UT spring storylines: Defense

#26
#26
Remy said:
We have weaknesses ... every team does ... just take a look at those slow gorks Bammer had on the field when Auburn returned that FG attempt on them last season as an example ... its no secret our DL should be suspect ... but our LBs should be a source of strength ... our DC should be able to scheme some to help them out until they gain some experience ... but the hand wringing here on VN wont change a whole lot about what occurs on the field this season ...
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They didn't have but 3 on the field that could crack a 5.0 in the forty.
 
#27
#27
sjt18 said:
Wait.... I though UT recruited a bunch of speed?
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We did but FRESHMAN take a little time to adjust to college football, and really how many freshman walk onto the field from day 1 and are ready for SEC football not many.
 
#30
#30
terrypedigo said:
One thing for sure we are going to have a lot of freshman on the field on both sides of the ball the future is bright, but the present a little dim, got to hang in there and pull a top 10 recruiting class off which will be hard with only 18 to 22 recruits coming in 2015.
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I suspect this number may creep up to 25 with attrition. A few players will probably transfer after Spring. Some might just walk away from the game. Disciplinary actions...let's hope not!

We aren't even positive Pig will return but odds are he will (cross your fingers).

Maybe Clark wasn't so dumb after all. I mean he had his degree, and he wasn't going pro. He realized it was time to enter the workforce with degree in hand. As much as you love the game, a career has to take priority.
 
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#31
#31
Spartacavolus said:
I think our DL will be better. McCullers didn't do much, especially against spread teams and there are plenty. Our sr DE got his first sack of the year the last game. No way we don't improve there and protect the edge, filtering qb's and rb's back to our help D. Sauls is back and he was playing as well as any of them, imo. Walls played well early, but didn't do much later in the year.
We should be better at DL, LB, DB, WR, TE, QB and ST coverage this year. OL has a couple of worry spots, but a couple of nasty kids in Crowder and Kerbyson. Rb could be better. We will know quickly.
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Plus, Blair could make immediate impact as well on the OL.
 
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#32
#32
Spartacavolus said:
I think our DL will be better. McCullers didn't do much, especially against spread teams and there are plenty. Our sr DE got his first sack of the year the last game. No way we don't improve there and protect the edge, filtering qb's and rb's back to our help D. Sauls is back and he was playing as well as any of them, imo. Walls played well early, but didn't do much later in the year.
We should be better at DL, LB, DB, WR, TE, QB and ST coverage this year. OL has a couple of worry spots, but a couple of nasty kids in Crowder and Kerbyson. Rb could be better. We will know quickly.
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Didn't Walls set a Tennessee single game sack record against Kentucky?
 
#35
#35
After yesterday's presser, I expect to see someone from the DL transfer to the OL. "On the DL, if you're a step slow we plug you in on the OL and see what you have."
 
#36
#36
Orange_Crush said:
After yesterday's presser, I expect to see someone from the DL transfer to the OL. "On the DL, if you're a step slow we plug you in on the OL and see what you have."
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When I read the presser I thought it sounded like that statement was geared more towards some of the guys coming in later (ie Robertson and/or Mosley).
 
#37
#37
HuntlandVolinColo said:
Maybe Clark wasn't so dumb after all. I mean he had his degree, and he wasn't going pro. He realized it was time to enter the workforce with degree in hand. As much as you love the game, a career has to take priority.
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Speaking as someone born in the 60's, your going to work your whole life. If a young adult has the opportunity to do something exciting and special that you have a passion for then I would tell them to jump all over it.

Clark may have been battling injury or lost interest/motivation. Hope he didn't move on just to enter the work force.
 
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#38
#38
Orange_Crush said:
After yesterday's presser, I expect to see someone from the DL transfer to the OL. "On the DL, if you're a step slow we plug you in on the OL and see what you have."
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I interpreted this in reference to the recently signed large D-line recruits? Not a lot of returning bodies to spare on the D-line.

Whoops - Darth beat me to it.
 
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#39
#39
walkenvol said:
I interpreted this in reference to the recently signed large D-line recruits? Not a lot of returning bodies to spare on the D-line.

Whoops - Darth beat me to it.
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Good point by both of you. Probably adds motivation for the current OL.
 
#41
#41
burgereater said:
The defensive line will be excellent this year drod.
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We couldn't be any worse than last year. 18 sacks in 12 games, and five of those were caused by Miller against Kentucky. SJT keeps talking about how our line last year was experienced, but they sucked horribly.
 
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#42
#42
Burger said:
We couldn't be any worse than last year. 18 sacks in 12 games, and five of those were caused by Miller against Kentucky. SJT keeps talking about how our line last year was experienced, but they sucked horribly.
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Well it's obviosuly Stripling's fault that our senior laden DL who had their 4th DC and position coach in 4 years and were never made to work out under Dooley didn't produce more.
 
#43
#43
HuntlandVolinColo said:
They will start out as good as last year and get better as the season progresses.

We get major upgrades on team speed. We will get our NB sorted out and someone will move up to #2 corner.
Safeties will be better and don't be surprised if McNeil is relegated to a backup safety, especially on passing downs. They will be better and deeper from the start...no doubt about it!

LB: AJ and Maggitt reunited will be awesome! This lessons AJs exposure on passing downs. Maybin, Creamer, Bates, Weatherd, will all be major upgrades from Sapp and Brewer. Jakob Johnson is DAS FREAK! and he will reek havoc at LB position as well. LBs will be better from the start and have meaningfull depth.

DL is biggest concern but you are essentially trading experienced-average talent with inexperienced-above average talent. I'll take the latter. New recruits are very talented and have high potential for growth. Also some guys in the system from last year will rise to the top (O'Brian, JWilliams, Saulsberry, Carr, Vereen) and they will be stronger and more experienced. DL will start out about the same as last years squad and get much better by mid-season.
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This. I saw more out of the guys in bold last year then the starters for most games. Vereen is going to surprise a lot of folks, most often in the backfield staring up at his ugly mug. O'Brien will take the opportunity to step up in a big way, as well. They'll make some mistakes, but I think we'll be pleasantly surprised.
 
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#44
#44
YorkVol said:
This. I saw more out of the guys in bold last year then the starters for most games. Vereen is going to surprise a lot of folks, most often in the backfield staring up at his ugly mug. O'Brien will take the opportunity to step up in a big way, as well. They'll make some mistakes, but I think we'll be pleasantly surprised.
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Saulsberry is going to be our best Dlineman this year.
 
#45
#45
Burger said:
Saulsberry is going to be our best Dlineman this year.
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Injured last season and missing spring practice with injury - far from a sure thing Saulsberry will be available next season.

I expect Maggit will be our most impressive lineman when they put him down on passing situations.
 
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