5 Burning ?'s for 2nd Year Coaches...

[gardners_51609]

SEC burning questions 2nd year coaches Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas - ESPN

Jones: Rocky Top was rocking earlier this month when Jones pulled in the nation’s No. 5 recruiting class on national signing day. Tennessee fans needed that shot of hope after suffering through a fourth-straight losing season.

While it’s clear that Jones has brought in an infusion of talent, there’s no guarantee that the Vols will end their string of losing seasons in 2014. The schedule is once again nasty and includes a nonconference trip to Oklahoma.

Of Tennessee’s seven losses last season, four came to teams who ended the season ranked in the top 10. Even with that grueling slate, the Vols showed some signs of life in Jones’ debut season. They beat South Carolina and just missed against Georgia in overtime. Quarterback Justin Worley’s thumb injury forced true freshman Josh Dobbs into a starting role down the stretch, and that’s when Tennessee really struggled.

Sorting out the quarterback position will be a key. Redshirt freshman Riley Ferguson will be one to watch and probably would have played last season if not for a stress fracture. The offensive line will have five new starters, and the tackle positions will be among the biggest questions on defense.

The Vols’ coaches are confident they helped themselves tremendously in the speed department with this recruiting class. Two or three freshmen could end up playing right away at safety. The same goes for freshman running back Jalen Hurd and freshman receiver Josh Malone, both of whom are already on campus and will go through spring practice. Tennessee needs to generate more explosive plays on offense, and Hurd and Malone should help them do that.

The Vols last won a bowl game during the 2007 season, so it’s been a while. Tennessee ends next season with home games against Kentucky and Missouri and then travels to Vanderbilt on the final weekend. That stretch will likely determine whether or not there’s a postseason in the Vols’ immediate future.

 

[Special Ed]

So, what's the question?

 

[dreVol]

So, what's the question?

It's still burning. The flames make the words hard to read.

 

[gardners_51609]

So, what's the question?

I wouldn't expect anything more from you, but when they are rhetorical sometimes it takes a little induction power.

 

[GlockVol]

i wouldn't expect anything more from you, but when they are rhetorical sometimes it takes a little induction power.

ouch!

 

[Special Ed]

I wouldn't expect anything more from you, but when they are rhetorical sometimes it takes a little induction power.

I'm a deduction man myself.

 

[Rockytoptalker]

It's still burning. The flames make the words hard to read.

It's engulfed in an eternal flame....

 

[fade route]

I'm a deduction man myself.

Solid.

 

[Kook]

I wouldn't expect anything more from you, but when they are rhetorical sometimes it takes a little induction power.

Rarely do you present a rhetorical question as a question. Most often they are used to answer a question, to provoke thought. So...yeah...

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Here are my 5+ questions:

1. What's up with Pig?
2. Who rises to the top at QB?
3. How long will it take for the completely new Oline to work out the kinks
4. We know Hurd and Lane will do well, but who surprises at RB... Hill, Summerhill, Pickett, Young, Scott, Paulk?
5a. Where will D Young end up with Pig out?
5b. Where will JRM end up as that talent has to play?
5c. We are so stacked LB right now, should we experiment with a 4-3 (sans sal)?

 

[BigBadVol]

Here are my 5+ questions:

1. What's up with Pig?
2. Who rises to the top at QB?
3. How long will it take for the completely new Oline to work out the kinks
4. We know Hurd and Lane will do well, but who surprises at RB... Hill, Summerhill, Pickett, Young, Scott, Paulk?
5a. Where will D Young end up with Pig out?
5b. Where will JRM end up as that talent has to play?
5c. We are so stacked LB right now, should we experiment with a 4-3 (sans sal)?

:ermm::ermm:

On 5c did you mean a 3-4?

 

[OrangeByBirth]

Here are my 5+ questions:

1. What's up with Pig?
2. Who rises to the top at QB?
3. How long will it take for the completely new Oline to work out the kinks
4. We know Hurd and Lane will do well, but who surprises at RB... Hill, Summerhill, Pickett, Young, Scott, Paulk?
5a. Where will D Young end up with Pig out?
5b. Where will JRM end up as that talent has to play?
5c. We are so stacked LB right now, should we experiment with a 4-3 (sans sal)?

1. He is learning how to be a student. If he learns, all is well. If not ...
2. Worley and/or Ferguson
3. It better be quick. I would say Sep 13 is the deadline.
4. If I told you it would no longer be a surprise.
5a. On the team
5b. On the team
5c. Enough of the flip/flop/flip. Stick to a plan.

 

[Voltillyafall]

:ermm::ermm:

On 5c did you mean a 3-4?

Proof that people were correct when they said Sal's defense was complicated.

Even when discussing it, you have to think too much...you can't just sit down at your computer and type.

 

[sjt18]

Here are my 5+ questions:

1. What's up with Pig?
2. Who rises to the top at QB?
3. How long will it take for the completely new Oline to work out the kinks
4. We know Hurd and Lane will do well, but who surprises at RB... Hill, Summerhill, Pickett, Young, Scott, Paulk?
5a. Where will D Young end up with Pig out?
5b. Where will JRM end up as that talent has to play?
5c. We are so stacked LB right now, should we experiment with a 4-3 (sans sal)?

1- Not sure but that is why you recruit depth. IMHO, DY looked better than Pig when he finally got healthy and got opportunities late in the season. I also believe that Pig will fade as a significant factor on O unless he gets more reliable in catching the ball, reading D's, and running his routes. He was flat bad at times last year.

2- I am about 90% Worley right now. Ten percent Dobbs/Ferguson. I find it difficult to believe that Peterman can recover mentally or emotionally from what happened to him at UF. In retrospect, that was a pretty bad judgment call by Jones. I respect him for taking a shot... but it was pretty disastrous.

3- I personally expect fans to be "surprised" by how well that group plays. They are talented and meaner than the guys they replace. From some of the reports coming out of the S&C program... they may also be stronger.

4- Pickett. Both of the non-EE freshmen will need some development. Young is a slot receiver.

5a- Slot regardless
5b- OLB
5c- You mean 3-4? No. UT is not stacked at LB and particularly not with 3-4 type LB's. UT has 4 guys iirc with upper tier talent and experience above HS. Weatherd's is JUCO. King and Bynum have been developing now for a couple of years so maybe they emerge but UT does not have a ton of experience at the position. Plus UT does not have 3-4 DE's or the kind of NG you need to be really good at it.


Sidenote: even Saban is beginning to look for ways to update his D. O's are finding ways to beat his scheme. What Dooley TRIED to do is an accurate reflection of what Saban has done. Size>Speed. Physical>Quick.

 

[KBVol]

Here are my 5+ questions:

1. What's up with Pig?
2. Who rises to the top at QB?
3. How long will it take for the completely new Oline to work out the kinks
4. We know Hurd and Lane will do well, but who surprises at RB... Hill, Summerhill, Pickett, Young, Scott, Paulk?
5a. Where will D Young end up with Pig out?
5b. Where will JRM end up as that talent has to play?
5c. We are so stacked LB right now, should we experiment with a 4-3 (sans sal)?

5c- thought the 4-3 was/is our base defense. Besides, we all defenses have to play a ton of mickle these days anyway.

5b- Agree. Think JRM winds up at a starting OLB position this year.

4- Hope it's Scott. The others couldn't sniff the field last year with 2 average SEC backs ahead of them.

 

[VFL1953]

1- Not sure but that is why you recruit depth. IMHO, DY looked better than Pig when he finally got healthy and got opportunities late in the season. I also believe that Pig will fade as a significant factor on O unless he gets more reliable in catching the ball, reading D's, and running his routes. He was flat bad at times last year.

2- I am about 90% Worley right now. Ten percent Dobbs/Ferguson. I find it difficult to believe that Peterman can recover mentally or emotionally from what happened to him at UF. In retrospect, that was a pretty bad judgment call by Jones. I respect him for taking a shot... but it was pretty disastrous.

3- I personally expect fans to be "surprised" by how well that group plays. They are talented and meaner than the guys they replace. From some of the reports coming out of the S&C program... they may also be stronger.

4- Pickett. Both of the non-EE freshmen will need some development. Young is a slot receiver.

5a- Slot regardless
5b- OLB
5c- You mean 3-4? No. UT is not stacked at LB and particularly not with 3-4 type LB's. UT has 4 guys iirc with upper tier talent and experience above HS. Weatherd's is JUCO. King and Bynum have been developing now for a couple of years so maybe they emerge but UT does not have a ton of experience at the position. Plus UT does not have 3-4 DE's or the kind of NG you need to be really good at it.


Sidenote: even Saban is beginning to look for ways to update his D. O's are finding ways to beat his scheme. What Dooley TRIED to do is an accurate reflection of what Saban has done. Size>Speed. Physical>Quick.

Good point on the offensive line. There are recent indications that our O line was somewhat over rated last year, and I think (hope) the difference will not be as great as many have imagined.

Ah, the QB battle.....I change my opinion on this regularly. I'm just not sold on Worley, I think we have seen his ceiling. But how do you rate a guy that has never seen the field, and a guy who had to step in as a true freshman ahead of him? I hope Dobbs or Ferguson end up being the man, but there just isn't enough evidence to make that statement definitively.

Never understood all the love for Pig Howard. Dynamic athlete, zero discipline in route running and sub par hands. I agree, with all the new talent coming in at WR he may find himself the odd man out.

 

[sjt18]

I personally think all 4 QB's have sufficient talent to be very good QB's. I do not think we have seen the "ceiling" for any of them and perhaps especially not Worley. That's not to say he can't be passed or any of that. He just didn't have anyone to rely on last year until North started putting things together. It looked sort of like '11 would have looked for Bray.... had DR been injured also.

I think Dobbs showed flashes of tremendous potential. Reports about Ferguson are encouraging... but not convincing that he's a superior option to Worley at this point.

Peterman almost has to be rattled after what happened.

 

[VFL1953]

I personally think all 4 QB's have sufficient talent to be very good QB's. I do not think we have seen the "ceiling" for any of them and perhaps especially not Worley. That's not to say he can't be passed or any of that. He just didn't have anyone to rely on last year until North started putting things together. It looked sort of like '11 would have looked for Bray.... had DR been injured also.

I think Dobbs showed flashes of tremendous potential. Reports about Ferguson are encouraging... but not convincing that he's a superior option to Worley at this point.

Peterman almost has to be rattled after what happened.

Yup, Peterman is the odd man out. But I don't think you can call it between the other three yet. Hopefully a front runner will emerge this spring.

 

[sjt18]

I don't think the OL was overrated as athletes. I think the potential was there but never quite realized for a myriad of possible reasons.

Let me put it this way. UT's OL this year will possess more athleticism and raw talent than Mizzou's did last year. Mizzou's OL was mean though... very mean... almost dirty mean. UT's OL last year simply was not mean. Numerous times you would see them standing and watching a tackle close by... It was a whole different level and different time but my old HS coach would have benched any of us if we were caught doing that. You hit from the snap until a half step after the whistle on every play.

 

[sjt18]

Yup, Peterman is the odd man out. But I don't think you can call it between the other three yet. Hopefully a front runner will emerge this spring.

IMO, having someone emerge as #1 is the difference in a win or two in the fall. "The guy" needs to have that affirmed and needs to lead the WR's in off-season workouts. They need strong rapport. Splitting reps 3 ways over the summer won't help that.

 

[sjt18]

I still would not be surprised to see Peterman transfer over the summer. It may take a new place for him to get a new start.

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Yeah I meant 3-4 defense but I got slysdexic.

I don't honestly expect us to go that route but I threw it out for discussion.

There will be some heated battles this Spring and Summer and competition promotes greatness.

I am especially looking forward to seeing Jakob Johnson in action. Das Freak!!!

 

[Biopsyman]

Sounds like the wrong questions

 

[NashVOL93]

We have a 3-4 package. It's not used often, since our base D is the 4-3, but it did come in a few times last season. I think it even resulted in a sack once. I don't expect it'll ever get beyond the occasional package phase, though.