AJ criticism

#26
#26
AllVols said:
I thought he played like a mad man! He isn't the worlds fastest man, but like you said, he doesn't have a lot of help.
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Agreed. He was the golden boy the whole game. If we had 10 more guys on the field with his motor, we could have a very different defense.
 
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#27
#27
led0321 said:
He is the inside LB, he would not look as slow if we had DE's that turned the play back inside or at least slowed it down.

We see him chasing a lot because he is the only one near the ball. He is one man without a lot of help, he never takes a snap off and truly gives his all.

I hope he comes back for his senior year and has some speed on the outside to help him out.

Lay off the kid, he doesn't have much help.
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Agree. AJ is ALWAYS around the ball.
 
#29
#29
Let me give him credit though. He is a very talented LB. Slow maybe, but involved on almost every single play. His missed tackles just make me want to pull my hair out sometimes though.
 
#31
#31
I find it funny that this "super slow linebacker" led the league in tackles last year vs SEC speed....... Just interesting to me......
 
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#32
#32
I like AJ and his desire and work ethic. However he is not a 1st rounder in the NFL draft because he can't cover the RB out of the backfield. He is a one or two down athlete that will come out on pass plays. The NFL will not spend a 1st round pick on someone who can't play the pass better as the pass is the bread and butter of NFL offenses today.
 
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#33
#33
Listen; AJ is a true VFL! I haven't seen a player wearing the Power T since Al Wilson that has the fire and heart that this guy does! He is doing the best that he can on a team of overachievers. Look at Sapp and Brewer! Look at a guy like Hood! These guys are playing their hearts out and have come up short so far but mark my words; these guys are buying in and are setting a precedence for the Vols to come.
 
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#34
#34
I started a post but quickly realized that it would ultimately become a small book on inside linebacking. Suffice it to say that AJ is a stud and I'm glad he plays for us and not opposing teams. Many of the critical posters hone in on the mistakes he makes in a game. MIKE SINGLETARY MISSED TACKLES and got beat on blocks in every game he played! there's not a player that has ever played a perfect game. What I see with AJ is a guy that gets to the ball on almost every play, makes tackles and disrupts opposing offenses. He's incredibly effective and will be an all SEC player at the end of the year, maybe even first team.

Edit: BTW has anyone else noticed how solid our run defense on the interior has been this year? That is good line play and... you guessed it... AJ. (Sapp has been very good too):peace2:
 
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#35
#35
led0321 said:
He is the inside LB, he would not look as slow if we had DE's that turned the play back inside or at least slowed it down.

We see him chasing a lot because he is the only one near the ball. He is one man without a lot of help, he never takes a snap off and truly gives his all.

I hope he comes back for his senior year and has some speed on the outside to help him out.

Lay off the kid, he doesn't have much help.
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:thumbsup:
 
#36
#36
led0321 said:
He is the inside LB, he would not look as slow if we had DE's that turned the play back inside or at least slowed it down.

We see him chasing a lot because he is the only one near the ball. He is one man without a lot of help, he never takes a snap off and truly gives his all.

I hope he comes back for his senior year and has some speed on the outside to help him out.

Lay off the kid, he doesn't have much help.
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He maybe our best LB but that aint saying much. He has a lot of improving to do. He does a good job, I just dont see great.
 
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#37
#37
chad4930 said:
He's always having to shed blocks because the Dline cannot hold their own. The best linebackers have a stud line that soaks up blocks to allow them to run free. If you put AJ behind Bama's, LSU's or FLA's Dline I think you would be surprised how much faster he looked.
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Not in a 4-3, DL is supposed to get in the backfield and make plays
 
#38
#38
chad4930 said:
He's always having to shed blocks because the Dline cannot hold their own. The best linebackers have a stud line that soaks up blocks to allow them to run free. If you put AJ behind Bama's, LSU's or FLA's Dline I think you would be surprised how much faster he looked.
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No, he's always having to shed blocks because he's a linebacker in a 4-3 scheme. Getting blocked is part of the gig. A linebacker must be able to take on the block and rip through to get free without going around it. If Aj takes on a block, he does it standing straight up with his arms extended out. It is something he needs to work on. Nobody thinks he sucks. In fact, if that is the only criticism in your game, you are doing a great job. Still, there's always room for improvement.
 
#41
#41
SamRebel35 said:
I like AJ's game. The one criticism I have for him is that he doesn't shed blocks very well. Needs to get better at that, but I'd never criticize his effort or intensity. He plays as hard as anyone I've seen.
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AJ does get caught up with blockers sometimes. We have a couple of guys who are really bad at shedding blocks.
 
#42
#42
Jaytrain5 said:
He's played well. The D should be feeding him, but he's instead been asked to run sideline to sideline. That's not his fault.
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This, the fact that he's been chasing down receivers and rbs on the outside that our OLB's were nowhere near says a lot about him. With McCullers and AJ clogging up the middle, it's no wonder teams keep stretching us to the outside.
 
#43
#43
I think AJ plays like a man wanting to be a winner. The only knock against AJ is he needs to work on his pass coverage as far as that we couldn't ask for a better MLB were lucky to have him. GO VOLS!
 
#45
#45
AJ was recruited to play inside in a 3-4 system ...meaning is is much bigger and not designed to cross the field as is required of backers in the 43 system he is playing in. He is a victim of the carousel or coaches and systems that you have seen come thru Ktown .

He is not always the cause of the issue ...even though he may appear to be. This article will show you that the CB took a poor angle and lacks speed to make the play . If the CB did not have a 9 yard cushion due to lack of speed , the pass would have never been called. If he had forced the play back inside ..AJ would have made the tackle ....but instead AJ follows the guy all the way to the end zone and appears to get out ran

Tennessee Sports Radio - Tennessee's Sports Stations, The Station For Volnation, Vols Football, Basketball, and more. - Tennessee Sports Radio

Its a team sport and we need to get the right personnel to execute a 4-3 . It will take a bit
 
#46
#46
majic73 said:
AJ was recruited to play inside in a 3-4 system ...meaning is is much bigger and not designed to cross the field as is required of backers in the 43 system he is playing in. He is a victim of the carousel or coaches and systems that you have seen come thru Ktown .

He is not always the cause of the issue ...even though he may appear to be. This article will show you that the CB took a poor angle and lacks speed to make the play . If the CB did not have a 9 yard cushion due to lack of speed , the pass would have never been called. If he had forced the play back inside ..AJ would have made the tackle ....but instead AJ follows the guy all the way to the end zone and appears to get out ran

Tennessee Sports Radio - Tennessee's Sports Stations, The Station For Volnation, Vols Football, Basketball, and more. - Tennessee Sports Radio

Its a team sport and we need to get the right personnel to execute a 4-3 . It will take a bit
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He wasn't recruited to play in a 3-4. You're lost.
 
#48
#48
govols/cc said:
He wasn't recruited to play in a 3-4. You're lost.
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yes sir he was . Dooley eluded to the conversion to a 3-4 at his initial PC and mentioned it several other times , and then converted to it .

He recruited AJ in 2011 along with a couple of other very tall heavily built LBs. You would not receruit LBs or the 6'3 230 lb variety for any other reason ...certainly not 43 backers

He then recruited Mccullers in 2012 as a true nose . He then began his experiment into the realm of 34 defenses. I would speculate that he felt he was ready when he acquired a NT. He did not have a man coverage , bump and run secondary in place which was a huge reason for its failure .

How can you not know this ?
 
#49
#49
1982Alum said:
I like AJ and his desire and work ethic. However he is not a 1st rounder in the NFL draft because he can't cover the RB out of the backfield. He is a one or two down athlete that will come out on pass plays. The NFL will not spend a 1st round pick on someone who can't play the pass better as the pass is the bread and butter of NFL offenses today.
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What round then?
 
#50
#50
majic73 said:
yes sir he was . Dooley eluded to the conversion to a 3-4 at his initial PC and mentioned it several other times , and then converted to it .

He recruited AJ in 2011 along with a couple of other very tall heavily built LBs. You would not receruit LBs or the 6'3 230 lb variety for any other reason ...certainly not 43 backers

He then recruited Mccullers in 2012 as a true nose . He then began his experiment into the realm of 34 defenses. I would speculate that he felt he was ready when he acquired a NT. He did not have a man coverage , bump and run secondary in place which was a huge reason for its failure .

How can you not know this ?
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AJ was offered by Kiffin.
 
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