What should be improved?

#1
D

Dougie_D

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#1
I really don't know who left and who came besides having a fresh new O-line, so I'm giving them some slack if they give up a sack.

Where should we see improvement from last year?
 
#2
#2
I expect the QB position to be miles better. Another year of experience with the team combined with a much improved receiving corp will make our QB situation look like night and day from last year.
 
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#3
#3
Every position will be upgraded this year. For every senior that left, his replacement is a better football player.
 
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#4
#4
WR's, RB's, TE's, QB's, DB's, and LB's. With regard to the last one, AJ is going to have a much stronger supporting cast of LB's (and DE's) to make his job of shoring up the middle a lot better.

I think our OL and DL will be better in a couple of years but, at best, it will be a wash this year (esp. given our lack of depth with offensive tackles).
 
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#6
#6
Voltillyafall said:
Every position will be upgraded this year. For every senior that left, his replacement is a better football player.
Click to expand...

you are serious? Really??

5 senior OL and 4 senior DL left and their replacements are better??

Here are CAREER starts / games

O-Line. Projected starters and backups:

LT Gilliam (has played in 3 games) or Blair (has played in 0 games)
LG Jackson (5 starts / 24 games)
C Crowder (1 start / 10 games)
RG Kerbyson (0 starts / 19 games)
RT Thomas (0 games)

Pair (6 games in 4 years)
Weisman (10 games in 1 year, most on special teams)
Kendrick (0 games)
Sanders (0 games)
Raulerson (0 games)

DL - not sure on starters

J Williams (8 starts 31 games in 3 years)
Saulsberry (8 games in 3 years)
Carson (5 games in 3 years)
O Williams (0 games)
Lewis (6 games)
O'Brien (12 games)
Vereen (9 games)
J Miller (3 games)
Vickers (0 games)
Mixon (0 games)
Barnett (0 games)
Henderson (0 games)
Hendrix (0 games
Mosley (0 games)
Robertson (0 games)
Sawyers (0 games)
 
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#7
#7
Dougie_D said:
I really don't know who left and who came besides having a fresh new O-line, so I'm giving them some slack if they give up a sack.

Where should we see improvement from last year?
Click to expand...

Linebacker because we get Maggitt back. Only position I believe will be for certain improved.
 
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#8
#8
Dougie_D said:
I really don't know who left and who came besides having a fresh new O-line, so I'm giving them some slack if they give up a sack.

Where should we see improvement from last year?
Click to expand...

QB, TE, WR, RB, DE, S, LB, kr, pr.....
 
#10
#10
A) Quarterback (I expect drastically improved, if not the Vols are in deep trouble)

B) Secondary (some experience back there now with added depth and tons of more speed "supposedly")

C) Linebacker (Maggitt being back is a definite impact and tremendous upgrade. He beings All SEC talent back to the group. I expect at least some playing time from the freshmen since they were highly sought after)

D) Running backs (It's time for Marlin Lane to showcase his abilities as a senior and the younger crop of talent is promising as well)

E) Wide receivers (last year the young group did well, I expect this position to shine as the bright spot in terms of vastly improved)

**OL and DL are huge question marks due to lack of depth and game time experience. This is why it is VERY important for said above groups to play well above and beyond their call of duty**
 
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#13
#13
LWSVOL said:
you are serious? Really??

5 senior OL and 4 senior DL left and their replacements are better??

Here are CAREER starts / games

O-Line. Projected starters and backups:

LT Gilliam (has played in 3 games) or Blair (has played in 0 games)
LG Jackson (5 starts / 24 games)
C Crowder (1 start / 10 games)
RG Kerbyson (0 starts / 19 games)
RT Thomas (0 games)

Pair (6 games in 4 years)
Weisman (10 games in 1 year, most on special teams)
Kendrick (0 games)
Sanders (0 games)
Raulerson (0 games)

DL - not sure on starters

J Williams (8 starts 31 games in 3 years)
Saulsberry (8 games in 3 years)
Carson (5 games in 3 years)
O Williams (0 games)
Lewis (6 games)
O'Brien (12 games)
Vereen (9 games)
J Miller (3 games)
Vickers (0 games)
Mixon (0 games)
Barnett (0 games)
Henderson (0 games)
Hendrix (0 games
Mosley (0 games)
Robertson (0 games)
Sawyers (0 games)
Click to expand...

Facts are stubborn things. Huge upgrades in talent. Huge downgrade in experience and physical development. Draw your own conclusions. Our boys will be playing against their men---this season.
 
#14
#14
LWSVOL said:
Linebacker because we get Maggitt back. Only position I believe will be for certain improved.
Click to expand...

LB was the first thing I thought of. DB was the second.

I expect better QB (more experience) and WR (ditto) play also.
 
#15
#15
The scoreboard is where I want to see improvement..

Seriously though, I am already confident that the offense will be improved over last year. I would like to see the D-Line getting a better push and interrupting plays. That is where it all starts for improving the D as a whole
 
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#16
#16
Why the O line should be improved: The players that are in position now have been trained for the style of play Butch brings in. A fast pace spread offense that runs the ball as much as passing. The O line that left were extremely good at pass blocking only! Neal ran for over a 1,000 yards, just image what our backs will be able to do with some road graders in front of them.

Why our D line should be improved: How often did you see big Dan spinning off blocks? The incoming players will be more aggresive and disruptive. People have been complaining that the D line is too light. If you look at the 1998 NC team we had, the heaviest D lineman was 284 lbs.
 
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#17
#17
Dougie_D said:
I really don't know who left and who came besides having a fresh new O-line, so I'm giving them some slack if they give up a sack.

Where should we see improvement from last year?
Click to expand...


Wide receivers will be improved. North will be better because his freshman year was a learning experience. Also, the new receivers will add more athleticism.

Tailback will be improved because Lane & Hurd should be a good 1 - 2 punch by mid season.
 
#18
#18
LWSVOL said:
Linebacker because we get Maggitt back. Only position I believe will be for certain improved.
Click to expand...

Maggitt will probably play DE at least 50% of the time this year, but improved for sure! Pray he stays healthy!
 
#19
#19
LWSVOL said:
you are serious? Really??

5 senior OL and 4 senior DL left and their replacements are better??

Here are CAREER starts / games

O-Line. Projected starters and backups:

LT Gilliam (has played in 3 games) or Blair (has played in 0 games)
LG Jackson (5 starts / 24 games)
C Crowder (1 start / 10 games)
RG Kerbyson (0 starts / 19 games)
RT Thomas (0 games)

Pair (6 games in 4 years)
Weisman (10 games in 1 year, most on special teams)
Kendrick (0 games)
Sanders (0 games)
Raulerson (0 games)

DL - not sure on starters

J Williams (8 starts 31 games in 3 years)
Saulsberry (8 games in 3 years)
Carson (5 games in 3 years)
O Williams (0 games)
Lewis (6 games)
O'Brien (12 games)
Vereen (9 games)
J Miller (3 games)
Vickers (0 games)
Mixon (0 games)
Barnett (0 games)
Henderson (0 games)
Hendrix (0 games
Mosley (0 games)
Robertson (0 games)
Sawyers (0 games)
Click to expand...

I agree about the D-Line, but the draft should have told the story of how good the O-Line really was, other than having alot of starts they really didnt have a mean streak that could make the block when it was needed. The group this year will have that mean streak and what I would call servicable, with the RB tallent off the charts they wont need to hold the blocks as long but will improve as the year goes on, expect Blair to be at LT because he is a run grader, he will just need help for pass rusher (play action) but who in the league will he be pressured by, Olkahoma has some good edge rushers.

The DLine just needs pressure, we just didnt get it at a study pace last year, look for CM to be the difference along with the speed on the team to hold the coverage.

I think the number 1 item is TEAM SPEED and TOUGHNESS that we havent seen for many years, the holes will be smaller to run thru than last year..
 
#20
#20
We lack SEC quality speed on D, especially at LB. And our D line is filled with guys that probably wouldn't get playing time anywhere else in the league. We recruited well at that position, but those guys are a year away from making a real difference. So the improvement where it's most needed will have to wait until next year imo.
 
#21
#21
I won't speak to the offensive line being better, but if the defensive line is worse it's going to be a long, long year.
 
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#22
#22
We will be in the middle of mediocrity once again, which will be an improvement from the bottom of mediocrity we so unproudly have championed for the past several seasons. GBO!!
 
#23
#23
99gator said:
I won't speak to the offensive line being better, but if the defensive line is worse it's going to be a long, long year.
Click to expand...

Not sure how it could get worse. Last year's DL couldn't stop the run and couldn't get any pressure on the QB much less record any sacks.

Our DEs should be much improved, LBs are a large question, nickle should be better, S play better, concern at CB opposite Sutton...... it's gonna be a long, long year unless we wind up with 3-4 freshmen All Americans which, of course, ain't likely.
 
#24
#24
i think the talent at the skill positions will be much improved which will help the offensive line look better than it is.

With regard to the defense, it all depends on how fast the kids can grow up. the talent that can play on sunday is in the freshman class.
 
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#25
#25
Knowledge of the system and linebackers like Larry said. QB should be better but there may be a ceiling that is rather average with this crop.. Oline and interior D is going to have its ups and downs.
 
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