The 25 Strongest College Football Positional Units Heading into 2016 Season

#1
dduncan4163

dduncan4163

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The 25 Strongest College Football Positional Units Heading into 2016 Season | Bleacher Report


Tennessee Specialists

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Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
Tennessee KR Evan Berry


From the kicking game to the return game, no one is touching Tennessee when it comes to the overall strength of its special teams. The Volunteers should be able to make momentum-flipping plays all season long with the talent they have coming back in the third phase.
It starts with the return-man combo of Evan Berry and Cameron Sutton, who led the nation's qualified players in kick return and punt return average, respectively. Tennessee scored five special teams touchdowns between those two players in 2015 and should make more happen this fall.
Punter Trevor Daniel ranked eighth nationally last season in average yards per boot, and he'll be a serious contender for the Ray Guy Award. Kicker Aaron Medley might be the weakest link, but he's hit plenty of kicks so far in his career in Knoxville. Tennessee will have the confidence in proven talent all across its special teams unit.


Our RBs got a honorable mention also.
 
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#2
#2
Strong Special Teams usually add 1-2 extra W's by the end of the year as they so often change the complexion of a game in about 20 seconds. It is so dang great to see this part of our game improve so kudos to CBJ, his staff and the above mentioned players. Go Vols!
 
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#5
#5
Man look at the T on that helmet!!! That's one thing adidas did better than Nike. Seems to me Nike made the T smaller and the helmet doesn't look as good as a result.
 
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#9
#9
volsportsfan said:
Man look at the T on that helmet!!! That's one thing adidas did better than Nike. Seems to me Nike made the T smaller and the helmet doesn't look as good as a result.
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What are you talking about? How much bigger should it be?

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Nike>adidas in EVERY aspect...
 
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#11
#11
TAF said:
What are you talking about? How much bigger should it be?

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dobbs6-650x342.jpg


Nike>adidas in EVERY aspect...
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As big as possible! I may be wrong but it seems like the T is smaller now. Nike is better in every aspect minus the T
 
#15
#15
We achieve and execute on the General's Maxims, we get W's. Its that simple. There is a reason we recite the Maxim's before every game. Ill never forget hearing Fulmer's Vols recite the maxims in unison before they set off for battle. Slap the " I will give my all for Tennessee Today " and go destroy the opposing team! Is it September 1st yet???
 

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#16
#16
gnm53108 said:
Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.
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Interestingly enough, on the local news last night they were discussing that both the NCAA and NFL are considering doing away with kickoffs as another way to reduce concussions (the NFL is already joining the NCAA this season in touchbacks are taken out to the 25 rather than the 20).

It's sort of a conundrum for the sport. I get that they are trying to save the game by reducing head injuries as more and more parents push their kids towards sports like soccer; but at the same time it's obvious the sport that we grew up with, America's most popular sport, is being wussified. I have a feeling in 25 years it will be little more than flag football.
 
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#18
#18
I remember a time not so long ago when we just prayed our return main would field the kick/punt without fumbling. My how times have gloriously changed.
 
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#20
#20
Even with all the preseason hype, I think we will surprise many this season. The key will be staying relatively healthy. The offense put up very nice numbers last year despite limitations. Those limitations being very average and sometimes sub par performances from the OL for much of the season and a 1st year offensive coordinator that had been out of coaching for few years. Also, a passing game that was almost nonexistent at times. If we have just moderate improvement in all those areas the offense will be nearly impossible to stop. I think defensively you will see 3-4 names emerge on award watch lists that have not been mentioned in the preseason. I think coach Shoop's aggressive style fits the skill sets of players that we have not had the fortune to see in real game action just yet. I expect a few of the players in the 2015 class to have a coming out party in 2016.
 
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#22
#22
The Artful Dodger said:
I remember a time not so long ago when we just prayed our return main would field the kick/punt without fumbling. My how times have gloriously changed.
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Amen to that! Not only could nobody be counted on to field a punt/kick, they were horrible at punt defense (ala hawgz and Hey Joe in Fayetteville), plus our FG tries were head high (ala mt fatty in tusc.)

Butch has really flipped our special teams from tur-able to the best in the nation.

Just have to get Medley straight. Dude has a stout leg and with his accuracy fixed he could be a weapon.
 
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#23
#23
Biopsyman said:
Don't Punt on 1st down
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The only game I've seen where punting on first down worked to our advantage was the Auburn game in 1973. A monsoon in the second half made handling the football almost impossible. We punted on first down several times that day.
 
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