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

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#1,626
#1,626
KnoxVillain said:
What's your point? 2 years to play as opposed to 4 years for a HS player.
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I'm sure the intention was for him to play immediately when they signed him. Didn't work out, he was in bad shape. I have a feeling it will be worth it next year. Doesn't help now I know.
 
#1,627
#1,627
unioncityvol said:
I'm sure the intention was for him to play immediately when they signed him. Didn't work out, he was in bad shape. I have a feeling it will be worth it next year. Doesn't help now I know.
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Yea so I guess my point is don't take a JUCO player unless you are 95% sure he will start for you next year. Otherwise, you are better off bringing in a HS player.
 
#1,628
#1,628
Many media guys are saying that supposedly Blair was terrible his first year of JUCO and that he had no offers he was so bad. But the next year he looked like a completely different player.

You've gotta hope that can be the case for him here.
 
#1,630
#1,630
unioncityvol said:
Matt, what's goin on with Weisman?
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He is fighting an injury. He is just now getting going really.

AV_12 said:
Nah.. Plus he was an EE

Our staff couldn't get him In shape in 8 months? Not buying the shape argument anymore, he is just a bust pretty much
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It is not just he was out of shape. He has to learn the playbook better
 
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#1,631
#1,631
InVOLuntary said:
Lol. I was poking fun at those that thought Blair was playing this past Saturday because the light all of a sudden came on.
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I was just proposing an explanation for what might have happened if he had actually been starting this week. Not sure why you're bringing it back up now to try and make fun of me. You don't know any more about what goes on behind the scenes with this team than anyone else on this board.
 
#1,632
#1,632
jjay2518 said:
I was just proposing an explanation for what might have happened if he had actually been starting this week. Not sure why you're bringing it back up now to try and make fun of me. You don't know any more about what goes on behind the scenes with this team than anyone else on this board.
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Chill budy, it wasn't just you. Lighten up, we're just having fun here. Did you see the hard time I got for using the word "irregardless"? It's all in good fun.
 
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#1,633
#1,633
If Blair doesn't know the playbook, but is otherwise in shape enough to play, how is that any different than Thomas and Robertson who were not ready physically with no more time to know the playbook than Blair? Which again points to why have they not put the best players at each position and adjusted the scheme to the talent they have, unless there are ulterior motives.

Let there be light. Light is good. lol.
 
#1,634
#1,634
Vols4us said:
If Blair doesn't know the playbook, but is otherwise in shape enough to play, how is that any different than Thomas and Robertson who were not ready physically with no more time to know the playbook than Blair? Which again points to why have they not put the best players at each position and adjusted the scheme to the talent they have, unless there are ulterior motives.

Let there be light. Light is good. lol.
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If Thomas and Jackson are out, right?
Butch always gives injury updates on Mondays at noon presser.
 
#1,635
#1,635
PrattvilleVol said:
CBJ has spoken ad nauseam about the need to build depth. He went so far as to say the top OL recruit in the nation this past cycle was RS. To say Blair is a bust is simply not true...at this point.
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Actually and unfortunately for us the real top oline recruit is playing tackle a UA and we will see him this sat.
 
#1,637
#1,637
OGbabyaviVol said:
Yep, can't wait to see him get abused by Barnett the entire game.
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I think your right Avi. Barnett was insane Sat night.78 is suppose to be the best Lt in the sec and finally had to start getting help with Barnett.His Stat line was crazy.10tk.2 sacks and 4tfl.That's insane for a Dl.Not to mention a true freshman.
 
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#1,638
#1,638
tn4elvis said:
I think your right Avi. Barnett was insane Sat night.78 is suppose to be the best Lt in the sec and finally had to start getting help with Barnett.His Stat line was crazy.10th 2 sacks and 4tfl.That's insane for a Dl.Not to mention a true freshman.
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Isn't bama's LT a freshman? True?
 
#1,640
#1,640
KnoxVillain said:
Yea so I guess my point is don't take a JUCO player unless you are 95% sure he will start for you next year. Otherwise, you are better off bringing in a HS player.
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This is a ridiculous blanket statement. You are not taking into account the potential factor. So if a JUCO with a high ceiling needs a redhsirt year to acclimate, get in shape, and add strength then it is better to take a high school player whose ceiling is not as high because he will be able to play 4 years instead of 2? Obviously, the preference is always high school over JUCO in the long run. But the reality is that very talented players are forced to go to JUCO for various reasons. And because of the nature of playing OL in the SEC even most of these talented players with high ceilings need time to develop. You don't just ignore them unless you are able to recruit top flight high school players on the OL every year. Unfortunately, that has not been the case at UT over the last few years (exact opposite in fact). Look at the Top 10 rated JUCO OT's from last year. How many are starting? It's just the reality of the position. There are not very many Robinson's and Tunsil's out there. Starting and being successful without much developmental time is VERY rare for an OT.
 
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#1,642
#1,642
I read last week that Blair had his black stripe removed. I wonder what that really means? Is Butch saving and developing him for 2015 and 2016? Does he believe he would have minimal impact if he played this year, but be a stud in the future? I could be reading too much into this but something is going on.
 
#1,643
#1,643
Nashvegas31 said:
Yeah he was the #1 tackle in country that dominated everyone at Opening and All America events. If you want someone that can compete early you need the All American Elite guys. None of our true freshman lineman were in that category
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Jack Jones is probably going to start next year if he comes in right
 
#1,644
#1,644
Volswagg1017 said:
Jack Jones is probably going to start next year if he comes in right
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Who knows. It might happen. And if it does that is just an indication of how bad our situation is on the OL. The only OL that should ever start as a freshman are the freaks like Tunsil at Ole Miss. And they are very few and far between. You want to know when our OL will be improved? When we are playing upperclassman across the line.
 
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#1,645
#1,645
For the sake of the 2015 season, I'm hoping this guy turns it around and plays like a top rated JUCO.

If he can play LT, then we can go:

Blair
Jackson
Crowder/Weisman
Kerbyson/Weisman
Kendrick/Kerbyson

Robertson, Thomas, and all the freshman can hopefully redshirt and get ready for 2016.
 
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#1,647
#1,647
volinexile17 said:
For the sake of the 2015 season, I'm hoping this guy turns it around and plays like a top rated JUCO.

If he can play LT, then we can go:

Blair
Jackson
Crowder/Weisman
Kerbyson/Weisman
Kendrick/Kerbyson

Robertson, Thomas, and all the freshman can hopefully redshirt and get ready for 2016.
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I do not see Robertson being a RS, since he already is starting jmo though.
 
#1,648
#1,648
Volswagg1017 said:
Jack Jones is probably going to start next year if he comes in right
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If being honest, I hope not. I know the kid is talented but IMO there are plenty of OL guys who will have 2-3+ years in the system and in UT's S&C program who should be developed and better options. If they are not, I think the coaches have some issues to address.
 
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#1,649
#1,649
LebanonVolunteer said:
If being honest, I hope not. I know the kid is talented but IMO there are plenty of OL guys who will have 2-3+ years in the system and in UT's S&C program who should be developed and better options. If they are not, I think the coaches have some issues to address.
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I agree. That can happen some on D and with skill positions, but if it happens on the O-line it should be an extreme rarity like getting the best O-lineman in the nation who is a legitimate starter Day One - i.e. Bama this year, J. James for our guys, etc.
 
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