'25 Northwestern Transfer OL Josh Thompson

#526
#526
swchandler1988 said:
My point was is half the line has been starters since heupel was hired and have improved since GE has been the coach. The other remaining spots we’ve tried to fill with transfers and projects. Who by and large have been very good at run blocking and not good at pass blocking. The first year we’re clear of the investigations we get several studs on the o line in recruiting and the following year we land the #1 tackle. I just think GE can be used as a scape goat often times
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'Improved.'

They've definitely not progressed since 2022. In fact, some might argue that they regressed. Understand some of that was HH. Admittedly, I haven't looked up any OL stats to inform that. Just based off of results in watching.

Really do think this line needs a talent infusion. Hopefully they'll be better in 2025.

Fortunately we have a talented QB coming back. That is a big deal. Now, recruiting needs to match our rivals at skill positions -
 
#527
#527
swchandler1988 said:
My point was is half the line has been starters since heupel was hired and have improved since GE has been the coach. The other remaining spots we’ve tried to fill with transfers and projects. Who by and large have been very good at run blocking and not good at pass blocking. The first year we’re clear of the investigations we get several studs on the o line in recruiting and the following year we land the #1 tackle. I just think GE can be used as a scape goat often times
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GE isnt an escape goat. He is not performing his direct job function.
 
#528
#528
Jackcrevol said:
A lot of bouncing around.

'GE has been given less, and expected more.'

Who recruited Darnell Wright and Jeremiah Crawford? They committed in '19, Huepel was hired in 2021. Same for Mays and Spraggins.

How was he not 'given' tools to succeed? Ellarbee was literally given this entire OL.

Back to my org pt. Trying to be somewhat objective, Ellarbee needs a recruiting coordinator. Talent gap between us and Quarter/Semi playoff teams is wide. Literally got mauled by OSU/Georgia/and even AR. Line could not stand up long enough for Nico to get a pass off. And struggled against inferior opponents. Not to mention penalties, Run blocking? How much of that is on Cooper Mays?

Bottom line. Not a single hs player he has recruited has played any meaningful snaps.

the misses. stanton ramil. mauigoa. how many times? does he just not relate? not aggressive? something is up. we signed 3 offensive linemen in this class. that doesn't cut it.

Let's just back recruiting out. what about coaching and prep? he did recruit campbell, karic, and heard. campbell was out of position, hurt, and a liability. heard was hurt, and out of shape. karic just isn't a road grader. do we really consider this an improvement? line gets some of the credit, but a lot of that was dylan. if then, the line could run block, where is the play action? deep and crossing routes? they couldn't hold up.

This is a big year for them. One thing we should never struggle to land top tier 4/5 star players on offensive line at tennessee. we should develop nfl players at this position. if he needs help, get it. if he can't get it done, replace him.
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Jack I love you man but your dislike for Ellarbee has gotten a little bit extreme and dare I say unhinged. We always have to have a whipping boy and someone to blame but I think we might need to dial it back a bit. Here are a few facts about our offense. We lead the SEC In rushing yards and the team that finished second was 25 yards/game behind us. We had the SEC offensive player of the year. We have had the SEC offensive player of the year in 2 of the last 3 years. It’s impossible to accomplish that if your offensive line coach sucks. Simply impossible.
Are there things he can improve on? Absolutely. Did we struggle against elite defenses? Absolutely, but who doesn’t. Did our tackles struggle pass blocking? Definitely, especially against better teams. My point is that maybe there is a lot of gray between he is the best coach in the world, too the current Volnation narrative that he is the worst. Data would suggest he is in the upper tier but not elite. Before you fire people you need to have a superior replacement who also knows how to coach your scheme. That’s probably a very, very small list. It’s fair to point out that his recruits haven’t contributed much yet and the jury is out on his evaluation process. I would point out that projecting success from high school to college is notably difficult for OL. I do think that 2025 will be a big tell as we have finally exhausted the eligibility of most of our long term starters. I would just caution that upgrading the level of coaching in the OL through a coaching change is small. Not wanting too start a big argument, just trying to bring a little balance to the conversation.
 
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#529
#529
dmwvol12 said:
Jack I love you man but your dislike for Ellarbee has gotten a little bit extreme and dare I say unhinged. We always have to have a whipping boy and someone to blame but I think we might need to dial it back a bit. Here are a few facts about our offense. We lead the SEC In rushing yards and the team that finished second was 25 yards/game behind us. We had the SEC offensive player of the year. We have had the SEC offensive player of the year in 2 of the last 3 years. It’s impossible to accomplish that if your offensive line coach sucks. Simply impossible.
Are there things he can improve on? Absolutely. Did we struggle against elite defenses? Absolutely, but who doesn’t. Did our tackles struggle pass blocking? Definitely, especially against better teams. My point is that maybe there is a lot of gray between he is the best coach in the world, too the current Volnation narrative that he is the worst. Data would suggest he is in the upper tier but not elite. Before you fire people you need to have a superior replacement who also knows how to coach your scheme. That’s probably a very, very small list. It’s fair to point out that his recruits haven’t contributed much yet and the jury is out on his evaluation process. I would point out that projecting success from high school to college is notably difficult for OL. I do think that 2025 will be a big tell as we have finally exhausted the eligibility of most of our long term starters. I would just caution that upgrading the level of coaching in the OL through a coaching change is small. Not wanting too start a big argument, just trying to bring a little balance to the conversation.
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You know what, for this post.

I'm farrin' him!

Fwiw, i'm on record saying that actually firing him would be disastrous, for 2025.

Getting him help on the trail would absolutely help: And honestly isn't too far a departure in today's game.

Also on record saying this year should be probationary in terms of where OL is and how it performs with 'his guys.'
 
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#531
#531
Jackcrevol said:
You know what, for this post.

I'm farrin' him!

Fwiw, i'm on record saying that actually firing him would be disastrous, for 2025.

Getting him help on the trail would absolutely help: And honestly isn't too far a departure in today's game.

Also on record saying this year should be probationary in terms of where OL is and how it performs with 'his guys.'
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Fahr away. Just be careful because there’s not a OL coaching tree hanging full with elite coaches. There is always room for improvement but it just seems like the data would suggest he’s not the weakest link in my opinion. I also don’t know any sure fire upgrade. I would also think that proven, elite OL coaches would be reluctant to leave their current position and transition to our scheme. I would think most would prefer to stay in a pro style system.

On a similar note our DL really struggled against OSU and some of the better teams but Garner is considered the BEST. I think he is great but it just shows that when the competition level increases, success decreases.

I get some of the criticism but just think it’s gotten over the top.

Anyway, have a great day and try and show poor Ellarbee a little grace.
 
#533
#533
dmwvol12 said:
Fahr away. Just be careful because there’s not a OL coaching tree hanging full with elite coaches. There is always room for improvement but it just seems like the data would suggest he’s not the weakest link in my opinion. I also don’t know any sure fire upgrade. I would also think that proven, elite OL coaches would be reluctant to leave their current position and transition to our scheme. I would think most would prefer to stay in a pro style system.

On a similar note our DL really struggled against OSU and some of the better teams but Garner is considered the BEST. I think he is great but it just shows that when the competition level increases, success decreases.

I get some of the criticism but just think it’s gotten over the top.

Anyway, have a great day and try and show poor Ellarbee a little grace.
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IMG_6700.gif

😛
 
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#534
#534
CAVPUT said:
5 star or not, that's a tall ask especially if we're running the Heupel hyper offense. Sanders is still maturing. He'll be facing grown men in this league. Then to run the pace Heupel's offense requires? I have a hard time seeing that. If he does start, chances are we keep running the offense we saw this year. Doubt we will have the WRs to run it anyway plus I'm not sold on Nico's mental abilities to process fast enough either. Merklinger better make some serious strides this off season. Something tells me we're gonna be needing him unless UT has a lot of OL talent on the shelf that's going to be ready to go next season. A freshman or NIL guy will take at least a year to get acclimated to this league and offense IMO.
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5 star tackles man the position every cycle. More recently Seaton and Francis played at a high level while starting every game. It’s a tall order but not impossible at all.
 
#536
#536
OL outside of QB is the most difficult position to play period. Look at NFL horrible OL play through out. This Team first 2 years they were handcuffed by past decade failures and Ncaa jail it is Fact. But Yet Tennessee is in the midst of our best success in modern history all the way back to 70's only Fulmer achieved this and when He took over in 93 He already had NFL players on both sides and continued to add and He Coached in SEC that is no were as tough as Heupel and Staff. So Coach Elarbee must be doing some good things as well as staff. As far as schemes go they all have to have Blocking to succeed. Now the 23 & 24 classes we are recruiting again at higher clip so let's see how these Young more talented Kids that Coach E has develops. Happy Holidays. In CHRIST Alone
 
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#537
#537
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
Rightfully so. It exposed what we really are. We're not as close to being elite as we thought before that game.
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You are the biggest goofball homer on this board continually making idiotic predictions and statements. As per usual, you overreact when said predictions and statements unsurprisingly don’t come true. If you thought we were elite, that is on you not the coaches and nothing about this season showed that we were even close to being elite. We had a good year with a good team. During any other season we would be playing in a New Year’s bowl which is where we should have been
 
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#538
#538
swchandler1988 said:
Let’s go by position:
LT:
2021: Darnell Wright
2022: Mincey/Crawford
2023: Campbell
2024: Heard
LG:
2021- Carvin
2022- Carvin
2023- Karic/Lampley
2024-Karic/Lampley
C:
2021-24: Mays
RG:
2021-24: Spraggins
RT:
2021-Mays
2022-Wright
2023-Mincey/Crawford
2024-Campbell/Davis

In that time, we recruited Crawford in 21, who turned out to be decent. A slew of 3 star projects in ‘22, Nichols (who’s on to his 3rd school) and Mincey, who was decent. Our class after we put a good product on the field we picked up Sham, then Campbell and Karic in the portal. 2024 was the first class where we got guys that weren’t 3 star projects, and they were just freshman this year.

Of all the coaches, GE has been given less and expected more. I’m not saying he’s the world’s greatest o line coach, but he’s not exactly been given the tools to succeed.
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I think there is an reasonable expectation on the position coach to identify and recruit prospects.
 
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#544
#544
Jackcrevol said:
its Ellarbee's 5th year. It isn't that anyone he's recruited hasn't started, they have not played a meaningful snap.

Same linemen stay in even in routes of crappy teams. Its ridiculous.
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LaagerVol said:
I’m assuming you have statistics to back this claim up…

Calling @Vols410
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We were 2nd / 12 among playoff teams in offensive line snaps by freshmen / rs-freshmen, and either 2nd or 3rd in the SEC.

Meaningful snaps not so much, but that’s true across the country as I’ve already demonstrated. The idea that we’re not playing young guys in routs but other teams are is not true.
 
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