Recruiting Forum Football Talk II

[HankHill]

It’s sadly comical that JG still cannot complete a simple lateral pass to a RB

There’s a lot of times that I’ve noticed our RBs run really poor routes on those. They don’t get their body turned or get vertical. I don’t think JG is at fault on the majority of those. I think RB has been our sloppiest position group all year.

 

[butchna]

Remind you of anyone?

Damn! Thank you!

 

[SweetasSoda]

There’s a lot of times that I’ve noticed our RBs run really poor routes on those. They don’t get their body turned or get vertical. I don’t think JG is at fault on the majority of those. I think RB has been our sloppiest position group all year.

I thought they looked unnatural. Would make a QB hesitate about how to throw it.

 

[Blake25p]

Very classy move

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Yeah, I also think the RBs are "lazy" almost on some of those routes. I mean that first play against Georgia State, JG put a bit of heat on it...but Ty catches that like he should and he's probably got a big chunk of yards.

Gray will be better next season on those plays, he missed a lotta camp with injuries. I really don't get why Ty hasn't elevated, but who knows.

 

[whitw]

Pruitt has the smartassery of David Spade, the aversion to complacency of Nick Saban and the simplistic honesty of Forrest Gump.

Hopefully that equates to a conference championship in the near future.

 

[butchna]

I think Trey would like to come back for his SR year. He loves the Vols and wants to get his master's. But if wants to play at the next level, he'll probably be advised to take the money while he can and finish his education later. I'm sure he'll talk to a lot of people and make the best decision for his situation. He'll always rep UT well. I wish we had more like him.

I think it hinges on what the NFL Draft Advisory’s grade will be. It only takes ONE team to see him as the next Quentin Nelson to take a shot at him in the first round BUT the NFL is a cautious lot and I could just as easily see him as an UDFA without two consecutive healthy seasons to assuage teams caution. If he gets a grade of rounds 1-3, I think he takes the plunge, but this young man has gone his own way his whole time with us.

 

[ChattaTNVol]

You guys really need to watch this one to the very end. jmo.

They may edit the video but right now skip ahead to the 4 minute mark; that's where it starts.

 

[Aesius]

Very classy move

Hate the way his career unfolded. He was a beast with a ton of potential.

 

[RikidyBones]

Tennessee bball ranked 17 in new AP.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I think it hinges on what the NFL Draft Advisory’s grade will be. It only takes ONE team to see him as the next Quentin Nelson to take a shot at him in the first round BUT the NFL is a cautious lot and I could just as easily see him as an UDFA without two consecutive healthy seasons to assuage teams caution. If he gets a grade of rounds 1-3, I think he takes the plunge, but this young man has gone his own way his whole time with us.

I love Trey Smith, he's one of my favorite all-time Vols already. And this will sound selfish, but I think he should return and get that masters. At his position, he's not likely to risk "losing" money at the NFL level. If the blood clots are what keeps him from playing at the next level then that's not something that's going away just by entering the draft early. You can get that masters, get a full camp, see if your new plan is going to help permanently deal with the clots and you're stock will only rise for the NFL next season.

I get the draw of a big payday, but despite as much as I love him as a player I don't think the NFL is going to draft him in the 1st round this off-season.

Part of that is the health issues, part of it is that he's playing guard, part of it is that despite us closing strong we didn't have the type of team success that helps push players into higher draft stock. I also think our less than stellar offensive stats (especially rushing) hurts.

I could see him coming back and winning the LT job with full camp, then dominating as a senior at LT and going in the 1st round at a higher paying position to boot. Ultimately though, I want what's best for the young man...I just think long-term having the masters degree and more time with the staff we have can have a bigger long term benefit on him.

 

[jakez4ut]

Saints, Drew Brees, Michael Thomas happened.

well, that, and he went all dumb getting a personal foul call on an out of bound play that he had no business doing.

just dumb.

and those three did their thing, but what did us in was their ability to slice and dice our o line at will.........

and our place kicker's inability to hit PAT's and 20 yarders.

in reality, the way the saints started that game, and how their defense was playing at times....they should ahve killed us.

but, i think the saints had almost a 100 yards in penalties, had 1 turnover....a big one. that kept us in it.....we should have won.

bottom line, the saints played probably c+/b- game and still won.

 

[LynxVol]

Some random thoughts -

Beating Mizzou in Columbia at night for their last home game of the season (thus senior night) when both teams are 5-5 is a big win. Vandy last season was Pruitt's biggest game of his HC career. I think last night was a bigger game. He failed last year, but he succeeded big time this year.

Mizzou, overall, is a pretty well-coached team. Odom seems like a giant butt plug, especially after the way he spoke about UT this off season. But, if he were our coach, I'd probably like him. He's a football guy, he's not flashy, and his teams play hard. They seem to do "more with less" consistently, and that team deserves better support than a half-filled stadium on a weekly basis.

What happened to Mizzou's running game? Roundtree was a hoss last year, especially against UT, and they've been very solid in the past. Maybe Kelly Bryant being a mediocre passer made their team more predictable? Maybe their OL isn't that great? And then there's Dooley, too.

Losing Jennings next year will be like losing Dobbs, probably worse only because of JG playing well in big games last year (@ Auburn and against UK). We subconsciously know it's coming, but reality won't fully set in until next season gets rolling. Those kinds of players are invaluable on the field and in the locker room. Trey Smith could be that guy, but he needs to go get drafted in the 1st round and make some money. I'm sure there will be other players to step up, but it just won't be the same knowing what JJ went through and accomplished while at UT.

 

[Aesius]

Some random thoughts -

Beating Mizzou in Columbia at night for their last home game of the season (thus senior night) when both teams are 5-5 is a big win. Vandy last season was Pruitt's biggest game of his HC career. I think last night was a bigger game. He failed last year, but he succeeded big time this year.

Mizzou, overall, is a pretty well-coached team. Odom seems like a giant butt plug, especially after the way he spoke about UT this off season. But, if he were our coach, I'd probably like him. He's a football guy, he's not flashy, and his teams play hard. They seem to do "more with less" consistently, and that team deserves better support than a half-filled stadium on a weekly basis.

What happened to Mizzou's running game? Roundtree was a hoss last year, especially against UT, and they've been very solid in the past. Maybe Kelly Bryant being a mediocre passer made their team more predictable? Maybe their OL isn't that great? And then there's Dooley, too.

Losing Jennings next year will be like losing Dobbs, probably worse only because of JG playing well in big games last year (@ Auburn and against UK). We subconsciously know it's coming, but reality won't fully set in until next season gets rolling. Those kinds of players are invaluable on the field and in the locker room. Trey Smith could be that guy, but he needs to go get drafted in the 1st round and make some money. I'm sure there will be other players to step up, but it just won't be the same knowing what JJ went through and accomplished while at UT.

I think losing Drew Lock really hurt Mizzou's offense. We're basically seeing a post-Bray Dooley offense. He looks okay when he's got an NFL talent who can sling the ball around.

Agreed on your last point. I'm concerned about leadership next year. That's why I think JG coming back is a must. Losing Jennings, Callaway, Bituli, and likely Smith is going to really hurt. JG can be the guy to keep the team moving forward because he's been there, done that in all aspects of college football now.

 

[butchna]

I love Trey Smith, he's one of my favorite all-time Vols already. And this will sound selfish, but I think he should return and get that masters. At his position, he's not likely to risk "losing" money at the NFL level. If the blood clots are what keeps him from playing at the next level then that's not something that's going away just by entering the draft early. You can get that masters, get a full camp, see if your new plan is going to help permanently deal with the clots and you're stock will only rise for the NFL next season.

I get the draw of a big payday, but despite as much as I love him as a player I don't think the NFL is going to draft him in the 1st round this off-season.

Part of that is the health issues, part of it is that he's playing guard, part of it is that despite us closing strong we didn't have the type of team success that helps push players into higher draft stock. I also think our less than stellar offensive stats (especially rushing) hurts.

I could see him coming back and winning the LT job with full camp, then dominating as a senior at LT and going in the 1st round at a higher paying position to boot. Ultimately though, I want what's best for the young man...I just think long-term having the masters degree and more time with the staff we have can have a bigger long term benefit on him.

Agree with you mostly except for the LT thing. I previously believed he would excel at any OL position ala Bruce Matthews, and I still think he can fill in adequately at OT, but he DOMINATES on the interior and that’s where he would be coveted by NFL teams imo.

 

[jakez4ut]

I think Utah winning out puts them into the CFP.

Mainly because Alabama without Tua just doesn't seem to be "elite" enough to go in ahead of a 1 loss conference champ. Utah's only loss being to USC on the road early in the season isn't nearly as bad as OU getting beat by Kansas State. Baylor could be in the mix if they can beat OU in the rematch.

Either way PAC-12 & Big 12 both could have 1 loss championship teams who played conference title games...not sure how you can put a 3rd in conference 1 loss Bama team ahead of either.

Auburn also has a good chance to beat Bama, and I think the committee is probably pulling for that outcome. It'll eliminate the argument for a 2nd SEC team making it, without question.

the committee doesn't care if you won your conf, unless it works against the favorite.

the only decision they have to make is....is the big 12 or pac 12 champ better than bama? if they say yes, put 'em in. if they don't....bama gets in.

Oregon losing hurt Utah. not only did they get a 2nd loss, that loss to Auburn doesn't look as good as it did either.

still, one more regular season weekend, and i'll be shocked if something screwy doesn't happen.,

i can tell you this....i bet Utah fans are gonna be screaming "war eagle" this weekend.

 

[SweetasSoda]

You guys really need to watch this one to the very end. jmo.

They may edit the video but right now skip ahead to the 4 minute mark; that's where it starts.

 

[KokoBVol]

Losing Jennings next year will be like losing Dobbs, probably worse only because of JG playing well in big games last year (@ Auburn and against UK). We subconsciously know it's coming, but reality won't fully set in until next season gets rolling. Those kinds of players are invaluable on the field and in the locker room. Trey Smith could be that guy, but he needs to go get drafted in the 1st round and make some money. I'm sure there will be other players to step up, but it just won't be the same knowing what JJ went through and accomplished while at UT.

Thought about this the other day. Who leads this team next year?

 

[nicksjuzunk]

Saints, Drew Brees, Michael Thomas happened.

 

[jakez4ut]

lol...that's perfect.

"if being a tennessee fan was easy, everybody'd do it!!"

 

[SLICKYINC]

well, that, and he went all dumb getting a personal foul call on an out of bound play that he had no business doing.

just dumb.

and those three did their thing, but what did us in was their ability to slice and dice our o line at will.........

and our place kicker's inability to hit PAT's and 20 yarders.

in reality, the way the saints started that game, and how their defense was playing at times....they should ahve killed us.

but, i think the saints had almost a 100 yards in penalties, had 1 turnover....a big one. that kept us in it.....we should have won.

bottom line, the saints played probably c+/b- game and still won.

Just messing with you.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Agree with you mostly except for the LT thing. I previously believed he would excel at any OL position ala Bruce Matthews, and I still think he can fill in adequately at OT, but he DOMINATES on the interior and that’s where he would be coveted by NFL teams imo.

Yeah, I think he'll end up playing NFL guard. He's comfortable there and dominates as you pointed out. But a full year of him being a beast at LT sure ain't going to hurt his draft stock...

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Thought about this the other day. Who leads this team next year?

Bradon Johnson, Josh Palmer, Jarrett Guarantano, Tim Jordan, Ty Chandler could be you're offensive leaders as Seniors.

Defensive guys Theo Jackson, Matthew Butler, Henry T, Deandre Johnson, Kivon Bennett, Alontae Taylor, Bryce Thompson, Shawn Shamburger

 

[SoilVol]

I think losing Drew Lock really hurt Mizzou's offense. We're basically seeing a post-Bray Dooley offense. He looks okay when he's got an NFL talent who can sling the ball around.

Agreed on your last point. I'm concerned about leadership next year. That's why I think JG coming back is a must. Losing Jennings, Callaway, Bituli, and likely Smith is going to really hurt. JG can be the guy to keep the team moving forward because he's been there, done that in all aspects of college football now.

Talked to a Mizzou alum yesterday who's biggest concern right now is the surge of Nebraska and Les Miles at Kansas. He likes Odom and Dooley, but he's very concerned about recruiting right now. Historically, Mizzou recruits well when Nebraska is down. Adding Les Miles down the road to pick up a couple of recruits here and there isn't helping, Missouri doesn't have a huge recruiting pool and successfully stealing top guys from Arkansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Tennessee is hard for them.

 

[butchna]

Yeah, I think he'll end up playing NFL guard. He's comfortable there and dominates as you pointed out. But a full year of him being a beast at LT sure ain't going to hurt his draft stock...

Morris and Wright are fixtures there.