This keeps being repeated about Tennessee at SEC Media Days

#51
#51
VolAllen said:
And maybe these media guys don't realize the double E. Berry's on the roster are Eric Berry's little brothers. Anyone thinking those two aren't ready to play immediately obviously haven't seen this picture...
Click to expand...

Where's Elliot?
 
#53
#53
chatt-townVOL said:
While I agree to an extent, I still struggle with that fact that none of this happened last year. Worley was decent, with our O-line he was still decent. Neal was good, with our O-line he was still good. In the SEC you don't need average skill position players that are made into "great" by their o-line. You need great skill position players that are great even with a mediocre line. A good line just helps them along.
Click to expand...

Our OL last yr had a lot of room for improvement but they were better than a lot of OLs.

I wouldnt even say Worley played decent for the majority of the yr but I would say with a different OL it couldve been flat out bad. I expect him to be better this yr.

There are ways to help an OL like zone read, bubble screens, and quick passes, but when you get inside the red zone or on the Goal Line there is no more room for finesse.It all starts with a good OL.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#56
#56
Anyone who might think you can win consistently in this the SEC without deep experienced line play is fooling themselves. (See the last 40 SEC champions to confirm.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#57
#57
chatt-townVOL said:
To paraphrase "When you're rebuilding you want to have all your talent in the lines, not in the skill positions. This season Tennessee is going to have just the opposite, talent in the skill positions but no experience on the lines. That could make for a rough season."

I simply don't agree with this notion. Personally I think a strong O-line only compliments the skill positions. You have to have it in the skill positions. Giving the QB 5 minutes to make a decision is great, but your QB has to be able to hit the target and your WR has to be able to catch. Creating a hole for your RB is great but your RB is still going to take contact, he has to be able to stand his ground. Likewise your D-line getting pressure is great but your DB's have to be able to cover and your linebackers have to know when to rush/drop back.

I use the 2013 season to support my argument. We had the team last year where all the talent was on the lines. We went 5-7. IMO to rebuild you have to have the playmakers first and foremost. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I could live with that
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#58
#58
IMO great OL and DL can make the skill positions look a lot better than they are more than the opposite.... However the obvious is you should be strong everywhere to be a great team....
 
#59
#59
People might overlook that we have at least some fresh new JUCO presence on both this OL and DL; those guys are wildcards for a line rebuild. Yes, I know it appeared that Blair was getting beaten out this spring, and no offense to Gilliam, but I think they were mostly sending a message to Blair to not assume anything, but to get his butt in gear and get to work. I hope our opponents assume we will get bullied in the trenches, because, I think they will be badly mistaken.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#60
#60
chatt-townVOL said:
To paraphrase "When you're rebuilding you want to have all your talent in the lines, not in the skill positions. This season Tennessee is going to have just the opposite, talent in the skill positions but no experience on the lines. That could make for a rough season."

I simply don't agree with this notion. Personally I think a strong O-line only compliments the skill positions. You have to have it in the skill positions. Giving the QB 5 minutes to make a decision is great, but your QB has to be able to hit the target and your WR has to be able to catch. Creating a hole for your RB is great but your RB is still going to take contact, he has to be able to stand his ground. Likewise your D-line getting pressure is great but your DB's have to be able to cover and your linebackers have to know when to rush/drop back.

I use the 2013 season to support my argument. We had the team last year where all the talent was on the lines. We went 5-7. IMO to rebuild you have to have the playmakers first and foremost. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

A lot of talent on o-line; d-line not so much.
 
#62
#62
Of course the OL and DL need skill players, I agree with that, however Skill players at the WR, RB position can make plays when there isn't one. A skill WR can take a 5 yard pass to the house with just ability. Look at some of the plays CP made while at UT just on ability alone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#64
#64
Those clueless press guys are obviously playing off one another's opinions (Palmer's comments as an example). Despite all the (supposed) talent, last year's OL wasn't as strong, nearly as athletic or (due to Dooleyitis) able to stay on the same page consistently. I'm looking forward to these commentators and writers going "Who'da thought they'd play so well" when our RB's pop some consecutive long runs and the DB's are shaking their heads, wondering which receiver's going to catch a short dump-off and bust it long, or snag a bomb. I think the OL's going to far exceed expectations and the skills are going to make a lot of DC's look stupid. Add enthusiasm to truly outstanding raw talent and............well, look at what Auburn pulled off. There's a huge difference between teams that "get it" and those that are always guessing. Who wants to debate if team 118 "gets it?"
 
#65
#65
sameolvol said:
Those clueless press guys are obviously playing off one another's opinions (Palmer's comments as an example). Despite all the (supposed) talent, last year's OL wasn't as strong, nearly as athletic or (due to Dooleyitis) able to stay on the same page consistently. I'm looking forward to these commentators and writers going "Who'da thought they'd play so well" when our RB's pop some consecutive long runs and the DB's are shaking their heads, wondering which receiver's going to catch a short dump-off and bust it long, or snag a bomb. I think the OL's going to far exceed expectations and the skills are going to make a lot of DC's look stupid. Add enthusiasm to truly outstanding raw talent and............well, look at what Auburn pulled off. There's a huge difference between teams that "get it" and those that are always guessing. Who wants to debate if team 118 "gets it?"
Click to expand...

Oh Team 118 gets it. And in about a month and a half, the rest of the college football world will realize it. The Vols are 8-4 this year and going bowling.
 
#66
#66
All that said still a 5-7 team again. Just need to see this team start making that turn. Hope I'm dead wrong on the 5-7 record an it turns out 7-5 instead. Not wearing orange tinted shades on it.
 
#68
#68
Fairly confident about the OL at least being as good as a unit. It is a test of coaching and development at this point.

The DL is more of a question. I think the starting 4 look OK but then there's nothing much but inexperienced talent and experienced guys who are limited. I'd like to think it finally clicks for O'Brien but struggle to see it. It looks like we'll see Williams and Saulsberry in the middle. With Maggitt possibly starting opposite Vereen, they will be fast off the edge but not alot of size.

Not sure how it will turn out but it WON'T be last year. Last year, you had more size but significantly less speed on the DL. Not sure why they didn't make a different choice last year... but they didn't.
 
#69
#69
BTW, last year's Vol team should have been much better if the argument in the OP was a "rule".
 
#70
#70
SlyStone said:
All that said still a 5-7 team again. Just need to see this team start making that turn. Hope I'm dead wrong on the 5-7 record an it turns out 7-5 instead. Not wearing orange tinted shades on it.
Click to expand...

So which team does UT face this fall with less talent do you expect them to lose to?
 
#73
#73
ajvol01 said:
And 2012 should have been a 9 or 10 win season based on same logic.
Click to expand...

2012 would have been a 9 or 10 win team if not for the worst secondary in the history of the program, which actually supports my argument. A great D-line wouldn't have helped how bad our secondary was.
 
#74
#74
chatt-townVOL said:
2012 would have been a 9 or 10 win team if not for the worst secondary in the history of the program, which actually supports my argument. A great D-line wouldn't have helped how bad our secondary was.
Click to expand...

Secondary my ass. That was a scheme change and coaching meltdown
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#75
#75
ajvol01 said:
Secondary my ass. That was a scheme change and coaching meltdown
Click to expand...

That was a secondary that started Marsalis Teague. Teague wouldn't have seen playing time for any other major program in the league. We were slow, inexperienced, and awfully coached in the secondary.

Troy and their 48 points agree for the record.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top