CBJ says Pig is on track..

[PrattvilleVol]

Yep...merge

 

[Certifiedhands11]

Pig is pretty underrated, IMO. He did a good bit with very little to work with last year. This entire offense is run through the threat of the QB being an effective runner and passer. Until we have that, defenses can pretty much guess what we are doing. Read option? 99% of the time we give it to the back. Play-action pass? We fake to the back and get so throttled in the pocket that the 3rd read becomes the first option. In the slot, your duties are either to clear someone out in order for an outside guy to get open, or to find holes in the D and make somethin out of nothin. There needs to be a fear of our QB keeping it at any given time, and also a fear that our slot can hurt you if not paid attention to. Our offense is SO close, yet so so so far away from being what it's created to be. Pig is needed, for the knowledge and experience if nothing else

 

[ajvol01]

Pig is pretty underrated, IMO. He did a good bit with very little to work with last year. This entire offense is run through the threat of the QB being an effective runner and passer. Until we have that, defenses can pretty much guess what we are doing. Read option? 99% of the time we give it to the back. Play-action pass? We fake to the back and get so throttled in the pocket that the 3rd read becomes the first option. In the slot, your duties are either to clear someone out in order for an outside guy to get open, or to find holes in the D and make somethin out of nothin. There needs to be a fear of our QB keeping it at any given time, and also a fear that our slot can hurt you if not paid attention to. Our offense is SO close, yet so so so far away from being what it's created to be. Pig is needed, for the knowledge and experience if nothing else

Underrated? What has he done to deserve any praise or acknowledgement?

I like pig, but I think we should wait until he contributes on the field before we heap praise on him. I don't think losing our entire O-line will help pig's production.

 

[VolsnRavens]

I support all of our football players and wish them success but I don't really think pig is a "good kid". I saw the people he hung out with when I was still in Knoxville and have heard stories from all types of sources about his questionable character. Everyone makes mistakes and I really hope he's learned from them but when I think of "really good kid" I think of Dobbs.

So from seeing people, you are judging character for which you no nothing about. And from "hearing" things you are speculating on something you know nothing about. Welcome, you should fit right in with some of the other posters on here. The truth is you have no idea why he wasn't on the team. Nor do you have any idea what this kid is like in life. I seem to recall something about throwing stones. But I digress. Wait, is this you John Adams? I guess the News Sentinel isn't treating you all that well these days. :crazy:

 

[gnm53108]

He does? I'm still waiting on him to turn a 5 yd hitch into a 50 yd td. He's a good solid slot receiver and he's tough as nails, but it seems some on here want to make him into some All American that we can't do without. Again, good solid player, can make some tough catches, get some tough yards, but he's not a game breaker by any stretch .... Malone, Pearson and North are those guys IMO.

North is a proven game breaker. Malone and Pearson have that potential but right now thats all they have.

As far as Pig...imo we're a better team with em.

 

[KBVol]

North is a proven game breaker. Malone and Pearson have that potential but right now thats all they have.

As far as Pig...imo we're a better team with em.

Wouldn't quite call North a game breaker yet based on 2-3 great catches last year. I still lump him in together with Pearson and Malone as guys who have the physical skills and potential to be big time playmakers, able to take WR screens for long gains/tds.... make something out of very little, like we had done to us several times last year.

 

[Jones4theVols]

Wouldn't quite call North a game breaker yet based on 2-3 great catches last year. I still lump him in together with Pearson and Malone as guys who have the physical skills and potential to be big time playmakers, able to take WR screens for long gains/tds.... make something out of very little, like we had done to us several times last year.

North was a freshman all sec player that made several "game breaking" plays last year with very little actual Wr experience. He was, in spurts, a game breaker last year. This year, with other threats around him and another year of experience, he is going to be dangerous. He has already been listed by many as a break out star or top wr this year.

 

[KBVol]

North was a freshman all sec player that made several "game breaking" plays last year with very little actual Wr experience. He was, in spurts, a game breaker last year. This year, with other threats around him and another year of experience, he is going to be dangerous. He has already been listed by many as a break out star or top wr this year.

Dude, I'm as big a fan of North as anybody, he's a stud he's only going to get better. I'm willing to bet he's an early round if not a first round draft pick after his junior year.

The context in which I was speaking was regarding a dynamic playmaker able to break and/or elude tackles and turn a 5 yd play into a 60 yd td. I have no doubt that both Malone and Pearson have the ability to do that. I also believe North has the ability to do it.... but you can't say he did that last year because he didn't. His 3 best plays were all outstanding catches that showed us what a great WR he can be, what great hands and concentration he possesses. Still waiting to see him turn a WR screen or a quick slant into a game breaking play.

 

[gnm53108]

North was a freshman all sec player that made several "game breaking" plays last year with very little actual Wr experience. He was, in spurts, a game breaker last year. This year, with other threats around him and another year of experience, he is going to be dangerous. He has already been listed by many as a break out star or top wr this year.

Our qb play last year was, imo, a big part of that inconsistency.

That should improve this year.

 

[sjt18]

Our qb play last year was, imo, and big part or that inconsistency.

That should improve this year.

Disagree. I think the QB play was largely a reflection of inconsistent and poor WR play. Indeed, that should improve ALOT with the group UT has this year. North is learning his craft. Croom has apparently begun to come into himself. Smith gets open and is apparently improving his hands. Pearson helps... Malone apparently arrived as a Jr in skill and maturity. Johnson is still in the mix. Then you add Pig back who was probably the most consistent WR they had last fall.

This is a group even with the inexperience that has too many talented players to focus on one or two guys. Any of the guys I mentioned above have the athleticism to dominate a game.

 

[gnm53108]

Disagree. I think the QB play was largely a reflection of inconsistent and poor WR play. Indeed, that should improve ALOT with the group UT has this year. North is learning his craft. Croom has apparently begun to come into himself. Smith gets open and is apparently improving his hands. Pearson helps... Malone apparently arrived as a Jr in skill and maturity. Johnson is still in the mix. Then you add Pig back who was probably the most consistent WR they had last fall.

This is a group even with the inexperience that has too many talented players to focus on one or two guys. Any of the guys I mentioned above have the athleticism to dominate a game.

Our wr group has to share some of the blame for last year. I dont know about the route running but North did not have the drops that some of the others had. A couple yeh but for the most part all a qb had to do was get it near em.

 

[Ttucke11]

He'll help out depth wise. Doubt he starts though.

 

[sameolvol]

Always keeping fresh receivers on the field makes the DB's have to work full speed every single play, so it'll take a huge amount of depth to keep 'em running that much..... most likely only 'bama having enough to go three deep. A player doesn't have to start to make a big play or two, and Pig's contributions will only improve our offensive speed by inserting another capable, fresh player into the rotation. Do you think that'll make a difference come fourth period? I've been watching the Vols since the 1950's and I'm convinced this is the most loaded we've been at WRU. Welcome back, Pig.

 

[bnhunt]

I wanted to ask if he had to squeal like a pig to get back on the team and then attach a YouTube clip of the scene, but I think that might get me banned.

 

[allvol9]

This is very good news. Butch is handling this just right.....and keep it up Pig. We need him!

 

[JCHateSteve]

Glad to hear pig is back. The QB shouldn't lack for weapons at WR this year.

 

[clarksV0L]

So from seeing people, you are judging character for which you no nothing about. And from "hearing" things you are speculating on something you know nothing about. Welcome, you should fit right in with some of the other posters on here. The truth is you have no idea why he wasn't on the team. Nor do you have any idea what this kid is like in life. I seem to recall something about throwing stones. But I digress. Wait, is this you John Adams? I guess the News Sentinel isn't treating you all that well these days. :crazy:

Ok pal. Maybe you skipped over the part where I said that I always wish the best for our players and that regardless of why he wasn't on the team I understood that everyone makes mistakes (myself included) and that they deserve a chance to rectify them. What I won't concede to is that pig is a high character kid. Maybe he'll grow more after this experience and be a better person. This situation may have absolutely nothing to do with the character issues I'm familiar with but I'd say it's more likely than not. I've had a current player tell me that pig is one of the few loners on the team and that his group of friends are sketchy and include no other football players. I have seen him around Knoxville with these friends so that's enough for me to draw some inferences. This might really get some people riled up but I was beginning to think we'd be better off without him as a potential liability and distraction plus his scholarship could be put to use somewhere else. I know Butch knows what he's doing in this situation though. Btw if I were John Adams it would have taken me a week longer to respond and my answer would be behind a pay wall

 

[WoodsmanVol]

I wanted to ask if he had to squeal like a pig to get back on the team and then attach a YouTube clip of the scene, but I think that might get me banned.

No. The answer was in CBJ's comments. Alton manned up and did what he was required to do to return to the team. This is the very type of attitude we need in players. To man up. Do what you're assigned or made responsible for. And get the job done. Such players don't squeal, they may grunt with effort but they don't squeal. Certainly Alton didn't. We never got a peep out of him about something not being fair. Or his quitting to go somewhere he was more likely to be pampered instead of made into a man. Sorry, no squeals to be heard here. Just a man being a man.

 

[Jones4theVols]

Disagree. I think the QB play was largely a reflection of inconsistent and poor WR play. Indeed, that should improve ALOT with the group UT has this year. North is learning his craft. Croom has apparently begun to come into himself. Smith gets open and is apparently improving his hands. Pearson helps... Malone apparently arrived as a Jr in skill and maturity. Johnson is still in the mix. Then you add Pig back who was probably the most consistent WR they had last fall.

This is a group even with the inexperience that has too many talented players to focus on one or two guys. Any of the guys I mentioned above have the athleticism to dominate a game.

Trying to figure out if the offensive problems were more Qb's or receivers last year is like arguing over which came first, the chicken or the egg...

I'm expecting, ok hoping, for much better play from both groups this year that compounds for a big time improvement on offense. I'd rather be WinningU than WRU or QBU this year.

 

[VolinDalton]

Disagree. I think the QB play was largely a reflection of inconsistent and poor WR play. Indeed, that should improve ALOT with the group UT has this year. North is learning his craft. Croom has apparently begun to come into himself. Smith gets open and is apparently improving his hands. Pearson helps... Malone apparently arrived as a Jr in skill and maturity. Johnson is still in the mix. Then you add Pig back who was probably the most consistent WR they had last fall.

This is a group even with the inexperience that has too many talented players to focus on one or two guys. Any of the guys I mentioned above have the athleticism to dominate a game.

This.

When you've got one or two playmakers on the field the defense can double team and bring pressure on a down by down basis without a lot of risk. This puts a lot of pressure on an offense, no matter how good the OL is.

Now, when you have two studs wide, a good TE, a playmaker in the slot, a QB with wheels and a RB that can gain 4 or 5 on a consistent basis, the pressure moves to the defense. That is going to be the difference between last year and this year.

There will be too much talent, young or not, for defenses to double team and blitz every down. There is too much risk involved for that quick slant to turn into big yards. This will benefit our OL immediately. That is why talent is as important, if not more so, as experience.

I honestly feel that the upswing in talent level will have a noticeable difference from down one this season.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

This.

When you've got one or two playmakers on the field the defense can double team and bring pressure on a down by down basis without a lot of risk. This puts a lot of pressure on an offense, no matter how good the OL is.

Now, when you have two studs wide, a good TE, a playmaker in the slot, a QB with wheels and a RB that can gain 4 or 5 on a consistent basis, the pressure moves to the defense. That is going to be the difference between last year and this year.

There will be too much talent, young or not, for defenses to double team and blitz every down. There is too much risk involved for that quick slant to turn into big yards. This will benefit our OL immediately. That is why talent is as important, if not more so, as experience.

I honestly feel that the upswing in talent level will have a noticeable difference from down one this season.

Unless you got a defense front that can literally blow by your OL. Therein lies the danger. So our OL will tested early and often. Therein lies our success or failure. We need a gorilla, a Godzilla, a Banjamin Grimm, and a sasquatch too.

 

[VolinDalton]

Unless you got a defense front that can literally blow by your OL. Therein lies the danger. So our OL will tested early and often. Therein lies our success or failure. We need a gorilla, a Godzilla, a Banjamin Grimm, and a sasquatch too.

As long as we can get some good push from the OL in the first series I believe we are good. If we get outmatched on the first down; then yes, we will have a long year.

 

[KBVol]

After hearing Brent Hubbs discuss Pig's situation this morning I'm not feeling too good about him contributing a whole lot this year. Here are the highlights of his remarks...

-he's currently working out with the team, not yet 100% reinstated but on track

-his issues after the season were all commitment-related.... he "disappeared" multiple times, was late returning to school for classes, just didn't show up for team functions and missed multiple workouts

-my biggest concern comes from this statement. Hubbs said the team leadership council which is composed primarily of the team's seniors, told Pig that to be accepted back, he HAD to attempt mini-term classes....and Pig at first said no, only to change his mind at the last minute.

I don't know what to think about this whole situation with Pig, but it doesn't seem to me that his commitment to the success of the team is all there. Guess we're gonna see.

 

[RiseToTheTop]

if he gets reinstated he will play. everyone is in love with VP but he hasnt proved anything and injuries can happen. He is very talented but you want all the depth you can get. Pig is experienced and he will play. Whether he starts or not doesnt really matter the way we will rotate WRs.

 

[dovervolz]

Wouldn't quite call North a game breaker yet based on 2-3 great catches last year. I still lump him in together with Pearson and Malone as guys who have the physical skills and potential to be big time playmakers, able to take WR screens for long gains/tds.... make something out of very little, like we had done to us several times last year.

There are some people in south Carolina that would really disagree with you about North.