Vols Fall Practice #3

[barney]

Not really concerned yet on the routes on air period. It looks like right now Merk is QB1 due to the Gopro which is ok by me.

I actual believe that our defense is going to be better than last year. I like what I am hearing about our LBs. Barring injuries in the secondary, this unit has a chance of being elite as do our RBs. Lets just hope the QB/WRs can get in synch. I am good with either Merk or Aguilar although I think Aguilar has some more experience in reading coverages.

Or it could mean Merk is the only 1 of the 3 who still has issues with eye placement.

QB1 don’t wear a gopro in the games.

 

[Other_Guy]

Here's why I'm testy about drops of good balls. They've gotten worse for UT every year. It's an issue. Just watch the first minute or so and see the numbers. We need receivers to catch good passes and certainly against air.

There's 7 scholly WRs, most all of who are young.
Not that you don't make a point, but I would actually be more forgiving this year than any.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

If we had a Lamar Jackson type player at QB then yeah I would believe this.

As it stands- I think this team will have moments of brilliance and more moments of head scratching.

I can’t get a reading on these guys.
I see Aguilar as the perfect catalyst to a magical season, but there’s so many variables and nothing feels certain.

In 2022 we knew we would have a good team.

There’s talent everywhere, but so much depends on Aguilar.

You dont need dominant QB play to be great in college football. Ohio State won the national title last year with pedestrian QB play. Same with Michigan the year before. And Georgia two years before that. The last team to win a national title led by great QB play was LSU in 2019.

What wins national titles is being dominant along both lines of scrimmage. Great offensive and defensive lines win championships. Our defensive line was championship caliber last year. I believe our offensive line will be that good this year which is why I have us being better than we were last year.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

You dont need dominant QB play to be great in college football. Ohio State won the national title last year with pedestrian QB play. Same with Michigan the year before. And Georgia two years before that. The last team to win a national title led by great QB play was LSU in 2019.

What wins national titles is being dominant along both lines of scrimmage. Great offensive and defensive lines win championships. Our defensive line was championship caliber last year. I believe our offensive line will be that good this year which is why I have us being better than we were last year.

This is actually a very good point. The QBs of the past five national champions were: Will Howard, JJ McCarthy, Stetson Bennett (2x), and Mac Jones.... all of those guys are fairly pedestrian on their own but benefitted from (1) dominant D-lines and O-lines; (2) good to great RBs; and (3) otherworldly talent at the receiver or tight end positions.

 

[ftsandersvol]

Some practice days are just better than others. I wouldn’t read too much into the media’s comments. Players know when they haven’t met expectations, in addition to the “incentives” provided by the coaches. Most times at the next practice session players that underperformed in the prior session have a tendency to be crisper and much more focused. I’ve seen this tendency play out thousands of times.

 

[ftsandersvol]

This is actually a very good point. The QBs of the past five national champions were: Will Howard, JJ McCarthy, Stetson Bennett (2x), and Mac Jones.... all of those guys are fairly pedestrian on their own but benefitted from (1) dominant D-lines and O-lines; (2) good to great RBs; and (3) otherworldly talent at the receiver or tight end positions.

(4) and a game plan that got the ball to the their playmakers in space.

 

[Vol865]

Wow 9-11 is horrendous? Looks like the receivers have serious work to do. No offense but Matthews looks small, and definitely doesn’t emote 5-star from the eye test.

You got all that from a practice clip?

As far as small WRs go, here are some WRs that are the same height or shorter than Matthews:

Steve Smith Sr.
Desean Jackson
Santana Moss
Antonio Brown
Ja'Marr Chase
Justin Jefferson
Etc.

We'll see what happens but I'm not taking much away from 10 mins of basic practice Intel.

 

[Bearkat_Vol]

Young WR may not be a problem. Not many people know this, but Ryan Williams (Alabama WR) was only 17 when he started last year.

 

[WillisWG]

teaser JA worn the go-pro Sunday

 

[WaywardVol]

What size does he need to be for your liking? He’s about 6 - 6’1 and put together really well. I can see you are playing the seeds to trash him as much as possible

Once again, a poster can’t just scroll past a comment, but takes anything that isnt to their liking as a personal insult. WTH is wrong with you people?

 

[WaywardVol]

And here we go. Doesn’t take long for some of you turn on our players.

Turn? I’m free to share my observations about the players. Why do some of you want to only comment on other posters? These players are getting paid handsomely. They aren’t above such things.

 

[Budalicious]

Relatively short routes on air. It's not like these guys haven't seen a million passes and they spend regular time with a JUGS most days.

I'm dumbfounded that saying "Catch the ball if it's in your hands" is in any way controversial or being negative.

It's like being a center. Can you snap just 9 of 11 well and put the other 2 over the QBs head? I think not. There are expectations.

That’s why they call it practice. I’m sure in your profession you get everything right 100% of the time

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

That’s why they call it practice. I’m sure in your profession you get everything right 100% of the time

I'm not okay if my not pressured, not busy mechanic drops the wrench 2 out of 11 times he picks it up, even when he's learning.

I'd wonder about the hiring habits of the shop owner, honestly, wouldn't you?

 

[chuckiepoo]

That’s why they call it practice. I’m sure in your profession you get everything right 100% of the time

Sports, law, medicine. Careers of practice.