No returners on line of scrimmage for 2014

[bigsteve13]

Stay positive my friends. It can't get much worse.

 

[armchair]

It is Murphy's Law with the football Vols, I'm afraid. It seems like there is always something going south. Last year we've got pretty respectable linemen on both sides of the ball--and yet practically every skill player we had on the field either had either no experience or limited talent--or both. Next year our skill talent should be better--but EVERY freakin' lineman will be young and/or new, which will not be a good thing. Our offensive line last year was pretty good. Those who say it wasn't are mistaken. When you are playing a half dozen top 10/top 20 teams, and they know your passing game is terribly, you're not going to run the ball for 250 yards. We were a pretty good running team last year--it was the only thing that made us a viable competitor. Our OL play next year will be a serious step below what it was last year. I like what the staff is doing--recruiting hard--and maybe by end of next year the program will be noticeably stronger. Fingers crossed!

 

[KBVol]

Yeah that's not Dooleys fault. Kiffins mainly and Fulmer a little.

Huh? Please elaborate.

It's the fault of 1 coach who's been gone for 5 years, another coach gone for 4 years who was only here for 1 year.... but the most recent coach before Butch, who was here for 3 years who didn't bring in a single OL his last class has no blame?

 

[bornbleddinorange]

Oline
Weisman, Kerbyson, Blair, Jackson, and ?

Dline
Hendrix, O'Brien, ? and Vereen

 

[crusse10]

I remember after the 2012 signing class when Dooley was explaining that he wanted skill players in the class, so he wasn't worried about recruiting olineman that year.

Edit: here's the link.

Tennessee's 2012 class uniquely offensive-line free » govolsxtra.com Mobile

but still, whether that class did or did not have linemen doesn't come into play in this topic. All the O-Linemen started at the same time except Tiny, who left a year early. You have to go back many coaches to find where that issue lies. Theoretically, it still lies with Fulmer. Fulmer's lack of building the offensive line in his last years made us start completely anew following the 09 season, which featured twin 250lbers starting on our O-Line. Had Fulmer and his staff done better O-Line recruiting, we wouldn't have had the massive rebuilding needed during Kiffin's year and the beginning of Dooley's tenure.

 

[KBVol]

but still, whether that class did or did not have linemen doesn't come into play in this topic. All the O-Linemen started at the same time except Tiny, who left a year early. You have to go back many coaches to find where that issue lies. Theoretically, it still lies with Fulmer. Fulmer's lack of building the offensive line in his last years made us start completely anew following the 09 season, which featured twin 250lbers starting on our O-Line. Had Fulmer and his staff done better O-Line recruiting, we wouldn't have had the massive rebuilding needed during Kiffin's year and the beginning of Dooley's tenure.

That's a stretch. To each his own.

 

[General Jack]

Oline
Weisman, Kerbyson, Blair, Jackson, and ?

Dline
Hendrix, O'Brien, ? and Vereen

Saulsberry is your fill in the blank guy on defense I bet.

Offense would probably be Crowder.

 

[roddo518]

This is funny. It seems we are complaining about our lines being young and they are. But i am so thankful that we have the quality of those young lineman. We could be young and all of em be not rated. CBJ, your the man in my book. I think if butch does what I think he will in the future, our discussion will be what position in the top 5 ol and dl nationally we should be. Happy times are coming boys, these boys just need to learn how to be leaders on and off the field for the future classes. Go VOLS!!

 

[Volinnooga]

The former coach has nothing to do with the fact that everyone ended their Tennessee tenure at the same time. If you think last year's 2nd string is bad, then that's a different story.

Come on-- for many on VN, life was perfect, and the roster was primed and ready, until Dooley arrived. Everything is his fault

 

[hmanvolfan]

Based off the performance of last year's groups, I'd argue that's a good thing.

 

[volsincebirth]

but still, whether that class did or did not have linemen doesn't come into play in this topic. All the O-Linemen started at the same time except Tiny, who left a year early. You have to go back many coaches to find where that issue lies. Theoretically, it still lies with Fulmer. Fulmer's lack of building the offensive line in his last years made us start completely anew following the 09 season, which featured twin 250lbers starting on our O-Line. Had Fulmer and his staff done better O-Line recruiting, we wouldn't have had the massive rebuilding needed during Kiffin's year and the beginning of Dooley's tenure.

Had Dooley recruited a few oline that year, they would be providing depth this year. Who knows one of them might could shared a large amount of reps last year. Etheir way it would have given Butch a few more skill positions to fill......

I don't see how its Fulmer's fault. That was five years ago. He didn't force Dooley to be the frist SEC team to skip recruiting atleast one olineman in the past 20 years. Dooley was just lazy and dumb about it. TN, Army, and one other smaller school were the only teams in D1 football not to take a olineman that year. We will feel the effects of that this year.

 

[crusse10]

Had Dooley recruited a few oline that year, they would be providing depth this year. Who knows one of them might could shared a large amount of reps last year. Etheir way it would have given Butch a few more skill positions to fill......

I don't see how its Fulmer's fault. That was five years ago. He didn't force Dooley to be the frist SEC team to skip recruiting atleast one olineman in the past 20 years. Dooley was just lazy and dumb about it. TN, Army, and one other smaller school were the only teams in D1 football not to take a olineman that year. We will feel the effects of that this year.

The reason I'm saying Fulmer is because that's when the depth was ruined. Had there been better depth, the '11 O-Line would have looked very different. '09 would have had sophomores good enough to start in place of the Sullins, which would have had them most likely starting in '10 and '11. That would have shuffled the influx of new starters and we would not have this issue of a full line leaving at the same time.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

The reason I'm saying Fulmer is because that's when the depth was ruined. Had there been better depth, the '11 O-Line would have looked very different. '09 would have had sophomores good enough to start in place of the Sullins, which would have had them most likely starting in '10 and '11. That would have shuffled the influx of new starters and we would not have this issue of a full line leaving at the same time.

I respectfully disagree. I can think of at least 3 OLs that Fulmer recruited that either Kiffin ran em off (like the qbs Fulmer had coming, Boyd and Petty), or left when he bolted after the one year.

 

[Oskie Volum]

but still, whether that class did or did not have linemen doesn't come into play in this topic. All the O-Linemen started at the same time except Tiny, who left a year early. You have to go back many coaches to find where that issue lies. Theoretically, it still lies with Fulmer. Fulmer's lack of building the offensive line in his last years made us start completely anew following the 09 season, which featured twin 250lbers starting on our O-Line. Had Fulmer and his staff done better O-Line recruiting, we wouldn't have had the massive rebuilding needed during Kiffin's year and the beginning of Dooley's tenure.

Well it's good to see some that realize how Dooley had to rebuild at every position with limited available schollys to give out. People can't see how he needed to sacrifice some areas because every position on the team was depleted depth and talent wise. He didn't have the ability to have 30+ signees in his 2nd class either. Thx to kiff he had less #s due to the NCAA penalty.

Kiffs running off lots of players either when he was here or losing them due to him leaving is something that CBJ has not had to face. What was it 65 players on campus with no QB at the start of the season that had been on campus the year before?? That is a lot harder to deal with than pretty much a full roster and 2 returning QBs. I know I know CBJ has had it harder than dooley...Smh.

At the end of the day...CBJ has had 1 full season playing a tough schedule. He either knows or doesn't know what he needs to do to get this team ready for '14. No excuse as next season isn't some kind of surprise. He isn't dealing with a team that is so young that a key injury shatters it all like Hunters did. He needs to make a bowl w/o fail or The Legion of the Miserable will eat him alive going into the next season.

It's funny how so many r calling Dooley an idiot for having to sacrfice signing a OLMan in a class when CBJ isn't going after a QB in this class atp. What's the difference in the strategy?? Remember how it turned the last time a coach went the no QB strategy?? Heck Saban has a star full stable of QBs and went after one that came up cause he knows what he needs to do to win now. Saban is confident he will have him ready to start the season. Does CBJ have that type of confidence?? Well he was handed a starting line filled with talent and experience. One that was said to be the best in the nation, and they looked bad. That's not the players fault. That's either CBJs fault or the change of systems fault. Or a combo of both. Simple.
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[thebjd]

but still, whether that class did or did not have linemen doesn't come into play in this topic. All the O-Linemen started at the same time except Tiny, who left a year early. You have to go back many coaches to find where that issue lies. Theoretically, it still lies with Fulmer. Fulmer's lack of building the offensive line in his last years made us start completely anew following the 09 season, which featured twin 250lbers starting on our O-Line. Had Fulmer and his staff done better O-Line recruiting, we wouldn't have had the massive rebuilding needed during Kiffin's year and the beginning of Dooley's tenure.

You serious Clark?

 

[KBVol]

I respectfully disagree. I can think of at least 3 OLs that Fulmer recruited that either Kiffin ran em off (like the qbs Fulmer had coming, Boyd and Petty), or left when he bolted after the one year.

Agree. Beyond the facts that you presented, just the general idea that the coach who last coached Tennessee in 2008 bares more blame for the current state of the OL than the guy who was here in 2012, after 3 years, the 3rd of which he chose not to sign a single OL.... whoever puts forth this theory just has a Fulmer axe to grind IMO.

 

[hardyemt_p]

neither side exactly torched the field last year, so I think its a good thing

 

[KBVol]

neither side exactly torched the field last year, so I think its a good thing

I think losing the entire OL hurts, at least in the short term. On the other hand, there's literally not one player I hate to see go from the DL. I think we'll have much more talent there and we should be much improved fairly early if the coaches are effectively coaching them up.

 

[dduncan4163]

"@SDS: #Tennessee is the only team in CFB that doesn't return a starter on either line of scrimmage for 2014."

Knew we weren't returning players on the line but when it's put like this it's kind of shocking. Thanks Dools for bringing in good young talent in the trenches, bud!

Its a Scary scenario for 2014 but a Great one for 2015.

 

[YorkVol]

All the 2s got plenty of playing time last year. Plus this is their 2nd year in the system so they have a chance of being better prepared to run the schemes. I bet we are suprised.

 

[rocky top buzz]

It's funny how so many r calling Dooley an idiot for having to sacrfice signing a OLMan in a class when CBJ isn't going after a QB in this class atp. What's the difference in the strategy?? Remember how it turned the last time a coach went the no QB strategy?? Heck Saban has a star full stable of QBs and went after one that came up cause he knows what he needs to do to win now. Saban is confident he will have him ready to start the season. Does CBJ have that type of confidence?? Well he was handed a starting line filled with talent and experience. One that was said to be the best in the nation, and they looked bad. That's not the players fault. That's either CBJs fault or the change of systems fault. Or a combo of both. Simple.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

You have 5 OL and 1 QB. You have 5-8 guys rotate on the line every game, but typically just one player plays QB. Also we signed 2 QBs last year and will have 4 headed into the fall.

To me there is no comparison.

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

There will be some major growing pains on both lines this season. Hopefully by mid-season we will start to see some real improvement.

There will be some major growing pains on both lines this season. Hopefully by mid-season we will start to see some real improvement.

Disagree on the defensive side. We trade experienced but marginal talent for inexperienced high-level talent. They should be about the same early and then better as the season progresses.

As for O-line, there will be some growing pains but the good news is last year everyone was changing to a different blocking scheme with read-option. It negatively affected Tiny for one. This year most of the O-line will have at least a year in this scheme with the possible exception of Blair.

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Saulsberry was probably better than any D-Line starter we had last year, so technically we are bringing back one starter and Vereen was more or less a Co-starter. Another year of S&C plus techniques training should help him to step it up another notch.

Cory Miller will be missed but I think Big Dan was a mild disappointment.

 

[KBVol]

saulsberry was probably better than any d-line starter we had last year, so technically we are bringing back one starter and vereen was more or less a co-starter. Another year of s&c plus techniques training should help him to step it up another notch.

Cory miller will be kinda sorta missed but i think big dan was a huge disappointment.

fyp 😊

 

[volsincebirth]

You have 5 OL and 1 QB. You have 5-8 guys rotate on the line every game, but typically just one player plays QB. Also we signed 2 QBs last year and will have 4 headed into the fall.

To me there is no comparison.

Took the words out of my mouth. You take OL every year, no matter what. Even if you can't be picky. Dooley etheir didn't know any better or he was lazy. If he really didn't want to recruit any OL he had broken away from the mold of every winning coach of the last 30 years..... 4 QBs are plenty. One less than bama had last year.