BillySee58

Good! Saying we're going to need him is an understatement of rather generous proportions.

Happy birthday Harry! Have a good one!

How's his recovery going?

That's a good program down there in Waco Midway. Go get em

Butch Jones is doing wonders for the Vols right now. He hasn't coached a game so the jury is still out, but he has the number 3 recruiting class in the country for 2014. That class includes 5 star (according to 247) running back Jalen Hurd who will be a sophomore that year.

Troy almost beat Tennessee last November, 55-48.

I just might have to be there for that. A lifelong Vols fan, my first game at Neyland and I'll be rooting for the away team!

For sure! I just think 105th in the nation in scoring is inexcusable.

I'm not asking for 2007 UNT vs Navy scores. All I'm saying is that we should be able to at least hang with teams and keep the ball games close when they score in the 30s and low 40s. Maybe not win, but at least feel like we have a chance. Because our offense started so slow often last year, if our defense gave up points early we were done and we all knew it. Other than the LaLa game we had no come from behind wins, or games in which we were able to make interesting after falling behind for that matter. That has to change if we want to be competitive.

Our defense was 61st in the nation in scoring defense, offense was 105th in the nation in scoring. Defense gave up 27.8 points a game, which isn't that bad (middle of the pack for FBS teams). Our offense only scored more than 27.8 points in 2 games, and one of them was against FCS Texas Southern. The other was our 30 point "outbreak" against LaLa. Make all the excuses you want, but that's terrible. Lord forbid we can't be involved in a shootout every now and then. Or at least a game where we can keep up with a team in the 30s.

Picked up offers from Missouri and Kansas

Too late. Fire has been further fueled.

I was hoping KTXA would pick up a game or two.

Especially when we're always playing from behind and we have to air the ball out to play catch up. What happens when we are playing with a lead? See western Kentucky game after DT's pick six. No confidence to throw the ball. I feel like something's up. I really feel like Mac is trying to egg Berglund on and make him come out and take the spot this fall. The confidence that Mac is stating he has in DT is fabricated in my opinion. As 90 said, Mac doesn't let DT throw the ball on first down or when we have a lead for that matter. He and Chico do not trust him to take over the ball game even though opposing defensive coordinators dare him to. I just don't see how we can win games with a qb that the coaches don't trust. Conspiracy theorist post over.

Yes, the offense is improved, or so it seems. As for Byrd, he didn't score a single touchdown in the redzone last year against FBS opponents. He and Thompson both struggle in the red zone. Jimmerson or Pegram should be our goal line backs, unless Byrd decides to keep his head up when he runs and not just dive straight into the center's behind. It all comes down to points. If Thompson and Byrd improve then we'll be better, obviously. If they repeat their performances from last year then we have other candidates to get the job done.

His red zone performance is a product of his skill set. I got bashed for being too critical of him, but he struggles with accuracy (as we all know) and he has below average arm strength. Throwing windows are tighter and close quicker in the red zone. QBs have to be accurate and have to zing the football in tight spaces quickly sometimes. He struggles with this, we struggle in the red zone. And in general (105th in the nation in scoring).

I have the same take on Thompson as you do, but did you really expect anything different from this article?

Good for Sed! Nice to have speed at linebacker. He needs to bulk up a good amount, but his speed should make him an interesting prospect going forward.

Me and you both. Also, a player can't play football and be on scholarship with another sport. If they play football and are on an athletic scholarship, the scholarship must count towards football. This way football teams can't bring in a bunch of track and baseball guys and have them play football while not counting towards the 85 scholarship limit in football.

Anyiam was a co-starter last year. He can play a little, so it's not like he was just moved just to provide depth. He was moved because he can and did contribute. Absolutely Mac likes him better at Right Tackle, but we have some depth on O-Line and not so much d-line. Maybe "much" is a stretch, but I do think they'd be better on the outside, or at least Lincoln would be. It's not even just that he'd be better on the outside, but he'd be have a better chance to make plays, and he could be a playmaker on D, as could Boutwell. At tackle they're stuck trying to occupy guards and centers and preventing them from combo-ing up to the linebackers. A vital and thankless job, but not as much a chance to make a play on the ball carrier. Also, Boutwell has not held up well at tackle. It's not his fault. He has to eat something ridiculous like 7 meals a day to hit 260 on the scale. This was when he played primarily a 3-technique. He will probably be needed to play the nose tackle, or 1-technique, which is more suited for the big guys. This problem would likely occur with guys like Watson, Austin Orr, and Haboul as well. Wallace has the natural size, so it'd be just great if he could step up and contribute. I personally don't think they will move Anyiam to nose tackle, but I think it should and maybe will be discussed so I figured it'd be worth discussing here.

I think someone on here stated that Coach Mac doesn't see Thompson as a Division 1 defensive lineman. Then again, we aren't sure how many Division 1 tackles we really have right now. I'm sure it'll be discussed.

Who's throwing out random names? Anyiam came here as a defensive lineman and started at defensive end for the 2008 5A division 1 state champion Allen Eagles. I didn't just throw a random name out.http://dallasnews.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Pr_Key=81785 As for Boutwell and Lincoln, they are much better served on the outside. It will be such a darn shame if Lincoln doesn't get a chance to play on the outside during his career here, because he is a stud. What makes you think our other four defensive tackles are going to be good? I hope they are, but it's not like we, or the coaches, have never seen them play at all. Just not in games.

I am too, just stating the likely situation.

I conpletely agree, obviously. Also, what about LaChris Anyiam? I know he's starting at right tackle but he has a d-line background.

If that height and weight are anywhere near close to correct, he'd be a DT here for sure.