What's left - Offense

[PirateVOL]

OL:  Jackson, an experienced Guard returns after a RS.  Crowder will most likely start at center.  Kerbyson (OT) and Wiesman (OG) most likely will be other starters.  The other OT?, possibly Kendrick.  Reserves?  Pair and the incoming 4 stars.  I would not be surprised if a true FR gets a shot.

TE:  We need one or both the highly rated TE recruits to come in and start.  We have NOTHING in the cupboard at this position.

WR: 
Outside receivers:  North is a Given.  Croom really improved during the season and was perhaps the only consistent blocker in the WR group (our two longest runs this year were due/helped by blocks by Croom).  Both have the size we are looking for, especially near the endzone.  Josh Smith showed an ability to get separation and has good speed, just has problems catching the ball. The incoming FR will get every chance to play.
Slot:  Pig, Johnson and Young provide good depth at the position but all need to improve in various areas.

RB:  IMO Lane is not an every down SEC back and he still spends far too much time auditioning for Dancing with the Stars, but provides good depth.  Maybe another year of coaching would help .  Hurd probably best chance to come in and start

QB:  Wide Open.  3 of the 4 returning QBs played.  The one that did not I find the most intriguing is the one who didn't play as he was the first off the bench till his injury.  I tend to agree with others that Ferguson has the most upside.  It will be interesting watching spring practice.

Coaching:  Really not sold on Mahoney at OL, IMO we took a step down from Pittman.  Maybe with younger players they will be more responsive to what is being taught.  Coach Jake needs to be  less afraid for the players to fail.  When he was so inclined this year the offense performed well, within the limitations of the personnel.  I really like what Gillespie and Azzanni did this year with their players.  Elder didn't have much to work with.

[Ridge Runner]

I fear that replacing the whole OL is going to hurt us. For all the bitching and complaining we did about them, and no doubt they didn't live up to the hype, we still averaged 188 yards rushing per game, which, if not earth-shattering, is respectable. I just hope Vol fans can be patient, because next year isn't going to be that much better in all likelihood. We should improve a game or two and make a minor bowl, but I'm kind of pointing to 2015 as the year where we will start the climb back into contention.

[PirateVOL]

I fear that replacing the whole OL is going to hurt us. For all the bitching and complaining we did about them, and no doubt they didn't live up to the hype, we still averaged 188 yards rushing per game, which, if not earth-shattering, is respectable. I just hope Vol fans can be patient, because next year isn't going to be that much better in all likelihood. We should improve a game or two and make a minor bowl, but I'm kind of pointing to 2015 as the year where we will start the climb back into contention.

At three of the positions I think we will be OK.  Jackson has started.  Crowder got a lot of PT, perhaps needs some more time with Lawson.  Kerbyson received a good amount of PT.  So one half the line I think is in good shape.

[Ridge Runner]

At three of the positions I think we will be OK.  Jackson has started.  Crowder got a lot of PT, perhaps needs some more time with Lawson.  Kerbyson received a good amount of PT.  So one half the line I think is in good shape.

I don't know if I'd call it "good shape." Certainly it's not as bad as it was four years ago when we were starting almost exclusively true freshmen and sophomores, but at the end of the day we're going to be trotting out some mixture of players that were either not good enough to crack this year's unit and redshirts/true freshmen.

[Inspector Vol]

OL:  Jackson, an experienced Guard returns after a RS.  Crowder will most likely start at center.  Kerbyson (OT) and Wiesman (OG) most likely will be other starters.  The other OT?, possibly Kendrick.  Reserves?  Pair and the incoming 4 stars.  I would not be surprised if a true FR gets a shot.

OL will not have the accolades but could still perform good enough for a transition year on the OL. Still no depth.

TE:  We need one or both the highly rated TE recruits to come in and start.  We have NOTHING in the cupboard at this position.

Put 20 lbs on Croom and move him to TE. Would be a match up nightmare.

WR:  
Outside receivers:  North is a Given.  Croom really improved during the season and was perhaps the only consistent blocker in the WR group (our two longest runs this year were due/helped by blocks by Croom).  Both have the size we are looking for, especially near the endzone.  Josh Smith showed an ability to get separation and has good speed, just has problems catching the ball. The incoming FR will get every chance to play.
Slot:  Pig, Johnson and Young provide good depth at the position but all need to improve in various areas.

These guys need consistent play out of the QB as much as anything. If we get that they will look a lot better.

RB:  IMO Lane is not an every down SEC back and he still spends far too much time auditioning for Dancing with the Stars, but provides good depth.  Maybe another year of coaching would help .  Hurd probably best chance to come in and start

Lane does dance some but has better vision than Neal and typically falls forward. Hurd will have the skills but can he make the jump to SEC level from the start? We need him to be a quick study.

QB:  Wide Open.  3 of the 4 returning QBs played.  The one that did not I find the most intriguing is the one who didn't play as he was the first off the bench till his injury.  I tend to agree with others that Ferguson has the most upside.  It will be interesting watching spring practice.

I don't know who will emerge at QB but I suspect that either Dobbs or Ferguson will be the man. The other two have not showed enough yet.

Coaching:  Really not sold on Mahoney at OL, IMO we took a step down from Pittman.  Maybe with younger players they will be more responsive to what is being taught.  Coach Jake needs to be  less afraid for the players to fail.  When he was so inclined this year the offense performed well, within the limitations of the personnel.  I really like what Gillespie and Azzanni did this year with their players.  Elder didn't have much to work with.

No secret I am not sold on a lot of the coaching. I hope these guys are quick studies too. Knew there would be a learning curve, there always is for new coaches in the SEC. Thing that work elsewhere do not work here. Any change likely won't come until after signing day so lets see what happens.

[TallVol]

Along with Hurd coming in at RB in this signing class, is there not another that is highly rated as well?  Paulk, is his name I think?  I don't keep up with recruiting enough to know every new kids name but though there was a great 1-2 punch signing.  Would he not factor in as well?  Either way, I hope they have SEC speed.  I miss that in our offense.

[Creek Walker]

Along with Hurd coming in at RB in this signing class, is there not another that is highly rated as well?  Paulk, is his name I think?  I don't keep up with recruiting enough to know every new kids name but though there was a great 1-2 punch signing.  Would he not factor in as well?  Either way, I hope they have SEC speed.  I miss that in our offense.

Paulk is a 3-star kid from Georgia. No. 8 RB in the class, per Rivals, with an offer list that is lengthy but kinda meh.

Obviously for the numbers to work there are gonna have to be a couple of grayshirts in this class and there's been some speculation that Paulk might be one of them. He was injured earlier this season.

[Clockwork Orange]

Paulk is a 3-star kid from Georgia. No. 8 RB in the class, per Rivals, with an offer list that is lengthy but kinda meh.

Obviously for the numbers to work there are gonna have to be a couple of grayshirts in this class and there's been some speculation that Paulk might be one of them. He was injured earlier this season.

We liked Paulk a lot, but that season ending knee injury had to put a damper on things. It now sounds like we're reaching back out to Brandon Powell (former commit) and selling him on PT being available at RB. We had been looking at him in the slot.

[EmerilVOL]

No secret I am not sold on a lot of the coaching. I hope these guys are quick studies too. Knew there would be a learning curve, there always is for new coaches in the SEC. Thing that work elsewhere do not work here. Any change likely won't come until after signing day so lets see what happens.

Same ole same ole....look Jones has been successful at every stop.  He had the first year at Cincy where he was 4-8 but then he won or shared the Big East title two years in a row.  According to some on this board Ole "Flip Flop" Urbanator's offense would not work in the SEC, but he won TWO National Championships with that offense.  So before you pillory this coaching staff (which you have done since the hire was made) how about taking an approach that is more wait and see than questioning every DAMN thing they have done.  In fact you were questioning their ability to recruit in the SEC.  Convinced they can recruit in the SEC yet?  If not see Rankings and realize you were in error concerning that. 

Oh and BTW who should UT have hired......Gruden?????? 

[Inspector Vol]

Same ole same ole....look Jones has been successful at every stop.  He had the first year at Cincy where he was 4-8 but then he won or shared the Big East title two years in a row.  According to some on this board Ole "Flip Flop" Urbanator's offense would not work in the SEC, but he won TWO National Championships with that offense.  So before you pillory this coaching staff (which you have done since the hire was made) how about taking an approach that is more wait and see than questioning every DAMN thing they have done.  In fact you were questioning their ability to recruit in the SEC.  Convinced they can recruit in the SEC yet?  If not see Rankings and realize you were in error concerning that. 

Oh and BTW who should UT have hired......Gruden?????? 

You have me confused with someone else. I have made comments about the staff during the season based on things I have seen in the games. Have never questioned their ability to recruit, was sold on Butch since before the season. You better go back and recheck that statement about the recruiting and what I have said about Butch when he was hired. Letting your desire to disagree with me cloud your memory I am afraid.

And you picked that one response out of all the other comments in that post to comment on? Kind of telling IMHO. I knew it didn't show up exactly like I had planned. Thought everyone could figure it out. I will go back and fix it now. 

Never was excited about the Gruden talk. He did good with other coaches players but could never assemble talent on his own in the NFL. That is the one thing a college coach has to be better at than an NFL coach.