second game of the season, second string MLB Colton Jumper replaced him until he came back 5 games later vs SCar. After DKJr came back, the two linebackers on the field most often together were DKJr at Jumper, with McDowell and third-stringer Elliott Berry in the rotation. Berry made some starts late in the year, as he and McDowell flip flopped a bit at the OLB position and Jumper missed a game late in the year iirc.
 
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#12
#12
We only two good ones on the field at a time and yet last year we were so beat up we were on 4th stringers.

We have a glut this season with: Kirkland, McDowell, Sapp, Bituli, El Berry, Jumper, Bates, A. Smith, Blakley and new guys Reid, Ignont and Page. Maybe we can actually redshirt a few or we may see a few more transfers after Spring ball.

You're thinking of Defensive Tackles not LBs
 
#13
#13
We weren't "on 4th stringers".

When 1st stringer JRM got tossed from the App State game, second-stringer Cortez McDowell replaced him, and proceeded to play in 11 of 13 games. Similarly, when 1st stringer DKJr when down to injury late vs VaTech in the second game of the season, second string MLB Colton Jumper replaced him until he came back 5 games later vs SCar. After DKJr came back, the two linebackers on the field most often together were DKJr at Jumper, with McDowell and third-stringer Elliott Berry in the rotation. Berry made some starts late in the year, as he and McDowell flip flopped a bit at the OLB position and Jumper missed a game late in the year iirc.

I swear the exaggeration of our (admittedly bad) injury situation gets worse every week.

A year or two from now people will be saying our defense was composed mainly of players from the top intramural flag football team from fall 2016
 
#14
#14
The SEC teams will rip our D a new butthole weekly. We will not be all that better than last year and I can only wait for the excuse of the Year for 2017 on why Butch's team disappoints yet again.
 
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#15
#15
I swear the exaggeration of our (admittedly bad) injury situation gets worse every week.

A year or two from now people will be saying our defense was composed mainly of players from the top intramural flag football team from fall 2016

It really is amazing. People just throw crap out like that as though nobody is gonna remember/and or take 5 minutes to look it up and discredit it.

Our injuries were bad enough last year without just making stuff up. If you read through a lot of these posts, you'd think we played 13 games with no starters and nothing just walkons and 4th stringers. It's bizarre.
 
#18
#18
Not as pessimistic as you 1982, but position coaches in the spring always promote their group. The LB group is definitely a "prove it" group for me.
 
#21
#21
The SEC teams will rip our D a new butthole weekly. We will not be all that better than last year and I can only wait for the excuse of the Year for 2017 on why Butch's team disappoints yet again.

Who pooped in your sandbox this morning? Have some coffee it will get better I promise.
 
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#22
#22
I swear the exaggeration of our (admittedly bad) injury situation gets worse every week.

A year or two from now people will be saying our defense was composed mainly of players from the top intramural flag football team from fall 2016

The rushing stats against the D would support that claim though..
 
#23
#23
We weren't "on 4th stringers".

When 1st stringer JRM got tossed from the App State game, second-stringer Cortez McDowell replaced him, and proceeded to play in 11 of 13 games. Similarly, when 1st stringer DKJr when down to injury late vs VaTech in the second game of the season, second string MLB Colton Jumper replaced him until he came back 5 games later vs SCar. After DKJr came back, the two linebackers on the field most often together were DKJr at Jumper, with McDowell and third-stringer Elliott Berry in the rotation. Berry made some starts late in the year, as he and McDowell flip flopped a bit at the OLB position and Jumper missed a game late in the year iirc.

Berry was 4th string behind Sapp
 
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#25
#25
I just hope they are going to stop using 4-2-5 on every down. Too many teams on the schedule have a competent running game that love playing against a 6 man front. I have high hopes Warren can cover with 4 DBs what Martinez could rarely cover with 5.
 
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