Offensive Tackle & OL recruiting

#102
#102
jave36 said:
I think Worley is plenty fast enough for what this offense needs to do. His lack of speed isn't hurting us, his refusal/not being allowed to keep it is.

Would help the OL a ton of the DL was worried about him too.
Click to expand...

I was glad to see him keep it but I couldn't help but think "why can't he keep it in a game when it would actually mean something, when we really need the QB to keep it a few times to keep the DE honest??"
 
#103
#103
Vols4us said:
I don't understand why folks think that this staff has to play O-linemen out of position to field a decent o-line. That is simply not true. To field a decent O-line you put the best available player for each position in each position. Kerbyson is not the best left OT. Kendrick or Sanders or Blair would be the best LT. There has not been an upgrade in performance since they moved him there and sat Kendrick. Kerbyson would be the best RT, even though he is the best RG. Weisman would be the best RG if Kerbyson plays RT. He proved it a year ago. This is the problem with many on here and the coaching staff. They have become enamored with the fiction that Butch is feeding everybody. Proof: the fan base started screaming for them to actually run zone read instead of faking it with the action. So they did a handful of times. What happened? 3 touchdowns by QBs. There has to be other motives in play.

Kerbyson has said he is better at RG and secondly, RT. We saw that to be true before they moved him. We saw Weisman play last season at OG and the staff even said he was their 6th man as a true freshman. We know Kendrick and Sanders were recruited as OTs and played the position exclusively in HS. We even have confirmation from Sanders dad on here that AD says he is "killing it" in practice. They have been in the program two years and are two of the strongest guys on the O-line. Their time has come, but they get shoved to the side for two true freshmen?! C'mon, man! I semi-understand Blair being RS'd if he was not ready. But Blair was recruited by major programs that thought he was talented enough to play the position. There is no possible way a junior with his size and two years starting juco experience could be any worse than Coleman Thomas - who is a C playing OT. None. Time for some truth.

As inVOLuntary thinks - ulterior motive on the coaching staff's parts. Has to be. And I don't think it is working based on the O-line recruiting so far. Maybe it will. But I think it stinks that they would sacrifice a season, fan unrest, and several young men's playing time for a shot at landing a big fish on the O-line that they perceive will save the day. All so they can make Team #119 or Team #120 or Team #121, etc. the one that brings UT back to the top? My Vol fan card of 50+ years will be tossed by then if they keep going with this approach.
Click to expand...

I understand the frustration and I can't say that I'm not questioning some of the moves myself. I would at least try putting Kendricks back at LT, or try Austin S at LT or RT more in a game just to see if they could do any better in game situations. But I don't know what the coaching staff's plan is. Maybe they see something we don't. Everything else about the team is looking better so I'm gonna roll with CBJ and crew until they PROVE over time that it isn't working. Now is not the time to panic, even with how bad the OL has looked.

With that said, if the OL issues are all it takes to make you want to turn in your fan card..... why wait??
 
#104
#104
LaagerVol said:
I was glad to see him keep it but I couldn't help but think "why can't he keep it in a game when it would actually mean something, when we really need the QB to keep it a few times to keep the DE honest??"
Click to expand...

Everybody was asking that. Maybe this will give him and/or coaches the confidence to green light the keeper some more.
 
#108
#108
orangeluvr said:
We will…. if their D plays blindfolded. :eek:hmy:
Click to expand...

If I'm on this O-line, I'm sick of seeing things like this ^^^^

I don't know if they can overcome their physical limitations, but If they aren't furious and extremely motivated by all the comments about how they are gonna get dominated then something is wrong. I mean they have to be tired of seeing the comments about how Worley will need a trip to the ER after the game, etc. People act like our OL should be scared of ole miss or something. I hope they have more pride and self respect than that and I believe they do. We will get their best effort this weekend.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#109
#109
LaagerVol said:
If I'm on this O-line, I'm sick of seeing things like this ^^^^

I don't know if they can overcome their physical limitations, but If they aren't furious and extremely motivated by all the comments about how they are gonna get dominated then something is wrong. I mean they have to be tired of seeing the comments about how Worley will need a trip to the ER after the game, etc. People act like our OL should be scared of ole miss or something. I hope they have more pride and self respect than that and I believe they do. We will get their best effort this weekend.
Click to expand...

I'll admit the thing that has shocked me most about the OL play this year is that it appears they can't even get in the way of a rushing DE. They are having trouble no matter what the talent level is across from them. They just whiff on the block more often than not. It's not a matter of talent, power, or speed. At times it's like they are not even there.

Other schools wanted some of these guys. As a group they had about 100 offers from various schools. You would think at least slowing down the pass rush would be a very reasonable thing at this point.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#110
#110
LebanonVolunteer said:
I'll admit the thing that has shocked me most about the OL play this year is that it appears they can't even get in the way of a rushing DE. They are having trouble no matter what the talent level is across from them. They just whiff on the block more often than not. It's not a matter of talent, power, or speed. At times it's like they are not even there.

Other schools wanted some of these guys. As a group they had about 100 offers from various schools. You would think at least slowing down the pass rush would be a very reasonable thing at this point.
Click to expand...

Totally unreasonable response. The coaching staff is perfect and this is all we have to work with. lol. Blue font.

The definition of insanity applies. Week after week.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#111
#111
LebanonVolunteer said:
I'll admit the thing that has shocked me most about the OL play this year is that it appears they can't even get in the way of a rushing DE. They are having trouble no matter what the talent level is across from them. They just whiff on the block more often than not. It's not a matter of talent, power, or speed. At times it's like they are not even there.

Other schools wanted some of these guys. As a group they had about 100 offers from various schools. You would think at least slowing down the pass rush would be a very reasonable thing at this point.
Click to expand...

Talent is somewhat there, but guys are playing out of position. Thomas is not a SEC level T. He needs to be moved back to C. Kerbs is a G playing T, and to be honest Sanders would probably be a better option but maybe mentally he isn't ready. Kendrick looks to be a good RT prospect, maybe he just isn't meantally ready yet either. Mahoney's recruiting is without a doubt in question. The other problem that I have with this staff is the lack of trying guys like Sanders at LT/RT and Kendrick at RT. Maybe Thomas at C? IDK what these coaches are seeing in practice, but as many of you have already pointed out, changing it up can't produce any worse of a product. The only reasons I can think of for why this staff refuses to mix it up is that they are either trying to mold some chemistry with the five starters for next year, or Sanders/Weisman/Kendrick just arent mentally ready yet.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#112
#112
VAVolsFan2009 said:
I'm basing my assessment on what I see in the games. I just look at the game play by play. There were plays in the game where each and everyone of the OL were beaten. Those plays are part of the assessment, but the game is not just one play. We need to look at the total body of work. UC was a good game to help in their development because they had a decent DL and challenged on every play.

Don't get me wrong. The OL is a mess and definitely a work in progress. But they are improving. The number of horror plays will still be there, but they will have a fair share of successes as well. The bottom line is that we have players playing out of their natural position. With the exception of Blair, we don't have any true OTs on the roster. NONE!!! Until Blair gets his strength and technique up to SEC standards, we won't see him playing. A redshirt for him came as a surprise, but not totally unexpected. As CBJ says, OL is a developmental position.

As I have said repeatedly, the 2015 class needs at least 3 true OT recruits. Hall is the real deal, but he needs a redshirt year to heal from surgery. We need Sweet and Richmond to complement Jones and Stewart. It would help a lot if Jackson would be open to the possibility of helping at OT. He has similar athletism as Hall. Boulware will be a beast at OG but not at OT.

I'm frustrated like everyone else, but I still understand the situation and cut them a break.

Edit: I forgot to mention Burrell and Allen. Burrell is a possibility at OT, but they are probably better at OG.
Click to expand...
Sorry, but I've kept an eye on Thomas as well rewatching the offensive plays, and UTC was easily his worst game so far. Worse, that is probably the weakest DL (besides maybe Vandy) he'll see for the rest of the season. Tull is solid, but he wouldn't have any accolades if he played in a real division
 
#113
#113
Darth_Shiveman said:
Sorry, but I've kept an eye on Thomas as well rewatching the offensive plays, and UTC was easily his worst game so far. Worse, that is probably the weakest DL (besides maybe Vandy) he'll see for the rest of the season. Tull is solid, but he wouldn't have any accolades if he played in a real division
Click to expand...

We will agree to disagree. However, I plan to go back and watch the game again. Maybe I'll see it differently. And UC's DL had some decent talent. JMO
 
#114
#114
LebanonVolunteer said:
I'll admit the thing that has shocked me most about the OL play this year is that it appears they can't even get in the way of a rushing DE. They are having trouble no matter what the talent level is across from them. They just whiff on the block more often than not. It's not a matter of talent, power, or speed. At times it's like they are not even there.

Other schools wanted some of these guys. As a group they had about 100 offers from various schools. You would think at least slowing down the pass rush would be a very reasonable thing at this point.
Click to expand...

I think you're right about this. I think teams have been throwing some crazy stuff at us week after week and confusing our line a lot.

There's definitely been some situations where guys have been just beaten off the snap, but a lot of it is confusion. That will get better with experience, which none of these guys really have.

I think Butch is sticking with the 5 he has because he wants those 5 players to get better and gain experience. If you switch it up now, you're kind of going to go through the first game jitters all over again with some players. If those guys were ready they would be playing. It's not like Butch is trying to rack up sacks.
 
Last edited:
#115
#115
Darth_Shiveman said:
Sorry, but I've kept an eye on Thomas as well rewatching the offensive plays, and UTC was easily his worst game so far. Worse, that is probably the weakest DL (besides maybe Vandy) he'll see for the rest of the season. Tull is solid, but he wouldn't have any accolades if he played in a real division
Click to expand...

Wrong. Tull will end up in the NFL.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#116
#116
vol73 said:
Normally I would say 4 is plenty but our deficiencies on the OL are glaring. How many commitments do we have now? 25 or 26? I'm happy we got a good CB but OL should be priority number 1 right now. Out of 26 we should have at least 6 or 7 o- lineman. Dooley ignored OL recruiting and look at where we are now. Games are won in the trenches.
Click to expand...

Coach has got to gamble on a JUCO OL, he has got to take the chance I know before anybody says Blair, we got to at least try again, if we don't we might be in the same boat next year, we are close.
 
#118
#118
LaagerVol said:
If I'm on this O-line, I'm sick of seeing things like this ^^^^

I don't know if they can overcome their physical limitations, but If they aren't furious and extremely motivated by all the comments about how they are gonna get dominated then something is wrong. I mean they have to be tired of seeing the comments about how Worley will need a trip to the ER after the game, etc. People act like our OL should be scared of ole miss or something. I hope they have more pride and self respect than that and I believe they do. We will get their best effort this weekend.
Click to expand...

Okay so when do you tire of getting your ass whipped week after week? :vava: :question:
 
#119
#119
Darth_Shiveman said:
Sorry, but I've kept an eye on Thomas as well rewatching the offensive plays, and UTC was easily his worst game so far. Worse, that is probably the weakest DL (besides maybe Vandy) he'll see for the rest of the season. Tull is solid, but he wouldn't have any accolades if he played in a real division
Click to expand...

After watching the game again, the UC game was not his best effort. His lack of quickness was glaring. Tull simply ran around him on the outside rushes and cut across him to the inside before Thomas could react. Seemed like Thomas was constantly running after Tull with his arms extended.

Sadly, in watching the 4th quarter subs play, the starting 5 are the best 5. For those who say Kendrick is the answer, need to watch him get beaten without even a touch on the DE. He just watched him go by and sack Peterman. Can't really say anything encouraging about the others either.

Looks like short quick passes against OM. The ball needs to out of Worley's hand in less than 2 seconds. Maybe the quick flare passes to the RBs could help.
 
#120
#120
orangeluvr said:
Okay so when do you tire of getting your ass whipped week after week? :vava: :question:
Click to expand...

I would get tired of it after the first play. I was talking about it with a co-worker and we kinda agreed that it may not matter how fired up they get or how slighted they feel, they may just not be able to overcome their physical limitations/playing out of position, right now.

I agree with previous posters. I don't understand how the DEs can go past them without our guys even so much as getting a hand on them. If a DE makes a double move it's like it freezes our guys. I don't see it getting much better this year. I'd at least like to see what some of the other guys like Austin Sanders could do.
 
#121
#121
VAVolsFan2009 said:
After watching the game again, the UC game was not his best effort. His lack of quickness was glaring. Tull simply ran around him on the outside rushes and cut across him to the inside before Thomas could react. Seemed like Thomas was constantly running after Tull with his arms extended.

Sadly, in watching the 4th quarter subs play, the starting 5 are the best 5. For those who say Kendrick is the answer, need to watch him get beaten without even a touch on the DE. He just watched him go by and sack Peterman. Can't really say anything encouraging about the others either.

Looks like short quick passes against OM. The ball needs to out of Worley's hand in less than 2 seconds. Maybe the quick flare passes to the RBs could help.
Click to expand...

That can be said about all of our OTs. I've seen them ALL get beaten without getting a hand on the DE. (I can't say that about Jacob Gilliam because I didn't key on him any when he played)
 
#122
#122
Draw, Screen, slants. and then draw, screen and slant again. You can mix them up I guess, But we need to use their pass rush against them
 
#125
#125
LebanonVolunteer said:
I'll admit the thing that has shocked me most about the OL play this year is that it appears they can't even get in the way of a rushing DE. They are having trouble no matter what the talent level is across from them. They just whiff on the block more often than not. It's not a matter of talent, power, or speed. At times it's like they are not even there.

Other schools wanted some of these guys. As a group they had about 100 offers from various schools. You would think at least slowing down the pass rush would be a very reasonable thing at this point.
Click to expand...

Good way of putting it. I don't care if our guys get blasted by better players, as long as they get in the way. So many untouched guys in the backfield.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top