Guitar Shots to the Head: 4/24

Another round of spring ball has sprung and arduous wait for the fall has begun. Now Vol fans across the country are forced to brace themselves for high temperatures, summer gas prices, and the anticipation of what might be once the ball is kicked off in September. While there are a myriad of questions that will remain unanswered until then, the Volnation has one thing to look forward to. For the first time in two years there are some legitimate playmakers on both sides of the ball.

There will be plenty of time for the nation to address the questions between now and kick off, so today, I want to analyze the answers. As previously stated, it has been a long time since the Vols have had so many standouts on one football team. For that reason, I have decided to lay the guitar down today, and focus on the athletic positives of this football team. Here is an abbreviated list of the players who will make a difference for the Vols this year.

Eric Berry: You rarely hear the word “explosive” while describing a defensive back. Berry fits that description to a capital T. Berry is an intelligent cover man who is wise beyond his years, and has proven to be a dynamic run stopper who relentlessly attacks ball carriers.

Demetrice Morley: Morley is simply fast as lightning. Sure, he has had alignment problems in the past, but given his recent hardships, one has to think that he has learned valuable lessons about the opportunity in front of him. I am completely convinced that he will have his head in the game this year. I cannot promise that he will make every correct decision in the fall, but I am certain that he will make the effort to actually learn the defense this time around.

Dennis Rogan: He is a fearless return man with a second gear. He has continuously proven his mettle in the return game, and with a renewed emphasis on special teams I expect Rogan to make one or two plays a game that will drop the jaws of spectators across the SEC.

Gerald Jones: The prospect of facing the G-Gun will be a nightmare for defensive coordinators this year. I don’t know how often the Vols will run it, but the simple fact that they might will force opponents to use practice time learning to stop it. I personally expect to see it consistently. If used correctly, it is going to be the most effective offensive wrinkle the Vols have had since the scrambling days of Tee Martin. The fact that he is just as dangerous split out or in the slot adds value to his possible contribution.

Ahmad Paige: He has the frame to be the perfect receiver for the Clawson offense, and he has the speed to match. He still needs a few pounds, but if he can stay healthy he will be a playmaker this year. Even though it was a spring game, his first play in the Orange and White game was very special.

Arian Foster: When it comes to talking about stars on this UT team Arian slips under the radar. By all reports he has dropped a little weight, and picked up a step or two. More importantly he is a legitimate 1,000 yard back with the smarts to blend into the new offense. I expect to see is versatility on display this year and look for him to be as dangerous catching balls in the open field as he is running between the tackles. His experience, combined with the new offense will improve this UT team and improve his draft status immensely.

There are other players to keep an eye on as the season approaches. Lennon Creer, Rico McCoy, Gerald Williams (if he ever makes it to school), Josh McNeil, Lucas Taylor, Brent Vinson, Dan Williams, and Robert Ayers are all poised to make a difference for this football team. They simply haven’t reached the athletic point of being dubbed “playmaker” quite yet.

This is simply an abbreviated list of the positives I see going into next fall. Again, there are too many questions left unanswered to place unreal championship expectations on this team. However, it does appear that the calls for speed and athleticism have been addressed at several positions. Even for the most skeptical of UT fans, that is a step in the right direction. Until next time, Go Vols!