Reading between lines of Fingers reports, we need a CB and a RT.

[VFL-82-JP]

Keep in mind, Fingers is only quoting journalists.

Many of whom know the game of football less well than some of us here, and NONE of whom have coach-level insights. And our coaching staff generally isn't talking to them much. Certainly not about what the positions of need might be.

On top of all that, they don't get to see most of each practice. Just the bits the coaches will let them in for.

So we're getting very little reliable information. It might be a bit like "reading between the lines" of cocaine in an Al Pacino movie.

Go Vols!

 

[bpalmer28]

It sounds like Mincey has RT on lock with D Davis breathing down his neck for PT. That's the between the lines I get when I look.

AP just said Jeudy-Lally and Doneiko will start at CB when the season starts.

Mincey and Davis are serviceable but not going to handle the nation’s best pass rushers as well as Wright did. Doneiko also may be serviceable, not sure, but he isn’t an NFL prospect. I don’t even know who J-L is. That a transfer?

 

[bpalmer28]

Keep in mind, Fingers is only quoting journalists.

Many of whom know the game of football less well than some of us here, and NONE of whom have coach-level insights. And our coaching staff generally isn't talking to them much. Certainly not about what the positions of need might be.

On top of all that, they don't get to see most of each practice. Just the bits the coaches will let them in for.

So we're getting very little reliable information. It might be a bit like "reading between the lines" of cocaine in an Al Pacino movie.

Go Vols!

While true, sometimes journalists can get a feel for how good the coaches think a player is by paying attention to their body language during practice and asking good questions during interviews

 

[rgvol]

That right tackle spot gonna be hard to fill...,. Love having Spargs back at right guard he going to the league.. Straight up baller!

 

[Go Fight Win]

we regress at OT but the difference is negligible. we improve dramatically at CB this year. Bank it.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Hubbs said on his podcast that Slaughter and Jeudy-Lally have looked good at CB.

 

[VOLfrombama]

Mincey and Davis are serviceable but not going to handle the nation’s best pass rushers as well as Wright did. Doneiko also may be serviceable, not sure, but he isn’t an NFL prospect. I don’t even know who J-L is. That a transfer?

Tranfer from BYU (and Vandy technically)

 

[rdk4121]

I think we're pretty good at every position right now barring portal movement. We have 5 ILB. Plenty of lineman on both sides, though I could see another OT not being out of the question. I think Slaughter and Jeudy-Lally are your starters, but you still have Turnage, Burrell, etc back there. Safety is a toss up to me. We have 4 that could play there. WR has plenty of talent and pretty good depth. QB is one injury away from being dangerously thin, but that is what it is

 

[jasonvol18]

Why would an SEC caliber starter want to transfer out?

Maybe Coaching Change, play for a bigger school and conference,Coaching..Could be the best player at a bad school. Not sayinv it's easy, but there are and will be some.

 

[LittleVol]

Hubbs said on his podcast that Slaughter and Jeudy-Lally have looked good at CB.

I also remember when Hubbs said Devaun Swafford had safety on lock during the spring haha.
Maybe he's right this time!

We certainly need both of them. Even if say Matthews becomes a freshman monster and Hadden gets healthy then balls out. We still need at least 4 other guys to rotate in just for CB alone.
- Burrell? nah
- Charles? maybe, unless he's starting at safety
- Turneage? when he's healthy he's solid.
- Harrison? Marginal athlete and gave way to a walk-on from Ensworth.
- Rucker? Injured and undersized
- Conyer? true freshman that is a bit undersized
- Gibson? Yes, but still a true freshman.

So Slaughter and Jeudy-Lally are still crucial in 2023 for sure. Both started and played well last year for their respective teams.

 

[Namorto1]

Expect there still to be some movement after spring. We really could use another experienced CB. Would be difficult to find however. Although we may have more bodies and be improved, I doubt this will be an immediate fix. We play against elite WRs and don't think we have anyone close who can defend he best WRs in the SEC consistently. If pass rush improves without having to blitz all the time that will help the secondary.

 

[RockyTopTexas]

At CB we have tons of numbers but not much quality (evidenced by last year) so I would be curious to see if some hit the portal to make room for new.

Conversely, at WR we have good quality but lack numbers. We play 3 WR sets and we have 4 good receivers (Ramel, Bru, Thornton and Squirel) .. we are two injuries away from needing guys like Chas Nimrod, Webb and Lealock with near 0 experience. We were down two WRs a lot last year so ideally having another good body there would give us peace of mind.

We lack bodies at ILB too and did address some with bringing BYU guy. Good news is Arion Carter might be able to help some based on practice reports.

They are cross training tackles so we have few options there .. plus Andrej Karic can play tackle if needed as well. But you can never have enough tackles in this league.

It will all depend on spots we have left. I still think we need a capable back up QB too ..

Good fan

 

[bpalmer28]

I also remember when Hubbs said Devaun Swafford had safety on lock during the spring haha.
Maybe he's right this time!

We certainly need both of them. Even if say Matthews becomes a freshman monster and Hadden gets healthy then balls out. We still need at least 4 other guys to rotate in just for CB alone.
- Burrell? nah
- Charles? maybe, unless he's starting at safety
- Turneage? when he's healthy he's solid.
- Harrison? Marginal athlete and gave way to a walk-on from Ensworth.
- Rucker? Injured and undersized
- Conyer? true freshman that is a bit undersized
- Gibson? Yes, but still a true freshman.

So Slaughter and Jeudy-Lally are still crucial in 2023 for sure. Both started and played well last year for their respective teams.

Yikes

 

[NighthawkVol]

I also remember when Hubbs said Devaun Swafford had safety on lock during the spring haha.
Maybe he's right this time!

We certainly need both of them. Even if say Matthews becomes a freshman monster and Hadden gets healthy then balls out. We still need at least 4 other guys to rotate in just for CB alone.
- Burrell? nah
- Charles? maybe, unless he's starting at safety
- Turneage? when he's healthy he's solid.
- Harrison? Marginal athlete and gave way to a walk-on from Ensworth.
- Rucker? Injured and undersized
- Conyer? true freshman that is a bit undersized
- Gibson? Yes, but still a true freshman.

So Slaughter and Jeudy-Lally are still crucial in 2023 for sure. Both started and played well last year for their respective teams.

I think Charles is at Safety for good. And that’s where he needs to be.

 

[Vfl2407]

I also remember when Hubbs said Devaun Swafford had safety on lock during the spring haha.
Maybe he's right this time!

We certainly need both of them. Even if say Matthews becomes a freshman monster and Hadden gets healthy then balls out. We still need at least 4 other guys to rotate in just for CB alone.
- Burrell? nah
- Charles? maybe, unless he's starting at safety
- Turneage? when he's healthy he's solid.
- Harrison? Marginal athlete and gave way to a walk-on from Ensworth.
- Rucker? Injured and undersized
- Conyer? true freshman that is a bit undersized
- Gibson? Yes, but still a true freshman.

So Slaughter and Jeudy-Lally are still crucial in 2023 for sure. Both started and played well last year for their respective teams.

Good review. Thanks

 

[volmandu]

Yikes

I agree here. I think both Burrell & Hadden can be good covering second or third receiver on opposing teams but not go to guy. If Slaughter & Lally take starting spots, Burrell & Hadden can rotate to provide depth covering not the primary receiver.
At safety, how is Turrintine developing?

 

[Namorto1]

I think we'll be fine at RT. CB will be a toss up if they're going to take a step forward this fall.

Yep I agree. Once Campbell gets comfortable I bet he will end up at LT which will allow Mincey or Crawford to play RT. I wouldn’t be surprised if Karic starts at LG in the fall. Depth on OL is pretty good but any critical injury could be a problem.

CB is going to take another recruiting class to resolve unfortunately. I hope Jeudy-Lally is
solid on one side. Slaughter may get the start at other CB but he is better served as a safety IMO. Hadden perhaps but he needs to mature ALOT. Burrell has a lot of experience but was routinely picked on. I think Turnage has ability but he is always injured. The new frosh will probably be on 2 deep immediately. We need help for sure at CB.