Last Year's Talent

[Vol8188]

Slow>A.J Johnson

He's going to suprise you this season. He appears slow because of how quick our defensive ends gave up the edge last season and how slow our secondary was to the ally.

As a result plays were able to get outside far quicker than they should have. That should be fixed this season, for the most part.

 

[1982Alum]

No probably about it; J. Smith WAS a complete 4 star BUST.

 

[Vol8188]

No probably about it; J. Smith WAS a complete 4 star BUST.

He played a lot of snaps. 4 year starter, right?

 

[99gator]

He's going to suprise you this season. He appears slow because of how quick our defensive ends gave up the edge last season and how slow our secondary was to the ally.

As a result plays were able to get outside far quicker than they should have. That should be fixed this season, for the most part.

he appears slow because he is slow.

aj johnson is a classic example of a guy who people think is great because he's the best you have.

he isn't great. he isn't good. and he isn't going to look better after having lost a 7'10" 5,000 lb defensive tackle.

he doesn't get off blocks well. he doesn't get to the outside. and he isn't going to cover backs or tight ends very effectively.

in addition, if he were as good as people here think, he would have left for the draft. it was not a banner year for linebackers in the draft, particularly inside linebackers. only 1 inside linebacker was drafted in the 1st two rounds.

 

[gunner]

AJ is a beast stopping the run inside the tackle box, but he struggles running to the sideline to make a tackle. He's even worse at covering a RB out of the backfield. His lack of speed is his biggest problem. That being said the Vols aren't very good on defense without him on the field.

 

[1982Alum]

He played a lot of snaps. 4 year starter, right?

He did not start for 4 years. He played a lot of snaps due to no one behind him being any better. That doesn't mean he was good. He played on the worst D in UT history. He was poor in pass coverage, poor in tackling, got blown off the line, and generally was a poor player for his career,

Definately a BUST.

 

[Chilmonty]

AJ is a beast stopping the run inside the tackle box, but he struggles running to the sideline to make a tackle. He's even worse at covering a RB out of the backfield. His lack of speed is his biggest problem. That being said the Vols aren't very good on defense without him on the field.

You are correct sir! AJ "slowly" made 106 tackles this year, and 138 "slow" tackles last year!

Some of you guys are unbelievable! :banghead2:

If we don't have someone like AJ, we win maybe 3 games last year!


.

 

[sjt18]

Of the mere 12 upper classmen we had as four stars, who did not live up to there potential?

As individuals, the OL last year were talented guys. Big, strong, athletic. As a group, they were never as dominant as the sum of their parts suggested they should be. I don't blame Walls because I think they should have slid him inside to play in front of Hood but he never produced at a 4* level. J Smith didn't either. Miller was kind of screwed over by the 3-4 switch but he never reached potential either.

 

[sjt18]

Lol. You certainly shouldn't feel smug. You did not correctly comprehend what 99 said. He did, however, correctly state your position regarding the talent level of last year's team. You may want to read it again, or have someone reread it for you.:thumbsup:

Just did and thank you. He's still wrong... but thanks for having me read it again.

I have NEVER said UT had world beater talent last year. I only said that they underachieved and part of that MUST reflect on the CURRENT coaching staff.

 

[Vol8188]

He did not start for 4 years. He played a lot of snaps due to no one behind him being any better. That doesn't mean he was good. He played on the worst D in UT history. He was poor in pass coverage, poor in tackling, got blown off the line, and generally was a poor player for his career,

Definately a BUST.

1. You're judging a DE for his pass coverage, are you mentally ill?

2. If he wasn't a 4 year starter, then he was a 3 year starter.

3. Everything else you simply made up. How many missed tackles did he have? How many times did he get blown off the ball? You don't know, because you simply made this up.

 

[Biopsyman]

No Speed means a lot of touchdowns

 

[sjt18]

1. Our not so talented qb threw 3 interceptions against south Alabama. That's pretty simple to explain.

2. During the Vandy game we were without multiple wr's to include North. And we're playing with our 3rd or 4th string qb. If that doesn't explain the outcome to you, nothing will.

So first you take a shot at another player... then you excuse losing to Vandy who was also missing players to include 3 of 4 DB starters. You really need to decide whether you are a Vol fan first or a fan of the current staff first.

Does Worley's supposed lack of talent explain how USA's OC had UT's DC twisted in knots all day? I mean this wasn't a great mid-major... they were a 6-6 also ran in the Sunbelt. Southern Utah, Navy, and Ark St ALL held USA to fewer pts than UT did. But that's all because UT's players weren't any good, right?

 

[Vol8188]

So first you take a shot at another player... then you excuse losing to Vandy who was also missing players to include 3 of 4 DB starters. You really need to decide whether you are a Vol fan first or a fan of the current staff first.

Does Worley's supposed lack of talent explain how USA's OC had UT's DC twisted in knots all day? I mean this wasn't a great mid-major... they were a 6-6 also ran in the Sunbelt. Southern Utah, Navy, and Ark St ALL held USA to fewer pts than UT did. But that's all because UT's players weren't any good, right?

How did I take a shot at Worley? I stated a fact. He threw 3 interceptions. I didn't see CBJ out there throwing any passes.

Here's the real question:

Please, what are your outrageously high standards that you believe our staff should be held to?

 

[sjt18]

For most of AJ's career at UT he's been asked to compensate for others. We'll see how he does this year with Maggitt back on the field and a more mature, more talented secondary behind him.

 

[sjt18]

How did I take a shot at Worley? I stated a fact. He threw 3 interceptions. I didn't see CBJ out there throwing any passes.

"Our not so talented qb"

That's not taking a shot? And especially when you put it in the context of what he was dealing with at WR? At that point in the season, he had NO ONE at WR that he could count on to run the right route correctly and then make an aggressive play on the ball.

 

[Vol8188]

"Our not so talented qb"

That's not taking a shot? And especially when you put it in the context of what he was dealing with at WR? At that point in the season, he had NO ONE at WR that he could count on to run the right route correctly and then make an aggressive play on the ball.

The entire tread is about player ratings. He's a 3 star and he plays like it.

Now answer the question. What are your expectations for the staff?

 

[sjt18]

The entire tread is about player ratings. He's a 3 star and he plays like it.

Now answer the question. What are your expectations for the staff?

Taking a shot again. Aren't you a Ferguson fan... who is also a 3*? Again, you need to decide whether you are first a UT fan or a fan of coaches or a particular player first. FWIW, that guy who plays like a 3*... appears to be beating out the 3 other guys... again. The O last year improved behind him then regressed behind a guy that was said by Jones to be equal to Ferguson. Both probably would have been ahead of Peterman even if he were healthy.

My expectations for the staff? If you are THIS determined to argue with me and have NOT taken the time to actually READ my posts... that's just pathetic.

I expect them to win the games where they have more talent, win the majority of the evenly matched contests, and to pick one off now and again where they are undermanned. I expect them to be competitive every game. Because THAT is the quality of coaching that it will take to lift UT back to championship contention. IMO, that is a six to 8 win season this fall. They have a roster advantage against USU, ASU, Chatt, Mizzou, Vandy, and UK. Like last year, they match up well with USCe. They are close enough to pick off UF or UGA.

LAST year it would have meant a win against either Vandy or UF... or both. It would have meant a more comfortable win vs USA and more competitive games against Mizzou and Auburn at a minimum.

Nothing has changed. If you had actually read what I have written so frequently that others have complained... then you would have known what I "expect".

 

[BAVol]

Bottom line is we've had several slower than sec average defensive players at each level of the defense for the past few years. Three or four good defenders are not enough to compensate for 7-8 slow average ones. All opposing offenses have to do is find the weak spots and exploit them with speed and angles. A few more good recruiting classes will help tremendously.

 

[Vol8188]

Taking a shot again. Aren't you a Ferguson fan... who is also a 3*? Again, you need to decide whether you are first a UT fan or a fan of coaches or a particular player first. FWIW, that guy who plays like a 3*... appears to be beating out the 3 other guys... again. The O last year improved behind him then regressed behind a guy that was said by Jones to be equal to Ferguson. Both probably would have been ahead of Peterman even if he were healthy.

My expectations for the staff? If you are THIS determined to argue with me and have NOT taken the time to actually READ my posts... that's just pathetic.

I expect them to win the games where they have more talent, win the majority of the evenly matched contests, and to pick one off now and again where they are undermanned. I expect them to be competitive every game. Because THAT is the quality of coaching that it will take to lift UT back to championship contention. IMO, that is a six to 8 win season this fall. They have a roster advantage against USU, ASU, Chatt, Mizzou, Vandy, and UK. Like last year, they match up well with USCe. They are close enough to pick off UF or UGA.

LAST year it would have meant a win against either Vandy or UF... or both. It would have meant a more comfortable win vs USA and more competitive games against Mizzou and Auburn at a minimum.

Nothing has changed. If you had actually read what I have written so frequently that others have complained... then you would have known what I "expect".

1. This 3 star qb is winning the battle against two other 3 stars and a sophmore 4 star, let's not act like that's impressive.

2. So you're only problem with our staff is that they lost to Vandy?

 

[ntxVOL]

2. So you're only problem with our staff is that they lost to Vandy?

I think you should re-read his post. I have to agree with a lot of what sjt says bottom line is, at some point, this program has to stop underachieving.

 

[Vol8188]

I think you should re-read his post. I have to agree with a lot of what sjt says bottom line is, at some point, this program has to stop underachieving.

We didn't underachieve last year, that's the problem.

 

[ntxVOL]

We didn't underachieve last year, that's the problem.

Does this mean we don't make a bowl game again this year? Are we less talented this year?

 

[Vol8188]

Does this mean we don't make a bowl game again this year? Are we less talented this year?

We are more talented but younger. We should still win 6-7.

 

[daj2576]

Let me know if I missed anyone.

Unless I did, this means we only had 20 4 star players on last years roster. 0 consensus 5 star players. And the rest were 3 or below.

Of the 20 4 star players, 8 of them were under class men.

Here are the rosters of the SEC east for last year, accounting for attrition up to the 2013 spring game.

 

[jkleno]

Is that the only fault you can find? If nothing else AJ played above the level of your average 4 star MLB.

Only fault? I actually did not care to list the numerous faults on our defense last year, including AJ. Maybe 220 rushing yards allowed per game? AJ did NOT play above the level of a 4 STAR MLB. You need to take the blinders off and stop the Kool-Aide.