CHALK TALK
VOLUNTEER STYLE
VOLUME XXXVIII
AUGUST 21, 2016
TEN DAYS FROM FIRST KICK
Building on last week’s Talk today we look at where the Vols are ten days from opening night. School started this past Wednesday and normal in season practices began Thursday. Getting into a routine is always important and that all started Thursday. Additionally because classes have now started Tennessee is under the 20 hour rule which limits team activities to 20 hours a week including 3 for games. There are, however, creative ways football coaches at other schools have found to “work” with this rule…..possibly CBJ has heard about them!
Playing rotations – who can and will play in the first few games……who can we count on, what are their individual limitations that will curtail possible calls if they are in the game, where on the field do we want to insert them into the game (rarely does a coordinator put a backup in the game when the ball is on or near the twenty yard line, going in or coming out). These are just a few of the decisions that go into getting the player rotations set at each position prior to a game. Sometimes the answers are not what the head coach wants to hear! Sometimes there are not a lot of answers….that is not the case in most positions for this group of Vols. And you must always plan on an injury or two to complicate the situation. One big lesson I learned over the years was this……when because of injury or just pure lack of talent you are forced to put players in the game that are not ready to perform, a play caller MUST greatly reduce the game plan to only those plays/defenses his players are capable of executing. This is an area of coaching at the coordinator and head coach level that is very much underappreciated and misunderstood. The best coaches know what their players on the field can handle and what they are incapable of doing…..the smart ones and the coaches that keep their jobs learn this quickly.
Today we look at offensive depth and probable playing rotations….next week we will talk the defensive side of the ball.
RUNNING BACK: Let’s start with the easiest. If either Hurd or Kamara is not in the game the Vol defense better be on the field or the game, score wise, is decided. Kelly has shown he is dependable and capable of going in for a play or two but this is a two horse show and we have two show horses.
QUARTERBACK: Joshua Dobbs – end of playing rotation. If the game has been decided either way…. Dormady. If Dormady must play for any extended period of games the offensive play book would change from a running game QB to much more of a running back game plan that featured a lot of play action passes. This could still be a very potent offense just one that did not feature Dobbs running ability. A decision will be made on whether Guarantano can be redshirted. If he would play early it would signal a much reduced game plan. As talented as he has shown to be in early practice he is in no way ready for this schedule beginning with the fourth game.
TIGHT END: Talented in the passing game….adequate in the running game blocking factor. Wolf and Croom will be a handful for defenses and Johnson has shown possibilities. Expect some big plays from this position as the season progresses.
RECIEVER: Rotation right now would be Smith, Malone, Williams and Jennings (although he has missed a lot of preseason work). Byrd will be in the game quickly and George has shown the ability to catch jump balls down the field. Callaway is working his way into playing time. Additionally Wolf and Croom can split out and be tough matchups for a secondary.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Hall’s absence for at least the first quarter of the season is a concern. The tackle position is now down to two – Kendrick and Richmond. Who would play if either of those two are out?…..Robertson or Thomas right now. That would mean either Boulware or Jones would play guard or center. The hope has been that the Vols would be able to redshirt Jack Jones and while still a distant possibility it is more likely that he will now play early. Remember this, Coach Jones has said he wants eight offensive linemen in a game rotation…with Hall out it would appear those eight would now be Thomas, Robertson, Weisman, Kendrick, Richmond, Jones, Boulware and ?????. Some of our best offensive lines have played only six or seven players an entire season. I don’t see this as a problem right now. The good news is that Hall will be back at some point.
Last week I mentioned a few freshmen to keep an eye on from early camp results. Add Bituli and Callaway to that group.
One last note…..I was at practice Thursday and came away with three thoughts that were still on my mind the next day. The first was the overall appearance of this team….this is a team that LOOKS like a Tennessee team should. Secondly it was apparent a lot of teaching and learning was going on and thirdly I continue to be impressed with Coach Jones intensity in teaching the kicking game. Look for a bunch of defensive starters and key backups on the coverage teams especially in the early games.
As we now know Dave Hart announced his retirement effective next June. Chalk Talk will cover in depth this topic in a future article. If you have listened to my Big Orange Sunday shows over the last few years or have read past Chalk Talks then you know my belief that Dave has done a very good job rebuilding a lot of key areas in the athletic department, areas that were in serious decline. Now is not the time to rehash the situation but it will be addressed in the near future. For now I wish him the best and appreciate his efforts in getting our athletic department on very solid footing once again.
We will Talk next Sunday after this last week of practice heading into the September 1st opener. Have a great week!
VOLUNTEER STYLE
VOLUME XXXVIII
AUGUST 21, 2016
TEN DAYS FROM FIRST KICK
Building on last week’s Talk today we look at where the Vols are ten days from opening night. School started this past Wednesday and normal in season practices began Thursday. Getting into a routine is always important and that all started Thursday. Additionally because classes have now started Tennessee is under the 20 hour rule which limits team activities to 20 hours a week including 3 for games. There are, however, creative ways football coaches at other schools have found to “work” with this rule…..possibly CBJ has heard about them!
Playing rotations – who can and will play in the first few games……who can we count on, what are their individual limitations that will curtail possible calls if they are in the game, where on the field do we want to insert them into the game (rarely does a coordinator put a backup in the game when the ball is on or near the twenty yard line, going in or coming out). These are just a few of the decisions that go into getting the player rotations set at each position prior to a game. Sometimes the answers are not what the head coach wants to hear! Sometimes there are not a lot of answers….that is not the case in most positions for this group of Vols. And you must always plan on an injury or two to complicate the situation. One big lesson I learned over the years was this……when because of injury or just pure lack of talent you are forced to put players in the game that are not ready to perform, a play caller MUST greatly reduce the game plan to only those plays/defenses his players are capable of executing. This is an area of coaching at the coordinator and head coach level that is very much underappreciated and misunderstood. The best coaches know what their players on the field can handle and what they are incapable of doing…..the smart ones and the coaches that keep their jobs learn this quickly.
Today we look at offensive depth and probable playing rotations….next week we will talk the defensive side of the ball.
RUNNING BACK: Let’s start with the easiest. If either Hurd or Kamara is not in the game the Vol defense better be on the field or the game, score wise, is decided. Kelly has shown he is dependable and capable of going in for a play or two but this is a two horse show and we have two show horses.
QUARTERBACK: Joshua Dobbs – end of playing rotation. If the game has been decided either way…. Dormady. If Dormady must play for any extended period of games the offensive play book would change from a running game QB to much more of a running back game plan that featured a lot of play action passes. This could still be a very potent offense just one that did not feature Dobbs running ability. A decision will be made on whether Guarantano can be redshirted. If he would play early it would signal a much reduced game plan. As talented as he has shown to be in early practice he is in no way ready for this schedule beginning with the fourth game.
TIGHT END: Talented in the passing game….adequate in the running game blocking factor. Wolf and Croom will be a handful for defenses and Johnson has shown possibilities. Expect some big plays from this position as the season progresses.
RECIEVER: Rotation right now would be Smith, Malone, Williams and Jennings (although he has missed a lot of preseason work). Byrd will be in the game quickly and George has shown the ability to catch jump balls down the field. Callaway is working his way into playing time. Additionally Wolf and Croom can split out and be tough matchups for a secondary.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Hall’s absence for at least the first quarter of the season is a concern. The tackle position is now down to two – Kendrick and Richmond. Who would play if either of those two are out?…..Robertson or Thomas right now. That would mean either Boulware or Jones would play guard or center. The hope has been that the Vols would be able to redshirt Jack Jones and while still a distant possibility it is more likely that he will now play early. Remember this, Coach Jones has said he wants eight offensive linemen in a game rotation…with Hall out it would appear those eight would now be Thomas, Robertson, Weisman, Kendrick, Richmond, Jones, Boulware and ?????. Some of our best offensive lines have played only six or seven players an entire season. I don’t see this as a problem right now. The good news is that Hall will be back at some point.
Last week I mentioned a few freshmen to keep an eye on from early camp results. Add Bituli and Callaway to that group.
One last note…..I was at practice Thursday and came away with three thoughts that were still on my mind the next day. The first was the overall appearance of this team….this is a team that LOOKS like a Tennessee team should. Secondly it was apparent a lot of teaching and learning was going on and thirdly I continue to be impressed with Coach Jones intensity in teaching the kicking game. Look for a bunch of defensive starters and key backups on the coverage teams especially in the early games.
As we now know Dave Hart announced his retirement effective next June. Chalk Talk will cover in depth this topic in a future article. If you have listened to my Big Orange Sunday shows over the last few years or have read past Chalk Talks then you know my belief that Dave has done a very good job rebuilding a lot of key areas in the athletic department, areas that were in serious decline. Now is not the time to rehash the situation but it will be addressed in the near future. For now I wish him the best and appreciate his efforts in getting our athletic department on very solid footing once again.
We will Talk next Sunday after this last week of practice heading into the September 1st opener. Have a great week!
