Linebacker Depth

#51
#51
vegasvolfan said:
I’d rather have whoever gives us the best chance to win, so neither. I’d rather have depth at the position. Look at Georgia’s roster. They have 19 LB’s, 5 of which are RS Sophomores or older. We aren’t anywhere near close to that. Alabama has 23 players with TWELVE that are RS Sophomore or greater (most are at lease Junior). That’s more than we have on our entire roster. We aren’t close to deep in that position.
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19 or 18.


What do you mean, aren't anywhere near close ?

GA 5 R-So/So and and 5 Jr ; the remainder are Fr. (no Seniors)

TN 5 R-Fr/So and 4 Sr/R-Jr
 
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#52
#52
volmandu said:
I know we have some solid front 2 (Beasly, Pili) and promising guys (Herring & Carter) but is anyone else worried about depth at that position ? Carter is a freshman, Herring has not played much. We have two other true freshman as depth. How is the Caleb Williams guy who transferred from Liberty ? Can he gives us some snaps ? With long season and daunting SEC schedule, I feel like we will need more bodies.

Your thoughts ??
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I have read everything coming out of the beginning of fall camp and the media has unanimously declared the LBs to be our deepest unit. A player being a 3 star doesn't mean they're automatically just a roster filler lol
 
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#53
#53
vegasvolfan said:
I’d rather have whoever gives us the best chance to win, so neither. I’d rather have depth at the position. Look at Georgia’s roster. They have 19 LB’s, 5 of which are RS Sophomores or older. We aren’t anywhere near close to that. Alabama has 23 players with TWELVE that are RS Sophomore or greater (most are at lease Junior). That’s more than we have on our entire roster. We aren’t close to deep in that position.
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Considering the fact that Heupel has only been here for TWO seasons, wouldn't you say that that checks out? Of freaking course UGA and Bama have deeper LB rooms. They've been there for years bro.
 
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#54
#54
vegasvolfan said:
This is a good point that I had not considered. Maybe that’s why we only have 11 LBs to GA and Bama’s 19+ lol
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Sometimes (especially during week 1 Fall Camp of 3rd year of re-build period), lol comments like these should be made on the Practice Field, to the Team, just before position groups break out to run their drills -- so that he doesn't have to run too far, the Commentator can say it from the LB's area and greet them with high-5's when they arrive to have him better explain what he means by lol.
 
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#55
#55
Yep, typical Volnation. Lotm gotta have something to wring their hands about. As many have stated, the status of the linebacker room has been universally praised by everyone in the media. Several of the freshmen have been touted as having the skills, just not the full knowledge yet.
 
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#56
#56
TAF said:
Tennessee Linebackers are a MILLION miles away from just a few years ago when Colton Jumper (**) STARTED for the Vols.
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Guys like CJumper and Nick Reveiz really impress me.
Jumper wasn't good, but he played smart, studied film hard, and threw himself headfirst into the action. He was average on a really bad defense. It would have been worse without him.
UTgrad2015 said:
JJ Peterson should have made his way in by now so we’ll be set
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Man, what a waste.
VolBalla2014 said:
I have read everything coming out of the beginning of fall camp and the media has unanimously declared the LBs to be our deepest unit. A player being a 3 star doesn't mean they're automatically just a roster filler lol
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Cam Sutton comes to mind.
 
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#57
#57
UT-Rex said:
19 or 18.


What do you mean, aren't anywhere near close ?

GA 5 R-So/So and and 5 Jr ; the remainder are Fr. (no Seniors)

TN 5 R-Fr/So and 4 Sr/R-Jr
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We looked at something different?
 
#58
#58
VolBalla2014 said:
Considering the fact that Heupel has only been here for TWO seasons, wouldn't you say that that checks out? Of freaking course UGA and Bama have deeper LB rooms. They've been there for years bro.
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I guess it’s a matter of perspective and I consider yours. But when people say we are deep, it sounds absolute for a lack of better words.

If the suggestion is relative to what we were, I didn’t catch that part. I felt the statements were more absolute.

Either way, there is a relative factor to deep and I painted the rest of the picture that I felt essentially.

I liked this staff post initial hire. The minute they spoke publicly, I realize we had something different and was optimistic.

What we have done in the amount of time we have had has gone well beyond my optimism. I support this staff and see the growth in numbers and within the numbers.

All that said, my comments have everything to do with tempering expectations and respect for our team and staff.

I can see a lot of people saying, “We were deep this year! We should have been like Georgia!” Or, maybe some may be ready to say, “Welp we were deeper this year and better, but we were never as deep as Georgia or Alabama. Did we improve? Yes. Check.”

Something along those lines anyways.

I’m sure my efforts are futile.
 
#60
#60
vegasvolfan said:
In fact with Garland out, I counted 3 upperclassmen out of 11 guys. Beasley, Pili and Albright. I consider experience a part of depth. I just don’t think we are as deep as everyone says we are.

2023 Football Roster - University of Tennessee Athletics
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Agree. We will not have the depth we need until Heupel gets the chance to get four of his own classes stacked. Probably five as that first class was cobbled together in the very short window Heupel had after being hired
EDIT: Can you imagine what a player will look like and how they can perform after spending four seasons being developed by Heupel and his staff?
 
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#61
#61
LeannaVol said:
Do we stay in a 4-2-5 regardless of downs? I am genuinely asking because I don't know. If so, I assume a couple of our safeties are more like lb's. Even if not classified as such.
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I could be wrong, but seems like I saw them bring in an additional “edge” guy as a third LB in situations like 4th and short.
 
#62
#62
TAF said:
Tennessee Linebackers are a MILLION miles away from just a few years ago when Colton Jumper (**) STARTED for the Vols.

7825593.jpg
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What's he doing these days?
 
#64
#64
Big brother Elijah Herring becoming ‘very detailed’ linebacker entering second season with Vols (247sports.com)

Tennessee linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary has shown he will rotate at his position in the past two seasons, and the Vols will be counting on underclassmen to fill those roles behind Pili and 2022 breakout star Aaron Beasley after three seniors departed from last year’s team. Herring and sophomore Kalib Perry have been in the program longer, but Tennessee likes the potential of freshmen Arion Carter, Jeremiah Telander and Jalen Smith as well. Jean-Mary said all of them have “flashed” throughout the spring and early on in camp.
“Those are all guys whose best football is ahead of them,” Jean-Mary said, “and we’re really happy with the athleticism and their attention to detail as football players.”
 
#66
#66
volmandu said:
I know we have some solid front 2 (Beasly, Pili) and promising guys (Herring & Carter) but is anyone else worried about depth at that position ? Carter is a freshman, Herring has not played much. We have two other true freshman as depth. How is the Caleb Williams guy who transferred from Liberty ? Can he gives us some snaps ? With long season and daunting SEC schedule, I feel like we will need more bodies.

Your thoughts ??
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Concern lies on the OL mainly. Defense should be pretty solid overall this year.
 
#69
#69
volmandu said:
I know we have some solid front 2 (Beasly, Pili) and promising guys (Herring & Carter) but is anyone else worried about depth at that position ? Carter is a freshman, Herring has not played much. We have two other true freshman as depth. How is the Caleb Williams guy who transferred from Liberty ? Can he gives us some snaps ? With long season and daunting SEC schedule, I feel like we will need more bodies.

Your thoughts ??
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No. Carter is pushing for playing time, despite his inexperience. Telander will push for playing time. Perry is solid on special teams.
 
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#73
#73
I got blasted in this thread (by most) for saying we are thin at linebacker. Most folks claimed we are deepest we have been in a long time. Now with Pili injury looks like we have two Freshmen in backup roles and a sophomore with limited snaps as starter.
I really hope no more injuries at that spot. Who can we move there if needed ? Can T Macdonald play there if push comes to shove ?
 
#74
#74
volmandu said:
I got blasted in this thread (by most) for saying we are thin at linebacker. Most folks claimed we are deepest we have been in a long time. Now with Pili injury looks like we have two Freshmen in backup roles and a sophomore with limited snaps as starter.
I really hope no more injuries at that spot. Who can we move there if needed ? Can T Macdonald play there if push comes to shove ?
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I hope arion Carter takes over that starting role. Know he’s a freshman but he’s so talented. Your right though, we are fine for now but one more injury and we are in trouble real quick.
 
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#75
#75
It was...

Pili/Herring/Perry OR Telander
Beasley/Carter/Smith

Now it's...

Herring/Perry OR Telander
Beasley/Carter/Smith

Still three deep and substantially better than the last two years
 
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