Thoughts on the young guys today

[NighthawkVol]

My biggest hope going into the game was that we'd put UConn away early so the young guys could get a lot of experience. Mission accomplished. Thoughts:

1) I really liked what I saw from the young DBs, especially Ricky Gibson. He looks like a future star. If Jeudy-Lally returns next year, I could see Slaughter moving to Safety, letting Gibson and GJL handle the CB spots. I also really liked what I saw from Jourdan Thomas and Andre Turrentine at Safety. Thomas looks really athletic. Moreso than the Safeties we've had recently...hopefully, that translates into more ground coverage. Both looked great in run support.

2) Nico looked as good as expected. He's a good athlete and by next season, will have the offense down. Chance to be a star next year.

3) Good to see Ethan Davis, Nathan Leacock, and the 2 freshmen RBs play. Not much to judge Keith or Leacock by. Davis caught a ball from Moore and Seldon looked good. The thing Seldon needs to improve is his vision, but that will come with coaching, film study, and experience. You can see the strength and explosion.

4) I'll be interested to go back and watch the young Olinemen. I saw Mo Clipper and Vysen Lang in there. Didn't notice Brian Grant, Umarov, or Massai Reddick (although I thought I saw Reddick on PATs). They may have played, but I just didn't identify them.

5) Kinda surprised Turbyville kicked the last FG instead of JT Carver. Also surprised Dee Williams was never replaced as punt returner.

6) I did notice a Jayson Jenkins sighting. Think that was a first. Did Jordan Matthews or Christian Conyers play?

7) Hobbs and Telander played a lot, but they've been playing all year, so we've seen them often. Great prospects.

If I had to name the young guys I'm most excited about based on today's play, it would be Gibson, Nico, and Jourdan Thomas.

 

[Manning4ever]

I like Playing backups as much as possible. Get them as much experience as possible. Even our best players need a break. All the playoff teams have depth especially late in the game

 

[NighthawkVol]

I like Playing backups as much as possible. Get them as much experience as possible. Even our best players need a break. All the playoff teams have depth especially late in the game

Hopefully, we’ll get those young guys in again when we get huge leads the next 2 weeks.

 

[OrangeInKy]

I like Playing backups as much as possible. Get them as much experience as possible. Even our best players need a break. All the playoff teams have depth especially late in the game

I do wish Nico got one more series, but I also get and appreciate why they’d want to get Moore and Shuler in.

 

[Vol in Buckeye Land]

It doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme, but it’s nice to see guys who will in all likelihood never play meaningful snaps ball out in limited action. Wilk ran quite well, Barnes looked tough at the end, Gaston threw a nice pass to Davis, Navy showed some athleticism, Austin Lewis made a great play on a tfl, Will Brooks made a play, etc. When you can go deep into the roster and play not just talented underclassmen but a lot of walk-ons and still keep cooking, that has to be a sign of good coaching imo (not to mention the caliber of guys you’re getting to come in as pwo’s is impressive).

 

[NeverWe'llSever]

Caleb Webb made some plays.

 

[bpalmer28]

Caleb Webb made some plays.

Yeah I just rewatched and his run after catch from Nico was just as explosive as I thought it was live. Great burst with first 2-3 steps

 

[LWSVOL]

My biggest hope going into the game was that we'd put UConn away early so the young guys could get a lot of experience. Mission accomplished. Thoughts:

1) I really liked what I saw from the young DBs, especially Ricky Gibson. He looks like a future star. If Jeudy-Lally returns next year, I could see Slaughter moving to Safety, letting Gibson and GJL handle the CB spots. I also really liked what I saw from Jourdan Thomas and Andre Turrentine at Safety. Thomas looks really athletic. Moreso than the Safeties we've had recently...hopefully, that translates into more ground coverage. Both looked great in run support.

2) Nico looked as good as expected. He's a good athlete and by next season, will have the offense down. Chance to be a star next year.

3) Good to see Ethan Davis, Nathan Leacock, and the 2 freshmen RBs play. Not much to judge Keith or Leacock by. Davis caught a ball from Moore and Seldon looked good. The thing Seldon needs to improve is his vision, but that will come with coaching, film study, and experience. You can see the strength and explosion.

4) I'll be interested to go back and watch the young Olinemen. I saw Mo Clipper and Vysen Lang in there. Didn't notice Brian Grant, Umarov, or Massai Reddick (although I thought I saw Reddick on PATs). They may have played, but I just didn't identify them.

5) Kinda surprised Turbyville kicked the last FG instead of JT Carver. Also surprised Dee Williams was never replaced as punt returner.

6) I did notice a Jayson Jenkins sighting. Think that was a first. Did Jordan Matthews or Christian Conyers play?

7) Hobbs and Telander played a lot, but they've been playing all year, so we've seen them often. Great prospects.

If I had to name the young guys I'm most excited about based on today's play, it would be Gibson, Nico, and Jourdan Thomas.

Grant played quite a bit at LT and Reddick got hurt playing in the OL...

its always fun to watch the young guys but our scout team could have won against UConn today.. Until they line up against SEC teams be cautious with expectations. I understand you're not saying they are a bunch of future All Americans. Just pointing out, UConn is really bad.

 

[volsfan24017]

Ethan Davis is going to be a gamer for us. Has all of the tools to be All SEC, possibly a future All American. Excited what this young man can do for our Vols!

Josh Turbyville, I would start using him for the longer field goal attempts. Charles Campbell is decent, but a little shaky from long range. Turbyville appears to have the stronger leg. Hopefully, the accuracy to go along with it.

May need a long range field goal to win the game in the next 2 weeks.

 

[AllVol11717]

Grant played quite a bit at LT and Reddick got hurt playing in the OL...

its always fun to watch the young guys but our scout team could have won against UConn today.. Until they line up against SEC teams be cautious with expectations. I understand you're not saying they are a bunch of future All Americans. Just pointing out, UConn is really bad.

Yeah keeping the competition level in mind is big for measuring expectations. Guys like Jordan Thomas should be flying around against lesser athletes and Nico should be able to pick them apart even as a freshman.

Regardless of competition level though, it’s great to get those guys live reps. Can’t be understated how important it is to have them get comfortable ID’ing opponents formation shifts and communicating what they see with the other 10 guys on the field.

I’m hoping between Vandy and our bowl game that we can get the 2’s a lot more snaps. The DBs especially since they seem to have higher ceilings potential-wise than the more experienced guys starting.

 

[BigALWiLson]

Yeah keeping the competition level in mind is big for measuring expectations. Guys like Jordan Thomas should be flying around against lesser athletes and Nico should be able to pick them apart even as a freshman.

Regardless of competition level though, it’s great to get those guys live reps. Can’t be understated how important it is to have them get comfortable ID’ing opponents formation shifts and communicating what they see with the other 10 guys on the field.

I’m hoping between Vandy and our bowl game that we can get the 2’s a lot more snaps. The DBs especially since they seem to have higher ceilings potential-wise than the more experienced guys starting.

I like when our coaches allow our dbs to play up. I am not a fan of 10 yard cushions. Decent qbs and wr will pick you apart. I liked what I saw from the young guys. Boo will start at S immediately. He will upgrade the athleticism on the back end ten fold.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

First play of the 4th quarter, as defender number 95 tries to trip Nico as he rolls to the right, Nico avoids the trip and makes a running pass to Webb. I just thought that was such an athletic play. Can't wait until he gets full driving priviliges.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Grant played quite a bit at LT and Reddick got hurt playing in the OL...

its always fun to watch the young guys but our scout team could have won against UConn today.. Until they line up against SEC teams be cautious with expectations. I understand you're not saying they are a bunch of future All Americans. Just pointing out, UConn is really bad.

UCONN was the best 1-7 team to have ever hit the gridiron. Handing them their eighth loss was quite the accomplishment.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Grant played quite a bit at LT and Reddick got hurt playing in the OL...

its always fun to watch the young guys but our scout team could have won against UConn today.. Until they line up against SEC teams be cautious with expectations. I understand you're not saying they are a bunch of future All Americans. Just pointing out, UConn is really bad.

Completely agree. But I will point out that, as bad as their record is, only Duke blew them out (41-7). Every other game has been fairly close. That said, I don’t know how many of their starters were in by the time we got those young guys in.

Regardless, it was good to see Tennessee take care of business and get those guys some PT, which they didn’t do against Austin Peay.

 

[butchna]

Grant played quite a bit at LT and Reddick got hurt playing in the OL...

its always fun to watch the young guys but our scout team could have won against UConn today.. Until they line up against SEC teams be cautious with expectations. I understand you're not saying they are a bunch of future All Americans. Just pointing out, UConn is really bad.

Pretty sure Reddick was auditioning for the Dayne Davis/Jackson Lampley PAT casualty role. They were able to save his leg...but not all of his toes.

 

[AllVol11717]

I like when our coaches allow our dbs to play up. I am not a fan of 10 yard cushions. Decent qbs and wr will pick you apart. I liked what I saw from the young guys. Boo will start at S immediately. He will upgrade the athleticism on the back end ten fold.

Agreed. I know they favor the bend but don’t break stuff, but I think a lot of the soft coverage stems from a lack of athleticism in the defensive backfield.

Guys like Boo, Gibson, Matthews, and Thomas are already more athletic than the guys starting now. Hopefully we trust them to play closer to the LOS since they have more ability to make up ground on deep routes.

 

[walkenvol]

Ethan Davis is going to be a gamer for us. Has all of the tools to be All SEC, possibly a future All American. Excited what this young man can do for our Vols!

Josh Turbyville, I would start using him for the longer field goal attempts. Charles Campbell is decent, but a little shaky from long range. Turbyville appears to have the stronger leg. Hopefully, the accuracy to go along with it.

May need a long range field goal to win the game in the next 2 weeks.

Decent and shaky aren’t 2 adjectives I’d use to describe the season Campbell is having?

 

[ptcarter]

5) Also surprised Dee Williams was never replaced as punt returner.

Dee doesn't get as many touches as his talent level demands. I think you leave him in there. He's deserves playing time. Not saying put him as receiver or anything like that - we've beaten that horse to death.