Move Croom to TE

#53
#53
In 2013 croom made several great blocks and several clutch catches..why not rotate him between tight end, slot and wide receiver...big problem for defense if nickle back or lb has to cover croom..especially with malone and north
 
#54
#54
LWSVOL said:
Harris did not redshirt..
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Larry...seriously...what is the deal with Harris? He was a 4* recruit, and his highlight reel looks legit...one of the 3 BIG WR's we currently have on the roster. But it looks like he's the forgotten man. Maybe even getting recruited over? A guy rated as high as he was, and with those physical traits...he should be in line to be the No.2 WR opposite of North, by next Fall.

Any word from past practices or other sources about where he is at in terms of development? Bowles is another head scratcher.
 
#55
#55
sjsmith87 said:
Croom won't be a TE. And Hurd won't be a TE, LB, or whatever else you all wanna make him. Croom looked really good in the UK game and will have a role in the WR corps next year.

I have a feeling North, Pig, Pearson, Croom, Johnson, Malone, Young and others will have no problem with the amount of playing time they'll receive next fall.
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And you know this........how, exactly? What I would do if I were in CBJ's shoes, is get a good group of 40 times, this offseason, of Croom. If he can run in the 4.5 range or better, then it's WR all the way. But, if he's running 4.6 or worse, then it's the TE/WR hybrid role.

You want an outside WR to have speed enough to get on top of their opponent. Hard to do that at 4.6 or worse. But as a pass-catching TE, he can be very effective running seam routes, short underneath routes or finding soft spots in zone defenses...crossing patterns, where he can also screen/pick db's for another WR to come underneath.
 
#56
#56
Might as well. Ton of WRs. No TEs that can block. Might as well have one who half way could and still stretch the field.
 
#57
#57
TE has become one of the most utilized and glamorous offensive positions in the last couple of years in the NFL. Can't see why he wouldn't want to.
 
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#58
#58
I hate the off season. Croom probably hasnt moved to TE because there are alot of complicated blocking schemes and its not just a simple "hey youre big, go play TE". Im sure that Butch Jones is well aware that Croom is a large individual, larger even than your typical wide receiver. I think he has the athleticism to create seperation as a WR and make plays, he's still young. Do you remember how great Meachem was, well he rarely was on the field until his JR year and he was a 5 star. I say give it time, our coaches get to see what these players are capable of everyday and i would almost guarantee you they arent keeping croom at WR to keep us from getting better.
 
#59
#59
LWSVOL said:
Harris did not redshirt..
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FWIW, Hyams reported yesterday that Harris would qualify for medical redshirt.

Croom is not very physical at wr where he matches up against significantly smaller defenders, can't imagine he would be much of a blocker at TE. Without a fullback, Butch's system requires TE to block quite a bit
 
#60
#60
Next year 1st game aganist Utah State the Tight End starter will be.............Brendan Downs, this position has a lot of assignments , shifts etc... thats why Downs was ahead of Clear when he was here.
 
#61
#61
RB-Lane/Hurd/Pickett
WR-North/Wharton/Harris
WR-Pearson/Malone/Smith
Slot-Jenkins/Pig/Young
TE-Croom/Helm/Wolfe
 
#62
#62
themicah85 said:
I hate the off season. Croom probably hasnt moved to TE because there are alot of complicated blocking schemes and its not just a simple "hey youre big, go play TE". Im sure that Butch Jones is well aware that Croom is a large individual, larger even than your typical wide receiver. I think he has the athleticism to create seperation as a WR and make plays, he's still young. Do you remember how great Meachem was, well he rarely was on the field until his JR year and he was a 5 star. I say give it time, our coaches get to see what these players are capable of everyday and i would almost guarantee you they arent keeping croom at WR to keep us from getting better.
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The difference in Meach was replacing Pat Washed up with Trooper. Position coaching matters. Azzani? I'm not sold.
If you recall, Croom was the stud at WR in the spring. The next "big thing." They had no other options. Then North got here. Josh Smith showed that studying the play book and route running matters and thus got on the field. Josh got open more than any other WR. Just didn't finish. I know it looked bad for Josh, but the fact is that these so called talents haven't figured it out. Which tells me its cerebral not physical.
 
#63
#63
VOLorNuttin said:
Larry...seriously...what is the deal with Harris? He was a 4* recruit, and his highlight reel looks legit...one of the 3 BIG WR's we currently have on the roster. But it looks like he's the forgotten man. Maybe even getting recruited over? A guy rated as high as he was, and with those physical traits...he should be in line to be the No.2 WR opposite of North, by next Fall.

Any word from past practices or other sources about where he is at in terms of development? Bowles is another head scratcher.
Click to expand...

both of them struggled with consistency a lot. when not consistent on the practice field, you will not get reps in the games.

it is very easy to be a 4 star in high school. gets much more difficult in the SEC..
 
#64
#64
40Cap said:
FWIW, Hyams reported yesterday that Harris would qualify for medical redshirt.

Croom is not very physical at wr where he matches up against significantly smaller defenders, can't imagine he would be much of a blocker at TE. Without a fullback, Butch's system requires TE to block quite a bit
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Hyams is wrong, again
 
#66
#66
Don't know about the blocking but I think that's a good idea because they really need a really good TE.
 
#67
#67
Roustabout said:
TE has become one of the most utilized and glamorous offensive positions in the last couple of years in the NFL. Can't see why he wouldn't want to.
Click to expand...
It's because more and more BIG WR's like Croom, aren't quite fast enough to be a vertical passing threat on the outside...aren't quite shifty enough for the slot, but are still VERY, VERY difficult for LB's and Safeties to cover.

Neither Gronk or Jimmy Graham could earn a living on the outside, but NFL defenses as still struggling to cover these guys, elsewhere. The other reason I'd like to see Croom as a TE/WR hybrid is it would get him on the field more and at the same time as North, Malone and Pearson. That would be a dangerous mix to have to defend
 
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#69
#69
Croom was always criticized for not being physical enough at WR...what makes ANYONE think he'd be physical enough to play TE?
 
#71
#71
VOLorNuttin said:
It's because more and more BIG WR's like Croom, aren't quite fast enough to be a vertical passing threat on the outside...aren't quite shifty enough for the slot, but are still VERY, VERY difficult for LB's and Safeties to cover.

Neither Gronk or Jimmy Graham could earn a living on the outside, but NFL defenses as still struggling to cover these guys, elsewhere. The other reason I'd like to see Croom as a TE/WR hybrid is it would get him on the field more and at the same time as North, Malone and Pearson. That would be a dangerous mix to have to defend
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Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham, Vernon Davis
 
#72
#72
Does anyone even know if he can block effectively? I mean, he's going to be playing against SEC D-linemen. He'll have to down block on DEs and get to the second level and block LBs. Sure, with off season lifting he can put on weight and gain strength, but will he develop the physicality to be an effective TE? It is not always as simple as throwing on 20 lbs and moving. No question he's a mismatch in the passing game, but i don't think Butch would hamstring his run-game. If he will take the coaching regarding technique and play physical, he could be awesome....Either position, I'm glad he's a Vol!!!
 
#73
#73
ChiroVol said:
Croom was always criticized for not being physical enough at WR...what makes ANYONE think he'd be physical enough to play TE?
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He was a redshirt freshman playing in a new offense. I'm sure he just wasn't comfortable yet which is why it seemed to be clicking in the Kentucky game. I think he's going to be just fine next year regardless of the position he plays.
 
#74
#74
Millner30 said:
RB-Lane/Hurd/Pickett
WR-North/Wharton/Harris
WR-Pearson/Malone/Smith
Slot-Jenkins/Pig/Young
TE-Croom/Helm/Wolfe
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That is just crazy after what we ran with this year. Our second string would better, at each position, than our starters were this year, with the exception of North and Wharton. Imaging having your second string offense come in, and it being Hurd, Malone, Pig, Wharton, and Daniel Helm.
 
#75
#75
davethevol said:
He was a redshirt freshman playing in a new offense. I'm sure he just wasn't comfortable yet which is why it seemed to be clicking in the Kentucky game. I think he's going to be just fine next year regardless of the position he plays.
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No kidding, Croom was as good as Pig over the last 8 games. As a freshman.
 
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