The CheckerBoard

This may be the best/deepest OL in the country..The hurry-up offense concerns me with timing, but I believe this staff will get through where Clawson failed in 08'..GBO!!

This OL is looking very impressive. It would be cool to see an entire front five and possibly +1 get drafted in the same draft next year although I hope Richardson decides to stay one more year.

I believe Clawson's biggest failure was trying to swap lineman from one side to the other during the game. How many other coaches have really ever tried to do this? One of Fulmer's biggest mistakes was making this hire, course its easy to say this looking backwards.

I'm not sure if Clawson was that bad or Fulmer tried to tweak his scheme too much..Either way together they were horrible and cost Fulmer his job.

The reports from the players about the Clawfense was that it required way too much thinking and they could not play fast. That was from WR's, linemen, and RB's. Like Ryan said, the pace of the new offense is not what should concern anyone. The Vols ran mostly no-huddle last season. The concern should be with the schemes and the terminology. Can the players pick of the lingo quickly enough? Can the players pick up the schemes quickly enough to play fast during the plays? These are the big questions.

Look for quotes like this in the spring:
"You know, it's all kind of new for us. So we're just taking it one day at a time."

"I mean, yeah, there's a little bit of confusion sometimes, but I think we'll get it. Coach just keeps telling us..."

"We're just concentrating on our reads and getting on the same page..."

"We just gotta work out our timing and knowing what each one is doing..."

These are the kinds of things we have heard a lot over the last four seasons. We will hear them again, naturally, with a new offensive and defensive scheme.

I'd love to hear: "The coaches are doing a great job of breaking this down for us. It's making a lot of sense. Guys are picking up the new system quickly, playing fast. Guys are flying around on both sides of the ball..."

Final note: I remember distinctly the former DC saying that he wanted to throw it all at them and let them "swim" in all of it. He was sure that eventually they would begin to pick it up. That did not work. Coaches need to break it down and present it systematiclly, building on concepts and keys, allowing players to gain comfort witht he system and confidence in their execution. I am watching for the staff to do this.

Vols!!

Agree jbeare we ran more of a no huddle than a hurry up but I think these guys will be in good enough shape to run this offense. I don't think our QB or our coaches were smart enough or decisive enough to run a true up tempo offense.

Damn frosty did you get a down vote for that post I upped you 1 and your at 0, tough crowd sometimes on here but Tiny will be an early 1st rounder and go as he should, tackles of his size and quickness are at a premium in the league and a big payday is guaranteed.