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

[bornbleddinorange]

He was ready to fight the other night when we got in a scuffle with mizzouo. Anyone else notice him coming out of nowhere jawing?

 

[AstonRoyal]

Problem with that theory is that if he breaks out like everyone expected as a RS JR he could just jump to the league and then you only have him playing one year. I don't think anyone could have stood out enough on the line this year to make scouts think of them as early NFL caliber.

I think he's talking about year 3 as in coach jones third season as head coach

 

[QGP]

Looking back on it, where would we be if the staff hadn't decided to redshirt Marcus Jackson last year? Trust in Butch.

 

[Go Fight Win]

Call me crazy but I'm starting to believe the reason why coach jones is red shirting Blair is because he knows year three is when he is really going to be judged and he is loading the cannon so to speak.

I agree

 

[white65]

Jones isn't blind or stupid, he obviously thinks the his fourth year could be special and wants to load up for that year.

QB-Dobbs-Senior
RB1-Hurd-Jr, RB2-Kamara-SR, RB3-Scott RS SO
TE1 Helm-Jr(I think once helm develops some he'll start over wolf.), TE2 Wolf-Jr
WR1 North-SR
WR2 Malone-Jr
WR3-Smith-RS JR
WR4-Williams-SO

Plus (croom RS Sr, and I'm sure we'll have a good freshmen player or two.)



OT(left) Blair-RS
After this it gets tricky

OG(left) Wiesman-SR
C-Coleman RS So
OG Jashison Jr
OTKendrick

(I could see a So from this up coming class starting in 2016 as well)

DE- Barnett-Jr
DT-Tuttle-SO
DT- Mckiensie
DE-Vereen-Sr (this DE spot is hard to predict, but I think Vereen being a starter plus his work ethic leads to him starting most games in 2016.

(Our D-line will be very deep though, 3 potential All -American players)

Olb-Bates-RS Jr
MLb-Kirkland-SO
Olb-JRM-Sr

Or JRM and Bates in a 4-2

Nickle-Golden -Jr
CB- Sutton-SR (I think he comes back if the team is near what I think)
CB- Emosley or williams i hes back.

SS-KellyJr.-Jr.
FS-Jenings-SO idk maybe he can play QB.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

I agree

Wow! I guess it makes sense a little when you think about the comment he has made a few times...we are building a program, not a team. I have heard that the plan this year was to use as little resources as possible to make a bowl game. That certainly fits with some of the players' comments Saturday night and early this week. They kept saying that our goals are still intact and can be accomplished this Saturday. If you consider that, look how competitive we have been with limited resources. The future continues to look bright on Rocky Top!

 

[leftfield34]

Jones isn't blind or stupid, he obviously thinks the his fourth year could be special and wants to load up for that year.

QB-Dobbs-Senior
RB1-Hurd-Jr, RB2-Kamara-SR, RB3-Scott RS SO
TE1 Helm-Jr(I think once helm develops some he'll start over wolf.), TE2 Wolf-Jr
WR1 North-SR
WR2 Malone-Jr
WR3-Smith-RS JR
WR4-Williams-SO

Plus (croom RS Sr, and I'm sure we'll have a good freshmen player or two.)



OT(left) Blair-RS
After this it gets tricky

OG(left) Wiesman-SR
C-Coleman RS So
OG Jashison Jr
OTKendrick

(I could see a So from this up coming class starting in 2016 as well)

DE- Barnett-Jr
DT-Tuttle-SO
DT- Mckiensie
DE-Vereen-Sr (this DE spot is hard to predict, but I think Vereen being a starter plus his work ethic leads to him starting most games in 2016.

(Our D-line will be very deep though, 3 potential All -American players)

Olb-Bates-RS Jr
MLb-Kirkland-SO
Olb-JRM-Sr

Or JRM and Bates in a 4-2

Nickle-Golden -Jr
CB- Sutton-SR (I think he comes back if the team is near what I think)
CB- Emosley or williams i hes back.

SS-KellyJr.-Jr.
FS-Jenings-SO idk maybe he can play QB.

I doubt anyone will be starting over Maggitt, who will be a captain again Im sure.

 

[SoMissVol]

I doubt anyone will be starting over Maggitt, who will be a captain again Im sure.

He said 2016. That would be two seasons from now. Maggitt would be gone. Just helping with context. I know skim articles all the time and I miss important details.

 

[DaddyChad]

Exact reason Dobbs was being redshirt this yr. Imo

IDK if it was that entirely. I think Jones thought Dobbs would be at a disadvantage with the players surrounding him and you don't want to take a risk on breaking a young player mentally or physically with a terrible Oline.

 

[JamesBenUT]

Call me crazy but I'm starting to believe the reason why coach jones is red shirting Blair is because he knows year three is when he is really going to be judged and he is loading the cannon so to speak.

You mean year 4? Playing Blair this year wouldn't have impacted his ability to play next year. In fact, I contend the experience this year would have made him a better player for next. Now you can argue the redshirt year this year will load the cannon for year 4, yes - a year in the system this year, game experience next, and a break out year in 2016

 

[Boston_Vol]

Call me crazy but I'm starting to believe the reason why coach jones is red shirting Blair is because he knows year three is when he is really going to be judged and he is loading the cannon so to speak.

I think there maybe some truth to this. I also think he wasn't as ready from a conditioning stand point so they are using this extra year to improve his S&C. So it was convenient to just RS him.

The Good thing is our O-line will look totally different next year. Hopefully they can find a place for Big Charles to start.

 

[dyllisvol42]

You mean year 4? Playing Blair this year wouldn't have impacted his ability to play next year. In fact, I contend the experience this year would have made him a better player for next. Now you can argue the redshirt year this year will load the cannon for year 4, yes - a year in the system this year, game experience next, and a break out year in 2016

I see your point but I was meaning year three. I think Blair is probably the most athletic lineman we have it would have been easy to throw him out there and say have fun and let him try and just use his authentic ability to succeed but they coaches saw that he needed some coaching with his technique and his conditioning level so I believe they knew before fall camp even started that unless something catastrophic happened they would red shirt Blair.

 

[sjt18]

I am not afraid to criticize things that the coaches do... or to defend them when they are being unfairly criticized.

The decision to RS Blair was almost certainly the right one. It was an investment in a guy that would have perhaps started this year but would have been behind. The RS gives him a head start on next fall. He'll be in shape. He'll be accustomed to the speed of the game more than he would have otherwise. He'll understand the system.

For the same reasons it would have been ideal to RS Dobbs... it was ideal to RS Blair.

 

[dyllisvol42]

I am not afraid to criticize things that the coaches do... or to defend them when they are being unfairly criticized.

The decision to RS Blair was almost certainly the right one. It was an investment in a guy that would have perhaps started this year but would have been behind. The RS gives him a head start on next fall. He'll be in shape. He'll be accustomed to the speed of the game more than he would have otherwise. He'll understand the system.

For the same reasons it would have been ideal to RS Dobbs... it was ideal to RS Blair.

Wasn't there a report that the reason Dobbs was going to redshirt is because his family wanted him to for academic reasons.

 

[PassedOutAwake]

I doubt anyone will be starting over Maggitt, who will be a captain again Im sure.

Maggitt wont be at UT in 2 years from now.

 

[VAVolsFan2009]

Based on the favorable comments from the coaches, Blair seems to have finally turned the corner with his technique over the past several weeks. Let's hope there are no major injuries so he can keep his RS.

 

[jjay2518]

Wasn't there a report that the reason Dobbs was going to redshirt is because his family wanted him to for academic reasons.

I've seen that out there. Not sure how credible it is, but with him trying to finish out his degree in three years, he would be able to finish a masters in five.

 

[goooooovols]

If we make a bowl can Blair play without losing his redshirt?

 

[Vol8188]

If we make a bowl can Blair play without losing his redshirt?

No.

 

[cutnitclose]

If we make a bowl can Blair play without losing his redshirt?

I was wondering the same thing....

 

[loggervol]

we need this guy next year. one of the most important positions on the field.

 

[Shadowboxer]

If we make a bowl can Blair play without losing his redshirt?

Lol its been soo long since we've been to a bowl game that people forgot how it works.

 

[engineerVOL]

Lol its been soo long since we've been to a bowl game that people forgot how it works.

Rules should allow for a RS player to play in the bowl game without losing eligibility. That's would I would do if I were Grand Poobah of college football. It's a postseason reward.

Frankly I think all teams should get the extra practices even if not bowl eligible. If the NCAA is about being fair then allow all teams the same amount of practice time. Otherwise bowl teams have a leg up on the competition. Of course they naturally would anyway since they performed better but anyway...

Okay I'm done.

 

[Dust10]

Rules should allow for a RS player to play in the bowl game without losing eligibility. That's would I would do if I were Grand Poobah of college football. It's a postseason reward.

Frankly I think all teams should get the extra practices even if not bowl eligible. If the NCAA is about being fair then allow all teams the same amount of practice time. Otherwise bowl teams have a leg up on the competition. Of course they naturally would anyway since they performed better but anyway...

Okay I'm done.

A couple of good proposals here. I would just allow every student 5 years of eligibility. If you're good enough to leave after year three, it's unlikely you will stay 5 years anyhow. Like you idea about December practices to level the playing field.

 

[engineerVOL]

A couple of good proposals here. I would just allow every student 5 years of eligibility. If you're good enough to leave after year three, it's unlikely you will stay 5 years anyhow. Like you idea about December practices to level the playing field.

Thanks. I just think its a great opportunity for younger players to make a move. There's so much invested in college football and injuries are inevitable. It seems there is so little time to refine their craft.

The NC2A can let teams develop their youth in December so that they can put a better product on the field and get more guys able to perform the next year to alleviate some of the snaps the starters have to take.