'17 IN QB Hunter Johnson (Former UT Commit 8/23/15) (Clemson commit)

#1,903
#1,903
Per Hubbs

Obviously, the week didn't get off to a good start in terms of recruiting news with 2017 5-star quarterback Hunter Johnson backing off his Tennessee commitment along with four-star defensive tackle D'Andre Christmas-Giles.

Those decomittments, coupled with a few targets committing elsewhere made for a rough few days.

In the case of Johnson, it was a surprise to see him back off his commitment when he did. He was just at Tennessee on Saturday and didn't give any indication to the staff he was looking around despite his visit to Clemson on Friday (which both the Johnsons and Clemson tried to keep quiet).

And while the timing was a surprise, you always wondered if Johnson was going to stay committed, especially if reviews of Jarrett Guarantano were as good as some think he will be when he steps on campus.
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#1,906
#1,906
Johnson's commitment never really made sense to me. Why would a "pro-style" quarterback want to play for a team with a spread run attack, with at least three more experienced and more mobile QBs ahead of him on the depth chart? And why were we really interested in Johnson? Hasn't the past two seasons proven conclusively that our offense works better with a mobile QB?

Moreover, as a general matter, it seems like evaluating elite pro-style QB prospects is much harder than it is for evaluating elite mobile QBs. At least in the college game, mobile QB prospects have a much higher floor because even if they can't hit the broad side of a barn with their arm at least they can thrive in a run-first offense (e.g., Tim Tebow, Terrell Pryor, etc.) or switch positions (Russell Sheppard, Braxton Miller, etc.). By contrast, 5-star pro-style QBs facing decent competition for the first time in their lives can have a real crisis of confidence and either lose their jobs (Garrett Gilbert, Kyle Allen) or never make it on the field (e.g., Mitch Mustain, Max Browne).

Am I wrong?
 
#1,907
#1,907
AboveAllNations said:
Johnson's commitment never really made sense to me. Why would a "pro-style" quarterback want to play for a team with a spread run attack, with at least three more experienced and more mobile QBs ahead of him on the depth chart? And why were we really interested in Johnson? Hasn't the past two seasons proven conclusively that our offense works better with a mobile QB?

Moreover, as a general matter, it seems like evaluating elite pro-style QB prospects is much harder than it is for evaluating elite mobile QBs. At least in the college game, mobile QB prospects have a much higher floor because even if they can't hit the broad side of a barn with their arm at least they can thrive in a run-first offense (e.g., Tim Tebow, Terrell Pryor, etc.) or switch positions (Russell Sheppard, Braxton Miller, etc.). By contrast, 5-star pro-style QBs facing decent competition for the first time in their lives can have a real crisis of confidence and either lose their jobs (Garrett Gilbert, Kyle Allen) or never make it on the field (e.g., Mitch Mustain, Max Browne).

Am I wrong?
Click to expand...

I agree. I never understood why TN did not concentrate on dual threat QB's in the past.:hi:
 
#1,908
#1,908
AboveAllNations said:
Johnson's commitment never really made sense to me. Why would a "pro-style" quarterback want to play for a team with a spread run attack, with at least three more experienced and more mobile QBs ahead of him on the depth chart? And why were we really interested in Johnson? Hasn't the past two seasons proven conclusively that our offense works better with a mobile QB?

Moreover, as a general matter, it seems like evaluating elite pro-style QB prospects is much harder than it is for evaluating elite mobile QBs. At least in the college game, mobile QB prospects have a much higher floor because even if they can't hit the broad side of a barn with their arm at least they can thrive in a run-first offense (e.g., Tim Tebow, Terrell Pryor, etc.) or switch positions (Russell Sheppard, Braxton Miller, etc.). By contrast, 5-star pro-style QBs facing decent competition for the first time in their lives can have a real crisis of confidence and either lose their jobs (Garrett Gilbert, Kyle Allen) or never make it on the field (e.g., Mitch Mustain, Max Browne).

Am I wrong?
Click to expand...

I agree. Then he goes and commits to Clemson, another spread system.
 
#1,909
#1,909
Difference is Clemson is a spread pass attack. We are a zone read power run team at the moment.

My question is, do we stand a chance with Trevor Lawrence?
 
#1,910
#1,910
engineerVOL said:
Difference is Clemson is a spread pass attack. We are a zone read power run team at the moment.

My question is, do we stand a chance with Trevor Lawrence?
Click to expand...

Born in Knoxville, visited many times, looks like a young peyton, has us in his top group. I would say we have a chance.
 
#1,911
#1,911
BleedingButch said:
Born in Knoxville, visited many times, looks like a young peyton, has us in his top group. I would say we have a chance.
Click to expand...

I knew but for the same reasons people justify their opinion saying Johnsom was a pocket passer, why do we think Trevor Lawrence is in the bag?
 
#1,912
#1,912
engineerVOL said:
I knew but for the same reasons people justify their opinion saying Johnsom was a pocket passer, why do we think Trevor Lawrence is in the bag?
Click to expand...

Maybe we could just pass more? Shelf the QB draw for a couple yrs. Cade Mays says it's all good if we want a big arm guy.
 
#1,913
#1,913
engineerVOL said:
Difference is Clemson is a spread pass attack. We are a zone read power run team at the moment.

My question is, do we stand a chance with Trevor Lawrence?
Click to expand...

Valid question. I scratched my head at the interest from both even before the commitment. I fall back on this. DeBord knows how to use a statue-esque QB from his days at Meeechigun.
 
#1,915
#1,915
engineerVOL said:
I knew but for the same reasons people justify their opinion saying Johnsom was a pocket passer, why do we think Trevor Lawrence is in the bag?
Click to expand...

Why would we recruit Dormady if this is the case? Dormady is nothing but a pro-style QB. Plus, I think Wiltfong with 247 wrote an article a while back stating that Johnson is plenty mobile.
 
#1,916
#1,916
LynxVol said:
Why would we recruit Dormady if this is the case? Dormady is nothing but a pro-style QB. Plus, I think Wiltfong with 247 wrote an article a while back stating that Johnson is plenty mobile.
Click to expand...

I don't know, I can't figure out this staff's player type philosophy at QB.
 
#1,918
#1,918
And WR type recruiting was strange the first three years.

North, Malone, Williams, all don't seem to fit. I can see the pursuit of North because there was a lot of leg work put in with the prior staff that it made sense to finish the job. And Malone, I think Jones just wanted to send a statement that Tennessee players should go to Tennessee. Though to me Malone is a better fit than Williams. Malone has great burst when he catches the ball.

This year's recruiting of WRs and QBs make a lot more sense to me.
 
#1,919
#1,919
engineerVOL said:
And WR type recruiting was strange the first three years.

North, Malone, Williams, all don't seem to fit. I can see the pursuit of North because there was a lot of leg work put in with the prior staff that it made sense to finish the job. And Malone, I think Jones just wanted to send a statement that Tennessee players should go to Tennessee. Though to me Malone is a better fit than Williams. Malone has great burst when he catches the ball.

This year's recruiting of WRs and QBs make a lot more sense to me.
Click to expand...

When you have guys like north Williams and Malone knocking on your door, you let them in. They were too talented to keep out
 
#1,921
#1,921
chavisut said:
How do they not fit?
Click to expand...

Tall big bodies receivers who best are utilized running downfield and using their frames to shield smaller defenders with excellent top end speed but not great acceleration.

It's no coincidence Pig and Von have been our best receivers the past two years. The common denominator: shifty, skilled route runners. Acceleration is great.
 
#1,922
#1,922
engineerVOL said:
Tall big bodies receivers who best are utilized running downfield and using their frames to shield smaller defenders with excellent top end speed but not great acceleration.

It's no coincidence Pig and Von have been our best receivers the past two years. The common denominator: shifty, skilled route runners. Acceleration is great.
Click to expand...
Too many moving parts to take into consideration to oversimplify it that much. The OL was a factor, a QB whose deep ball isn't the best part of his game was a factor, coaches not trusting their QB, WR injuries.... All of these have to be part of the equation. Not saying you're wrong, just that we don't have a large enough sample size with a full compliment of weapons to know yet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#1,925
#1,925
WR position is very questionable moving forward. IMO.

Talent is there, but will someone emerge from the crowd? Spring will be crucial in developing the talent that is there, and getting guys like North healthy
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top