D-line. Strength or weakness in 13?

#1
Webbvol32

Webbvol32

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#1
I know we lost Sentimore,but we return everyone else. The D-line is the anchor of the D. We have to have a great D-line to compete in the SEC. just look at our teams from 97-01 and look at how many D-lineman we put in the NFL! Nearly every single one played and several still are in the NFL. I`m a dumb hilljohnny(for you yankees a hilljohnny is a rebel hillfolk. Billy Yank and Johnny Reb,hence hilljohnny) from Jimtown and aint near as smart as yall city folks. So could yall please enlighten me as to your predictions for starters and who may make a big impact for us. I hope we get Lawson. We certainly need all the talent& depth we can get. So will we be able to stop the run and get a sack this year? Or will we be watching RBs jog 80 yds for TDs 3 and 4 times per game again?
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#2
#2
no we will be fine. moving back to a 4 man rush will help our squad tremendously, esp if we move some of the big linebackers back to end that use to play it.
 
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#3
#3
Noone could look at the D from last year and say we don't need a lot of help, whether they are all coming back or not. Maybe going back to the 4-3 will help some. They weren't that bad when Wilcox ran it. But as it stands, we had no pass rush, the LB's were slow, couldn't get off blocks, and couldn't keep the edge. The DB's couldn't cover for more than about 2 seconds and they couldn't catch runners either. So the whole D is a weakness until they prove they can do something different than they did last year. It all starts with the line so I hope we get those 2 guys they are working so hard on.
 
#6
#6
We have a few SEC calibier players on the Defense, we do NOT have enough of them to compete o a regular basis this year .... The D-line and secondary both need players, right now we don't have them
 
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#7
#7
Ashevillevol said:
Noone could look at the D from last year and say we don't need a lot of help, whether they are all coming back or not. Maybe going back to the 4-3 will help some. They weren't that bad when Wilcox ran it. But as it stands, we had no pass rush, the LB's were slow, couldn't get off blocks, and couldn't keep the edge. The DB's couldn't cover for more than about 2 seconds and they couldn't catch runners either. So the whole D is a weakness until they prove they can do something different than they did last year. It all starts with the line so I hope we get those 2 guys they are working so hard on.
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I loved how people complained when Wilcox was here how bad the defense was. I agree with you, I didn't think he did a bad job with what he had.
 
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#9
#9
Been lacking a real pass rusher since Ayers... Hard to say right now who could be it for this year. J Smith and J Williiams need to deliver
 
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#10
#10
Coastypop said:
We have a few SEC calibier players on the Defense, we do NOT have enough of them to compete o a regular basis this year .... The D-line and secondary both need players, right now we don't have them
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We'll get exposed again this year, of course. All we can do is KNOW the new scheme will be an improvement, and hopefully put our players in a better position to make a play. 3 words.... turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.

What up Coasty??
 
#11
#11
Volswagg1017 said:
no we will be fine. moving back to a 4 man rush will help our squad tremendously, esp if we move some of the big linebackers back to end that use to play it.
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Agree, but depth will be a problem again. I know it sounds like a classic excuse, but injuries hurt us last year in the secondary and LB.
 
#13
#13
Winning in the SEC requires a strong defense, thus our projected 3-4 win season this year...not to mention losing our 5 best players on offense and the fact we won 1 SEC game last year.....we all want to remain hopeful, but we will need a lot of breaks/luck
 
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#16
#16
Thanks for the input,Volfans! I hope we get immediate help on the line and secondary. I agree that moving back to the 4-3 should help. The players were recruited for 4-3 style. I really hope we can field at least a C+ line or we will lose 7-8. GO VOLS!
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#17
#17
We're at least in the top 2 or 3 schools of some really good pass rushing DE's this year. Maybe we'll at least get a couple of them to sign, but we are lacking commitments of any good DT's.
 
#19
#19
VOL6479 said:
All the D linemen fit a 4-3 better except for maybe McCullers.
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True, but shoot line him up over a guard and its domination even In a 4-3. It would be like Haynesworth! Titan years of course. Even in a 4-3 he commands 2 blockers. We could seriously use him the way the titans used Albert. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself lol. Just my 2 cents
 
#20
#20
Is this really a question?

This unit doesn't shed blocks, get penetration, apply pressure to a qb, occupy blockers so linebackers dont get pancaked, or do anything else a unit should do.

What is the Tennessee defensive line? Worst units in the sec for 400, alex.
 
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#21
#21
99gator said:
Is this really a question?

This unit doesn't shed blocks, get penetration, apply pressure to a qb, occupy blockers so linebackers dont get pancaked, or do anything else a unit should do.

What is the Tennessee defensive line? Worst units in the sec for 400, alex.
Click to expand...

We'll be better than you think my man. Wait and see.
 
#22
#22
They'll probably stop the run pretty well, I don't see a great pass rush coming from this line unless something changes.
 
#23
#23
Let's look at these guys.
I think Sentimore was a loss as he could play DT.
-Couch. Showed very good play in the 4-3 and was a 4 star JUCO. He is VFL and I think he will have a great year.
-McCullers was a huge get, and isn't a big blob tub of goo you normally see at the NT. He may be 350+ but he looks like a DT. Huge talent.
-J. Smith. 5 star top 50 prospect. He is in no way an OLB. He is an end. Has never shown his potential. I wonder if he has the killer instinct. Corey Miller. This guy was a huge 4 star get. If UT were signing this guy today, people would be posting 'booms.' Period, end of story.
Walls. Before the achilles everyone thought this guy was going to be a disrupter. He isn't a speed rusher, but is definately the one to have at end on rushing downs.
OBrien was another big signing. Who knows.
-J. Williams: Casuality of Dools and Sal. This guy is a legit monster end and he is going to kill it this year.
I wouldn't at all be surprised to see this staff line AJ up at end on some plays.

If you look at this from potential based on stars then this should be a top line. Obviously last year was a mess. I'd like to see Miller and Williams at end with Couch and McCullers at DT. There are a few guys who can rotate in and give solid minutes.
Still very confused why this staff didn't do more to hold on to Bradley. it looks like they might wiff at DT this year.
 
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