It's obviously not been lost on Vol fans just how many guys we've watched leave games with injuries this year, especially defensively. Just take a look at the two deep on defense and how much we've missed guys.
DE: Barnett (healthy), Kongbo (healthy)
DT: Vickers (healthy), Tuttle (1 game)
DT: O'Brien (Inj. TBD), McKenzie (healthy)
DE: Lewis (1 game), Vareen (healthy)
OLB: JRM (~4 gms), McDowell (inj. TBD)
MLB: Kirkland (4+ gms), Jumper (healthy)
CB: Sutton (3+ gms), Buchanan (healthy)
CB: Moseley (healthy), Martin (1 game)
NB: Gaulden (healthy), Foreman (1 game*)
S: Kelly (healthy), Warrior (healthy)
S: Abernathy (healthy), Berry (healthy)
We have probably played what, four quarters out of six games with our projected starters all on the field together (first quarter vs. App State, three quarters vs. VT)
In the two deep, that's 14 games missed due to injury and one for suspension. Also, healthy is probably inaccurate for most of these guys as well. Active may be a more accurate term since Fortenberry already mentioned Kelly has been dealing with a foot injury all year, multiple reports had Abernathy in a boot all last week and Moseley, Vickers, Evan Berry, and Foreman all had to be helped off the field at some point yesterday.
Look at it like this, our opening night defense was:
Barnett, DOB, Vickers, Lewis
JRM, DK
Cam, Malik, Moseley, TKjr, Abernathy
And when A&M lined up for their first play of last night's 2nd OT, we had:
Barnett, KMac, Vickers, Vareen
Jumper, El. Berry
Malik, Gaulden, Moseley, TK, Abernathy
That's not even mentioning Sapp being out all year with an ACL tear or Phillips dealing with his issues to keep him out of the DL depth chart early in the year.
Offensive line may look just as bad after yesterday. Robertson and Weisman each left and didn't return after their injuries. When you add that Hall missed three games, Thomas missed two (and played injured in three more), and now two guys are TBD going forward, it's a tough situation.
Of course, there's also the Hurd situation where nobody really knows what is ailing him or when our All-SEC running back will return.
If this was the NFL and we had to submit a injury report, here's my Sunday guess at our Alabama update:
OUT (0% chance of playing)
Sutton, Sapp, Reeves Maybin
Doubtful (25% chance)
O'Brien, Kirkland (since Paul said it's lower than 50/50 in another thread), Weisman?, McDowell?
Questionable (50% chance)
Hurd?, Robertson?, McDowell?, Weisman?
Probable (75+% chance)
Foreman, Moseley, Berry, Thomas, Vickers
It's been a true war of attrition for the Vols this year.
DE: Barnett (healthy), Kongbo (healthy)
DT: Vickers (healthy), Tuttle (1 game)
DT: O'Brien (Inj. TBD), McKenzie (healthy)
DE: Lewis (1 game), Vareen (healthy)
OLB: JRM (~4 gms), McDowell (inj. TBD)
MLB: Kirkland (4+ gms), Jumper (healthy)
CB: Sutton (3+ gms), Buchanan (healthy)
CB: Moseley (healthy), Martin (1 game)
NB: Gaulden (healthy), Foreman (1 game*)
S: Kelly (healthy), Warrior (healthy)
S: Abernathy (healthy), Berry (healthy)
We have probably played what, four quarters out of six games with our projected starters all on the field together (first quarter vs. App State, three quarters vs. VT)
In the two deep, that's 14 games missed due to injury and one for suspension. Also, healthy is probably inaccurate for most of these guys as well. Active may be a more accurate term since Fortenberry already mentioned Kelly has been dealing with a foot injury all year, multiple reports had Abernathy in a boot all last week and Moseley, Vickers, Evan Berry, and Foreman all had to be helped off the field at some point yesterday.
Look at it like this, our opening night defense was:
Barnett, DOB, Vickers, Lewis
JRM, DK
Cam, Malik, Moseley, TKjr, Abernathy
And when A&M lined up for their first play of last night's 2nd OT, we had:
Barnett, KMac, Vickers, Vareen
Jumper, El. Berry
Malik, Gaulden, Moseley, TK, Abernathy
That's not even mentioning Sapp being out all year with an ACL tear or Phillips dealing with his issues to keep him out of the DL depth chart early in the year.
Offensive line may look just as bad after yesterday. Robertson and Weisman each left and didn't return after their injuries. When you add that Hall missed three games, Thomas missed two (and played injured in three more), and now two guys are TBD going forward, it's a tough situation.
Of course, there's also the Hurd situation where nobody really knows what is ailing him or when our All-SEC running back will return.
If this was the NFL and we had to submit a injury report, here's my Sunday guess at our Alabama update:
OUT (0% chance of playing)
Sutton, Sapp, Reeves Maybin
Doubtful (25% chance)
O'Brien, Kirkland (since Paul said it's lower than 50/50 in another thread), Weisman?, McDowell?
Questionable (50% chance)
Hurd?, Robertson?, McDowell?, Weisman?
Probable (75+% chance)
Foreman, Moseley, Berry, Thomas, Vickers
It's been a true war of attrition for the Vols this year.
