Talent Question

[Rudy123]

I hope you are right but that isn't what I saw in the limited video I have been able to access. He looked more like a Trey Burton type of player... and absolutely nothing wrong with that. Who would not want one of those?

Love his size and style. A little concerned that he also seems to get nicked up a lot.

No question... and I would really like to see UT land the kid from NC this year also- Derrell Scott.

Many will play simply out of necessity. Best case UT returns 6 LB's next year and that assumes AJ returns and Maggitt recovers. Maggitt and Reeves-Maybin are probably the only two with SEC level OLB speed.

LOL. That is absolutely impossible. I would doubt it if you were even speaking in relative terms... but there's no way that's true in absolute terms.



I don't. I think Jones should win 7 this year. Next year will be a step back as they play a TON of youth and experience youthful mistakes. A six win season next fall would be a good result. I believe '15 is when things really begin to come around assuming Jones is "the guy". He will have developed and experienced talent and by then will be less dependent on Fr to play key roles.

I don't think 2014 is the year either. Because all of our offensive line will need to be replaced and most of our defensive line will need to be replaced in 2014.

Good news for 2014 is that Paulk & Hurd will be on campus and will replace Neal & Lane, as soon as they learn the blocking schemes. So, the running back situation will change alot before we play Florida next season.

Good news for 2014 is that Worley will be replaced as the starter and someone else will take over as the starting q.b. at U.T. These guys will have a full season, plus a spring practice under their belts to get good enough to replace Worley.

Good news for 2014 is that our receiving corps will be much improved, with a year under their belt.

 

[Rudy123]

I'd leave Brewer and Sapp on the field in Nickel. They're the fastest guys you have. TE or slot on AJ is a mismatch every time. Gary Danielson so kindly kept pointing that out, over and over again.

That is why I am confused! One mock draft for 2014, has A.J. as a first round selection at ILB to Green Bay.

Herman Lathers could not cover in passing situations and he ended up not being drafted. So, how does a mock draft have A.J. as a first rounder to G.B., when he can't cover in passing situations?

 

[sjt18]

I believe that the two running backs would be one and two in the rotation. There are no QBs committed, but I do believe that one of the current freshman QBs will be starting next year.

If Worley finishes this season then I would expect him to have played himself into some security. If he pretty much flops the next 3 games then I would expect a switch to one of the Fr for Mizzou similar to the Bray move 3 years ago. Mizzou may well be the worst D on UT's schedule this year so even being a road game... it could be the best time to bring one of those guys in.

However, I saw progress with Worley on Saturday. There are things that he still needs to fix. He definitely needs the WR's to come along even more. But he made some good throws and was NOT waiting for receivers to be open before throwing which seemed to be Jones' biggest criticism.

I have no skin in the game. I hope the best QB starts always. But I do think Worley is bearing FAR more than his fair share of the blame right now. The WR's are still very inconsistent and spotty in their play... Croom however is beginning to look like a stud.

 

[Special Ed]

Talent is a question for this team.

 

[sjt18]

That is why I am confused! One mock draft for 2014, has A.J. as a first round selection at ILB to Green Bay.

Herman Lathers could not cover in passing situations and he ended up not being drafted. So, how does a mock draft have A.J. as a first rounder to G.B., when he can't cover in passing situations?

It is very likely that those draft forecasters have not watched much if any film on AJ. They've seen stats and highlights. Those same guys thought Bray could go on the first day. The guys who had to write checks, build rosters, and take risks... saw a guy who was questionable in the head and when the pressure was on.

IMO, when he gets his draft eval... he will likely return unless he just hates school.

 

[sjt18]

Talent is a question for this team.

Not really. NO ONE that I know of has said it isn't an issue. It is why NO ONE that I have seen seriously suggested UT would win more than 8 games or would compete for the East.

It is not a question. It IS an issue.

But how much of an issue? A six loss issue? A 5 loss issue? A 7 loss issue? That's where the disagreement exists. IMO, if Jones is a coach with the ability to beat good coaches and lift UT to the top then this is a 7 win roster. Six wins to me proves nothing more than six wins proved in Dooley's first year.

 

[jkleno]

There are at least 4 ways to look at the talent situation:

1- UT currently has none. IMHO, this is completely false.

2- UT has talent but it is too thin and not ideal for Jones' systems and philosophies. I don't agree but this is plausible.

3- UT has talent and is thin in spots but the biggest problem is the integration of the talent into Jones' system. I believe this is the most likely answer.

4- UT has talent and in spite of the thin spots and some youth Jones is undercoaching the talent indicating that he was a bad hire. Possible but IMHO premature and unlikely.

That is a great response. In my mind I keep thinking about how we hired Sal Sunseri and he changed our defensive philosophy and we struggled. I now realize CBJ offensive scheme is much the same. It is entirely different than the last 20 years or longer. We will struggle offensively. I just hope years 2-3 we are better able to execute.
On a side note, has anyone noticed the Titans defense? I would hardly say they have way more talent this year than last. I would say it's COACHING- Gregg Williams. Nearly the same roster with totally different results.
I think if we ran a pro style offense we would look much better this year, but CBJ has to stick with his system.

 

[sjt18]

Good news for 2014 is that Paulk & Hurd will be on campus and will replace Neal & Lane, as soon as they learn the blocking schemes. So, the running back situation will change alot before we play Florida next season.

Lane will be the starter. I am willing to be attacked for giving an honest opinion... and don't mind being wrong... but I think Hurd will need a RS. He needs some bulk and to be coached up. I am not as sure about Paulk.

IMHO, Lane and Smith will be the RB's next fall... and it won't be a bad thing.

Good news for 2014 is that Worley will be replaced as the starter and someone else will take over as the starting q.b. at U.T. These guys will have a full season, plus a spring practice under their belts to get good enough to replace Worley.

As I posted earlier, if Worley completes this year then I think there's a very good chance he starts and plays well next fall. If he is going to be replaced then I honestly think they will pull the trigger for either Mizzou or Vandy.

Good news for 2014 is that our receiving corps will be much improved, with a year under their belt.

I hope so. IMO, too much of the blame for the passing game ineffectiveness is being thrown at Worley. The inexperience and poor play at WR is at least an equal factor.

Worley vs MTSU two years ago... playing MUCH too early as a Fr with only one SEC caliber WR with experience at the time... threw for 291 yds a TD and no picks. He did it basically behind this same OL and WITHOUT an effective run game. They avg'd 2.7 ypc vs MTSU!

He really, really NEEDS a WR who he can go to any time he's in trouble like D Rogers was then. None of the current WR's has done that. Smith almost does... but then he drops a pass that hits him in the chest. The guy who seems to be closing in on that role is Croom. Pig is VERY inconsistent. Jones gives North a pass saying he's still learning to be a WR... which is probably true but nonetheless a problem for Worley when he doesn't run routes correctly.

 

[SaintLouisVol]

Six wins to me proves nothing more than six wins proved in Dooley's first year.

Six wins Dooley's first year was not really an issue for most reasonable people. It was the down-hill spiral from there that cost him his job and this program its pride.

 

[vol_sec]

I read on a previous topic, I believe, UT currently has around 20 players which ranked 4 stars or above coming into the program. I would be curious to see how this compares to UGA, UF, USCe, etc.

 

[GBOVOLS]

I think we need to say talent/speed instead of just talent. Do we have talented kids...sure. However, the glaring need is SPEED!

To the OP's question, in my opinion the only commit that would start would be Lauderdale at WR. He's a JUCO kid that can play and since we have NO game experience on the outside, he would be most likely. Would love to think a healthy Hurd would get 5-8 carries a game, and Lambert would give much needed "QUALITY" depth inside on the DL. The only other wishfull thought would be Gaulden or TK2 would be able to start/play a lot next to Randolph.

I highly doubt this man we have to really good safety starting next to Randolph

 

[LWSVOL]

I read on a previous topic, I believe, UT currently has around 20 players which ranked 4 stars or above coming into the program. I would be curious to see how this compares to UGA, UF, USCe, etc.

I count 26 on Tennessee

43 on Georgia

48 on Florida

26 at Carolina

 

[DaddyChad]

There are at least 4 ways to look at the talent situation:

1- UT currently has none. IMHO, this is completely false.

2- UT has talent but it is too thin and not ideal for Jones' systems and philosophies. I don't agree but this is plausible.

3- UT has talent and is thin in spots but the biggest problem is the integration of the talent into Jones' system. I believe this is the most likely answer.

4- UT has talent and in spite of the thin spots and some youth Jones is undercoaching the talent indicating that he was a bad hire. Possible but IMHO premature and unlikely.

A mix of 2&3 is likely. I've seen improvements in a lot of areas but you can only put so much lipstick on a pig. This team has a large talent gap from most SEC teams.

 

[volinSmyrna]

I highly doubt this man we have to really good safety starting next to Randolph

McNeil is good and has shown some things, but Gaulden is bigger and faster than him right now. If he would have played last year, there would be a real debate between him and Hurd as the #1 player in the state.

 

[LaagerVol]

Right now we have good talent in a few spots but most (not all) of it is inexperienced. The biggest problem in my eyes is lack of experienced talent and lack of depth. I'm not knocking any of these kids because I believe they are giving their all for Tennessee, I just think it's a problem when an SEC team has 3 walk-ons playing significant minutes in the secondary.

Not much experience at QB
Very little experience at WR
Very little depth at LB
Very little depth or experience at CB

 

[sjt18]

Six wins Dooley's first year was not really an issue for most reasonable people. It was the down-hill spiral from there that cost him his job and this program its pride.

Absolutely agree. The point was to those who get offended at the suggestion that Jones is not a sure fire success at UT. IMO, if he can beat UGA, USCe, or even Auburn plus the six he has a talent advantage on then he has gone a long way toward proving himself.

If he only wins when he has more talent... then championships are not coming to UT under Jones. Rarely if ever will UT be the clear cut most talented team in the SEC.

 

[sjt18]

A mix of 2&3 is likely. I've seen improvements in a lot of areas but you can only put so much lipstick on a pig. This team has a large talent gap from most SEC teams.

Most? No. Upper tier? Yes.

 

[sjt18]

I count 26 on Tennessee

43 on Georgia

48 on Florida

26 at Carolina

I have been blasted for suggesting that USCe has some serious roster issues as well. Unfortunately they have a pretty favorable schedule compared to UT.

IMO, they are UT's best chance at an upset followed by Auburn then UGA. Bama would be a near miracle.