Where is Brandon Warren?

by Colonel Corn on Oct 13, 2008 11:37 PM EDT

Brandon Warren is like a ghost in our offense right now. Where is the guy we worked so hard to get into school at Knoxville? Where is the guy who was a freshman All American at FSU? Why can't we get him the ball? These are just a few questions that I have, and I know many others do as well. One reason I have heard given was that Warren was having a hard time picking up the offense. My response to that is when you have a guy with that much talent, can't you just tell him to run out and get open? Can't you find some way to incorporate him into the offense?

This is a baffling aspect to Tennessee's 2008 season to me. His cumulative stat total in six games is as follows:

Brandon Warren - 6 games played, 5 receptions for 65 yards. That's a 13.0 avg per catch, and a 10.8 avg per game. This is deceiving because one of his five receptions went for 42 yards. He also has two kick returns for 34 yards.

Why did we work so hard to get this guy into school if we aren't going to use him? I don't know, is this bothering anyone else?

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baffling

Did he even get any snaps against UGA? He has had a few drops, but I still think he’s a great player.

My only guess is that he’s having trouble with the blocking schemes. But that’s just a shot in the dark.

by rblakeh on Oct 13, 2008 11:45 PM EDT reply actions

Are they that complicated?

How hard can the schemes be? We’re halfway through the season. For a freshman All-American who is now a sophmore how long should it take? He was practicing before he was even allowed by the NCAA to play, so it’s not like he just got here.

I’m not criticizing you, I would just like an explanation from someone on the staff as to why we aren’t trying to get the ball more to a supposed playmaker.

by Colonel Corn on Oct 14, 2008 12:05 AM EDT reply actions

Hey, welcome and thanks for posting.

I’ll get back to this later, but it’s beddy-bye for me. But I wanted to thank you for stopping by before heading out.

by David Hooper on Oct 14, 2008 12:33 AM EDT reply actions

You've hit on a popular topic: Where's Warren?

I don’t have a clue how much water that “hasn’t picked up the offense” argument holds. I do, however, know that Stephens has been throwing almost exclusively to the wide receivers in the last two games. Against UGA, there was only one throw to a tight end the entire game (a completion to Stocker as the very last pass of the game). That is probably due to two things: (A) Stephens is still probably catching up on the offense himself; and (B) UNI and UGA were probably stacking the box against the run, which doesn’t leave a lot of room for a tight end to run. If either (or both) of those are playing a part in the lack of TE production, I would expect a continual increase in the amount of tight end action in the passing game.

Warren did play against UGA, though. I don’t know how many snaps he was involved in, though.

by David Hooper on Oct 14, 2008 8:25 AM EDT reply actions

hope you are right, hooper

two very good reasons why the (de)clawfense hasn’t used the TE’s well. i’ve been wondering if Claw has simply overlooked ALL the talent we have at that position (Warren, Stocker, Cottam).

whoshotwhointhewhatnow?

by thetennesseethumper on Oct 14, 2008 9:08 AM EDT reply actions

I can't imagine the talent has been overlooked.

As much as the coaches have talked about the TE position as a team strength, they’ve undoubtedly been trying to work it in. I just think the other problems on offense have prevented the coaches from utilizing that talent well. When your first QB refuses to look beyond his primary receiver and your second QB plays 1 game with a half-week of first-string reps and 1 game with a full week, you don’t get much sync.

Besides, I’m kinda talking myself into liking the recent pass playcalls. Teams have been seriously crowding the box against UT; establishing the WRs as legitimate threats will open up the box again and all for a more balanced offense. I’m hoping some of those deep passes against UGA help the running game and TE play against MSU.

by David Hooper on Oct 14, 2008 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I remember

Something along the lines of Clawson being intrigued by the depth he would have at his disposal at tight end which was something he had never had the luxury of before and perhaps might explain the lack of tight end calls in his base offense. (which I am still trying to figure out what that exactly is).
The main theory I have about our offensive struggles this year is that the majority of the off season was spent on implementing a new system and learning new terms. When you spend a lot of time on that you spend less time on fundamentals. IE handoffs, catching, throwing, all that good stuff.

by Getoffmyvols on Oct 14, 2008 9:27 AM EDT reply actions