Fly in the ointment: Football is unsettling westwords

[CAVPUT]

Agreed. From what I have seen so far, portal WRs need at least an entire season to figure out this system before they can be dependable on the field. There has really been only one exception and that was Velus Jones Jr. I can't help but think the offense was slightly less complicated because that was everyone's first year in Heup's system.

Yep. Seems like a year is the adjustment period. Might be why we look for guys with multiple years left in the portal?

 

[CAVPUT]

I felt that Heupel never solves the 3-3-5 defense OR Nico just could not read secondarys. It was obvious that the OL was average across the board and could possibly be our Achilles Heel in 2025.

Teams that can play man with their corners and shut down the middle will always be our kryptonite. It's why these "project" WRs out of HS don't move the needle for me. We need more speed at WR...and just about everywhere else, too.

 

[VOLfrombama]

What does our starting OL look like next year? We all talking about QB and WRs but who's the guys doing the dirty work? That's my biggest concern

LT - Heard, LJ3
LG - Sham, Bussell?
C - Satterwhite, ?
RG - Moe, Bussell?
RT - Sanders, Perry

Hubbs was high on Perry and Bussell last season but neither seemed to break into the lineup to earn significant playing time, although I think we see them more this season now that all the older guys are gone.

So where is Reddick, J Heard, Duncan, Warren, Anderson, Grant and Ginther in their development? Nobody knows atp. Its a huge concern for 25 imo and the criticism about Ellarbee's ability to develop is not unfounded.

 

[Advol]

"rumor" has been floating around the boards

"rumors" Every Board is full of experts telling us what is going on......... Whats going on is the Insanity of supposed College Sports.
In our NFL Minor League..............the Inmates are running the Asylum...

 

[Tnphil]

"rumor" has been floating around the boards

"rumors" Every Board is full of experts telling us what is going on......... Whats going on is the Insanity of supposed College Sports.
In our NFL Minor League..............the Inmates are running the Asylum...

Give players big money and the freedom to shop themselves around year round and transfer when they get a dollar more. Yep...that's the ticket.

 

[volmandu]

JMO....But it's the HC responsibility to have the correct pieces in place to make 'his system' work. Going into year 5 it should not be a issue.

I agree. It is on HC. I was just responding to what assurance can Huep give to Nico's dad when issues are deep rooted into development and not scheme.
However, having said that lets not forget we just had a 10-2 regular season, second time in 3 years. That is incredible given where he took over from. So I am going to give Josh benefit of doubt to get it fixed.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Please don't forget, it was Hooker's SECOND season in the system (actually playing in several games the first year) before HE became proficient in the offense. He was not as good as the first year. It is also forgotten that he was a multi-year before he transferred in. Nico started one game and had a handful of snaps in his first year. Wait until next year before passing judgement on Nico's abilities as a QB running this offense. Take the NIL blinders off and actually look at the comparisons apples to apples.

And check the Oline blocking for Hooker. Darnell Wright (1st round Draft Pick) Carvin, Mays, Spraggins, Crawford, Wright NEVER gave up a sack. Blocking makes great offenses.

 

[JohnWardForever]

What does our starting OL look like next year? We all talking about QB and WRs but who's the guys doing the dirty work? That's my biggest concern

This is not a maybe or perhaps: "Tennessee seriously needs two receivers who can get open, catch and run; two dependable offensive tackles with life-saver ability and a linebacker who might, on occasions, cover tight ends or running backs over the middle". Mr. West addressed the Oline need. westwords

 

[i2amavol]

Have to win in the trenches, or nothing works. Need better talent overall at the WR position, but if the OL doesn't vastly improve, particularly with pass blocking, nothing will change.

It all starts up front, in every offense, every season, every team, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Running this offense, or that offense it doesn't matter, if you get whipped at the line, most likely you will lose. It really isn't rocket science.

Nico does need to learn (quickly) how to see the whole field, instead of one or 2 reads to a predicable side of the field. His limitations are what opponents are exploiting and recognizing from video. Maybe this is a schematic problem, maybe this is a Nico problem, or a little of both? He is still very young and has a TON of football ahead of him.

He needs to be a football junkie madman this off-season and really work on reading defenses and scanning the whole field, or 2/3 of it. If this is more of a schematic/play calling issue, this must change yesterday.

But again, if they continue to whiff in pass blocking, nothing is going to work.

Yeah, its all important, but blocking was our biggest downfall against UGA and Ohio State.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Yeah, its all important, but blocking was our biggest downfall against UGA and Ohio State.

Yep. Nico could definitely improve, but all the easier if he isn't running for his life.