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RTT#1 Eric Berry: reviewing the class of 2007

All right, y'all. Buckle up. RTT#1 Eric Berry up next. First, the initial profile:

Crib notes on Berry's Getting to Know You piece, bullet-style:

  • Offered a scholarship to Georgia while a sophomore in high school.
  • Ran a 4.33 electronically-timed 40 yard dash with a heavy cast on his wrist.
  • Son of former Vol and former Dallas Cowboy James Berry.
  • Was apparently instrumental in recruiting Ben Martin and Chris Donald to Tennessee as well.

With his talent, Berry would likely have played early and well anyway, but the fact that the secondary had been decimated by the draft, the diploma, and the doghouse made it a foregone conclusion. Berry started every single game, including his very first as a true freshman, somewhere in the secondary. He primarily played at safety, but, for the first and third games anyway, he played as a cornerback. In his 14 games, Berry racked up 86 total tackles (57 solo), four passes defended, one fumble forced, two fumbles returned for 55 yards, and five interceptions returned for 222 yards and one touchdown. Best of all, he generally had his best games against the best competition. That's, um, workin' like heck right there.

#
Int. Ret.
Fum. Ret.
Pts
Tackles
Pass.
Def'd
For'd
Fum.
No
Yds
TD
No
Yds
TD
TTL
TDs
Ast
Solo
Asst
Loss
Solo
Loss
Loss
Yds
14
5
222
1
2
55
0
1
6
29
57
0
2
3
4
1

 

Opponent
Int. Ret.
Fum. Ret.
Tackles
Pass.
Def.
Fum. For'd
 
No
Yds
TD
No
Yds
TD
TTL
TDs
Ast
Solo
Asst
Loss
Solo
Loss
California
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
3
0
0
0
0
Southern Miss.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
0
0
0
0
Florida
1
96
1
0
0
0
1
1
2
0
0
0
0
Arkansas St.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
Georgia
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
Mississippi St.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
0
0
0
0
Alabama
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
1
0
0
South Carolina
1
13
0
1
52
0
0
2
10
0
0
0
0
La.-Lafayette
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
0
0
1
0
Arkansas
2
98
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
0
0
0
0
Vanderbilt
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
1
0
Kentucky
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
7
0
0
1
0
LSU
1
15
0
1
3
0
0
2
5
0
1
1
0
Wisconsin
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
1
 
5
222
1
2
55
0
1
29
57
0
2
4
1


Do we have highlights? Oh, there are a few:

Is it me, or does it just feel like Berry's going to just keep running every time he gets his hand on the ball? Also, has Gary Danielson ever seen an interception that was not the receiver's fault? Just wondering.

My favorite part of Berry's highlight reel is where he pushes over the guy trying to block for him. Sorry, dude, 'ppreciate the effort, but hit somebody or get out of the way.

As Berry got better, he freed up the cornerbacks to play their men tighter, which made it much more difficult for opposing quarterbacks to find open receivers, which both gave our defensive line more time to pressure the QB and allowed John Chavis to mix up his blitzes and call them more often. Did you notice that we were getting more pressure on the quarterback toward the end of the season? I think that's primarily attributable to the improved secondary, which all stems from Berry. Berry, Berry, Berry.

He came into the program with such hype that he was practically destined to fail to live up to it. Instead, he not only met expectations, he exceeded them. Enjoy cheering for Eric Berry for the next two years, Vol fans, because that's probably all we have.

0 recs | Comment 7 comments

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Agreed
On the point about him just seeming to keep on going. Most of his returns were stopped by either running into his own man or a facemask penalty. Can't wait to see him with a year of experience under his belt!

...Is it september yet?!?!

by Getoffmyvols on May 15, 2008 12:20 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Dude!
Not even a single fumble recovery returned for a TD?!  This guy obviously sucks!

...and I'm obviously a billionaire.

EB's athleticism and talent are uniquely amazing.  The even better part is that he seems like a genuinely good-guy who is at UT for all of the right reasons.  While it's easy to assume that he'll only be a Vol for another 2 seasons, I certainly wouldn't be surprised if he happens to pull a Peyton.

by Aerobab on May 15, 2008 12:21 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Thanks RTT
Most exciting 10 minutes of my day.
Who? Eric Berry, That's Who.

by gramsey712 on May 15, 2008 12:43 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Where's the ice cream?
E.B. and D-Mo should easily allow the rest of our defense to double their effectiveness from last season. We can play tighter man coverage and do what we do best. Blitz, blitz, and blitz some more. DEs should have a very productive season this year. It should be a direct continuation from the end of last season, just as Joel said.

I can't wait to see what E.B. comes up with this season. I'm thinking more TDs along with instilling much fear into the heart of any opposing QB that even thinks about throwing downfield. That is if he has any time to throw with B Mart bearing down on him. And by the way, where's that ice cream Mayfield was supposed to dedicate to E.B.? They must not've gotten our petition. Wait. We didn't make one did we? OK. To do list...

I've got something for you young man. Oh! It's Thaa Claawww!! Oh, you're afraid of The Claw...

by XRayVol on May 15, 2008 2:10 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The Man
He is the best defender we have had since John Henderson or maybe even AL Wilson.

by Smitty on May 15, 2008 3:22 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Just Amazing
That's all I can say. Other than I still think that last hit was legitimate, and one of the most crushing I've seen.

by VolBrian on May 15, 2008 6:22 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Bravo
Great package, Joel. I've been out of pocket for a while, but this is top notch work.

by ghostofneyland on May 16, 2008 2:38 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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