The Run Game

#27
#27
Bennessee01 said:
29,324 posts=kneejerk cultist, by definition.

Either way, if JG plays good there's no place you can hide.
If JG plays badly, you get what you deserve. Another year of wallering in your own piss.
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That's easily one of the stupidest things posted here in a very long time.

If he plays well and the Vols win... that's all I've ever wanted. If he plays badly then hopefully he'll be replaced by someone who can play better.

Really pretty simple. I will not mind being wrong if it means UT wins. I've had the same screen name here for 14 years. I am one of the few over that time who has admitted they were wrong rather than disappearing or changing screen names or insisting they weren't wrong.

I believe based on what he has done for the last 3 years that JG is at or near his ceiling and that he has fatal flaws in reading plays post-snap too slowly and being unable to anticipate throws. If I'm wrong then so be it.... I was ready to be wrong after the UK and Mizzou games last year... then he regressed... again.

PS- Yes. Kneejerk cultists. There are a handful here who simply cannot look at JG objectively. I'm not talking about people who disagree with my take... but people who are triggered at every hint of criticism.
 
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#28
#28
PulaskiVolFan said:
We throw for 200+ a game, we rush for 145/GM, we don't need JG to do more for us to be balanced, we need our running game to improve a bunch before we can ever consider being balanced.
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QB play has to improve a bunch regardless of who plays for the O or run game to improve.

The run blocking and running obviously need to continue to improve but run game effectiveness isn't detached from the passing game or QB play in general. The ability to hit quick reads and routes for instance can prevent a secondary from coming up as quickly in run support.
 
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#29
#29
De La Cloobs said:
Eric Gray and 2020

I suspect Pruitt and co. will run a traditional, smash mouth, run heavy offense this season. With how everyone else is transitioning to more spread and passing more than they used to, the defensive schemes will be more geared toward stopping that. This could help us if most defenses aren’t used to stopping a powerful run game.
We are going to lean on our strengths on offense, and our only strengths are O-line and running. We don’t have reliable QB play. I also suspect we see more Quavaris Crouch with the ball in his hands.
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Our passing is and has been much better than the run game. The problem was we didn't pass enough and spread the field.
 
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#30
#30
sjt18 said:
QB play has to improve a bunch regardless of who plays for the O or run game to improve.

The run blocking and running obviously need to continue to improve but run game effectiveness isn't detached from the passing game or QB play in general. The ability to hit quick reads and routes for instance can prevent a secondary from coming up as quickly in run support.
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BS The fact that we can't pick up 3rd and 1 vs Ga State had nothing to do with QB play or his decision making. It has way more to do with the fact that we've not had the speed at WR to stretch the field the last 3 years nor have we had anything close to an ALL-SEC type back. JG has certainly not been the reason our running game has stunk the last 3 years and it's a simple minded take to blame him for our problems at running the football.
 
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#31
#31
Run game has to improve. But I think it will. Experienced and talented OLine and promising RBs should equal some success. Would love to see teams fear TNs running game again.

Passing game has to improve. Someone said we didn't pass enough last year. There is a reason. Coach has to have confidence in the QB. (Before you JG fans get y'all's panties in a wad, I'm just stating the obvious)

If run game improves, it should help the passing game. If the passing game improves, it will help the run game.

Symbiotic relationship.
 
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#32
#32
PulaskiVolFan said:
BS The fact that we can't pick up 3rd and 1 vs Ga State had nothing to do with QB play or his decision making. It has way more to do with the fact that we've not had the speed at WR to stretch the field the last 3 years nor have we had anything close to an ALL-SEC type back. JG has certainly not been the reason our running game has stunk the last 3 years and it's a simple minded take to blame him for our problems at running the football.
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Pretty sure Callaway ran away from DBs. Georgia would probably agree too.

I don't think he is blaming JG. But saying QB play has to improve to help the run game improve is just objective football talk. Not everything is an attack.

It's not the sole reason, but you have to admit a dynamic passive game would greatly assist the running game. That's not bashing anyone....just an observation.
 
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#33
#33
The pass game will lag early on. Too many new faces and you never know what you’re going to get with JG. They didn’t even get the benefit of spring practice to get the WRs and QBs on the same page. The running game will have to carry the load for the first few weeks. I like the combo of Gray and Chandler. Jordan’s situation doesn’t look good to return to the team but you never know.

I expect Crouch will probably stay on defense with the additions of big backs Whitehead and Hodge. He’s too important and they Can’t afford to lose him to an injury.
 
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#34
#34
PulaskiVolFan said:
BS The fact that we can't pick up 3rd and 1 vs Ga State had nothing to do with QB play or his decision making. It has way more to do with the fact that we've not had the speed at WR to stretch the field the last 3 years nor have we had anything close to an ALL-SEC type back. JG has certainly not been the reason our running game has stunk the last 3 years and it's a simple minded take to blame him for our problems at running the football.
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I don’t think he’s the sole reason our running game has been lackluster the last few years. Soft Oline play has been more detrimental. However, opponents know he’s mistake prone when he’s under pressure and can stack the box against the run to make JG beat them. Who knows, he may come out and play unbelievably well, a la Crompton his senior year. I’m hoping he does.
 
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#36
#36
De La Cloobs said:
Eric Gray and 2020

I suspect Pruitt and co. will run a traditional, smash mouth, run heavy offense this season. With how everyone else is transitioning to more spread and passing more than they used to, the defensive schemes will be more geared toward stopping that. This could help us if most defenses aren’t used to stopping a powerful run game.
We are going to lean on our strengths on offense, and our only strengths are O-line and running. We don’t have reliable QB play. I also suspect we see more Quavaris Crouch with the ball in his hands.
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IDK about Crouch in the backfield this season. He's coming off of shoulder surgery and we are thin at ILB. Also, I think we are bringing in a couple of RB Bruisers.
 
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#37
#37
PulaskiVolFan said:
If Crouch is the better option why would you change that? I think Crouch is likely to be our short yardage guy the entire time he's here unless one of the new young RBs is actually better at it than him. Crouch is an extremely talented football player.
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Problem is Crouch is coming off shoulder surgery and we are very thin at ILB. We don't want to expose him to unnecessary punishment.

Also, we are bringing in 2RBs that can fill that void.
 
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#38
#38
Bennessee01 said:
29,324 posts=kneejerk cultist, by definition.

Either way, if JG plays good there's no place you can hide.
If JG plays badly, you get what you deserve. Another year of wallering in your own piss.
Click to expand...

Honest to God I really don’t understand your reasoning. I mean I understand the premise of your argument, but the “you being screwed either way” makes you sound a little butthurt and makes it hard to take the post seriously so I’ll try....hopefully whoever plays QB has a tremendous season regardless of who it is, as long as the Vols win who gaf? The critique of JG is valid, he has earned most of it by his play. He has the ability to lead the team, make the throws, and has proven to be tough. He has also shown tendencies in running the plays that have been called, reading a defense pre-snap, identifying pressure, and holding onto the ball too long. All are and can be true at the same time, but the bottom line is wins, period.
 
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#39
#39
CINCYVOL said:
Honest to God I really don’t understand your reasoning. I mean I understand the premise of your argument, but the “you being screwed either way” makes you sound a little butthurt and makes it hard to take the post seriously so I’ll try....hopefully whoever plays QB has a tremendous season regardless of who it is, as long as the Vols win who gaf? The critique of JG is valid, he has earned most of it by his play. He has the ability to lead the team, make the throws, and has proven to be tough. He has also shown tendencies in running the plays that have been called, reading a defense pre-snap, identifying pressure, and holding onto the ball too long. All are and can be true at the same time, but the bottom line is wins, period.
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I'm just giving him a little dose of his own medicine.
 
#41
#41
Great post and mostly good comments. But I’m from Missouri when it comes to our OL - “show me.” Far too many times in the past, I’ve been disappointed by our OL after a preseason buildup over returning veterans, overall game experience, depth, etc. These were years when our OL absolutely looked promising on paper before they were tested and then proceeded to fail those tests. I will believe it when I see results, in other words, against OK, AL, FL, and GA. The other games? Well, we SHOULD dominate the line in those games because we are TENNESSEE. When we start manhandling and pushing around our most challenging opponents, at least keeping us in the game, then I’ll believe our OL has lived up to their on-paper expectations. Our RBs have to work with what they have, especially when the holes aren’t there to hit, blocks are easily shed or missed, etc.

Show us, gentlemen of the offensive line. Please. Show us.
 
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#42
#42
PulaskiVolFan said:
BS The fact that we can't pick up 3rd and 1 vs Ga State had nothing to do with QB play or his decision making. It has way more to do with the fact that we've not had the speed at WR to stretch the field the last 3 years nor have we had anything close to an ALL-SEC type back. JG has certainly not been the reason our running game has stunk the last 3 years and it's a simple minded take to blame him for our problems at running the football.
Click to expand...
Good grief. Everyone's fault but his, huh? Your blind spot is HUGE when it comes to JG.

Yeah. The O not being able to move against GSU had EVERYTHING to do with the fact that they weren't afraid of JG beating them if they crowded the LOS. Calloway had plenty of success getting deep when he had someone who could actually lead him.

Do you really, honestly not get the fact that D's can do a LOT more against the run if they don't have to worry about a QB hitting quick throws? UT hasn't had a dominate run game. I haven't seen anyone suggest they have. But a QB can't read D's quickly or anticipate throws lets a D play run then recover.
 
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#43
#43
DenmarkVol said:
Great post and mostly good comments. But I’m from Missouri when it comes to our OL - “show me.” Far too many times in the past, I’ve been disappointed by our OL after a preseason buildup over returning veterans, overall game experience, depth, etc. These were years when our OL absolutely looked promising on paper before they were tested and then proceeded to fail those tests. I will believe it when I see results, in other words, against OK, AL, FL, and GA. The other games? Well, we SHOULD dominate the line in those games because we are TENNESSEE. When we start manhandling and pushing around our most challenging opponents, at least keeping us in the game, then I’ll believe our OL has lived up to their on-paper expectations. Our RBs have to work with what they have, especially when the holes aren’t there to hit, blocks are easily shed or missed, etc.

Show us, gentlemen of the offensive line. Please. Show us.
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I agree on needing pumping the breaks on people saying the OL will be great next season. I think we have the potential to be much improved early, and perhaps really good late next season.

Morris and Wright, while freshman, struggled immensely with consistency all season. I dont think they played well at the same time together all year. Trey is one of the best, if not the best, run blocking road grater in the country, but he struggled with consistency in pass sets. Yall will think I'm crazy, but I think Kennedy is a great OC and might be the most valuable OL we have.

Long story short, we have the talent and depth, but whoever we trot out there at OTs next season, needs to produce.
 
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#44
#44
Haven't seen much. Just how good is Whitehead as a runner? What's his chance for playing time? Is he better than Hodge at short yardage?
 
#49
#49
Sammy Joe said:
Haven't seen much. Just how good is Whitehead as a runner? What's his chance for playing time? Is he better than Hodge at short yardage?
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I have read where Whitehead might start out as a LB. Would make since considering our depth at LB.

Nothing confirmed though, just speculation.
 
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