Tight End Outlook

#1
mitzustu

mitzustu

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#1
With the departure of Clear, what is the outlook on the position as far as Depth chart? Two tight end sets ie goal line? If Rivera goes down injured?

Thoughts?
 
#2
#2
Downs was already the more polished receiver.

Meredith has to gain alot of weight before being an effective blocker. Bartholomew will be involved along with Downs and Rivera. This could change the decision to move Fugate to LB.
 
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#3
#3
mitzustu said:
With the departure of Clear, what is the outlook on the position as far as Depth chart? Two tight end sets ie goal line? If Rivera goes down injured?

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

yeah we're screwed but it may hurt more in 2013 depending on who's offense we're running

Our offense was going to be built around two TE sets but that's very hard to do with only two TE's. If either one of the TE's get's hurt we are in really bad shape. Goal line isn't a huge concern especially if we use Tiny as the lead back. Inside the ten yard line our offense is going to be corner fades anyway. 2013 is shaping up the be quite special on the offensive side of the ball (not in a good way) of course it may play out differently then it looks right now................
 
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#4
#4
mitzustu said:
With the departure of Clear, what is the outlook on the position as far as Depth chart? Two tight end sets ie goal line? If Rivera goes down injured?

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Allow me to provide a less bleak outlook. Justin Meredith has three more months in the strength and conditioning program before the season starts. Ben Bartholomew was already unlikely to line up at fullback much as the plan was to all but eliminate the position. We still have four players we can line up at the position, the world hasn't ended, and the Vols are still going to win games. We might be a little less effective in blocking at the tight end position.
 
#5
#5
We're definitely gonna have to change up the recruiting plan a little bit.

But I will say that in the Orange and White game I didn't see too many two tight ends. Plus I think we'll be using 3 wide a lot more than people think.
 
#6
#6
LOL. He wasn't even proven. Meredith will easily be battling downs for the 2nd string. We have ton of talent coming in. Simmer down. ;p
 
#7
#7
UTGhostHunter said:
Allow me to provide a less bleak outlook. Justin Meredith has three more months in the strength and conditioning program before the season starts. Ben Bartholomew was already unlikely to line up at fullback much as the plan was to all but eliminate the position. We still have four players we can line up at the position, the world hasn't ended, and the Vols are still going to win games. We might be a little less effective in blocking at the tight end position.
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Who are the four players that are ready to line up at TE and play winning SEC football???

Everyone at UT was counting on Cam the be an NFL type TE by next year. Anyone can be replaced but to win in the SEC you have to have great players. Cam wasn't there yet but he had more potential at TE then anyone else on campus.
 
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#10
#10
Since we signed C Pat, Bowles, and Pig, it wouldn't shock me if McKeefery turns Croom into a TE in the mold of Chris Gragg at Arky, who's a beast.
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#11
#11
GLDunlap said:
Who are the four players that are ready to line up at TE and play winning SEC football???
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Rivera, Downs, Bartholomew (former tight end), and Meredith has shown flashes (just needs size). Jason Croom could be retooled into a tight end, which many people thought would happen with him anyway.
 
#12
#12
fade route said:
Since we signed C Pat, Bowles, and Pig, it wouldn't shock me if McKeefery turns Croom into a TE in the mold of Chris Gragg at Arky, who's a beast.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

Justin King could also be given a look. I think he will be better than his rating once he's allowed to focus on being good at one position.
 
#13
#13
Is Rivera a senior? Admittedly asking out of ignorance. If so we need 2 TE's
Minimum in this class.
 
#15
#15
I like the thought on Croom. Vernon Davis mentality. More about offense than being a stereotypical TE
 
#18
#18
rocktopper16 said:
Rivera downs barthol.. Meredith. Pretty sure we could slide thay Ga running back recruit over to Te if needed.
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Sorry but your insane Bart at TE??? Meredith is a true freshman that is a solid prospect but he isn't ready to play SEC football. The only running back recruit we got out of Georgia is 5'9" 175 so I'm not sure who you talking about.
 
#19
#19
sjt18 said:
I am concerned about Meredith. He seems injury prone.
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An injury is not the same thing as injury prone. That's the same ridiculous argument I've heard national analysts use with Bray and posters on this board argue that for Young. Having a lone injury isn't a string of injuries indicative of fragility.
 
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#20
#20
GLDunlap said:
Sorry but your insane Bart at TE??? Meredith is a true freshman that is a solid prospect but he isn't ready to play SEC football. The only running back recruit we got out of Georgia is 5'9" 175 so I'm not sure who you talking about.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about the running back thing either. My best guess is he was think about Imani Cross who was committed but is now a Cornhusker. As for Bartholomew, it's been there, done that.
 
#21
#21
GLDunlap said:
Sorry but your insane Bart at TE??? Meredith is a true freshman that is a solid prospect but he isn't ready to play SEC football. The only running back recruit we got out of Georgia is 5'9" 175 so I'm not sure who you talking about.
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He played there a good bit during spring practice. It appears our offense is transitioning away from a true fullback and more towards an H-back
 
#22
#22
UTGhostHunter said:
Rivera, Downs, Bartholomew (former tight end), and Meredith has shown flashes (just needs size). Jason Croom could be retooled into a tight end, which many people thought would happen with him anyway.
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I agree Croom would have the potential to be a very good TE but he wants to play WR and that's what he was recruited as. Besides the OP was speaking specifically to 2012 and as it stands we have two TE's ready to play and that's it. You can throw out names of ten potential TE's but there isn't anyone that is going to be ready to play TE in the SEC in 2012 except for the two we currently have. The reason we suck right now is for three straight years all we have done is plug holes and that doesn't win games in the SEC.
 
#23
#23
I agree with HBack transition

And I also think this dismissal hurts us more in 2013 than this yr.

Rivera will leave and that leaves us downs and Meredith. We could recruit a big time TE but TE is a position that needs intensive learning - gotta learn blocking AND routes.
 
#24
#24
I just clicked on Rivals to check our 2010 and 2011 recruiting for a refresher course and when I clicked on Tennessee the page that popped up said "this team no longer has a football program".......................
 
#25
#25
vol2013 said:
He played there a good bit during spring practice. It appears our offense is transitioning away from a true fullback and more towards an H-back
Click to expand...
I realize that but we're talking about a true TE no? Dooley loves running two TE sets he has said it from day one. Maybe your right and maybe with our WR's in 2012 we can mask the weakness with Bart at HB but to win in the SEC we can continue to lose potential like this not to mention what happens if Bart or Rivera gets injured. There is no way to sugar coat losing Cam, we were all salivating at his potential.
 
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