Recruiting Forum: Football Talk XI

[wU-Tang Vol]

Just curious, how many other sides of the ball are there...and why are they not important?!?!

Just messin' with ya, wU

Lol, keep your jokes you yourself jokey... joke maker

 

[govols09]

Yes.

Early in the season I think the pass blocking will struggle. However on the D line we just aren't having to replace much production (minus the UK game)

 

[govols09]

I also believe the days of us not converting on third and ones are coming to a close

 

[PassedOutAwake]

If USU, ASU, Chatt and Kentucky are the wins. All we would have to do for them to be wrong is win 1 game out of Vandy, Mizzou, UGA, UF, SCAR, Bama, OU, Ole Miss.

Vandy - New coaching staff. New offensive scheme. Move from 4-3 to 3-4. Horrible recruiting class. New QB. No Jordan Matthews. QBs, WRs and defense looked bad in spring game. We shouldve won last year. No block in the back and we wouldve won. There was also a few plays that shouldnt have been overturned, like the catch that Pig made that was ruled out of bounds after being reversed with no evidence

Mizzou - Lose top 3 WRs, top RB and a bunch of defensive starters including Sam. The got lucky with their schedule last year. They beat UF and UGA after we injured a ton of their players. Play them in Neyland

UGA - Lose Aaron Murray. We almost beat them last year. Will likely be one of our tougher games of the season.

UF - Coming off of a 4-8 season. New offense and defense. New coaches. Play in Neyland. Didnt look good in their spring game.

SCAR - Lose Clowney and Shaw along with some others. We beat them last year, but we play @ USC and will be one of the harder games.

Bama - Kiffin. Will likely lose.

OU - Only beat WVU (4-8) 16-7 in Norman. Only beat TCU (4-8) 20-17 in Norman. A lot of close games. Although they win a lot, they seem to play down to their opponent. We could get lucky

Ole Miss - Probably wont win.

 

[ChattaTNVol]

If Justin can learn to run, I think we'll be okay on the OL. He's a big boy and can take a few hits, though he's got to get more natural at it. I still think it's entirely possible that the coaches told him not to run last year in order to avoid injury and keep the redshirts on Dobbs and Ferguson.

I was just watching some FSU tape from last year and noticed that their OL was easily the weakest part of their game. Jameis was running for his life on a lot of plays, way more than you would expect for a national title contender. Worked out okay for them though.

I looked at their depth chart for last year and truthfully on paper they don't look much better than what we have. They even had a walkon backup tackle that won a scholly for his RS Sr year. They had a converted TE for a center and I think their starting left tackle was a converted mid 3-star defensive tackle. That was on offense. On defense they had a freshman starting at safety with another freshman backing him up. They had a very young defensive line. They had a brand new defensive coordinator 6 years removed from being a high school coach and to top it off they had our very own Sunseri coaching defensive ends. They also had a new running backs coach on board, also fresh from a stop in Knoxville. What FSU didn't have or at least didn't use was all the ready made excuses that will be available to us this year.

 

[Dust10]

Are we underestimating the OL/DL issue?

Simple question.

It's not like those units were stellar last year though. If we equal last year's production on the lines, but improve everywhere else, we will be fine.

 

[LotteryPick]

It's not like those units were stellar last year though. If we equal last year's production on the lines, but improve everywhere else, we will be fine.

This is pretty much my thought process.

The LT spot should scare the hell out of everyone, though.

 

[Vols4us]

]It's not like those units were stellar last year though.[/B] If we equal last year's production on the lines, but improve everywhere else, we will be fine.

This.

The graduating O-line was good - for a regular pro set offense. Which is why they will be good for an NFL team. They are not good for the spread offense. They were too slow - not enough quickness for Butch's offense. Old: better pocket pass protection. New: better run game. Would rather have the new. You can mitigate the pass blocking issue easier by going to quicker routes, roll outs, and athletic QB play. Pass blocking is easier to develop than run blocking.

 

[Ron Swanson]

The DL is replacing a couple starters and some depth but not much production, I'll be surprised if the DL isn't improved this year.

The OL is plenty talented, most are upperclassmen with experience, they just need time to gel. I think they'll be fine by October. Not worried.

 

[NochNoch]

The LT spot should scare the hell out of everyone, though.

Projected to start a Walk On is all we really need to know.

 

[Madkins8]

Are we underestimating the OL/DL issue?

Simple question.

I think the OL problems are overblown.

The DL concerns me. QB and DL are, without question, the most important positions on the field. In my head, a pass rush of Vereen and Maggitt has to be an improvement, but I have to resernve judgement.

 

[WriterVol]

Are we underestimating the OL/DL issue?

Simple question.

Well, Saban says he'd rather have a great running back with an average o-line than a great o-line with an average running back.

But then, Saban is a defensive coach and works at Alabama. And he's short. Nevermind.

 

[PassedOutAwake]

I think the OL problems are overblown.

The DL concerns me. QB and DL are, without question, the most important positions on the field. In my head, a pass rush of Vereen and Maggitt has to be an improvement, but I have to resernve judgement.

I think our pass rush will be better. Just worried about the run stop. The upgrade in our DBs and LB coverage will help our pass rush too.

 

[SouthKnoxVOL]

Vols 45
USU 20

Vols 42
Ark St. 17

Vols 17
OU 34

Vols 28
UGA 31

Vols 30
UF 24

Vols 52
UTC 14

Vols 28
Ole Miss 25

Vols 17
Bama 28

Vols 27
SCjr 34

Vols 38
Uk 20

Vols 28
Mizzou 20

Vols 42
Vandy 10

 

[volinexile17]

The DL is replacing a couple starters and some depth but not much production, I'll be surprised if the DL isn't improved this year.

The OL is plenty talented, most are upperclassmen with experience, they just need time to gel. I think they'll be fine by October. Not worried.

We're replacing the lack of production with guys who couldn't beat out the old DL starters and freshman. I am not optimistic about our Dline situation.

I think the Oline will be fine though.

 

[Madkins8]

We're replacing the lack of production with guys who couldn't beat out the old DL starters and freshman. I am not optimistic about our Dline situation.

I think the Oline will be fine though.

and Owen Williams (JUCO), Trevarris Saulsberry (Injury), and Curt Maggitt (Injury).

All 3 are likely starters, plus Vereen missed a huge chunk of time as a tFr.

 

[Ron Swanson]

We're replacing the lack of production with guys who couldn't beat out the old DL starters and freshman. I am not optimistic about our Dline situation.

I think the Oline will be fine though.

and Owen Williams (JUCO), Trevarris Saulsberry (Injury), and Curt Maggitt (Injury).

All 3 are likely starters, plus Vereen missed a huge chunk of time as a tFr.

What Madkins said. Plus 6 talented DL will be arriving shortly.

 

[Dust10]

This is pretty much my thought process.

The LT spot should scare the hell out of everyone, though.

I'm not too confident about that LT spot at the moment. I was curious to know why the staff didn't try and flip Thomas and Blair and see how that worked. Maybe its too much to ask of a freshman though.

 

[volinexile17]

and Owen Williams (JUCO), Trevarris Saulsberry (Injury), and Curt Maggitt (Injury).

All 3 are likely starters, plus Vereen missed a huge chunk of time as a tFr.

That's a bunch of ifs to me. Neither Maggitt nor Saulsberry has stayed healthy for a full season. We have no idea what Vereen or Williams will provide since neither has done it against SEC competition.

That Dline has potential, but I am skeptical.

 

[volinexile17]

What Madkins said. Plus 6 talented DL will be arriving shortly.

6 freshman. I can't think of very many freshman that made significant contributions on the Dline in recent years. We'll be lucky if 2 of then can give us good reps.

 

[Ron Swanson]

I'm not too confident about that LT spot at the moment. I was curious to know why the staff didn't try and flip Thomas and Blair and see how that worked. Maybe its too much to ask of a freshman though.

I think it's likely because they feel Blair is going to be fine and will start. He showed up out of shape and it took some time for him to adjust, it usually does for JUCO transfers. Good thing he was an EE. Some fans might be writing Blair off already (not saying you are) but I bet the staff has him penciled in as the starting LT.

 

[Ron Swanson]

6 freshman. I can't think of very many freshman that made significant contributions on the Dline in recent years. We'll be lucky if 2 of then can give us good reps.

What DL did we lose that made significant contributions last year?

 

[Nashvegas31]

The issue with new dline won't be talent. It will be physical and mental. Talent level will be improved but can they hold up with their bodies through an SEC schedule and a brutal 4 quarter battle vs. oline a with kids that have been in college for 2-3 yrs.

 

[PassedOutAwake]

We're replacing the lack of production with guys who couldn't beat out the old DL starters and freshman. I am not optimistic about our Dline situation.

I think the Oline will be fine though.

Ehh.
Maggitt was injured last season and will be playing a lot of DE. That is an upgrade.
Vereen got significant playing time as a freshman and did good things with it. He is an upgrade.
Saulsberry - the coaches were very high on him last season but suffered from the injury bug.
Mixon - yeah hes a freshman but was also supposed to be in the same class as Vereen.
Owen Williams was JUCO, so he couldnt beat out last years starters. And hes not a freshman.
J.Williams - just moved inside and will increase the speed over last years team.
Lewis - Coaches were high on him last year IIRC

OBrien, Carr, Miller, Vickers and Brown were all freshman last year.

 

[JAllen18]

If USU, ASU, Chatt and Kentucky are the wins. All we would have to do for them to be wrong is win 1 game out of Vandy, Mizzou, UGA, UF, SCAR, Bama, OU, Ole Miss.

Vandy - New coaching staff. New offensive scheme. Move from 4-3 to 3-4. Horrible recruiting class. New QB. No Jordan Matthews. QBs, WRs and defense looked bad in spring game. We shouldve won last year. No block in the back and we wouldve won. There was also a few plays that shouldnt have been overturned, like the catch that Pig made that was ruled out of bounds after being reversed with no evidence

Mizzou - Lose top 3 WRs, top RB and a bunch of defensive starters including Sam. The got lucky with their schedule last year. They beat UF and UGA after we injured a ton of their players. Play them in Neyland

UGA - Lose Aaron Murray. We almost beat them last year. Will likely be one of our tougher games of the season.

UF - Coming off of a 4-8 season. New offense and defense. New coaches. Play in Neyland. Didnt look good in their spring game.

SCAR - Lose Clowney and Shaw along with some others. We beat them last year, but we play @ USC and will be one of the harder games.

Bama - Kiffin. Will likely lose.

OU - Only beat WVU (4-8) 16-7 in Norman. Only beat TCU (4-8) 20-17 in Norman. A lot of close games. Although they win a lot, they seem to play down to their opponent. We could get lucky

Ole Miss - Probably wont win.

I think 6 wins is likely and would be an ok season.

7 wins would be better and would show an upset win against USC, UF, UGA, or Ole Miss or Oklahoma.