Well, it’s bye week on Rocky Top. A perfect opportunity to reflect over the last six weeks. Offensively, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster ride, with inconsistency at some position every week. We’ve seen Crompton play like Peyton some weeks and other weeks we’ve seen him play like, well…Crompton. Receivers have looked sharp and crisp some weeks, and ran wrong routes and arguing amongst themselves on others. The Volunteer offensive line, however, has been impactful and effective, consistently, while being the most underrated and unheralded piece of the “O” this season.
The Vol O-line, from left to right, consists of a backup left tackle, a walk-on left guard, a walk-on and backup C (who, by the way, is replacing All-SEC and All-American Josh McNeil), a sophomore right guard and first year left tackle that was playing tight end last season. Regardless, these guys have been dominate.
The hogmollies up front have only given up 10 sacks. They’re 6th in the SEC in team rushing, but that includes 2 spread-option teams sitting at 1 & 2 (UF and AU). Montario Hardesty is 3rd in the SEC in rushing and 2nd in touchdowns. Tennessee is 2nd in the SEC in first downs, ahead of Alabama and Florida, and they’re 1st in redzone touchdowns with 16.
So, what does this mean? It means that, while they aren’t breaking off huge plays, they’re lining up and moving the ball down the field. It means that they’re not giving up sacks. It means they’re run-blocking like beasts, they’re getting ball into opportune situations in the redzone, they’re scoring touchdowns on these opportunities and they’re doing it all with a patchwork offensive line.
Give it up for offensive line coach James Cregg and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney. These guys are getting huge results from minimal experience and creating more and more cohesion amongst the front five every week.
2 responses to “A Patchwork Orange”
Great article. These guys need more recognition for the job they are doing. It also speaks volumes for the coaching staff to get them ready to play. The Sullins twins are Godsends for persisting without scholarships. They could have gotten schollys from other schools, but chose the Vols. Hats off to them.
x2….it also speaks to the potential our ‘O’ line has as they mature and the results we can expect once a couple of blue chippers come in and get coached up by this staff. Gives you sum hope.