'14 JUCO OT Dontavius Blair (UT SIGNEE 12/18/13)

[NotoriousRPP]

and Blair, who I think shouldve been starting since day 1, is on the bench which again makes me question what the hell is Mahoney doing

As someone who's been to a dozen or so practices this year let me educate you. Blair physically is ready, but mentally he can't pick up hardly anything. Assignments, angles, switches. And that leads to him over thinking and getting flat out embarrassed on the line.

Your assessment of Jackson is way off base as well. Hes having to compensate for playing between two players that are not SEC caliber linemen. He was redshirted for depth issues. Not lack of talent.

But you are right about changes coming. Look for Wiseman to replace Crowder, and soon. Coleman Thomas is also looking good to take the lt spot after the bye week.

Good try though.

 

[Go Fight Win]

As someone who's been to a dozen or so practices this year let me educate you. Blair physically is ready, but mentally he can't pick up hardly anything. Assignments, angles, switches. And that leads to him over thinking and getting flat out embarrassed on the line.

Your assessment of Jackson is way off base as well. Hes having to compensate for playing between two players that are not SEC caliber linemen. He was redshirted for depth issues. Not lack of talent.

But you are right about changes coming. Look for Wiseman to replace Crowder, and soon. Coleman Thomas is also looking good to take the lt spot after the bye week.

Good try though.

+1

 

[KnoxVillain]

+1

Poor Mack.

 

[VOLorNuttin]

I agree for the most part, but I've never liked the blind faith in coaches approach.

"If they're sitting him he must be worse than everyone else."

I certainly don't know better than the coaches, but hundreds of college coaches across the country make bad decisions every day (Mason butchering his QB situation, etc...) and not trying new looks on the OL could very well be one of those bad decisions. When something isn't working, it's fair to question why they don't at least try something else. You can't just say that because they're sitting Blair it's definitely the best decision.

Same here. Every time we fans make an observation that isn't all sweet and sugary, it never fails to hear the stupid ridicule...:aggressive: "why aren't you coaching, then?"....:realmad: "why aren't you on the sideline coaching, if you know so much?"

This rationale fails to reckognize that if applied to all coaches, then why do so many end up getting fired? Sure we want to be optimistic and all, but we also want problems to get fixed.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

As someone who's been to a dozen or so practices this year let me educate you. Blair physically is ready, but mentally he can't pick up hardly anything. Assignments, angles, switches. And that leads to him over thinking and getting flat out embarrassed on the line.

Your assessment of Jackson is way off base as well. Hes having to compensate for playing between two players that are not SEC caliber linemen. He was redshirted for depth issues. Not lack of talent.

But you are right about changes coming. Look for Wiseman to replace Crowder, and soon. Coleman Thomas is also looking good to take the lt spot after the bye week.

Good try though.

Wow! I would be interested to see how that OL looks. I think Weisman is nasty, but he has snapped a few very high when in the game towards the end last week. Are the coaches just trying to get through this first tough road test, and then incorporate those changes during the bye week? I am sure they do not want to throw Thomas to the wolves at LT on the road in Norman.

 

[butchna]

haha volnation guys are sooo defensive when it comes to calling them out. But I'm yoda? no no, you guys are just complete idiots when it comes to scouting the offensive-line play. and Jackson, the kid has no feet and is stiff as hell. he was redshirted because they needed an excuse to keep him FAR FAR away from the field. Take this to the bank, Jackson will not be starting by week 6. watch the game, the ish is awful!!

Glad we found you. :wub:

 

[unioncityvol]

Glad we found you. :wub:

Lol, escort him over to the FF please Butchna.

 

[keckjm]

letting the coaches do what they do is sure working out bro! we haven't had a run longer than 20 yards. maybe it's bajakian? idk but we can't run the football or protect our quarterback. and Blair taking plays off? has he played a snap? ooooh, ok he hasn't so he hasn't had a chance to take a play off smh. you over here talking about practice!

You have no clue WTF you are talking about. It's not just me who's said Blair isn't any good right now, it's countless other people who have seen him play and practice. There's two or three threads from months ago on this site that all stated Blair is out of shape and doesn't understand how to pass block. I stated a few months ago that the guy wouldn't play LT and is a RT all the way. I even posted the thread that I stated this in a few pages back. You aren't being pragmatic in accessing our o-line as a whole. You think Jackson was redshirted so CBJ didn't have to play him? Well if you actually followed Ut football you would know CBJ doesn't do that. Want proof? Go look at Riyahd Jones last year who easily could have got a medical redshirt but CBJ decided against it because he knew he could replace him with better talent. Your dogmatic approach to your football opinions is clouding your ability to reason.

 

[dyllisvol42]

So far the only thing Blair has contributed on was our recruiting ranking last year. I know that's harsh but that's it. From some reports he is kind of lazy and not a lot of fire to him. Hopefully that changes he is 6'8 300 lbs and very athletic and has been giving a great opportunity to either make it as a football player or a college graduate. Which ever one he chooses I hope he realizes his opportunity and runs with it. I know he is a little raw but if the coaches can coach him up and I think he has a chance to be a great player for us. If a red shirt year is what it takes than so be it , but I won't lie so far I'am a little disappointed in his play.

 

[UTMark]

O line is about continuity. If coaches switched it up as much as indicated on here, we'll still be searching for answers.

Let 3 or 4 of them gel (assuming health) and then you can bring in 1, maybe 2 guys to blend in with the others.

 

[Biopsyman]

letting the coaches do what they do is sure working out bro! we haven't had a run longer than 20 yards. maybe it's bajakian? idk but we can't run the football or protect our quarterback. and Blair taking plays off? has he played a snap? ooooh, ok he hasn't so he hasn't had a chance to take a play off smh. you over here talking about practice!

Maybe Blair does not know our 1 running play

 

[Wilson27]

As someone who's been to a dozen or so practices this year let me educate you. Blair physically is ready, but mentally he can't pick up hardly anything. Assignments, angles, switches. And that leads to him over thinking and getting flat out embarrassed on the line.

Your assessment of Jackson is way off base as well. Hes having to compensate for playing between two players that are not SEC caliber linemen. He was redshirted for depth issues. Not lack of talent.

But you are right about changes coming. Look for Wiseman to replace Crowder, and soon. Coleman Thomas is also looking good to take the lt spot after the bye week.

Good try though.

Heard exactly the same thing from a couple of people that have watched practice...that Blair just wasn't getting it. Unlike Butch.

 

[Biopsyman]

As someone who's been to a dozen or so practices this year let me educate you. Blair physically is ready, but mentally he can't pick up hardly anything. Assignments, angles, switches. And that leads to him over thinking and getting flat out embarrassed on the line.

Your assessment of Jackson is way off base as well. Hes having to compensate for playing between two players that are not SEC caliber linemen. He was redshirted for depth issues. Not lack of talent.

But you are right about changes coming. Look for Wiseman to replace Crowder, and soon. Coleman Thomas is also looking good to take the lt spot after the bye week.

Good try though.

If true.. Scary.. Sounds line Crowder Kyler are heading to the bench...Both Being RJR is really disappointing

 

[tennesseefan31]

If true.. Scary.. Sounds line Crowder Kyler are heading to the bench...Both Being RJR is really disappointing

I think it's Crowder and Kendrick.

LT- Thomas
LG- Jackson
C- Weisman
RG- Robertson
RT- Kerbyson

 

[MockingVol]

If true.. Scary.. Sounds line Crowder Kyler are heading to the bench...Both Being RJR is really disappointing

Crowder just isn't an SEC level lineman physically. He snaps it well but he can't hold the point of attack at all which allows for too much pressure right in Worley's face. I have my fingers crossed that Weisman can take over sooner than later.

 

[volfan10735]

As someone who's been to a dozen or so practices this year let me educate you. Blair physically is ready, but mentally he can't pick up hardly anything. Assignments, angles, switches. And that leads to him over thinking and getting flat out embarrassed on the line.

Your assessment of Jackson is way off base as well. Hes having to compensate for playing between two players that are not SEC caliber linemen. He was redshirted for depth issues. Not lack of talent.

But you are right about changes coming. Look for Wiseman to replace Crowder, and soon. Coleman Thomas is also looking good to take the lt spot after the bye week.

Good try though.

"Notorious" who has "been to a dozen or so practices this year," you are so far off base and you are really showing how many practices you have REALLY been to. Did you actually watch the practice when you where there, if you were there? What were you doing there? Are you a VFL? The best 5 linemen are on the field right now! Otherwise, why would they be playing? Haven't you watched them move guys out of the way? Wake up and watch the game - watch how on some plays that we ran they stacked box in the defense. I believe when know-it-alls get on here and "Notoriously" make their 42 posts as you have, it does nothing but show why an ESPN commentator doesn't like some folks who act like they are TN fans. Or maybe you are not. P.S. All 5 guys are "SEC Caliber" because THEY ARE SEC LINEMEN, Starting for an SEC team and have been selected as the best 5 over other SEC linemen on the team.

 

[hitUMinGUT]

Crowder just isn't an SEC level lineman physically. He snaps it well but he can't hold the point of attack at all which allows for too much pressure right in Worley's face. I have my fingers crossed that Weisman can take over sooner than later.

Completely disagree. I've seen Crowder finishing many blocks (very physically) and pancaking many defensive players during these first 2 games. Watch a little closer before you make untrue comments like this. Also, you Better watch out and not jinx the good snaps. That just so happens to be a very important part of an Offense.

 

[abrock42]

ok, so what you're saying is that Blair is physically ready but can't pick up the scheme. then that's telling me, change the damn scheme. obviously it is not working. if a kid is physically-ready, you find a way to get him on the field. best 5. screw leaders or upperclassmen. if it takes putting a simple blocking scheme and 4 freshman to do so, you do it!

 

[RikidyBones]

ok, so what you're saying is that Blair is physically ready but can't pick up the scheme. then that's telling me, change the damn scheme. obviously it is not working. if a kid is physically-ready, you find a way to get him on the field. best 5. screw leaders or upperclassmen. if it takes putting a simple blocking scheme and 4 freshman to do so, you do it!

Lol. Bless your heart.

 

[Go Fight Win]

ok, so what you're saying is that Blair is physically ready but can't pick up the scheme. then that's telling me, change the damn scheme. obviously it is not working. if a kid is physically-ready, you find a way to get him on the field. best 5. screw leaders or upperclassmen. if it takes putting a simple blocking scheme and 4 freshman to do so, you do it!

Lol

 

[UT4LIFE86]

GFW ...Richmond on Tuesday ? How u feeling

 

[bkdamoron]

ok, so what you're saying is that Blair is physically ready but can't pick up the scheme. then that's telling me, change the damn scheme. obviously it is not working. if a kid is physically-ready, you find a way to get him on the field. best 5. screw leaders or upperclassmen. if it takes putting a simple blocking scheme and 4 freshman to do so, you do it!

You were the kid who always tried to shove the square peg in the round hole, weren't you?

 

[005]

Guy is dumb as a brock

Dumber than**

My bad y'all.

 

[m1al]

ok, so what you're saying is that Blair is physically ready but can't pick up the scheme. then that's telling me, change the damn scheme. obviously it is not working. if a kid is physically-ready, you find a way to get him on the field. best 5. screw leaders or upperclassmen. if it takes putting a simple blocking scheme and 4 freshman to do so, you do it!

Seriously, changing the blocking scheme because one player can't keep up... That's genius! Someone call Butch now.. SMDH...

 

[TriedAndTrueVOL]

As someone who's been to a dozen or so practices this year let me educate you. Blair physically is ready, but mentally he can't pick up hardly anything. Assignments, angles, switches. And that leads to him over thinking and getting flat out embarrassed on the line.

Your assessment of Jackson is way off base as well. Hes having to compensate for playing between two players that are not SEC caliber linemen. He was redshirted for depth issues. Not lack of talent.

But you are right about changes coming. Look for Wiseman to replace Crowder, and soon. Coleman Thomas is also looking good to take the lt spot after the bye week.

Good try though.

This. Solid post.