UT to face top corners

#1
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LetMeStay

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#1
By: Randy Moore

Date: Jul 14, 2006

Tennessee’s 2006 wide receivers will find out quickly how much progress they’ve made under new position coach Trooper Taylor. The Vols’ opening foe, California, boasts a cornerback who is rated first-team All-America and No. 2 nationally at his position by Collegefootballnews.com.

The player in question is Daymeion Hughes. His size, quickness and coverage skills are sure to present problems for Vol wideouts Sept. 2 at Neyland Stadium. Here’s what the folks at CFN.com have to say about him:

"Daymeion Hughes, Sr. California - 62 tackles, 5 interceptions, 12 broken up passes, 1.5 TFL

"The first-team All-Pac 10 star of last year should blossom into a superstar this season. He's an experienced defender with 118 tackles and seven career interceptions, and he put it all together with a fantastic 2005, turning into the lock-down corner the defense was looking for. At 6-2 and 188 pounds he's a great-sized corner with the speed to stay with just about any receiver in the conference."

Who’s better than Hughes? According to CFN.com, only one guy – South Carolina’s Fred Bennett – and the Vols get an up-close look at him Oct. 28 at Neyland Stadium. CFN.com tabs the Gamecocks standout No. 1 among NCAA corners. Here’s the explanation:

"Fred Bennett, Sr. South Carolina - 31 tackles, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 10 broken up passes

"At 6-1 and 199 pounds with lights-out speed, Bennett will emerge as one of the SEC's best corners this year and is the next top NFL prospect from the USC defensive backfield. He has been steady over the last two seasons with good open-field tackling ability, seven interceptions and 13 broken up passes."

Besides Bennett, the only SEC cornerback to make CFN.com’s list is Auburn’s David Irons, who checks in at No. 10.
 
#2
#2
wow. This is the toughest opening game i can remeber in a while, maybe since Syracuse 98' if i'm forgetting any. This will test us on both our QBs and cornerbacks. We better be ready
 
#3
#3
bout 3 months ago I posted how the Vols would face 2 senior corners against the Cal Bears. Apparently the Ainge faithful determined that this was an issue they deemed...insignificant.....................apparently.
 
#4
#4
(dan4vols @ Jul 16 said:
bout 3 months ago I posted how the Vols would face 2 senior corners against the Cal Bears. Apparently the Ainge faithful determined that this was an issue they deemed...insignificant.....................apparently.
Click to expand...
i didnt know there were many left after last seasons 700 yard 45% outing
 
#5
#5
you;ll know it sept 2.......................if we win itll be on #27'S legs......just move the chains babe, take what they give you.
 
#6
#6
As long as "27" is the primary focus of the offense this year, "10" will have a fine if not spectacular season.
 
#7
#7
(volsfan711 @ Jul 15 said:
wow. This is the toughest opening game i can remeber in a while, maybe since Syracuse 98' if i'm forgetting any. This will test us on both our QBs and cornerbacks. We better be ready
Click to expand...

Maybe tougher than Syracuse '98.
 
#10
#10
^^that's right

i'm waitin to see some passion and fire and getting pumped up outta tennessee that I haven't seen in quite awhile
 
#11
#11
If their corners are that good, they are probably going to be playing a lot of man to man defense and not giving the UT's WR's any cushion like most teams did last year. This is not particularly good for Ainge's confidence.

I hope UT has a better game plan then trying to throw deep every series to combat that. That didn't work very good last year.
 
#12
#12
Correct me if I am wrong, but are we not going to face the SC kid in Columbia this year. I think that the article said Neyland. As for Cal, very tough team and very good opener. Reminds me of UCLA in LA when Colquitt blew his knee (1993 or 1994 I think). That was a tough UCLA team.
 
#15
#15
If they play man I think cut will take what they will give us. I don't blame any team for playing us man. If I were a D C I would. So it will be up to our WR and QB to change that. We have guys with size and speed at WR. If they will live up to their potential we could have a very special year. It is amazing what a difference in confidence and attitude good WR's can have on a struggling QB.
 
#17
#17
Okay, so how are their linebackers on pass coverage? I know with Cut calling the offense this year we should see the TE get the ball a few times. Will Chris Brown start at TE? Give him a head of steam and he can lay out a DB no problem. As far as the Cal CBs go, if they play man-to-amn they can only take out two guys. IMO that most likely means that Swain and Meachem will by covered up. That leaves us three eligible recievers and the running game. I'm not too worried about it. Especially when you consider that their best players are going to be neutralizing one of our worst areas (long completions). IMO it's all going to come down to the OL and the running game.
 
#18
#18
After I posted I actually read a scouting report on the Cal defense for '06. The questions are one DT and the safeties. Apparently they have one DT, Brandon Mebane, who is a beast and will kill the QB unless double teamed. If our line develops in such a way as to allow us to put Arron Sears on Mebane maybe we won't have to double team him and we can beat up on their weak side. Knowing that the safeties are suspect I'll also be looking for some sets with 3 WRs (Swain, Meachem, and Smith) with crossing routes through the middle.
 
#20
#20
(rockytopinalabam @ Jul 17 said:
They don't have Donovan McNabb.
Click to expand...

So?

They have Lynch and Forsett. Two stud Rbs are harder to contain than a stud QB. And don't mention DeSean Jackson at WR and a very talented defense.
 
#21
#21
(VolunteerHillbilly @ Jul 17 said:
After I posted I actually read a scouting report on the Cal defense for '06. The questions are one DT and the safeties. Apparently they have one DT, Brandon Mebane, who is a beast and will kill the QB unless double teamed. If our line develops in such a way as to allow us to put Arron Sears on Mebane maybe we won't have to double team him and we can beat up on their weak side. Knowing that the safeties are suspect I'll also be looking for some sets with 3 WRs (Swain, Meachem, and Smith) with crossing routes through the middle.
Click to expand...


UT hasn't had a lot of success running to the right side the last few years.
 
#22
#22
(VolBeef88 @ Jul 17 said:
If they play man I think cut will take what they will give us. I don't blame any team for playing us man. If I were a D C I would. So it will be up to our WR and QB to change that. We have guys with size and speed at WR. If they will live up to their potential we could have a very special year. It is amazing what a difference in confidence and attitude good WR's can have on a struggling QB.
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From everything i know about us to this point, and everything i've read about Cal, this game will seem to me to come down to the following, and you touch on it here.

If i were the DC for Cal, i would load up to stop the run and trust my corners. this puts the pressure on the O line for pass protection, and i would think we would try to loosen them up with some stuff underneath...screens to RB's and WR's. I could also see this as an opportunity to get the TE in the mix as well. if the Safeties are a weak spot, and the DB's are in man coverage, there should be a weakness somewhere in the middle of the feild underneath. IF we could be successful doing that and loosen up the D a bit, then we can hit 'em with a solid running game, but again, the O line is huge there.

If the DB's are that good, we'll have to pick our spots when we go to 'em. and we can't be in 2nd and 3rd and long too much. it will be when we are in obvious passing situations that we will struggle. we need to be in 2nd and 6 or shorter as much as possible to sustain drives and wear that D out.

but, i think the biggest test for us will be our D against their offense. Will we be able to stop them? I think they will have some looks for our D that will be confusing and could give us trouble, esp up front where we have the least amount of experience. If we are having to bring safeties up to stop the run, then our DB's will get tested plenty.

i think our work is definitely cut out for us...Cal is no joke. I still think we should be able to win this game. It's in our house. we should be in a very bad mood. it's early september, and Cal has a bit of a question mark at qb. if we can make them one dimensional on offense, i like our chances.
 
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