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Clear 'ready' to emerge for Vols

Cameron Clear

Tennessee sophomore-to-be tight end Cameron Clear

Statistics didn’t show it last season, but Cameron Clear and his head coach maintain that Tennessee’s mammoth, sophomore-to-be tight end is right on track.

Wes Rucker

    • This all sounds good. I feel like Clear is going to be special. I'm excited to add him to our arsenal of potential targets for Mr. Bray to throw to. The list is long and talented!

      I'm really starting to get pumped about our potential come fall.

      GoBigO

    • I'm still not sure he isn't a future tackle, but I'm perfectly willing to see Bray throw to a 6-6, 283 pound target.

      RockytopATL

    • RockytopATL said...

      I'm still not sure he isn't a future tackle, but I'm perfectly willing to see Bray throw to a 6-6, 283 pound target.

      lets hope he doesnt hit 300 thats his only problem biggrin

      dooleys nephew

    • I think Clear's motivated to keep his weight down and probably get his strength & speed up. Ryveria's a Sr this year. Somebody's got to fill those shoes in '13, and right now it looks like Clear has the poll position to do so. Surely he knows that.

      ericstubb

    • Gotta figure coach Mac has his eye on Cam with strength & conditioning...and the feed trough! All I can say is that if his hands are as good as many say and he's as athletic as Dooley commented... how many DB's want to get in front of that freight train?!?!

      mlm

    • Wes Rucker said...

      http://tennessee.247sports.com/Article/Clear-ready-to-emerge-for-Vols-68317

      Statistics didn’t show it last season, but Cameron Clear and his head coach maintain that Tennessee’s mammoth, sophomore-to-be tight end is right on track.

      Wes,

      Think they'll play a lot of two-TE this season? Have a feel for that yet?

      Kevin Ryan ●

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      Ryan Callahan ●

    • Not answering for Wes....but in my opinion I would say YES. There is more an emphasis on running this spring (two fold, because of WR depth/lack of and we stunk last year in running game) If you are able to have two GOOD blocking TE's in the game, then the running game is going to bennefit. There are so many more plays (being multiple is what the coaches love to say) you can run with two good TE's. Rivera and Clear are going to be huge....we might finally have a leggit play action pass on 3rd and 3 or 4 this year!

      pcox21

    • No offense Ryan, but compared to last year? Rivera has never been the Prototypical blocking TE, he got alot better yes... but now with where Clear is/will be... MUCH further along and able to man handle a DE, or chip and run a route. No Jason Witten Yet, but on the way to being HOPEFULLY. Channey has stated before he LOVES two TE sets... so I would imagine if Rivera and Clear are the players we hope they are, then you would see more two TE sets...based on his play calling and the love of multiple sets / confussion. We just haven't had it in the past 4 years. So, I am excited about many things....but more so about the Coach C finally having a full compliment of talent to really be creative in the play calling. QB, RB, TE's and a good blocking OL. hoping for the best.

      pcox21

    • I would have to agree with Ryan. I think it will be close to the same but probably a bit less because of the receivers. You have to get those guys the ball.

      bigorange

    • I think we will see it about the same. I do think our receivers in time will be better but also our TE's are also better. TE's can be nightmares for lb's to cover and safeties can be too small for them. Watch a New englnad game. They are a two TE receiving team that creates bad matchups for the defenses they play. Same thing with my Panthers. Olsen and Shockey in together your best cover LB can cover one but not both. The other guy will get open. Love the size speed combo of good TE's.

      Myrtlevol

    • I'm no coach, and definitely not Wes - but, with two tight ends of this size and ability, I think we'll see alot of two-TE sets against teams that run a base 3-4. Two-TE set creates balance to run the ball to either side, and gives the QB a read-option to run it right or left, depending on the read at the line. And I believe there are more blocking advantages in off-tackle/outside run plays against the 3-4 than there are against a 4-3. Of course this is all dependant on down and distance, along with the defensive scheme. Just my twocents

      allwillbeorange

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      Ryan Callahan ●

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      wataugavol

    • In Response to AllWillBeOrange and Ryan...

      Very Good Point! And maybe why we didn't see much of Two Tight Ends last year... One, our QB was immature and not a film hawk, thus not able to read and react, two he got hurt and other even less experienced qb's had to play ultimately limiting our chances...and Three we didn't have Two Experienced Tight Ends!

      This year there's more experience across the board. I respect Coach Chenney's mind and if our TE's perform or give him confidence....the he will use them in a Two TE set to exploit defences.... especially if we have some success running the ball in 1st down or 3rd and short plays.... that's where the play action pass and read option "allwillbeorange" is talking about... and it will work against 4-3 defenses if they have weak OLB or our TE's or RB's are better than their matchups.

      Interestingly enough....this should become evident in the first game of the year.... Because I suspect NC St will try to hit us with it... Not so much with the TWO TE's... they are severely lacking in experience, plus Coach TOB prefers one TE sets..... but rather with their experienced level of RB's and catching the ball out of the back field... IF we aren't solid at LB and know assignments... It's going to be a huge YAC day for the pack.

      think about it....

      This post has been edited 3 times, most recently by pcox21 on 4/3/2012 at 9:05 AM

      pcox21

    • one other thing I thought of... Its not an arguement against using less 2, 3 and even 4 wide out sets...Chenney loves slinging the ball... and if our recievers stay healthy we will certainly do that.... I think it's about down and distance, and confidence... being multiple is all about confidence in play calling. Last year we weren't either... from the players standpoint or the coaches.

      If our team plays a physically over matched DB team... then the pass can be used as short yardage (quick slant / quick out) tool, that can lead to a big play. However, say... just for giggles sake that NC St. DB's somehow cut off the passing lanes and are up in our WR's face being physical...and winning the matchup, disrupting routes.

      Yet our TE's and RB's are successful in scrapping the edge getting into the flat or the middle of the field and whipping their less experienced LB's....

      So, its not a point of hey are they going to use more TE sets....and surplant our best weapons on the team.....the WR's.... its a matter of will you see more TWO TE sets... because our TE's are more experienced (blocking and running routes) and give us that match up advantage against certain teams... to where you can tell what we are going to call... in a certain down and distance.

      sorry for the ramble... but that was my thinking anyway.

      pcox21

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      pcox21

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