Thoughts on our offensive line.

#26
#26
One guy who never gets mentioned is Dallas Thomas. He has been the best OL on the field since January and is only a sophomore. He is the real deal.

The staff loves the freshman OL. They are all 4 looking very solid. Pair has surprised. Stone is already pushing Shaw for the starting job.

They will struggle some this year, but we are gonna have a great corps of OL talent in '11 and '12.

2011
Sr- Pope
Jr- D. Thomas, Gooch, Anderson
So- James, Schofield, Stone, Fulton, Pair, Hood, Revis
Fr- Richardson, Kerbyson, Posey, Crowder, Clear (?)
 
#27
#27
This year's OL is most definately more talented than last year's. I loved the effort that the Sullins twins gave last year, but I'm not sure that they would make the 2-deep this year. Vlad only played in 3 games, so it's hard to count him. McClendon was decent againts the run, but often got beat in pass protection.

The problem with this year's line is not lack of talent, it's lack of experience. Though they will probably struggle against some of the D-lines they will face in the first half of the schedule, they should do well on the back-side due to the experience they gain from game to game and the fact that the second half of the schedule is a bit easier.
 
#28
#28
PayingUTKTuition said:
From a raw talent standpoint, they might be a little better than last year's line. The problem is, when you are starting a true freshman on the line, you have problems with few exceptions. Linemen, in particular, benefit from a couple of years in the strength program. That is why Nebraska in their heyday redshirted almost everyone.

They have some growing to do, and Coach Hiestand will earn his money if he can develop them into a cohesive unit. I believe he is capable.
Luckily we have some playmakers on the ends with a lot of potential. I look for our schemes to get off the short quick passes which will keep the defense honest, and prevent them from loading up to stop the run.
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They already seemed to have adopted a "It's us against the world " attitude in practice.
 
#29
#29
LawVol13 said:
Sorry to offend you. I just find it absurd to act like "the talent is much improved." I, too, think they will get better as the year goes on, and I think it's good the Sullins boys aren't playing. But I don't think we've got anybody as talented as those 3 guys I mentioned.
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American Football is an analogy for war. You got generals (coaches), archers (QBs), infantry (OL and RB), and a calvary (receivers). It's a game of strategy, attacks, counterattacks, retreats, advances, outflanking and so on. But before all that the CULTURE of that army provides the support and spirit to sustain that army. They have speeches of encouragement, dances and music extolling their bravery, they feed the army their best food, laud them as individuals and a group. When that army leaves camp to raise hell with the enemy, they carry that CULTURE's belief, hope, and pride in them as part of their attitude of we're going to win this thing. An army is only as good as the effort that CULTURE puts into preparing it for the rigors of warfare. And sending it off with a winning spirit and attitude. I say again, with so many negavols among us, we darn sure don't need any enemies. Might as well not field a team.

Take a lesson from the Maori:
1. The tradition: YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

2. Carried over to games: YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

No we don't need to do some crazy dance (cheerleaders do it for us), just believe in our team, support them and so they know we back them come hell or high water. The mental strength of a soldier/player has a huge amount to do with how well they will battle/play. Is it impossible for people like you to understand that?
 
#31
#31
LawVol13 said:
Yep, it's clearly better. I'm glad we finally got rid of those pitiful guys like Jacque Mcclendon, Chris Scott, and Vladimir Richard. We're so much better off now.
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Overall the OL is much more talented this year then last year based on the starters and backups. 2012, we'll be really good if everyone stays for the senior year. Too bad the world will end and we won't see them play in the SEC championship.
 
#33
#33
According to that meat head Orgeron, JerQuari Schofield was the #1 tackle prospect on their board. Now he may be lying about it because he's a lying p.o.s. but it was good to hear him say that.
 
#34
#34
UTfanatic98 said:
However, how do you think they will hold up to the likes of a Alabama/LSU teams with proven front lines year in and year out?
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Depends on them staying healthy, working hard, remaining motivated and seeking to excel. At this point it is impossible to predict if they will do that. Not all players coming in turn out. This is a good bunch at this point and we will see.

BTW, Bama and LSU kids will need to do same...
 
#35
#35
After some things that happened during the summer I began to feel like the offense would surprise us and that the defense would fall a little short of were we thought they would be...after reading details of fall camp I still think the offense will surprise us and hope scheme can compensate for some of the defensive losses
 
#36
#36
James Bryant was on the Sports Monster this morning, and he said that our offensive line is much more athletic and physical than last years OL. He said the only thing they are lacking is experience. He said he has been really impressed with what he has seen. He said once they get several games behind them and gain that experience, they are gonna be special.
 
#37
#37
LawVol13 said:
Yep, it's clearly better. I'm glad we finally got rid of those pitiful guys like Jacque Mcclendon, Chris Scott, and Vladimir Richard. We're so much better off now.
Click to expand...

Yea, now that we got rid of those guys, we should dominate every team we play and do any thing we want offensively. Most improved area on this team. Offensive line was so poor last year.
 
#38
#38
VolsFanRJ said:
James Bryant was on the Sports Monster this morning, and he said that our offensive line is much more athletic and physical than last years OL. He said the only thing they are lacking is experience. He said he has been really impressed with what he has seen. He said once they get several games behind them and gain that experience, they are gonna be special.
Click to expand...

Barring injuries, the OL should be peaking around the 7th game or so.

However, leading up to that it is going to look rough.

The best part is it can only get better.
 
#39
#39
Maybe I skimmed too much, but the most talented guy on that O-Line last year (Douglass) wasn't even mentioned. This years group is young and unproven, but that will be GREAT for us down the road. Experience is the best developer of talent.
 
#46
#46
As far as talent, I will say Schofield and James are more talented than anyone on last year's line. Those two guys will make All Freshman team easily and will be All SEC by their Sophmore years.
 
#47
#47
Lord Vader said:
One guy who never gets mentioned is Dallas Thomas. He has been the best OL on the field since January and is only a sophomore. He is the real deal.

The staff loves the freshman OL. They are all 4 looking very solid. Pair has surprised. Stone is already pushing Shaw for the starting job.

They will struggle some this year, but we are gonna have a great corps of OL talent in '11 and '12.

2011
Sr- Pope
Jr- D. Thomas, Gooch, Anderson
So- James, Schofield, Stone, Fulton, Pair, Hood, Revis
Fr- Richardson, Kerbyson, Posey, Crowder, Clear (?)[/QUOTE]

Would love to see all those Tennesseeans on the O'line.
Click to expand...
 
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