Will our athletes be able to overcome our lack of depth?

#1
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10acvols

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#1
I know we're young in most positions, but IMO our youth in the secondary and OL concern me the most.

First, I really think if we can play man to man well enough to limit big plays our OLB's are good enough to beat WV in space and pressure WG.

Next will be to pound the rock. Even though, IMO we have an OL with reliable starters, without a healthy rotation, finishing strong will be a problem.
 
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#2
#2
10acvols said:
I know we're young in most positions, but IMO our youth in the secondary and OL concern me the most.

First, I really think if we can play man to man well enough to limit big plays our OLB's are good enough to beat WV in space and pressure WG.

Next will be to pound the rock. Even though, IMO we have an OL with reliable starters, without a healthy rotation, finishing strong will be a problem.
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This why I think S&C becomes so important. Keep the team healthy, play smart, walk out with minimal injuries.
 
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#3
#3
Yes i think they will overcome it because Coach Pruitt and his staff will toughen them up like Botch Jones and his staff were unable to do in 5 seasons.
 
#4
#4
The thing about depth is, no one really knows how much they have, because all of your depth is unproven, kind of by definition.

With that said, I think what Butch called a depth problem was really a S&C problem, combined with not giving any reps to his backups in practice.

Hopefully fixing those things will mean less of a drop off when the backups come in.
 
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#6
#6
10acvols said:
I know we're young in most positions, but IMO our youth in the secondary and OL concern me the most.

First, I really think if we can play man to man well enough to limit big plays our OLB's are good enough to beat WV in space and pressure WG.

Next will be to pound the rock. Even though, IMO we have an OL with reliable starters, without a healthy rotation, finishing strong will be a problem.
Click to expand...

Ha ha. I haven’t heard Pruitt say we are “young” once since he been here when referring to his team. I heard Butch say it continuously for his first 3 seasons. It’s been refreshing too!
 
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#7
#7
I’m more concerned about mental toughness. We get down a few scores will our guys say “Here we go again” and just go through the motions like last year? I know people get ill when it’s mentioned here, but some of our guys quit late in games and many quit before the season ended.
 
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#8
#8
10acvols said:
I know we're young in most positions, but IMO our youth in the secondary and OL concern me the most.

First, I really think if we can play man to man well enough to limit big plays our OLB's are good enough to beat WV in space and pressure WG.

Next will be to pound the rock. Even though, IMO we have an OL with reliable starters, without a healthy rotation, finishing strong will be a problem.
Click to expand...


Pruitt has stated that starters early in the season may not be starters 5-6 games into the season. He plans to develope the younger talent and increase the depth as season progresses.

Pruitt has a plan, here's to his success baring injury and attrition.
Go Vols
 
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#9
#9
We've got the players if they all can play were fine. Were over two deep in almost every position so the determining factor is how good are the backups.
 
#10
#10
photovol said:
Pruitt has stated that starters early in the season may not be starters 5-6 games into the season. He plans to develope the younger talent and increase the depth as the season progresses.

Pruitt has a plan, here's to his success baring injury and attrition.
Go Vols
Click to expand...
 
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#11
#11
10acvols said:
I know we're young in most positions, but IMO our youth in the secondary and OL concern me the most.

First, I really think if we can play man to man well enough to limit big plays our OLB's are good enough to beat WV in space and pressure WG.

Next will be to pound the rock. Even though, IMO we have an OL with reliable starters, without a healthy rotation, finishing strong will be a problem.
Click to expand...
Great teams rarely rotate olinemen.
D-line depth is the most concerning position on the team. Period, end of story. The O-line will be one of the top 5 in the league.
 
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#12
#12
10acvols said:
I know we're young in most positions, but IMO our youth in the secondary and OL concern me the most.

First, I really think if we can play man to man well enough to limit big plays our OLB's are good enough to beat WV in space and pressure WG.

Next will be to pound the rock. Even though, IMO we have an OL with reliable starters, without a healthy rotation, finishing strong will be a problem.
Click to expand...


One of the few schools that played as or more poorly on defense than we did last season was WVU. This, "finishing strong will be a problem." will not be a problem Saturday.
 
#13
#13
Lack of depth is a Botch Jones type excuse. NO team has every player they may need. Good teams prepare for contingency needs. When the team goes out and wins, nobody will look to blame depth! JUST WIN BABY!

GO BIG ORANGE!
 
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#15
#15
10acvols said:
I know we're young in most positions, but IMO our youth in the secondary and OL concern me the most.

First, I really think if we can play man to man well enough to limit big plays our OLB's are good enough to beat WV in space and pressure WG.

Next will be to pound the rock. Even though, IMO we have an OL with reliable starters, without a healthy rotation, finishing strong will be a problem.
Click to expand...

I don't think this is accurate, I believe CJP stated UT has good depth 5-7 OL that could play Saturday and with all the cross training, there is probably 10 OL that can play anywhere but center. The DL is the thinnest, the rest of the Defense has depth.......rotation will mainly be defensive backs because WVU is a passing team. CJP has played his cards about as smart as anyone, no one really knows who is going to start and WVU hasn't a clue about UT's offense. I believe UT will surprise WVU in the first half.......and hold on for the win 37-28 Tennessee. Regardless of the team, I will always pick UT...........because I am a Volunteer, born and raised in Tennessee and I am sure WVU and the rest of country is judging UT on last year's performance....big mistake. UT has the players, it just takes them to play to their abilities Saturday.

Go Vols!
 
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#16
#16
I think WVU has a good idea what UT wants to do. The Vols want to run the ball. WVU will out number UT in the box to stop the run. If they do then it’s up the the QB to hit the WR’s or TE in man coverage down the field. UT will have to make plays in the passing game to move the ball.
 
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#21
#21
gunner said:
I think WVU has a good idea what UT wants to do. The Vols want to run the ball. WVU will out number UT in the box to stop the run. If they do then it’s up the the QB to hit the WR’s or TE in man coverage down the field. UT will have to make plays in the passing game to move the ball.
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West Virginia is so rotten on defense i don't think they're capable of stopping Tennessee's running attack. If 2017 is any indication the only games WV seems to win are shootouts.
 
#23
#23
If Tennessee does not perform well against WV on offense (especially the run game), then it will be a LONG
season.
 
#24
#24
Hopefully this game will be like the 1989 UCLA game:cool: Everyone thought Tennessee would be crap in 1989 and UCLA was a highly rated team.
 
#25
#25
10acvols said:
I know we're young in most positions, but IMO our youth in the secondary and OL concern me the most.

First, I really think if we can play man to man well enough to limit big plays our OLB's are good enough to beat WV in space and pressure WG.

Next will be to pound the rock. Even though, IMO we have an OL with reliable starters, without a healthy rotation, finishing strong will be a problem.
Click to expand...

I don't think we have a lack of depth...maybe lack of experience with the new schemes but we have good depth at most positions. OL will a strength and I'm thinking West Virginia may struggle to stop the run. We have good depth at LB and I think that will be the strength of the D providing the front 3 (all blue chip recruits who are now seniors) play their role in the scheme.

I've got my orange tinted lasses on and see us rushing the ball for around 300 yards and owning the clock. Nothing like long drives just pounding the ball to cool off an uptempo offense.
 
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