Talk to us about......(version 5.0)

[DeusExMachina]

(hey, this one's on time, hahahahahaha)

To me, offensive linemen don't get enough credit and never have. There have been some phenomenally good offensive linemen in Orange and White, but their exploits aren't nearly as lauded, not are their names as known as names like Berry, Wilson, Manning, Little, White, or Atkins.

The big fellas have to give their all every single play, protecting their quarterback long enough so that a play can be completed. If an offensive lineman misses his assignment, the result is all too evident, but when they do well, it's hardly noticed.

So, let's show one of them some love this week, shall we?? One that had an exemplary career on Rocky Top, was a finalist for the Outland Trophy, and (IIRC) is still the highest drafted (8th overall) offensive lineman ever to come from Tennessee.

Talk to us, if you will, about Antone Davis.

 

[clarencepeabody]

(hey, this one's on time, hahahahahaha)

To me, offensive linemen don't get enough credit and never have. There have been some phenomenally good offensive linemen in Orange and White, but their exploits aren't nearly as lauded, not are their names as known as names like Berry, Wilson, Manning, Little, White, or Atkins.

The big fellas have to give their all every single play, protecting their quarterback long enough so that a play can be completed. If an offensive lineman misses his assignment, the result is all too evident, but when they do well, it's hardly noticed.

So, let's show one of them some love this week, shall we?? One that had an exemplary career on Rocky Top, was a finalist for the Outland Trophy, and (IIRC) is still the highest drafted (8th overall) offensive lineman ever to come from Tennessee.

Talk to us, if you will, about Antone Davis.

I was a small kid when antone was playing (along with Charles McRae on the offensive line), so I don’t have much there.

But, years later, I was doing some work for the athletic department while antone was head of the “vol for life” program. (Many people don’t realize that the VFL moniker was actually made popular by Derek Dooley, who turned it into a whole program about financial and social responsibility and reputation management). Anyway, Antone was always a super nice guy. Very humble. I really liked getting to be around him.

 

[macrovol]

Bob Johnson was the first player ever taken by the Cincinnati Bengals franchise. Not sure where he was in the draft.

 

[VOLfrombama]

Hard to say a lot about Antone (or any OL for that matter) as the big uglies don't get near as much recognition as skill players, but he was the anchor of the OL in 89-90. He was a Consensus All American in 90. He led Tennessee to a 9-2-1 his senior year. Tennessee tied the eventual National Champion in the season opener (Colorado shared with GA Tech, depending on which publication you choose).

Chuck Webb tore an ACL during the second game, but Antone and Company cleared the way for Tony Thompson to rush for 1261 yards on 219 carries for a 5.8 ypc avg and 16 TDs. This running game set Andy Kelly up for a decent Junior year throwing the ball to Carl Pickens and Anthony Morgan for 14 tds, although he was a turnover machine, throwing for 14 INTs as well.

Ironically, Antone may have not been the best OL on the team that year. Charles McRae was also on that 90 team and was chosen 1 spot ahead of Antone in the 1991 NFL Draft as McRae went 7th (Tampa) and Antone went 8th (Philly). It marked the first time in NFL Draft history that one school produced two top-10 selected offensive tackles in the same year.

 

[GAVol]

Ironically, Antone may have not been the best OL on the team that year. Charles McRae was also on that 90 team and was chosen 1 spot ahead of Antone in the NFL Draft as McRae went 7th (Tampa) and Antone went 8th (Philly).

That draft was nuts . . . 3 picked in the top 12. That 1990 team really should have been better. McRae and Davis at the Tackles was insane.

 

[peaygolf]

Bob Suffridge is the Vols' only three-time All-America, earning the honors from 1938-40. He helped lead Tennessee to a perfect 30-0 regular season record during his career.

As a sophomore in 1938, the speedy Suffridge anchored a dominant line that paved the way to an 11-0 finish. The 1939 season saw Suffridge help lead Tennessee to another undefeated regular season, one in which the Vols' defense did not allow a single point. Suffridge's blocking and tackling helped pave the way for a third consecutive undefeated regular season and a third consecutive SEC title his senior year. Again, he was named All-America and All-SEC as the Vols earned national champion status from two polls.

 

[Starchief13VFL]

Bob Johnson was the first player ever taken by the Cincinnati Bengals franchise. Not sure where he was in the draft.

He was the # 2 pick of that years’ draft

 

[EconVol92]

Tim Irwin is the first one that I really remember.

 

[VOLfrombama]

That draft was nuts . . . 3 picked in the top 12. That 1990 team really should have been better. McRae and Davis at the Tackles was insane.

Yeah, Andy Kelly was a liability sometimes, but the defense was really inconsistent.

Too bad Chuck Webb got hurt. He and Tony could have run wild that season behind that OL.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Bob Johnson was the first player ever taken by the Cincinnati Bengals franchise. Not sure where he was in the draft.

#1. New team got first pick in the draft. Atlanta picked Tommy Nobis, a linebacker out of Texas, as the #1 pick for the Falcons.

 

[DeusExMachina]

Looks like I was wrong about the highest drafted OL. Thanks for the correction(s), y'all!!!

 

[DeusExMachina]

(*double post*)

 

[VOLfrombama]

I enjoy your time machine threads

 

[DeusExMachina]

Oh and BTW: next week's highlighted player (or players, haven't quite made up my mind yet if I wanna do a two-fer) should be a good one.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

(hey, this one's on time, hahahahahaha)

To me, offensive linemen don't get enough credit and never have. There have been some phenomenally good offensive linemen in Orange and White, but their exploits aren't nearly as lauded, not are their names as known as names like Berry, Wilson, Manning, Little, White, or Atkins.

The big fellas have to give their all every single play, protecting their quarterback long enough so that a play can be completed. If an offensive lineman misses his assignment, the result is all too evident, but when they do well, it's hardly noticed.

So, let's show one of them some love this week, shall we?? One that had an exemplary career on Rocky Top, was a finalist for the Outland Trophy, and (IIRC) is still the highest drafted (8th overall) offensive lineman ever to come from Tennessee.

Talk to us, if you will, about Antone Davis.

And this is one of the mains reasons I say it’s dumb when people bring up a QBs “starting record.” I don’t care how good a QB is. Without a good OL, a QB is doomed.

 

[DeusExMachina]

I enjoy your time machine threads

Thank you!!!

 

[WaywardVol]

(hey, this one's on time, hahahahahaha)

To me, offensive linemen don't get enough credit and never have. There have been some phenomenally good offensive linemen in Orange and White, but their exploits aren't nearly as lauded, not are their names as known as names like Berry, Wilson, Manning, Little, White, or Atkins.

The big fellas have to give their all every single play, protecting their quarterback long enough so that a play can be completed. If an offensive lineman misses his assignment, the result is all too evident, but when they do well, it's hardly noticed.

So, let's show one of them some love this week, shall we?? One that had an exemplary career on Rocky Top, was a finalist for the Outland Trophy, and (IIRC) is still the highest drafted (8th overall) offensive lineman ever to come from Tennessee.

Talk to us, if you will, about Antone Davis.

He big. We were in school at the same time and that guy was an absolute beast.

 

[PS BlueDuck]

Justin Gilliam Tennessee Football: OL Jacob Gilliam Is College Football's Ultimate Warrior