'15 FL DE Marques Ford (FORMER UT commit)

#1,252
#1,252
CABVOL said:
I am not so keen on the long snapper, but as far as a punter goes, having a good punter/kicker is vital to a program.

Not a jab at you, but it really baffles me how people, year in and year out, cannot see how important it is to have excellent special teams. Special teams play wins and loses games every week during football season. Stepping off soapbox now.

:)
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Someone definitely was a punter
 
#1,253
#1,253
A long snapper is more important than an 8th string DE. Everyone wants to say this guy or that guy is a must take, but if the top 10 DE's all wanted to commit, we couldn't take them all.
 
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#1,254
#1,254
CABVOL said:
...he/she/it will write a very skrongly worded email to CBJ and tell him that he/she/it will not be in the student section cheering on the Vols next year! Duh! :thud:
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Will be a glaring absence among the 100,000 plus. :)
 
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#1,255
#1,255
Dust10 said:
A long snapper is more important than an 8th string DE. Everyone wants to say this guy or that guy is a must take, but if the top 10 DE's all wanted to commit, we couldn't take them all.
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^ This...experts on here talk about how useless longsnappers are until a bad snap flubs a GW field goal or a punter's tracking down a squib and Georgia has first and goal on our 9 yard line.
 
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#1,257
#1,257
Dust10 said:
A long snapper is more important than an 8th string DE. Everyone wants to say this guy or that guy is a must take, but if the top 10 DE's all wanted to commit, we couldn't take them all.
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I honestly thought 4 DE's was a must in this class after Hendrix and Henderson didn't work out in last year's class.

The returning roster at DE is very weak by SEC standards, depth-wise especially.

After Barnett (and Maggitt when his hand is down), that position looks really subpar IMO. When guys like Vereen and Lewis are in your two deep and even starting in your base 4-3 that is trouble.
 
#1,258
#1,258
butchna said:
^ This...experts on here talk about how useless longsnappers are until a bad snap flubs a GW field goal or a punter's tracking down a squib and Georgia has first and goal on our 9 yard line.
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I agree, but can you imagine this board if Lovingood puts one over the kicker's head this season? It will be flipping pandemonium.
 
#1,259
#1,259
Montrell Hardy said:
I honestly thought 4 DE's was a must in this class after Hendrix and Henderson didn't work out in last year's class.

The returning roster at DE is very weak by SEC standards, depth-wise especially.

After Barnett (and Maggitt when his hand is down), that position looks really subpar IMO. When guys like Vereen and Lewis are in your two deep and even starting in your base 4-3 that is trouble.
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Lewis is a heck of a backup..IMO
 
#1,262
#1,262
In case some of you do not realize it, long snappers are one of the most valued positions in the NFL. It is one of the position that you can have a long, if unheralded career at, because the NFL values it so highly. If you are a really good LS you can play for years in the league.

Stoops gave a scholly to our "walkon long snapper" last year. He went to Ravenwood, same school as Van Jefferson, who is probably going to be a Sooner now. They were taking pictures together out in Norman this past weekend. I think I read somewhere that CUM is giving one to a LS up at tosu this year. Some people seem to value them.

It is a position that goes unnoticed unless there is a screw up. Then it may very well have cost a game. A missed extra point, blocked punt, cause a 15 yard punt or a snap over the head of a punter and lose a game when the outcome of one single game can keep you out of the NC playoff.

Before anyone ask or thinks it, I have no personal interest in this position. I am just looking at a 12 game regular season and I have seen enough games changed over the years by bad snaps to see the value of the position. I would rather see one LS scholly that pans out than one that is wasted on 11th receiver that never sees the field.
 
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#1,263
#1,263
jordan4vols said:
I'm just throwing this out there and it may not be the case but what if they pulled his scholarship offer because Hendrix told them he was actually going to stay on the football team?
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Then that's a bad trade. Hendrix quit. I would rather have a kid like Ford that wanted to be here and was ready to give his all. I'm very disappointed on multiple levels as to how this played out.
 
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#1,264
#1,264
Montrell Hardy said:
I honestly thought 4 DE's was a must in this class after Hendrix and Henderson didn't work out in last year's class.

The returning roster at DE is very weak by SEC standards, depth-wise especially.

After Barnett (and Maggitt when his hand is down), that position looks really subpar IMO. When guys like Vereen and Lewis are in your two deep and even starting in your base 4-3 that is trouble.
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I agree with your assessment and Ford was prob one of my favorite commits, but if it's a choice between a 3rd rb or OT, I feel those are bigger positions of need.
 
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#1,265
#1,265
butchna said:
^ This...experts on here talk about how useless longsnappers are until a bad snap flubs a GW field goal or a punter's tracking down a squib and Georgia has first and goal on our 9 yard line.
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It would be ideal if a longsnapper could fill another need (back-up OL), but it is just not the case most of the time.

Played ball with a guy that went to Auburn, was their center and long snapper. Had a 10+ year career in the NFL as a long snapper. Has a Super Bowl ring to show for it. It is a vital, often over-looked position of need.

Understand though, that I do get the debate of using a scholly on a long snapper when numbers are tight. I would not want to be CBJ and have to make these kinds of decisions.
 
#1,267
#1,267
Yes, let's ask the number 1 player in the country and quite possibly a program changer to walk on and pay his own way........ummm, no.
 
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#1,269
#1,269
patrick said:
I think UT pulled Ford's offer in order to make a spot for Prince Tega. If Tega commits/signs with the Vols then there is your answer/confirmation. He had a pretty bad leg injury two days ago though.
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If that ends up happening then Butch Jones needs to be in a mental hospital. You don't turn away a talent like Ford for a project.
 
#1,270
#1,270
Mullins2010 said:
Lewis is a heck of a backup..IMO
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He's alright. He's made some plays this year but consistency was a real issue with him this season. There were times when he was absolutely abused when he was out there. Plus he'll never get back that athleticism he had prior to his injuries.
 
#1,271
#1,271
CABVOL said:
It would be ideal if a longsnapper could fill another need (back-up OL), but it is just not the case most of the time.

Played ball with a guy that went to Auburn, was their center and long snapper. Had a 10+ year career in the NFL as a long snapper. Has a Super Bowl ring to show for it. It is a vital, often over-looked position of need.

Understand though, that I do get the debate of using a scholly on a long snapper when numbers are tight. I would not want to be CBJ and have to make these kinds of decisions.
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I think the numbers are always going to be tight with Butch...too excellent a recruiter...miss Dooley and 21 man classes? :)
 
#1,272
#1,272
sanddune50 said:
Then that's a bad trade. Hendrix quit. I would rather have a kid like For that wanted to be here and was ready to give his all. I'm very disappointed on multiple levels as to how this played out.
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Totally agree if this was the scenario. As much as I would like to have Hendrix back on the team, I would never have pulled Ford's scholly because someone who quit wants to return.
 
#1,273
#1,273
Probably_in_Class said:
Technically, you mean sympathy, not empathy (none of us have gone through the situation of recruiting or at least very few), but I'm not fighting the rationale of those feelings. What I'm debating is your reasoning for not hypothetically pissing off some coach at a single school in Florida as if the entire state of FL will be cut off from UT recruiting because of one guy.
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Technically you are a smart ass. Although I have not personally had a scholarship offer from UT taken form me, I have been told I wasn't good enough at many different things in life and have been not wanted by people as well. That is where the empathy comes from in this situation. I always love to know that there are VN "perfect" humans like yourself here. Kudos to you.
 
#1,275
#1,275
rollaway.gif
 
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