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2009 Big Orange Roundtable Wrap Up (Vol)ume 1
Published by MoonDog on July 18, 2009
The first week of the Big Orange Roundtable revealed how most of us feel Tennessee will fair in the coming season. This week’s Big Orange Roundtable Wrap Up will show that optimism springs eternal among the Volunteer faithful.
The biggest question entering the 2009 season is whether quarterback Jonathan Crompton will improve – and he almost can’t help but improve – over his 2008 performance.
Tennessee’s special teams figure to be better this season too with the addition of Eddie Gran to the coaching staff.
There are many questions entering the 2009 season and this week we touched on a few of them. Let’s take a stroll around the roundtable for a review of this week’s responses.
1. In my mind, this season’s success – or failure – centers around one man, Jonathan Crompton. What is your opinion of Crompton’s ability to run Lane Kiffin’s pro style offense? Can Crompton overcome his miserable 2008 season and lead the Vols to a winning record?
The 3rd Saturday in Blogtober summed up what appears to be the consensus among Vols fans saying, “I gave up on Crompton last year, and, now, I’m forced to embrace him again. I’m hoping for the best and expecting the worst. I think the Vols will win eight games this year, but the only way that’s going to happen is for Crompton to minimize mistakes and manage the game much like he did against bowl participants Kentucky and Vanderbilt at the end of the season last year. The only way it’s going to happen is if we can establish a respectable running game with Montario Hardesty, Tauren Poole and Bryce Brown, and have success throwing to our versatile backs like Brown and David Oku, as well as utilizing the slot and tight end. I don’t see much downfield if Crompton’s the guy.”
Another good point regarding Crompton came from Bleeding Orange, who had this to say. “Biggest busts in the history of Tennessee football? This kid has had to endure more than most people realize. He’s had three offensive coordinators in the last three years, which is more than Peyton Manning has had in his entire career. To make matters worse, Crompton’s most recent offensive coordinator was Dave Clawson, inventor of the infamous Clawfense that has caused so much agony over the past year.”
Rocky Top Talk is ready to give Crompton a second chance in 2009.
“Back in February, I called Crompton damaged goods and scorched earth. Our readers gave the nod to BJ Coleman going into spring practice by a narrow margin, something I believe was based in large part on the bliss of ignorance – we had seen almost nothing from Coleman, thus he had to be better than what we had seen from Crompton (and Stephens).”
“Six months later, I’m willing to go as far as saying that I will give Jonathan Crompton a fair shot in 2009. When he trots out for the first snap against Western Kentucky, I’m not going to be thinking about 2008. I think he has a real chance – even if his numbers are bad in fall scrimmages – to reintroduce himself to the fan base in the first three weeks of September. He’ll have his second chance.”
“Running Kiffin’s offense with this team will probably include lots of handing the ball off…I hope, at the very least, he can do that well. We’ve said this about every quarterback since Peyton Manning, and some have been better at it than others – but he doesn’t have to be great. He just has to manage and not kill us. Last year he did neither. This year, I think he can manage well enough and minimize his mistakes to get us above .500. If the question is ‘can Jonathan Crompton lead the Vols to a 7-5 record?’, I think the answer is yes. How much better can he do than that…well, hopefully the rest of the team will do a good job making sure that’s not entirely up to him.”
Finally, optimism (cough) springs forth like Niagara Falls at Losers With Socks: “I believe that powerful young Crompton is going to cash in his Certificate of Deposit at the Bank of Fulmer where the interest continues to accrue, and is compounded continuously. Ignore last year’s INT’s, botched snaps, errant hand offs and throws off the back foot, this kid has guts and a cannon, he will be the best QB in the SEC . I am planning on making reservations to Atlanta to watch my beloved Vols apply more smack down onto potently hapless Bama in the SEC-CG. Accordingly, Jon Crompton should make reservations to New York.”
2. Last season, the kicking game was mediocre at best and the special teams – especially the punt coverage unit – was a disaster. Daniel Lincoln returns as the kicker and Chad Cunningham will return as the punter. What are your thoughts about the Vols kicking game and special teams?
Regarding Tennessee’s questionable kicking game last season, Vol Junkies was to the point: “First off, I am not a Daniel Lincoln fan. I think he got cocky and over confident. I feel like the place kicker’s place on the team is the most like a “real” job. You don’t really get to participate in the game, you don’t get to be in a zone or get lost in the hype. You have to go out there and put the ball between the goal post. It is that simple. Right now nobody has confidence that he can do it. And that is not what you want or need in the place kicking game. It can be the difference in half your games.
As far as special teams, there is no way it can be any worse. But I am extremely glad that we have a special teams coach. The kicking game is so important that there needs to be a stigma put back on it. We need the best players out there we need these players to want be a part of special teams. I see good things this year from Coach Gran.”
The lack of a special teams coach under the former regime seems to have been rectified with Eddie Gran taking over the duties, best expressed by Your Mother Slept With Wilt Chamberlain.
“The main reason I believe the kicking game was in disarray is because some former coach didn’t believe in having a special teams coach. Well that’s been rectified. With the addition of Eddie Gran more time can be spent on special teams and with the kickers. I believe this to be a major factor and I believe that Lincoln Logs and Cunningham will be just fine this coming season.”
The feelings about last season’s special teams melt down was carried a step further at 3rd Saturday in Blogtober.
“This is an area that was heavily, heavily under-valued by former coach Phillip Fulmer, but it doesn’t appear that will be the case with the new regime. When it comes to the special teams, I have very high hopes because of two words: Eddie Gran.”
“Will it be freshman All-American Lincoln, who made 21-of-29 field goals and was a catalyst for the Vols on their run to the SEC Championship Game? Or will it be the forgettable 2008 season where he made just 10-of-18?”
“I think we’ll score more points this year (I mean, surely we will) and, if that’s the case, Lincoln will get more practice, and he’ll be better. Plus, Gran normally does a good job of developing kickers and helping them through funks (unless we’re talking about last year …) so I’m cautiously optimistic. As for Cunningham, there is zero doubt about his leg strength, having boomed a 57-yarder against Auburn last season. The biggest thing for him is consistency, and that just comes with age. I’m thankful we won’t have to deal with the public embarrassment of Britton Colquitt anymore, but he is a weapon who will be missed on the field. That said, Cunningham has averaged nearly 40 yards per punt in his career, and I believe the Vols will be fine with him. I’m more worried about Lincoln than anybody, and maybe the walk-on kid from Rhea County whose name escapes me can boot some kickoffs into the end zone for a change.”
3. Tennessee’s offensive line was thought to be a strength in 2008, but like the rest of the offensive unit, didn’t perform well. What are your thoughts regarding the offensive line for 2009?
All of the participating sites in this year’s roundtable recognized the problems associated with former offensive coordinator Dave Clawson’s “line swapping” philosophy, aptly expressed at Gate 21.
HSH: “I think the returning lineman have gone on the record saying how much the flipping line offense threw them off, not to mention it gave away the direction of Tennessee’s play to opposing defenses. So I would think the zone blocking schemes in the Kiffin offense would be easier and better for these guys. Anything is better than that silly line-flipping nonsense of the Clawfense, right? The other issue is obviously depth. Tennessee is hardly a deep team anywhere save for the secondary, but the offensive line is a place where the depth issue maybe the most severe and most uncomfortable. The starting five: Chris Scott, Josh McNeil, Vlad Richard, Jacques McClendon and…? Behind them…? It’s just a tad frightening what a injury here or there may mean.”
Lawvol: “After the 2007 season, the Vols were thought to have one of the best offensive lines in the country. After allowing only four sacks in 2007 that was an easy conclusion to reach. 2008, however was a four-cornered disaster on offense. The offensive line just never figured out whether they were supposed to pirouette, dip, or moonwalk when facing the onslaught of a defense under the Clawfense. Again, I’m not saying that Dave Clawson’s paradigm was a bad one, but it was not the right one for Tennessee in 2008.”
Rocky Top Talk pointed out the obvious lack of depth along the Vols offensive line saying, “The o-line’s dominance in 2007 and their faulty play in 2008 runs the continuum from David Cutcliffe to Dave Clawson. Maybe Cutcliffe gets too much credit for his quick-release, no huddle offense that gave up only four sacks in ‘07. Maybe Clawson gets too much blame…well, probably not. Either way, the ‘09 performance is going to be somewhere between those two ends.
Chris Scott, Jacques McClendon, Josh McNeil and Vladimir Richard are experienced and more than adequate. Teams are sure to stack the line against Tennessee’s impending running game and the new zone blocking scheme, but (deep breath) I liked what I saw in the Orange & White Game, and that’s just a start on what this system could potentially do. Will they be as dominant as some of the better Vol o-lines of the past? No. Will they be just as important this season? Yes.
This is also the area where injury could absolutely destroy us. Quick, name the fifth starter on the offensive line. Or name the two guys that play if Chris Scott gets hurt. The trenches breed serious injury, and the Vols will have to be very, very fortunate to make it through unscathed and still productive. There is enough here to feel adequate about, but not enough to raise great expectations, or keep me from being fearful of even one injury.”
Losers With Socks wasn’t terribly impressed with the Vols’ offensive line play last season, but hopes 2009 will be different.
“Fat. They were a bunch of fat ass, immobile, un-hostile lumps of poop. Of course it was easy to get demoralized when your running back can’t hang onto the ball inside the red zone. The team sucked all over the field because the o-line can’t open a running lane against a bunch of girl scouts carrying a load of cookies. You’ve got to make third downs. We’ve got to become a good third-down team. That keeps us on the field and keeps the ball away from the other team.”
“Now maybe we will wake up and quit playing like a high school team and be ready for Western Kentucky!”
4. Tennessee finished 5-7 last season, a huge disappointment for a team expected to perform much better. How do you believe the Vols will finish in 2009?
Gate 21 believes Tennessee might win a game they shouldn’t this season and could lose one unexpectedly. However, most of the roundtable believes the Vols should muster seven or eight wins this season.
Lawvol: “Well, I’m going to be a sheep and go on the record that I believe that Tennessee will win one game that it is not supposed to: namely either Alabama or Florida. Most will think that I am crazy for that, but I think Kiffin’s chutzpah gets them one off of sheer belief in the new system. On the other hand, I think they may likely have a chance of losing one they shouldn’t (to me, Kentucky seems especially likely in that regard). I also do not think that the Ole Miss will be as big a deal as some think. I really do not believe that Ole Miss will have an axe to grind with Coach O since, after all, Ole Miss fired him.”
“In the end, 7-5 is a distinct possibility. I agree with HSH, however, that 8-4 is a safe expectation, but I believe that 9-3 is actually achievable. I’ll have a much better feeling, however, after the first week of the season when we get to see not just what the Vols have to offer, but what the other teams put on the field.”
Bleeding Orange knows the transformation of the Vols program is going to take time, but has confidence Tennessee will show marked improvement this season.
“This year is a year of new beginnings for a Tennessee program that has undergone quite a bit of change over the last year. But change is a good thing, and a program that has become stagnant over the past decade will hopefully start its trek back into the minds of fans, coaches, and the media nationwide.”
“This isn’t an overnight process, and most Volunteer fans know that. It’s a slow process, but with the staff Tennessee has put together and the players they’ve already brought onboard, the sky is the limit for how talented this team can eventually become.”
“There’s no doubt that the upcoming schedule is a daunting one, but with eight of the twelve games being played in Neyland Stadium, the Vols have every opportunity to end 2009 with a winning record. If they can get out of the gate strong, with wins over Western Kentucky and UCLA, there’s no doubt the team will go into their matchup at the Swamp with all the confidence in the world. However, I don’t expect the Vols to knock off any of the top three (Gators, Tide, or Bulldogs), but games at Ole Miss and hosting Auburn will likely be the deciding factor as to whether or not this team succeeds or fails.”
“Look for Tennessee’s 2009 campaign to end on a high note, with the Vols getting back into the bowl picture, but don’t be surprised if you’re celebrating their victory before the start of 2010. Unless, of course, they make it to the Liberty Bowl. Final Prediction: 7-5 (8-5 including bowl win)”
I’d like to thank all of the sites for their anwers to this week’s questions. That will wrap up the first installment of the 2009 Big Orange Roundtable and next week my friends at 3rd Saturday in Blogtober will take over as host site.
Similar Posts:
- 2009 Big Orange Roundtable (Vol)ume 1
- 2009 Big Orange Roundtable (Vol)ume 2
- Big Orange Roundtable Vol(ume) 4
- The Big Orange Roundtable – Vol(ume) 2
- Big Orange Roundtable Vol(ume) 3
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