O Line Explaination

#1
S

sjt18

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#1
I have gotten on the nerves of some folks here for repeating how bad the Vol OL situation will become in '10 if they don't sign at least 3 but preferrably 4 good prospects in this class. The roster is thin this year and they'll lose 4 Srs with practically all the teams' experience.

I kept repeating it because posters kept coming in optimistically declaring that all the coaches had to do was coach up the current players. My point is that there isn't enough there to coach up after this year. I feel these posters are setting themselves up for a terrible disappointment and that will cause them to turn on the new staff when they don't successfully "coach up" guys who aren't there.

I should have just started a thread before now rather than answering every rosy, unrealistic post.

I am hoping for a surprise. I am hoping for the best.

If they miss this year as many predict then UT will need Fr and JUCO's to play well in '10 to avoid a losing season.

I've said my peace... and have come to terms with it myself. Hopefully folks here will realize the situation and be more patient and informed than what I've previously given them credit for... but remember, many fans won't take time to inform themselves. They'll just go off when the staff doesn't appear to be giving them what they wanted.

You'll see alot more "posivols" than you do right now.
 
#2
#2
without O linemen, it doesn't matter how good of running backs, quarterbacks and receivers you have, nothings going to happen! Offensive linemen, the real skill position players!
 
#3
#3
sjt18 said:
I have gotten on the nerves of some folks here for repeating how bad the Vol OL situation will become in '10 if they don't sign at least 3 but preferrably 4 good prospects in this class. The roster is thin this year and they'll lose 4 Srs with practically all the teams' experience.

I kept repeating it because posters kept coming in optimistically declaring that all the coaches had to do was coach up the current players. My point is that there isn't enough there to coach up after this year. I feel these posters are setting themselves up for a terrible disappointment and that will cause them to turn on the new staff when they don't successfully "coach up" guys who aren't there.

I should have just started a thread before now rather than answering every rosy, unrealistic post.

I am hoping for a surprise. I am hoping for the best.

If they miss this year as many predict then UT will need Fr and JUCO's to play well in '10 to avoid a losing season.

I've said my peace... and have come to terms with it myself. Hopefully folks here will realize the situation and be more patient and informed than what I've previously given them credit for... but remember, many fans won't take time to inform themselves. They'll just go off when the staff doesn't appear to be giving them what they wanted.

You'll see alot more "posivols" than you do right now.
Click to expand...

true only thing you have to do is look at the roster and can tell there is a big time need there.
 
#5
#5
Honestly do you think the depth is not somewhat there, D. Thomas, Scholfied, Revis, McClendon, Johnson, and Bailey. Hopefully Sawtelle can come around, and we should get some JuCos and hopefully a few promising freshman. Tom Lemming said that the 2010 class has 5 people better than the number 1 OT in 2009.
 
#6
#6
There's enough OL talent to keep us going next season. After that Vlad, McClendon, Scott, and McNeil are out of here. Hopefully, Kiffin will make OL a top priority for the next class. I think he tried this year, but there weren't very many uncommitted prospects when he took the helm.
 
#7
#7
I think we might be in trouble for the next 10-15 years if we can't find a way to address this yesterday.
 
#8
#8
Oldvol75 said:
without O linemen, it doesn't matter how good of running backs, quarterbacks and receivers you have, nothings going to happen! Offensive linemen, the real skill position players!
Click to expand...

You are 100% correct. It all starts up front, if those big boys are not getting the job done, it does not matter how many stars our RB, QB, and WR have, because they will not be able to make any plays.
 
#9
#9
LIvol said:
Honestly do you think the depth is not somewhat there, D. Thomas, Scholfied, Revis, McClendon, Johnson, and Bailey. Hopefully Sawtelle can come around, and we should get some JuCos and hopefully a few promising freshman. Tom Lemming said that the 2010 class has 5 people better than the number 1 OT in 2009.
Click to expand...
No because OL's usually take longer to transition from HS to college than skill players. They'll have 11 scholarship OL's this fall and lose 4 of them to graduation. That leaves 7 including Pope and Anderson... and Sawtelle is coming off double shoulder surgery.

I believe Johnson got the boot awhile back, right?
 
#10
#10
No question we need to start getting some young guys in to develop but the situation is not as dire as you have made it out to be. We have good young prospects in Bailey, Dallas Thomas, Jarrod Shaw, Brimfield, and Anderson. Plus, Aaron Douglas has the potential to be AA if he is converted to OL, which he most likely will be in this system. This class with Scholfield and Revis isn't real strong, so next year we have to make it a priority and I am sure the coaches understand that.
 
#11
#11
All you have to do is look at UGA over the past two seasons to see what kind of impact not recruiting good OL can have on your program.
 
#12
#12
jeblevins said:
All you have to do is look at UGA over the past two seasons to see what kind of impact not recruiting good OL can have on your program.
Click to expand...
why does one need look further than the disaster the Hill has been for the past few years?
 
#15
#15
BigPapaVol said:
I think we might be in trouble for the next 10-15 years if we can't find a way to address this yesterday.
Click to expand...

U cracked me up on that one!

On a positive note, we don't need to hear about our need as 'peace has been made'
 
#16
#16
BigPapaVol said:
I think we might be in trouble for the next 10-15 years if we can't find a way to address this yesterday.
Click to expand...

I admire your optimism, and your best-case-scenario outlook....but, the reality is that, if Tennessee can't score a minimum of 5 monster behemoth stud 4-star beasts on the OL this year, the Vols will never have another winning season...and the SEC will ultimately trade Tennessee to C-USA for UAB.
 
#17
#17
TheVol said:
No question we need to start getting some young guys in to develop but the situation is not as dire as you have made it out to be. We have good young prospects in Bailey, Dallas Thomas, Jarrod Shaw, Brimfield, and Anderson. Plus, Aaron Douglas has the potential to be AA if he is converted to OL, which he most likely will be in this system. This class with Scholfield and Revis isn't real strong, so next year we have to make it a priority and I am sure the coaches understand that.
Click to expand...
Is Shaw still on the team?
 
#18
#18
Ok sjt18, I respect your opinion, but thats all it is, is an opinion. At this point, I would say it has become more than annoying.

I'm gonna share a tidbit for you to consider, and don't really expect a response (especially if it is the same exact thing you have been saying).

Tom Lemming (a very, very respected recruiting expert) has very plainly stated that he believes that this year's crop of OL (especially OT) is one of the weakest he has seen in years, and that is around the nation. He also said next year's OL class was supposed to be much improved from this year's.

If this staff's goal is to get the most quallity players in the nation, then maybe they see the same thing as Lemming and have a plan to go after better linemen next year when they have a whole year. This would be instead of going after sub-par linemen this year, after most of the better linemen in this class (though sub-par) have been committed for a long time.

I guess in all, they don't think that this class is worth it.
 
#19
#19
Hope you are right... but the need isn't an opinion. It is a mathematical equation derived by looking at the roster and subtracting the OL's who will run out of eligibility after the 09 season.

Just look for yourself. I'm really pretty tired of trying to get you to see the obvious. If you or anyone else is just that determined not to realize the problem then... OK.
 
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