Who Will Be The Most Improved Linebacker?

[MikeVol44]

I like Sapp, he's got good speed and at 225 is more legitimately sized for a 4-3 look than our previous defense (if you can call it that).

Like this a LOT!

I liked what saw of Sapp this year as he subbed for Lathers. I think he will develop into a Eric Westmoreland or Kevin Burnett type of player as an OLB. Kid has the size and strength...and it appeared last year that he was faster than both AJ and Herman.

I hope that Maggitt comes back strong and is a monster OLB next year....I think he's out of position as a DE in the 4-3. :salute:

 

[MikeVol44]

if i spoke honestly about that linebacker corps, the post would be deleted and i would potentially be banned.

maggit, when healthy, can be a really good player.

the best hope lies out there in high schools across the country. that's where reeves-mabin, and hopefully many others for the sake of volnation, comes into play

I usually like the substance and objectivity in your posts, 99, but I do think this one was a low and needless blow. There is talent in some of those guys we have coming back at LB...

Sapp played well in the SEC last year. JSmith is not a true LB in the 4-3...Bynum, Harris, and Latroy Lewis haven't even played one down in SEC games yet--so we don't know what we've got in them. Don't know about Fugate and Crump at LB either. Propst may only prove to be a backup in the middle.

I agree that we need some studs to sign with us in this recruiting class--no doubt about that. But, if I read your post correctly, you assumed that NONE of those guys on the list are good enough to compete at the SEC level. I don't think anyone can objectively come to that conclusion until they play at least one SEC game.

AJ could start as MLB for a number of teams in the SEC right now--probably would be taken out on passing situations, but would start. Maggitt would also start for most SEC teams--most being everyone except Bama and LSU.

So, I would ask you to at least reconsider your statement. :salute:

 

[VolMaster14]

so, tell me where you disagree.

Disagree with what? Bammers post? Do I think Sal was a horrible DC and the MAIN reason our defense sucked? Yes! Do I believe our LBs would have been all world without Sal? No! I do believe we have two better than good LBs, AJ Johnson and Maggitt, when healthy.

 

[Bluetic]

AJ is a stud but hes gonna get better still, otherwise Maggit if he stays healthy. The guy just seems to "appear" at the ball sometimes!

 

[VolMaster14]

I usually like the substance and objectivity in your posts, 99

 

[terrypedigo]

All will improve, because they will get good coaching.

 

[voldawgforever]

All will improve, because they will get good coaching.

Good answer!

 

[VolMaster14]

All will improve, because they will get good coaching.

This answer was not an option. You get an F for comprehension!



















J/k

 

[Roustabout]

When u think about the reads and assignments required of a LB their success will dictate so much for the entire squad. I can still remember Eric westmoreland running around during practice teaching the younger guys. Showing them where to line up, pointing out assingments, etc.Who was able to do that last year? No one. There was a major breakdown in whole system. I dont think Sunseri knew how to get the coaches to teach his system. As bad as things were, any decent coach would have seen the issues during fall camp.

 

[99gator]

I usually like the substance and objectivity in your posts, 99, but I do think this one was a low and needless blow. There is talent in some of those guys we have coming back at LB...

Sapp played well in the SEC last year. JSmith is not a true LB in the 4-3...Bynum, Harris, and Latroy Lewis haven't even played one down in SEC games yet--so we don't know what we've got in them. Don't know about Fugate and Crump at LB either. Propst may only prove to be a backup in the middle.

I agree that we need some studs to sign with us in this recruiting class--no doubt about that. But, if I read your post correctly, you assumed that NONE of those guys on the list are good enough to compete at the SEC level. I don't think anyone can objectively come to that conclusion until they play at least one SEC game.

AJ could start as MLB for a number of teams in the SEC right now--probably would be taken out on passing situations, but would start. Maggitt would also start for most SEC teams--most being everyone except Bama and LSU.

So, I would ask you to at least reconsider your statement. :salute:

i have not seen anything from anyone who has played that tells me that they do their job consistently well. that's just my opinion.

respectfully, i make my assessments of the guys who did not play based on the guys who did play. one assumes that the 1st string is better than the 2nd string is better than the 3rd string, etc.

so, that means that the guys who did not get any playing time were worse than the guys who did. for me, that tells me that they can be written off as not any good.

to use my own team as an example, if you are a wr at florda and you could not get any playing time in 2012, you can not possibly be any good. if you were any good, at all, you would have played. true freshman or not. although, i usually do hold out hope for true freshman in such a situation.

now, maggit, from what i saw as a freshman can play at a quality level. he was hurt all last season, so, who knows what his future holds.

AJ would not see the field at a number of sec schools. that's my opinion. he is a very good tackler when he gets to the play. but, he does not get to the play way, way too often.

 

[volfanCLT]

Harris

 

[VolFanInAtokaTN]

Curt Maggitt - Only 30 tackles, foot held him back last year. Does anyone know how far along is he in his recovery process?
Kenny Bynum - Did not play, I think he will be a soild addition for us next year, kind of hard to rate a guy that we havent seen much of.
Christain Harris[/B - Did not play, Had great reviews from the coaches until season ending injury, I expect him to start.
A.J. Johnson - 138 tackles,Jr year for this guy could be his contract year, has to improve getting off blockers, could add a little more weight in my OP.
Jacques Smith - 33 tackles, Struggled keeping contain all year not really sure where you can afford to do that at, maybe MLB.
Channing Fugate - 18 tackles, I think year two at LB for this guy may surprise some, but not me though. He is smart and a should be a heavy hitter.Will battle for a lot of playing time.
John Propst - A heavy hitter and great special teams player, will be a decent back up.
Latroy Lewis -Did not play, we will have to evaluate in the comiing months.
Raiques Crump - 5 tackles, played in all but one game. Special teams maybe his thing.
Dontavis Sapp - 17 tackles, a bit undersized could put on some weight, loves the fact that he plays with an attitude and a constant running motor.

Overall, we have got to do better at this position to win, outside of Lathers and AJ the secondary lead the team in tackles.

Your thoughts??

Its Time to Rise!!! Go Big Orange!!!!

 

[Vol4life25]

If Sal was such a great DC, then why did he make a rank 30th defense into a 112th

 

[bamawriter]

If Sal was such a great DC, then why did he make a rank 30th defense into a 112th

Who said anything even close to that?

 

[thebjd]

Curt Maggitt - Only 30 tackles, foot held him back last year. Does anyone know how far along is he in his recovery process?
Kenny Bynum - Did not play, I think he will be a soild addition for us next year, kind of hard to rate a guy that we havent seen much of.
Christain Harris[/B - Did not play, Had great reviews from the coaches until season ending injury, I expect him to start.
A.J. Johnson - 138 tackles,Jr year for this guy could be his contract year, has to improve getting off blockers, could add a little more weight in my OP.
Jacques Smith - 33 tackles, Struggled keeping contain all year not really sure where you can afford to do that at, maybe MLB.
Channing Fugate - 18 tackles, I think year two at LB for this guy may surprise some, but not me though. He is smart and a should be a heavy hitter.Will battle for a lot of playing time.
John Propst - A heavy hitter and great special teams player, will be a decent back up.
Latroy Lewis -Did not play, we will have to evaluate in the comiing months.
Raiques Crump - 5 tackles, played in all but one game. Special teams maybe his thing.
Dontavis Sapp - 17 tackles, a bit undersized could put on some weight, loves the fact that he plays with an attitude and a constant running motor.

Overall, we have got to do better at this position to win, outside of Lathers and AJ the secondary lead the team in tackles.

Your thoughts??

Its Time to Rise!!! Go Big Orange!!!!

AJ does not need to add weight. He probably could play a little lighter. I voted Sapp as the one that will improve the most.

 

[SCvol333]

i have not seen anything from anyone who has played that tells me that they do their job consistently well. that's just my opinion.

respectfully, i make my assessments of the guys who did not play based on the guys who did play. one assumes that the 1st string is better than the 2nd string is better than the 3rd string, etc.

so, that means that the guys who did not get any playing time were worse than the guys who did. for me, that tells me that they can be written off as not any good.

to use my own team as an example, if you are a wr at florda and you could not get any playing time in 2012, you can not possibly be any good. if you were any good, at all, you would have played. true freshman or not. although, i usually do hold out hope for true freshman in such a situation.

now, maggit, from what i saw as a freshman can play at a quality level. he was hurt all last season, so, who knows what his future holds.

AJ would not see the field at a number of sec schools. that's my opinion. he is a very good tackler when he gets to the play. but, he does not get to the play way, way too often.

i know nooone on here wants to admit it but what he says is the absolute truth - while not hard to believe about some of them it is hard for some of you to stomach that AJ is mediocre at best

he gets beat consistently - can't get off blocks - is too slow to get to the edge - being in the wrong spot you can blame on Sal some, but not the rest

go watch the trey burton run against florida that basically put it away - it is noone else but AJ that is stuck on a block and too slow to get over to him that allows for it to break - this happened again and again with 45 and 34 - yet most of you kept just wanting to blame scheme and Jsmith

45, 34, and CM killed us - CM you can argue was hurt but that LB core killed us last year

i don't expect much out of them since a speed 4-3 scheme fits their strengths even less

 

[SCvol333]

AJ does not need to add weight. He probably could play a little lighter. I voted Sapp as the one that will improve the most.

totally agree - if he can drop 10-15 and run better i would highly prefer that

 

[TNV]

Sapp will be good this year

 

[Ashevillevol]

look, i say good things when there are good things to say. i say bad things when there are bad things to say.

tennessee has linebackers, i'm speaking of the ones who played, who are slow, don't shed blocks, and didn't line up correctly. they were backed up by players who did not get playing time because they couldn't beat out the guys who were too slow, don't shed blocks and didn't line up correctly.

there's a reason dooley was angry when santos and peters broke their commitment and he took a shot at bynum so late in the game.

if you want improvement at the position, tennessee is going to need new linebackers.

Others have said the same basic thing. Just because you don't like the messenger doesn't change the obvious truth of the statements. All you had to do was watch last year and know if other team could break contain on the LOS chances are none of the back seven would be able to catch them

 

[VolFanInAtokaTN]

totally agree - if he can drop 10-15 and run better i would highly prefer that

I stand corrected, he does way 240 which he doesnt look that heavy to me. I figured if he gained weight, that may help im in sheeding blockers. I guess getting off blockers may be a skill that he could improve.

 

[bamawriter]

totally agree - if he can drop 10-15 and run better i would highly prefer that

I'm sure he bulked up to play in the 3-4. LBs have to be big in that scheme. AJ is not really built to play the 3-4.

 

[MikeVol44]

i have not seen anything from anyone who has played that tells me that they do their job consistently well. that's just my opinion.

respectfully, i make my assessments of the guys who did not play based on the guys who did play. one assumes that the 1st string is better than the 2nd string is better than the 3rd string, etc.

so, that means that the guys who did not get any playing time were worse than the guys who did. for me, that tells me that they can be written off as not any good.

to use my own team as an example, if you are a wr at florda and you could not get any playing time in 2012, you can not possibly be any good. if you were any good, at all, you would have played. true freshman or not. although, i usually do hold out hope for true freshman in such a situation.

now, maggit, from what i saw as a freshman can play at a quality level. he was hurt all last season, so, who knows what his future holds.

AJ would not see the field at a number of sec schools. that's my opinion. he is a very good tackler when he gets to the play. but, he does not get to the play way, way too often.

Thanks...that's why I said that I usually see your posts as having good content with an objective viewpoint. I do see where you are coming from and understand better why you made the post. However, you did seem to imply that our only hope was from High School players. I agreed that we definitely need to sign some studs, but that high school is not our only hope.

I do think there's hope in Bynum, Harris, and Lewis of those who haven't played yet. I also think that AJ Johnson and Maggitt are SEC caliber players. D. Sapp did play well as a sub last year, but not perfectly. He's big enough and did demonstrate that he had the speed to play in the SEC. AJ does need to get faster to be more effective, but I disagree with you that he would not be able to get on the field in a number of programs. I think he could have started as MLB this year for your gators--he would have been taken out on passing plays, but think he was just as good as what you guys put on the field.

Objectively--I don't know if Bynum, Harris, or Lewis are any good...but I hope.

That's all I was saying--that I'm not willing to write them off because I haven't even seen any evidence on the playing field through which to evaluate them.

Not trying to pick a fight, just thought your post was not objective, but I do understand your thoughts now. Thanks for helping. :salute:

 

[armchair]

BAD LB play last year--but then nearly everybody on our defense was bad. Need to upgrade LBs badly. Jacques cannot play LB--not good. Everybody else on that list seems mediocre AT BEST.

 

[Roustabout]

I stand corrected, he does way 240 which he doesnt look that heavy to me. I figured if he gained weight, that may help im in sheeding blockers. I guess getting off blockers may be a skill that he could improve.

Way? Hooked on phonics. I mean foniks.

 

[Roustabout]

I stand corrected, he does way 240 which he doesnt look that heavy to me. I figured if he gained weight, that may help im in sheeding blockers. I guess getting off blockers may be a skill that he could improve.

Way? Hooked on phonics. I mean foniks.