Recruiting Forum Football Talk LX

[cHiZzLeVOL]

You have no idea what you’re talking about.

Guess we will see.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

I bet the coaches will maximize Trey in the position they feel best fits their system and not worry or take notes from this board....

And it’s perfectly fine to discuss where we think that is.

 

[swchandler1988]

You make finding a starting LT sound a whole lot easier to do than things like NFL draft salary and NFL draft order suggest. Most teams seem to put their most physically gifted OL at LT, and I’d bet that’s what happens here.

From everything I’ve read, smart money is probably on LT- Smith, LG-R. Johnson, C-Kennedy, RG-Carvin or Hall (if healthy), and RT-Richmond. And I won’t be surprised if they don’t immediately appear more effective than the OL did at any point under Jones.

I reallly hope we see this. Puts your best 5 on the field. 2 deep isn’t very strong but at least it will have guys that are the right size...as opposed to throwing Tatum in as a freshman in 2016 at RT in the Bama game when he weighed maybe 260. Makes me shudder.

Guys like Carvin, Locklear, J Johnson, Lane, Neihaus, Tatum and Calbert will provide some kind of depth. Also kind of curious about Brooks. He’s pushing 300 now too.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

Guess we will see.

I get what you’re saying about Smith. I think most would agree that he’s absolutely elite at OG and that’s where he has the most upside.


And I also think that the coaches know this and will still out him outside because they want to put the best unit on the field more than they want Smith to earn praise and accolades.

 

[SouthKnoxVOL]

We bout to win 8 games this year aren't we?

 

[cHiZzLeVOL]

I get what you’re saying about Smith. I think most would agree that he’s absolutely elite at OG and that’s where he has the most upside.


And I also think that the coaches know this and will still out him outside because they want to put the best unit on the field more than they want Smith to earn praise and accolades.

I just don't see how you have a dominant run game if you don't put your best player in the middle.

Pruitt specifically stated he wanted to be able to run it up the middle at will.

The way to do that and make guys worry about it is to put Smith there. That also opens up a lane if the starting QB needs to go somewhere. If guys are stating JG will be the QB and that he does have speed that is where he will Gash guys if he drops back and there is nothing there.

When Smith moved to LT defenses destroyed us up the middle.

 

[volinbama256]

And it’s perfectly fine to discuss where we think that is.

Yes, it is perfectly fine, and we discuss all players and all positions...

 

[volinbama256]

we bout to win 8 games this year aren't we?

wurd

 

[butchna]

That first part contradicts almost everything I’ve ever heard, read, or seen regarding the left tackle position.

It depends. The 90’s Cowboys Dynasty had their OL as the backbone. Mark Tuinei was never the elite athlete type, but he was a great tactician at the LT working in their team philosophy and his stability on the blind side allowed first Erik Williams then Larry Allen to use their brutal athleticism at RT and OG respectively. Larry Allen was a shorter Bruce Matthews who could play any spot at a Pro Bowl level, and Williams was a prototype mauling RT. Either could’ve manned the LT position and handled it as well or better than Tuinei but there would have been no replacements at their level for the vacated positions. That and the Cowboys being built run first, second and aw hell do it on third allowed that model to work. WE don’t have that “problem”. The best player at neutralizing the usual best edge rusher, should be manning that spot. I see the love at OG. I really wanted my Bears to land Quenton Nelson and I think Trey is an at least equal talent...but the position ain’t going anywhere. Let’s take care of us.

 

[millst987]

We bout to win 8 games this year aren't we?

Pruitt believes we win them all

 

[volfanCLT]

Would prefer Trey at G as opposed to T

 

[LA Vol]

Not trying to come at you LA but i think a big part of the injury problem last year was hitting too much in practice. Specifically in season. Jmo

I always thought the dropoff in conditioning was the real culprit. But apparently, the practices are going to be even more physical and demanding this year. CJP said they're going to get the players used to being hit hard in practice-- even the QBs-- and not worry about injuries. It worked at Bama, so let's hope it works here.

 

[butchna]

I just don't see how you have a dominant run game if you don't put your best player in the middle.

Pruitt specifically stated he wanted to be able to run it up the middle at will.

The way to do that and make guys worry about it is to put Smith there. That also opens up a lane if the starting QB needs to go somewhere. If guys are stating JG will be the QB and that he does have speed that is where he will Gash guys if he drops back and there is nothing there.

When Smith moved to LT defenses destroyed us up the middle.

We were bleeding out the azz on the weakside. Familiar with the triage concept?

 

[InVOLuntary]

I always thought the dropoff in conditioning was the real culprit. But apparently, the practices are going to be even more physical and demanding this year. CJP said they're going to get the players used to being hit hard in practice-- even the QBs-- and not worry about injuries. It worked at Bama, so let's hope it works here.

Bama has one go diwn, they've got three five stars in the wings to step up. Hopefully our injuries will be few.

 

[cHiZzLeVOL]

We were bleeding out the azz on the weakside. Familiar with the triage concept?

I am. If we are bleeding you scheme around it. I am not saying it wasn't a good move to move Smith.

I am saying we shouldn't have that issue with our current players so Smith should be fine at the Guard position.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

I just don't see how you have a dominant run game if you don't put your best player in the middle.

Pruitt specifically stated he wanted to be able to run it up the middle at will.

The way to do that and make guys worry about it is to put Smith there. That also opens up a lane if the starting QB needs to go somewhere. If guys are stating JG will be the QB and that he does have speed that is where he will Gash guys if he drops back and there is nothing there.

When Smith moved to LT defenses destroyed us up the middle.

Our run game likely isn’t going to be dominant this year no matter where Smith lines up.

Yeah when we moved him to LT awe got killed up the middle last year...but we were never that great running up the middle before that anyway and we had such a ragtag group starting up front by that point that I’m not sure it really mattered where we put Smith because defenses were gonna find a weak point to attack.


As far as opening up a lane if a QB needs to go somewhere...OTs play a part in that as well.

 

[Ron Swanson]

We bout to win 8 games this year aren't we?

Before November.

 

[butchna]

I am. If we are bleeding you scheme around it. I am not saying it wasn't a good move to move Smith.

I am saying we shouldn't have that issue with our current players so Smith should be fine at the Guard position.

What CURRENT OT’s remove LT from the most wounded list? You said it yourself earlier, the LT is “isolated”. I.E ON AN ISLAND. You don’t “scheme around” that fact. Guy has to be able to neutralize the opposing team’s best edge rusher all game long, or your gameplan (and QB) is field gravy.

 

[CoaxialOrange]

Before November.

Holy s*** let's go!!!

 

[cHiZzLeVOL]

What CURRENT OT’s remove LT from the most wounded list? You said it yourself earlier, the LT is “isolated”. I.E ON AN ISLAND. You don’t “scheme around” that fact. Guy has to be able to neutralize the opposing team’s best edge rusher all game long, or your gameplan (and QB) is field gravy.

Scheme around it like add a blocking TE etc.

 

[volfanCLT]

Scheme around it like add a blocking TE etc.

I think we will see a lot of that this year

 

[volfanCLT]

Also the bigger backs will be able to help chip. A few pops tend to slow that outside rush down a bit.

 

[tomq_123]

Our run game likely isn’t going to be dominant this year no matter where Smith lines up.

Yeah when we moved him to LT awe got killed up the middle last year...but we were never that great running up the middle before that anyway and we had such a ragtag group starting up front by that point that I’m not sure it really mattered where we put Smith because defenses were gonna find a weak point to attack.


As far as opening up a lane if a QB needs to go somewhere...OTs play a part in that as well.

I would hope our new blocking scheme is way better than the zone blocking Butch used. It was never very good for inside runs. Better blocking scheme = better inside run game.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

I am. If we are bleeding you scheme around it. I am not saying it wasn't a good move to move Smith.

I am saying we shouldn't have that issue with our current players so Smith should be fine at the Guard position.

Not sure we should assume our OTs will just be better this year. We’ve added more help inside this offseason and looked much better there than on the edge in the spring.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

Scheme around it like add a blocking TE etc.

Yeah but you can’t do that with both OTs every time you wanna take a shot downfield.