Vols simulate Vol Walk, locker traditions, game analysis, and presumably also, you know, actually playing football

by _trey_ on Aug 26, 2010 8:19 AM EDT

Talking Points!

Wednesday Coach DD and our scrappy-rebuilding-patchwork-bad-news-(seriouslyrankedbehindKentucky?)-ne-er-do-well Vols totally acted exactly like they were playing big-time football with stadiums and Vol walks and other cool stuff.

Head coach Derek Dooley and staff set up a complete pregame itinerary that included a trial Vol Walk, pregame locker room traditions, halftime responsibilities and even the postgame media operation.[volnation]

So- How'd it go?

There were two occasions out there — one time we went from nickel to goal line and we had 12 guys on the field. And then we had a couple of issues on the sideline, a guy trying to make adjustments and he supposed to be in the octagon ready to get on the special teams play. [volnation]

The takeaway here? As disturbed as we may well be by this new age of indeterminate football simulacrum, our players descend from a frickin' octagon.

While pretend games also apparently have pretend-nobodywilltellus-stats, this particular brush with the postmodern did have a starter list:

Secondary: cornerbacks Eric Gordon and Art Evans; safeties Prentiss Waggner and Janzen Jackson. Linebackers: LaMarcus Thompson, Nick Reveiz and Herman Lathers.
Defensive line: ends Malik Jackson and Chris Walker; tackles Montori Hughes and Victor Thomas.
Offensive line: (from left to right) Dallas Thomas, JerQuari Schofield, Cody Pope, Jarrod Shaw and Ja'Wuan James.
Skill positions: tight end Luke Stocker; receivers Denarius Moore, Gerald Jones and Zach Rogers; tailback Tauren Poole; and Simms at quarterback.
[GVX]

In related (but bad) news, Coach DD received word before the scrimmage from the (totally not at all simulated) NCAA Clearinghouse that Eddrick Loften will not start this season. He may still have a shot as as a mid-term enrollee post-season. There's also no word on Justin Hunter's status:

The other issue on the table regarding talented freshman Justin Hunter has still not been resolved by the NCAA, a point of growing frustration for Dooley that UT is desperately trying to clear up before the Sept. 4 opener against UT Martin. Based on a Facebook update on Hunter’s page, he’s tired of the problem dragging out as well and wondered "when the NCAA (is going) to let him play."
[GVX]

The Vols practice again Friday before resting over the weekend.

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Comments

The only good spot to talk about depth on either side of the ball

is linebacker. I’m interested to see who wins the majority of the time at the other outside LB position between Lathers and Savion Frazier

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Aug 26, 2010 11:38 AM EDT reply actions

possibly wide receiver

Interesting that Zach Rogers is starting ahead of Da’Rick and Milton. Wonder if he’d be ahead of Justin Hunter, should the friggin’ Clearinghouse get their act together.

by Incipient_Senescence on Aug 26, 2010 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Hunter with the 1s.

He’s that good. If he’s cleared in time, he’ll take Zach’s spot….unless he is having difficulty with the blocking schemes….er, sorry. Had a flashback.

by ChattVol on Aug 26, 2010 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

3 WR 1 TE 1 RB Set and Depth

Is this what everyone was expecting us to line up in on Offense or is this a function of our starting FB Cooper being dinged up a bit (hence no I – Form or Pro 2 Back set)?

Will, I agree with you about depth at lineback beign solid, but what about our depth at DE and even WR (if Milton and Rodgers are legit and assuming Hunter can get cleared and we already have Jones and Moore)?

by Jan221973 on Aug 26, 2010 4:34 PM EDT reply actions

That's depth without experience

at DE you’re looking at Malik Jackson and two freshmen getting in the mix, three freshmen at WR. At LB, we’ve got Reveiz, Thompson, Frazier, Lathers, Mitchell-Thornton, and King who’ve all played significant minutes, before we even talk about Austin Johnson or any freshmen. If all the freshmen show up at WR and DE, then we’ll be just as solid there…but until we see it, I think LB is the only place we can be totally confident two deep.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Aug 26, 2010 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you're right.

If I understand him on this, I believe that Dooley would prefer more sets with fullbacks or 2 TEs. It gives a bit more heft in the blocking game without cutting down the number of viable passing targets.

;-)

by David Hooper on Aug 26, 2010 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions