FredWhite2
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Defensive End:
Jacques Smith- Jacques might be the most happy human on the team this year now that we have switched back to the 4-3 defense under Janzeck. Smith is showing he is grasping his concepts and responsibilities (something he struggled with ALL of last season) and is playing fast again, which has been very good to see. Smith still needs to improve his pass rushing skills as his strength is right where it needs to be as well as his speed for this position. He could also work on his first step to help him add another weapon to his arsenal against big tackles. Smith will start this year for us and hopefully have the breakout year we've all been waiting on since he stepped foot on campus.
Jordan Williams- Jordan has been starting opposite Smith in our traditional 4-3 alignments, but he needs to play with a little more consistency if he wants to be a threat for us in this defense. Williams is a solid pass rushing option for us off the edge. However, he struggles against the run which will be noted by opposing SEC offenses. He needs to play with better leverage at the point of attack and use his hands more to get off blocks as well. Coach Jones talked about "aiming points" in his post game press conference and Williams needs to work on that as well to be a more rounded player.
Corey Miller- Miller has come on this year and like Smith, has enjoyed the switch back to the 4-3 defense. His size (6-3, 265) is the ideal size for a DE in this system, now Miller just needs to work on his pass rushing skills. He plays the run fairly well and uses his hands better than Smith and Williams in that area. If Miller wants to regain his starting role outright, he'll need to develop a couple of pass rushing moves this off season with coach Stripling.
LaTroy Lewis- This guy really came into his own this spring for us. Lewis flashed a "quick twitch" ability off the edge that really got our coaches excited. He's still a little raw in terms of learning the position, but I'd look for him to see valuable playing time especially when he need to put pressure on the QB. He is kind of a pass rushing specialist at the moment, but I think he could be a solid DE once he learns and develops a little bit more.
Corey Vereen- I put Vereen here even though he's listed as a LB. Vereen has the best motor out of all of our D-Lineman. What this kid has done coming in as an early enrollee really has those close to the program excited for his potential in the future. Vereen, like Lewis, has great "quick twitch" abilities which allow him to have an explosive first step coming off the ball. Having only been in college for a couple months, look for him to live in the film room this summer as well as putting on solid weight in the weight room. Excited to see what this kid looks like in the fall.
Defensive Tackles:
Daniel McCullers- Mt. McCullers aka the Orange Mile has trimmed down to around 350. McCullers has been a personal project of coach Steve Stripling since his arrival on campus this winter and McCullers has shown improvement. At 6'7 350 pounds, he needs to work on playing with a lower pad level, which Stripling has been hammering home to him since spring ball began. The coaches are also wanting Dan to live in the backfield, which is different from a year ago where he was asked to fill gaps and eat up space in the middle. If Dan can get down to around 340 and improve his endurance during the off season training program, he could be scary good for us on the inside next year.
Mo Couch- Couch was sidelined most of spring ball with injuries, but he is assumed to be the starter next to big Dan come fall. Mo plays with great leverage due to his size (6'1) and has improved his hands a lot since he got here. If Mo can get serious in the weight room this summer, he will be a solid contributor during his senior season for the Vols.
Marlon Walls- I know Marlon sometimes lines up at DE, but to me he's more at home on the inside. Watching him in the O&W game, he has improved a lot from last year. He looks quicker and uses his hands probably the best out of any of our D-lineman. Marlon also showed he is picking up the defense quickly as he did a good job several times containing or setting the edge. Marlon has also been named as a vocal leader on this side of the ball, which is needed b/c Dan barely talks.
Daniel Hood- Hood will serve primarily in a backup capacity this year. He will see the field b/c this defense requires more rotation at the DT position, but he's not a superstar by any means. He will provide depth behind D-Mac, Couch, Walls, and co. He needs to improve his strength this offseason so he can hold his own better in the trenches and play with better pad level.
Dan O'Brien- This kid has a tremendous motor and overall attitude. It's the perfect blend of both for what you'd want in a DT. After red-shirting last season, O'Brien is hungry to get on the field this year, but it will be primarily in a backup role. He needs to develop his overall game more before he can be an every down player for us.
Trevarris Saulsberry- Another option who has emerged as a guy who can give us depth, Saulsberry has improved his game and benefitted from the switch back to the 4-3 defense. He is more suited physically for the DT position in this scheme, whereas he was kind of a hybrid guy in Sal's 3-4 defense.
Outside Linebacker:
Curt Maggitt- Curt didn't participate in spring ball due to the recovery from his many injuries a year ago. CURT NEEDS TO STAY HEALTHY!. The injury bug has not been kind to him during his first two years on the hill. He has NFL potential if he can stay on the field. His length, size, and athleticism are great for the LB position and he has shown he can rush the passer if called to do so. Curt would be a two down LB in this system, coming out on 3rd down passing situations. Curt also has stepped up his leadership on this side of the ball, which is needed after the departure of Lathers from a year ago.
Brent Brewer- I'm excited to see Brewer in his new position. I thought he should've been moved here last season, but apparently we needed him to let people get behind him in our secondary (had to.) Brent has the size (6-2, 215) to play the weakside backer in this scheme and will be an asset in our nickel package as well due to his time in the secondary. He needs to learn the position, which I think he will better grasp during the offseason.
Dontavis Sapp- Sapp improved as much as anyone on defense this spring. He has made the case for a starting position and earned the defensive MVP award for spring practice. Sapp has always shown great instincts in the passing game and he will probably lineup next to Brewer when we go to our nickel package. This spring Sapp has shown he's more than just a coverage LB though as he's flashed solid instincts against the run as well. He still needs to work on getting to the ball and off blocks better, but Sapp will be on the field a lot for our defense in the fall.
Raiques Crump- Crump has primarily been used on special teams for us throughout his career as a Vol. He saw action sparingly last year b/c our depth was not ideal for the 3-4 system at LB. Crump will serve in a reserve role again this year and be a leader on all special teams.
Inside Linebacker:
A.J. Johnson- "The Beast" returns to anchor the middle of our defense. He's enjoyed the switch back to the 4-3, not because he didn't thrive in the 3-4, but because everything is a lot more simple in this scheme than under Sal. A.J. has also slimmed down to around 235 which has allowed him to become a little bit quicker in the open field. That was one of his only weak areas from a year ago as he struggled in space against fast, quick opponents. He still need to improve in that area as much as possible as evident by Rajon's screen pass where he was again chasing in the O&W game, but A.J. has all of the tools to be an NFL LB.
Christian Harris- This is a kid that is hungry. Harris "fought like heck" to get back from an ACL injury last year, but was never fully healthy. After having time to let his injury fully heal and rehab, Harris will be a solid backup to A.J. for us this fall. He will also be a great special teams guy for us with his speed and nose for the football.
Channing Fugate- Channing has switched positions, gone from offense to defense, and now has to learn yet another defensive scheme. This guy has been through a lot for a young man during a career already. Like Harris, he will be asked to contribute and lead the special teams units. We need Fugate to stay dedicated and focused, as that's been a problem at times for him in the past and caused him to put on unneeded weight.
Safety:
Brian Randolph- It is good to see Brian back on the field and playing fast again. After missing almost all of last year with an ACL injury, Randolph returns to play the FS position. He looks like he's fully recovered from the injury and is picking up the new defense very well so far. We need him to stay healthy as he is a solid player in the back end for us. He flashed playmaking ability in the O&W game by going and getting the ball at its highest point and showing some skills while returning it as well.
Byron Moore- This guy has endeared himself to the fanbase as much as anyone since last season due to his prowess on twitter. Moore is penciled as the starter at SS for us, but I would be shocked if McNeil did not overtake him at some point during the season. Moore is not a bad player at all. He's also one the best leaders on the team and in the locker room, but McNeil just has more raw ability than he does. Moore will play a lot this year and may start out the season as the number one SS.
LaDarrell McNeil- This guy was thrown into the fire last year as a true freshman and held his own. Obviously he has things to work on as our secondary allowed more big plays in one year than I can remember in a long time. McNeil has great instincts in the back end of our defense. Once he learns this new system and can play fast all the time, I think he will launch himself into the starting lineup yet again during the middle of the year. Regardless, McNeil will see the field a lot in the fall both at SS and on special teams as well.
Cornerback:
Justin Coleman- Coleman returns as the only CB we have with significant game experience. We will need him to take that next step and become a reliable option on one side of the field for us. Coleman has always been very aggressive, and if you watch his tape you will see he's often right there to make a play but just can't seem to make it most of the time. That will need to change as our depth at CB is not good this year. We need to have at least one guy who we can rely on to do his job and make plays for us at this crucial position.
Dan Gray- I was very excited about Gray after watching his HS film. He shows great speed and likes to play press coverage as well. He was thrown into the fire late last season and took some lumps in his true freshman year. Gray has only been playing football now for three years. Hopefully Martinez and Terry Fair can develop him to a valuable level come fall camp as his potential is very high. Gray will be called on to play whether he starts or not.
Riyahd Jones- This guy looks good getting off the bus. Jones is 6'1, 190 pounds and can run. He has very quick feet and good hips which allow him to change direction very well. Jones was sidelined during the middle of spring ball, but it is nothing serious. If he can learn the defense I'd look for him to start opposite of Coleman to start the year.
Naz Oliver- Some may have forgotten about this kid as we came in originally as a WR. Oliver is not a starting option at this point, but could develop this off season into a solid contributor for us. He will play a role on special teams too.
Overall the strength of this side of the ball is our front seven. Our Safety depth is also good with three guys who are starter quality. However, our CB position is looking to be the weak spot this year with little experience and depth issues as well.
I'm excited to see Jason Carr arrive on campus this summer b/c of his size and athleticism. It would also help us out if one of: Foreman, Johnson, or Sutton could come in and provide quality depth.
Jacques Smith- Jacques might be the most happy human on the team this year now that we have switched back to the 4-3 defense under Janzeck. Smith is showing he is grasping his concepts and responsibilities (something he struggled with ALL of last season) and is playing fast again, which has been very good to see. Smith still needs to improve his pass rushing skills as his strength is right where it needs to be as well as his speed for this position. He could also work on his first step to help him add another weapon to his arsenal against big tackles. Smith will start this year for us and hopefully have the breakout year we've all been waiting on since he stepped foot on campus.
Jordan Williams- Jordan has been starting opposite Smith in our traditional 4-3 alignments, but he needs to play with a little more consistency if he wants to be a threat for us in this defense. Williams is a solid pass rushing option for us off the edge. However, he struggles against the run which will be noted by opposing SEC offenses. He needs to play with better leverage at the point of attack and use his hands more to get off blocks as well. Coach Jones talked about "aiming points" in his post game press conference and Williams needs to work on that as well to be a more rounded player.
Corey Miller- Miller has come on this year and like Smith, has enjoyed the switch back to the 4-3 defense. His size (6-3, 265) is the ideal size for a DE in this system, now Miller just needs to work on his pass rushing skills. He plays the run fairly well and uses his hands better than Smith and Williams in that area. If Miller wants to regain his starting role outright, he'll need to develop a couple of pass rushing moves this off season with coach Stripling.
LaTroy Lewis- This guy really came into his own this spring for us. Lewis flashed a "quick twitch" ability off the edge that really got our coaches excited. He's still a little raw in terms of learning the position, but I'd look for him to see valuable playing time especially when he need to put pressure on the QB. He is kind of a pass rushing specialist at the moment, but I think he could be a solid DE once he learns and develops a little bit more.
Corey Vereen- I put Vereen here even though he's listed as a LB. Vereen has the best motor out of all of our D-Lineman. What this kid has done coming in as an early enrollee really has those close to the program excited for his potential in the future. Vereen, like Lewis, has great "quick twitch" abilities which allow him to have an explosive first step coming off the ball. Having only been in college for a couple months, look for him to live in the film room this summer as well as putting on solid weight in the weight room. Excited to see what this kid looks like in the fall.
Defensive Tackles:
Daniel McCullers- Mt. McCullers aka the Orange Mile has trimmed down to around 350. McCullers has been a personal project of coach Steve Stripling since his arrival on campus this winter and McCullers has shown improvement. At 6'7 350 pounds, he needs to work on playing with a lower pad level, which Stripling has been hammering home to him since spring ball began. The coaches are also wanting Dan to live in the backfield, which is different from a year ago where he was asked to fill gaps and eat up space in the middle. If Dan can get down to around 340 and improve his endurance during the off season training program, he could be scary good for us on the inside next year.
Mo Couch- Couch was sidelined most of spring ball with injuries, but he is assumed to be the starter next to big Dan come fall. Mo plays with great leverage due to his size (6'1) and has improved his hands a lot since he got here. If Mo can get serious in the weight room this summer, he will be a solid contributor during his senior season for the Vols.
Marlon Walls- I know Marlon sometimes lines up at DE, but to me he's more at home on the inside. Watching him in the O&W game, he has improved a lot from last year. He looks quicker and uses his hands probably the best out of any of our D-lineman. Marlon also showed he is picking up the defense quickly as he did a good job several times containing or setting the edge. Marlon has also been named as a vocal leader on this side of the ball, which is needed b/c Dan barely talks.
Daniel Hood- Hood will serve primarily in a backup capacity this year. He will see the field b/c this defense requires more rotation at the DT position, but he's not a superstar by any means. He will provide depth behind D-Mac, Couch, Walls, and co. He needs to improve his strength this offseason so he can hold his own better in the trenches and play with better pad level.
Dan O'Brien- This kid has a tremendous motor and overall attitude. It's the perfect blend of both for what you'd want in a DT. After red-shirting last season, O'Brien is hungry to get on the field this year, but it will be primarily in a backup role. He needs to develop his overall game more before he can be an every down player for us.
Trevarris Saulsberry- Another option who has emerged as a guy who can give us depth, Saulsberry has improved his game and benefitted from the switch back to the 4-3 defense. He is more suited physically for the DT position in this scheme, whereas he was kind of a hybrid guy in Sal's 3-4 defense.
Outside Linebacker:
Curt Maggitt- Curt didn't participate in spring ball due to the recovery from his many injuries a year ago. CURT NEEDS TO STAY HEALTHY!. The injury bug has not been kind to him during his first two years on the hill. He has NFL potential if he can stay on the field. His length, size, and athleticism are great for the LB position and he has shown he can rush the passer if called to do so. Curt would be a two down LB in this system, coming out on 3rd down passing situations. Curt also has stepped up his leadership on this side of the ball, which is needed after the departure of Lathers from a year ago.
Brent Brewer- I'm excited to see Brewer in his new position. I thought he should've been moved here last season, but apparently we needed him to let people get behind him in our secondary (had to.) Brent has the size (6-2, 215) to play the weakside backer in this scheme and will be an asset in our nickel package as well due to his time in the secondary. He needs to learn the position, which I think he will better grasp during the offseason.
Dontavis Sapp- Sapp improved as much as anyone on defense this spring. He has made the case for a starting position and earned the defensive MVP award for spring practice. Sapp has always shown great instincts in the passing game and he will probably lineup next to Brewer when we go to our nickel package. This spring Sapp has shown he's more than just a coverage LB though as he's flashed solid instincts against the run as well. He still needs to work on getting to the ball and off blocks better, but Sapp will be on the field a lot for our defense in the fall.
Raiques Crump- Crump has primarily been used on special teams for us throughout his career as a Vol. He saw action sparingly last year b/c our depth was not ideal for the 3-4 system at LB. Crump will serve in a reserve role again this year and be a leader on all special teams.
Inside Linebacker:
A.J. Johnson- "The Beast" returns to anchor the middle of our defense. He's enjoyed the switch back to the 4-3, not because he didn't thrive in the 3-4, but because everything is a lot more simple in this scheme than under Sal. A.J. has also slimmed down to around 235 which has allowed him to become a little bit quicker in the open field. That was one of his only weak areas from a year ago as he struggled in space against fast, quick opponents. He still need to improve in that area as much as possible as evident by Rajon's screen pass where he was again chasing in the O&W game, but A.J. has all of the tools to be an NFL LB.
Christian Harris- This is a kid that is hungry. Harris "fought like heck" to get back from an ACL injury last year, but was never fully healthy. After having time to let his injury fully heal and rehab, Harris will be a solid backup to A.J. for us this fall. He will also be a great special teams guy for us with his speed and nose for the football.
Channing Fugate- Channing has switched positions, gone from offense to defense, and now has to learn yet another defensive scheme. This guy has been through a lot for a young man during a career already. Like Harris, he will be asked to contribute and lead the special teams units. We need Fugate to stay dedicated and focused, as that's been a problem at times for him in the past and caused him to put on unneeded weight.
Safety:
Brian Randolph- It is good to see Brian back on the field and playing fast again. After missing almost all of last year with an ACL injury, Randolph returns to play the FS position. He looks like he's fully recovered from the injury and is picking up the new defense very well so far. We need him to stay healthy as he is a solid player in the back end for us. He flashed playmaking ability in the O&W game by going and getting the ball at its highest point and showing some skills while returning it as well.
Byron Moore- This guy has endeared himself to the fanbase as much as anyone since last season due to his prowess on twitter. Moore is penciled as the starter at SS for us, but I would be shocked if McNeil did not overtake him at some point during the season. Moore is not a bad player at all. He's also one the best leaders on the team and in the locker room, but McNeil just has more raw ability than he does. Moore will play a lot this year and may start out the season as the number one SS.
LaDarrell McNeil- This guy was thrown into the fire last year as a true freshman and held his own. Obviously he has things to work on as our secondary allowed more big plays in one year than I can remember in a long time. McNeil has great instincts in the back end of our defense. Once he learns this new system and can play fast all the time, I think he will launch himself into the starting lineup yet again during the middle of the year. Regardless, McNeil will see the field a lot in the fall both at SS and on special teams as well.
Cornerback:
Justin Coleman- Coleman returns as the only CB we have with significant game experience. We will need him to take that next step and become a reliable option on one side of the field for us. Coleman has always been very aggressive, and if you watch his tape you will see he's often right there to make a play but just can't seem to make it most of the time. That will need to change as our depth at CB is not good this year. We need to have at least one guy who we can rely on to do his job and make plays for us at this crucial position.
Dan Gray- I was very excited about Gray after watching his HS film. He shows great speed and likes to play press coverage as well. He was thrown into the fire late last season and took some lumps in his true freshman year. Gray has only been playing football now for three years. Hopefully Martinez and Terry Fair can develop him to a valuable level come fall camp as his potential is very high. Gray will be called on to play whether he starts or not.
Riyahd Jones- This guy looks good getting off the bus. Jones is 6'1, 190 pounds and can run. He has very quick feet and good hips which allow him to change direction very well. Jones was sidelined during the middle of spring ball, but it is nothing serious. If he can learn the defense I'd look for him to start opposite of Coleman to start the year.
Naz Oliver- Some may have forgotten about this kid as we came in originally as a WR. Oliver is not a starting option at this point, but could develop this off season into a solid contributor for us. He will play a role on special teams too.
Overall the strength of this side of the ball is our front seven. Our Safety depth is also good with three guys who are starter quality. However, our CB position is looking to be the weak spot this year with little experience and depth issues as well.
I'm excited to see Jason Carr arrive on campus this summer b/c of his size and athleticism. It would also help us out if one of: Foreman, Johnson, or Sutton could come in and provide quality depth.
