'14 AL LB Gavin Bryant (UT Signee 2/5/14)

[vol2002]

Those rumors are still out there. I think there will still be a good amount of turnover among the current roster in the coming months.

That's healthy. I was really bothered reading reports after the season that Butch and staff were surprised to find players here who didn't really care whether we won. Quite the legacy that Dooley left. Hope all of those players are weeded out and sent packing in the coming months.

 

[Vols4us]

There were some rumors that he would be one of the guys that end up leaving the program.

The VQ guys said that he had a lot of effort issues in 2013.

Thanks to you and Montrell. Did not know. That is a shame with the potential he has.

 

[Montrell Hardy]

LB is the least of my concerns on defense. I'm concerned about the CB spot opposite Sutton, who is our NB, and hoping our safeties take better angles. Then on a DL I'm concerned about closing up the middle (I think we'll be fine on the outside).

+1. I'm worried most about corner opposite Cam in the defensive backfield. These freshman safeties in particular will push the upperclassmen from day #1. Corner is a little more difficult to project. The returning corners outside of Cam just arent impressive. I hope at least one of the freshman corners (likely either Payne or Berry) are as ready to play as Cam was last year.

I'm worried about Dline across the board. I dont see a set in stone starter at DE either. Williams is athletically limited IMO for a DE and Vereen has shown nothing so far to say he can be anything more than a 3rd down pass rusher. I love the incoming freshman Dlineman but we know you cant expect much from them their first year.

 

[MADISONGAVOL]

Yep, but Maggitt will still play some LB, probably. Also depends on how quickly JRM and Weathered pick up the defense, but I think this would be ideally what the coaches want to happen.

With Jrm in second year at lb in will be disappointed if he is still struggling with scheme

 

[Montrell Hardy]

That's healthy. I was really bothered reading reports after the season that Butch and staff were surprised to find players here who didn't really care whether we won. Quite the legacy that Dooley left. Hope all of those players are weeded out and sent packing in the coming months.

I agree. It's definitely a good thing to weed those guys out and Butch will do that for sure.

 

[vol2002]

And not only that but Propst, Brewer, Sapp, Harris and Crump will be replaced with Bryant, Bates, Johnson, Weatherd and Mouhon. Quite the talent upgrade in just one class.

Brewer and Sapp played hard this year and I respect their efforts, but I'm also glad the days of starting two-star safeties and minor league baseball players at linebacker are over.

People who got on the radio and in the FF during the season to fuss and moan about CBJ losing when we had "the talent to match Alabama" were clearly on hallucinogens.

 

[Montrell Hardy]

I am often wrong but I think expecting these incoming kids...especially on the defensive side....to contribute to a high level will be setting them up to fail....They all need to get stronger and learn defense at the collegiate level...granted...they may be outstanding and ahead of the norm but having followed this game for 40 years RARELY do you see a Clowney at SC type etc. that's game ready on defense their freshman year, especially playing in the box...Man I hope I'm wrong again. But I just don't want to over expect and be disappointed..

They are going to have to contribute because the talent just isn't there in front of them. Whether they can contribute next year at a high level is a huge question mark, there I agree. That is why I think people need to grasp just how bad this roster is and temper their expectations for next year. With their ridiculous schedule yet again anything better than 6-6 to me would be a complete shocker.

 

[engineerVOL]

And not only that but Propst, Brewer, Sapp, Harris and Crump will be replaced with Bryant, Bates, Johnson, Weatherd and Mouhon. Quite the talent upgrade in just one class.

Unrelated to defense, but I hope i never see Jacob Carter, Cody Blanc, or Josh Smith line up out wide again..... and i think i will be happy.

 

[vol2002]

Unrelated to defense, but I hope i never see Jacob Carter, Cody Blanc, or Josh Smith line up out wide again..... and i think i will be happy.

I respect those guys and all, but I can't say I disagree. Josh Smith could develop into a Zach Rogers kind of player, but the other two I'm not so sure about.

Cody Blanc in particular looked awful. Our win against USCe may not have been so close if he hadn't totally mangled what I thought was a decently thrown deep ball in the first half of that game. All I can think of is him spinning out of control and out of bounds as it bounced off his face mask. It was the most ungraceful and unathletic play I witnessed all year, I think.

Pretty much the epitome of our last five years...

 

[Ron Swanson]

Hubbs was saying today that Coleman will work some at nickel this spring, the staff would like to give the newcomers every opportunity to win the job opposite Sutton and Coleman's best fit is likely at NB.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Josh Smith was a true freshman, if he leaves that bad case of the drops in '13 he could have a very nice career at UT. Now, if he continues to drop the ball he won't be seeing much playing time. But the kid is big, fast and runs good routes. Let's all hope he improves this offseason. JMO

 

[VolGee4]

I am often wrong but I think expecting these incoming kids...especially on the defensive side....to contribute to a high level will be setting them up to fail....They all need to get stronger and learn defense at the collegiate level...granted...they may be outstanding and ahead of the norm but having followed this game for 40 years RARELY do you see a Clowney at SC type etc. that's game ready on defense their freshman year, especially playing in the box...Man I hope I'm wrong again. But I just don't want to over expect and be disappointed..

That's certainly a concern, but we have 2 very experienced LB's as starters and probably a sophomore who played ST this year. The freshmen will be in the two deep. I think it makes a difference when your freshmen are backups as opposed to being forced to start. When the game is on the line, AJ, CM, and JRM will probably be in the game.

 

[Montrell Hardy]

Hubbs was saying today that Coleman will work some at nickel this spring, the staff would like to give the newcomers every opportunity to win the job opposite Sutton and Coleman's best fit is likely at NB.

I wonder how that will work out. You typically have to be pretty physical and a pretty good tackler to excel at nickel and from what I've seen neither have been strong suits up to this point for JC. Then again he's at least a better cover guy than the two nickelbacks who played last year so maybe he wont give up nearly as many completions as they did, thus not having to make as many open field tackles.

 

[LotteryPick]

+1. I'm worried most about corner opposite Cam in the defensive backfield. These freshman safeties in particular will push the upperclassmen from day #1. Corner is a little more difficult to project. The returning corners outside of Cam just arent impressive. I hope at least one of the freshman corners (likely either Payne or Berry) are as ready to play as Cam was last year.

I'm worried about Dline across the board. I dont see a set in stone starter at DE either. Williams is athletically limited IMO for a DE and Vereen has shown nothing so far to say he can be anything more than a 3rd down pass rusher. I love the incoming freshman Dlineman but we know you cant expect much from them their first year.

Know who solves the CB problem? Adoree. 😀

 

[Montrell Hardy]

Know who solves the CB problem? Adoree. ��

No question about that. He has the spot locked up the day he steps on campus. One can dream!

 

[VolGee4]

Brewer and Sapp played hard this year and I respect their efforts, but I'm also glad the days of starting two-star safeties and minor league baseball players at linebacker are over.

People who got on the radio and in the FF during the season to fuss and moan about CBJ losing when we had "the talent to match Alabama" were clearly on hallucinogens.

Clearly. Hood, Brewer, and basically, Toney (and even Swaufford) were all starters. Sure, Toney and Swaufford were NB, but they play right away. All...were former walk-ons.

Add that to a 2 star LB, a true freshman CB, and a S coming off ACL injury. Yikes.

 

[Madkins8]

I wonder how that will work out. You typically have to be pretty physical and a pretty good tackler to excel at nickel and from what I've seen neither have been strong suits up to this point for JC. Then again he's at least a better cover guy than the two nickelbacks who played last year so maybe he wont give up nearly as many completions as they did, thus not having to make as many open field tackles.

I think Coleman is more physical and a better tackler than you are giving him credit for. I think he could be a good fit a Nickel.

 

[CWGvol]

I am often wrong but I think expecting these incoming kids...especially on the defensive side....to contribute to a high level will be setting them up to fail....They all need to get stronger and learn defense at the collegiate level...granted...they may be outstanding and ahead of the norm but having followed this game for 40 years RARELY do you see a Clowney at SC type etc. that's game ready on defense their freshman year, especially playing in the box...Man I hope I'm wrong again. But I just don't want to over expect and be disappointed..

This is true, but it does seem to be happening more and more. Maybe not in the first game but not long after. Even on teams with some depth. Just at the end of this year we saw Ramesy at FSU, Vonn Bell at OSU, Lawson at Auburn, etc. All starting on teams with depth and talent. So like I said, you're still right, but it does seem like these kids are getting ready sooner.

 

[AVolforLifenmeZac]

Clearly. Hood, Brewer, and basically, Toney (and even Swaufford) were all starters. Sure, Toney and Swaufford were NB, but they play right away. All...were former walk-ons.

Add that to a 2 star LB, a true freshman CB, and a S coming off ACL injury. Yikes.

This actually makes me happy to think about. This defense was much improved from the year before with sal. And think about what you just said with all those problems or non SEC level players, this system still worked decently. Now with our coaches brining in SEC talent I can't wait to see the defensive start to improve even more the coming years!

 

[vol2002]

Clearly. Hood, Brewer, and basically, Toney (and even Swaufford) were all starters. Sure, Toney and Swaufford were NB, but they play right away. All...were former walk-ons.

Add that to a 2 star LB, a true freshman CB, and a S coming off ACL injury. Yikes.

Yeah, it was really bad. And it will look worse in retrospect as CBJ continues to build the program.

Last year's roster was like an unevenly heated burrito. A handful of very good NFL prospects (e.g., Richardson, James) surrounded by a sea of true freshman, 2 stars, walkons and future drop outs.

I think the existence of some really good players confused elements of our fanbase into thinking more of them were really good.

 

[vol2002]

This actually makes me happy to think about. This defense was much improved from the year before with sal. And think about what you just said with all those problems or non SEC level players, this system still worked decently. Now with our coaches brining in SEC talent I can't wait to see the defensive start to improve even more the coming years!

That's the spirit! And I agree.

Our defense peaked against USCe last year. I still think that win is pretty remarkable in retrospect. If our new talent plays at that level consistently, watch out. We may turn around much more quickly than we all expect.

 

[engineerVOL]

Yeah, it was really bad. And it will look worse in retrospect as CBJ continues to build the program.

Last year's roster was like an unevenly heated burrito. A handful of very good NFL prospects (e.g., Richardson, James) surrounded by a sea of true freshman, 2 stars, walkons and future drop outs.

I think the existence of some really good players confused elements of our fanbase into thinking more of them were really good.

Good post... i like the burrito analogy.

 

[CWGvol]

Clearly. Hood, Brewer, and basically, Toney (and even Swaufford) were all starters. Sure, Toney and Swaufford were NB, but they play right away. All...were former walk-ons.

Add that to a 2 star LB, a true freshman CB, and a S coming off ACL injury. Yikes.

And still won 5 games, that should have been 7. That's why I'm expecting more this year. We will be young but talented. I'm hoping for 7 or 8 wins this year.

 

[AVolforLifenmeZac]

That's the spirit! And I agree.

Our defense peaked against USCe last year. I still think that win is pretty remarkable in retrospect. If our new talent plays at that level consistently, watch out. We may turn around much more quickly than we all expect.

I totally agree. I was at that USCe game this past year. That was my birthday and it was a fantastic one at that. I still have no idea how we beat them. It's like they decided to take the week off before our game because they didn't think it'd be a big deal. I hope many teams this year will feel that way about us and don't prepare correctly

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

Unrelated to defense, but I hope i never see Jacob Carter, Cody Blanc, or Josh Smith line up out wide again..... and i think i will be happy.

Josh Smith has a lot of potential. If out WR corps hadn't been so depleted, he'd have likely redshirted. He probably wasn't ready for prime time yet, but 2-3 seasons from now he could be a great receiver for us.

If our guys like North, Pearson, and Malone leave early to go to the NFL (which is possible, if not likely), having an upperclassmen who is a reliable route runner and has some savvy will be huge.

I wish he'd redshirted and we'd been able to get 5 years out of Smith. He could be a Ryan Swopes type guy by eventually.