Talking points: notebook nuking edition

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 17, 2008 7:21 AM EDT in Rocky Top Talking Points

Time to nuke the notebook. Prepare.

Answer to your question:
microwaves
Photo by Pixel Addict

Forecast for this weekend's Orange and White game? Mostly cloudy with a thunderstorm. Woo. So who's fan enough to join us for the RTT Hullabaloo?
According to Ryan Karl's blog, Detroit is very interested in Jerod Mayo, who "is such a good guy and he deserves everything he has gotten."
Don't miss Spencer's appeal to Larry Munson's continued longevity. It's fantastic, even by Spencer's standards.
Pajamas, recovering from arthroscopic reconstructive surgery to his left shoulder, will be held out of contact drills for 3-4 months, but should be ready for practice come October.
Third string running back Tauren Poole looks to be one of those guys who just gets better as the game goes along.
Don't miss the fact that the defensive line had a pretty good scrimmage last Saturday. Ben Martin, Robert Ayers, and Wes Brown each recorded two sacks, and Dan Williams had one.
RTT member Turkish Bob needs help locating a clip:

Joel, I still have nightmares from a clip I saw from the Lady Vols game against Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2-11-08. It is the look that General Summit gave Shannon Bobbitt for drawing a technical foul with a comment "its not about you". If someone is able to find the clip "please post it" . The description from the 6:40 mark in the second half >>>Another replay from Monday's game involved Summitt and UT senior point guard Shannon Bobbitt. The ESPN2 telecast showed Summitt blistering Bobbitt for drawing a technical foul in the second half. Bobbitt rushed up and pointed at Matee Ajavon after a foul was called on the Scarlet Knights guard.>>>>>>> FULMER NEEDS TO ADOPT SUCH A INTIMIDATING STARE DOWN.
Did you know that Brent Vinson and Eric Berry worked with the women's soccer team in the off season to improve their footwork? No, really. That was the reason.
Point guard Daniel West made it official and signed with the Vols yesterday.
Ellix Wilson just wants to become Jerod Mayo. Is that too much to ask?
And yes, Eric Berry, along with Gerald Jones, took some snaps at QB this week. Vol fans are becoming incontinent of bowel and bladder at the mere thought of Berry and Jones in the same backfield.
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Quick observations:

From the link on the D-line:

It took three weeks, three scrimmages and some serious growing pains, but on Saturday, it finally appeared that Tennessee's offense is catching up to its dominating defense. Even with improved D-line production, this implies that the receivers are running better routes and the QBs are doing better with ball protection. However, having the D-line record that many sacks against a veteran-at-all-positions O-line is a good thing to hear. Hopefully that line can complement the secondary and make the defense truly frightening.
"There are times you call something and the defense does a heck of a job covering you, and you just need to cut your losses and survive the down and play the next play." This should sound familiar from last year; it was the main wisdom that Ainge received from Cut: throw it away if it ain't there. So we have an offense that's working towards zero turnovers and a defense that absolutely loves turnovers. Again, I like.

From the soccer team link (which has a metric ton of information):

Ainge will receive 32 snaps without the green jersey on Saturday. Why? "He's not getting the ball out on time and that's best way I know to teach him," Fulmer said. Oh, the defenders will love this.
Team-first is coming back. A few players are being asked to play positions other than their ideal for the sake of team depth. They're taking to it very well, if the quotes are a reflection of reality. We may have eliminated much of the me-first, NFL "Future" mentality that plagued the team a few short years back.
Part of the offense's struggles. Regarding the learning curve: "Very challenging," Jones said. "Cut's (former offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe) offense was a lot more simple. This is a lot more complex. It takes a lot more studying." Having the entire offense learn a new system while the defensive returnees already know most of Chavis's system will make a difference in the early going. I'm happy to hear that the offense is gaining ground, but I can't see it fully coming around until close to the regular season. (At least we'll be facing another team with growing pains in the first game.)
I like the soccer practice idea. It develops the footwork, but also stamina, explosiveness, spatial awareness and range without much contact. (Besides, I bet the soccer team enjoyed it.)

Best user comment from the Daniel West article: West from the North playing in the South. Nice line, givim6, whoever you are. Add to it the SEC East, and you've got it covered.

by David Hooper on Apr 17, 2008 10:56 AM EDT reply actions

One thing I noticed as I was combing through the highlights of last season is that as the year progressed, the defensive line began to appear to get better. I say "appear" because I'm wondering how much of that was attributable to young secondary gaining experience. Many of the increased sacks and QB pressures late in the season seemed to be coverage sacks and pressures.

A stellar secondary won't get credit on the stat sheet for a sack, but they may in fact be the unit deserving of the credit.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 17, 2008 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

So long as we stop the opposition cold,

I'm not worried about credit, or whether it was a sack, interception, or tackle. That's the thing I love most about football; every part of a unit relies on the other parts doing their job. If the secondary rocks, then D-line gets better. It's one huge, intricate machine that's absolute poetry to watch when it works (and an absolute train wreck when it doesn't).

I can't wait for the fall now.

by David Hooper on Apr 17, 2008 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Raining in Memphis

So you'll probably get this rain later tonight or perhaps during the game tomorrow. Bring your slickers and umbrellas!

My Signature Should be Better Than This

by MoonDogLeft on Apr 18, 2008 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks for the heads-up.

by David Hooper on Apr 18, 2008 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Honestly,

if we had 21 more players just like Eric Berry (at least mentally) we'd win the National Championship. The guy is already great, doesn't need to go out of his way to get better, but he does. And he has the right attitude, and well I could go on, but I'll just stop before I sound like a stalker.

Proudly returning to the EBMCC (Eric Berry Man Crush Club)!

by Volorado on Apr 19, 2008 1:36 PM EDT reply actions