To everyone who is worried about our offensive line

#1
skasper06

skasper06

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#1
Personally, I think our offensive line will be just fine this year. At least as good as last years if not better. Everyone (including me) has been really concerned by starting 5 brand new guys. But let's face it - our O-line last year wasn't that good. We had some great talent ala Juwan James and Antonio Richardson, but they had already played most of their college ball in the Dooley system. They weren't able to fully adjust to CBJ's offense after having Dooley's offense pounded into their brains. Plenty of talent was there but no real mesh of successful O-line play.

Now look at the new guys...Gilliam, Blair, Thomas, Crowder...all guys who have worked with CBJ's offense for a while (or were actually recruited by him) and have developed the hunger that Coach Jones has for bringing UT back to winning. By all means, I'm not saying we will have the top rated line in the SEC. I am sure we will have struggles here and there..but I think we are severely underestimating them. They will be just fine. Again, they will at least be just as good as last years O-line...possibly better as a complete unit.

And who knows...maybe the D-line will be the same way.
 
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#3
#3
I think the major concern with our lines, both offensive and defensive isn't the system, or their drive, or their conditioning, or their experience even. It's their strength and stamina being so young. Starting 2 or 3 true freshman on a line is tough when they are going up against guys who have been in a college strength program for several years.
Don't get me wrong, I like our guys but they are going to have a tough year ahead of them.
 
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#4
#4
illvol said:
I think the major concern with our lines, both offensive and defensive isn't the system, or their drive, or their conditioning, or their experience even. It's their strength and stamina being so young. Starting 2 or 3 true freshman on a line is tough when they are going up against guys who have been in a college strength program for several years.
Don't get me wrong, I like our guys but they are going to have a tough year ahead of them.
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Jackson, Crowder, and Kerbyson have all been in the program at least 3 years. I feel like the interior of the line will be fine. It's the tackles that concern me.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
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#8
#8
illvol said:
I think the major concern with our lines, both offensive and defensive isn't the system, or their drive, or their conditioning, or their experience even. It's their strength and stamina being so young. Starting 2 or 3 true freshman on a line is tough when they are going up against guys who have been in a college strength program for several years.
Don't get me wrong, I like our guys but they are going to have a tough year ahead of them.
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We are only starting one true freshman (Coleman Thomas) and he is not guaranteed to start. Him and Blair(JuCo) are the only new guys this year that will play, everyone else that will play (Crowder, Gilliam, Kerbyson, Jackson, Wiesman, Sanders) have all been here for multiple years. So I don't know what your talking about when you say we will start 3 true freshman.
 
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#10
#10
JDisThereThere said:
That walk-on (Jacob Gilliam) is now on scholarship, and seems like a pretty damn good football player.
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No one said he wasn't good. Blair is a RT. I said this on his thread when he was recruited and got blasted, but the truth is Blair hasn't had to learn proper foot work to block at LT. On the other hand, he's a run blocking machine. Blair's major problem is he came here out of shape. His pass blocking techniques suck, and he's never had to play against SEC caliber pass rushers on a daily bases. Everyone thinks that a JuCo T should come in and be an instant impact guy at LT, but Blair's best attributes are best suited for RT. Don't just take my word on this though. Go watch his videos online and you will see a mean run blocker and a very inconsistent pass blocker that only dominates in pass blocking due to his size and competition.
 
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#12
#12
skasper06 said:
Now look at the new guys...Gilliam, Blair, Thomas, Crowder...all guys who have worked with CBJ's offense for a while (or were actually recruited by him) and have developed the hunger that Coach Jones has for bringing UT back to winning.
Click to expand...

The O-Line gets it, too.
 
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#13
#13
There's an orange storm brewing. Far out at sea it's currently lifting the moisture and heat it needs. Gathering strength, flashing skyfire, grumbling, and growing stronger. If you listen carefully, really carefully, you'll hear the whispered promise, "I'm coming. I'm coming. The orange storm is coming."

Soon the howl and the fury of the orange storm will reveal itself. Until then, there's the promise, 'I'm coming."

Orange Storm II on Vimeo
 
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#14
#14
I would much rather watch these young offensive linemen gel in CBJ's system and have some question marks before the season than hearing last off season's talk about having "Possibly the best offensive line in the SEC" (and this was by multiple "professional media outlets"), lay an egg week in and week out. They may have been talented individually, but as a group. They were very disappointing.
 
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#15
#15
Last year's great O-line couldn't even convert game winning 4th and 1 at Vanderbilt 30 yard line to ice the game. Vastly overrated.
 
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#16
#16
illvol said:
I think the major concern with our lines, both offensive and defensive isn't the system, or their drive, or their conditioning, or their experience even. It's their strength and stamina being so young. Starting 2 or 3 true freshman on a line is tough when they are going up against guys who have been in a college strength program for several years.
Don't get me wrong, I like our guys but they are going to have a tough year ahead of them.
Click to expand...

The O-line isn't that young at all they are starting 1 freshman the rest of the guys are juniors and strength isn't going to be an issue.

This isn't a shot at you by any means but I'm honestly not sure if Volnation even know's the projected starting line-up. There will be 4 jr. on the O-line.
 
#17
#17
MyBloodRunnethOrange said:
Perhaps, but the last I heard he was getting beaten out by a walk on. Hopefully he pulls it together by the fall.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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Most of that was because of normal JUCO issues. Conditioning and not being use to practicing at this level. It wasn't because of skill. If he take strength and conditioning serious and puts in the time like owen william he will be starting.
 
#19
#19
The DL is of more concern to me than the OL.

If someone can step forward to be a serviceable LT, then the OL should be at worst about average among the SEC. The true freshman must be a real talent since as a EE he appeared to jump over a couple of well thought of guys from the prior class.

Its extremely disappointing to get the top ranked JUCO OL recruit to come in only to be 2nd string behind a walk on.

Most of these guys are hoping to make money as professional athletes. How do guys show up so out of shape and over weight like Blair and Mosely? At their ages their body's respond so quickly that it shouldn't be difficult to maintain a decent level of conditioning.
 
#21
#21
mgu7 said:
Last year's great O-line couldn't even convert game winning 4th and 1 at Vanderbilt 30 yard line to ice the game. Vastly overrated.
Click to expand...

Vert true. Yet this year's line is even younger and far less experienced with the same coaching staff. It's why I feel this year's offense is in trouble. No holes to run through and no time to pass. I don't see a lot of points being scored and with our defense; well I predict a very long, painful season again.
 
#22
#22
There is no logic to the idea that because our o-line was overrated last year that this years line will be as good or better. They have literally nothing to do with each other.

Regardless, our line was solid last year. Neal went for over 1000 (and it isn't like he is an all-star or something) and our quarterbacks weren't back there getting creamed or anything.

Maybe if our line was terrible last year there could be logic behind "nowhere to go but up", but that isn't the case here. I would go as far to say it was a good, but not great offensive line. Our own fans are the ones who over hyped the line and then became disappointed when they didn't meet those expectations.
 
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#23
#23
1982Alum said:
Vert true. Yet this year's line is even younger and far less experienced with the same coaching staff. It's why I feel this year's offense is in trouble. No holes to run through and no time to pass. I don't see a lot of points being scored and with our defense; well I predict a very long, painful season again.
Click to expand...

I hope this team takes you out behind the wood-shed and just wears your a?? out.:crazy:
 
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#24
#24
WoodsmanVol said:
There's an orange storm brewing. Far out at sea it's currently lifting the moisture and heat it needs. Gathering strength, flashing skyfire, grumbling, and growing stronger. If you listen carefully, really carefully, you'll hear the whispered promise, "I'm coming. I'm coming. The orange storm is coming."

Soon the howl and the fury of the orange storm will reveal itself. Until then, there's the promise, 'I'm coming."

Orange Storm II on Vimeo
Click to expand...

Were/are you an English major? It seems that you make a lot of your posts sound like they came straight from a book of poetry. I mean no disrespect and I realize that most of my posts are there simply for a cheap laugh... just wondering?
 
#25
#25
illvol said:
I think the major concern with our lines, both offensive and defensive isn't the system, or their drive, or their conditioning, or their experience even. It's their strength and stamina being so young. Starting 2 or 3 true freshman on a line is tough when they are going up against guys who have been in a college strength program for several years.
Don't get me wrong, I like our guys but they are going to have a tough year ahead of them.
Click to expand...

:ermm:
 
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