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UT middle linebacker Gerald Williams has finished his last class to qualify and awaits his grade. In the meantime, he's ready to take to the field for the Vols. Watch »
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Tennessee offensive line coach Greg Adkins said he’s pleased with the six returning offensive linemen who received extensive playing time last season: center Josh McNeil, tackles Chris Scott and Ramone Foster and guards Vladimir Richard, Jacques McClendon and Anthony Parker.
The list, however, doesn’t stop there. Adkins said he’s also pleased with sophomore Ramone Johnson and junior Cody Sullins. Johnson has made the biggest strides among the group thanks to his consistency.
“Those eight guys have themselves in a position to be put in a ball game,” Adkins said.
Johnson has been so consistent as of late that coaches have played him at tight end to develop depth at a thin position.
“They’ve got a package in for me called ‘Chicago’,” the Chicago native said. “That’s kind of cool.”
Right now, the Chicago package is all about Johnson’s blocking. That, he hopes, will soon change.
“I’m trying to build some confidence in coach Clawson to let me run some routes,” Johnson said, referring to offensive coordinator Dave Clawson.
After the first eight, UT’s offensive line gets a bit dicey. Redshirt freshman William Brimfield has just recently returned from ankle surgery after a strong showing in spring practice. Adkins said sophomores Jarod Shaw and Darius Myers need to improve.
“I expect another level this week,” Adkins said.
Adkins said it’s easier to get a young player ready to play in UT’s new offensive system, which flip-flops its guards and tackles to play strong and weakside instead of playing just one position.
As for center, Adkins said he’s comfortable with three players if something happened to McNeil. Parker, Sullins and Scott have all seen practice time there.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 52
stlvol writes:
Sweet Home Chicago! Throw one to the big guy!
VOLnNASH writes:
It's nice knowing that we don't have to worry too much about the OL. Everything offensively revolves around the blocking abilities of the line.
We want the ball in the hands of our playmakers? This is where it all starts.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!! This is music to Eric Locke's ears.
miamiVOL writes:
Offensive Packages that could be featured this fall under the new "Clawfense"
G Gun - formations featuring WR Gerald Jones as QB, used some last yr (no pass attempts) has attemptd a few passes in spring/fall ball
Wild Berry - Formations featuring FS tEric Berry as QB
Gerry Berry - formations featuring Gerald Jones
and tEB in the same backfield with Crompton as QB
Chicago - Jumbo TE packages using backup OLINE men as TE blockers, pushing T.E. B.Warren outside?
NeylandWest writes:
WorkinLikeHeck - How does Eric Locke factor into this conversation?
iowavol writes:
Chicago??? Eric Locke??? All these names, all these games, let's just get the season started. This time next week, I'm in Vegas. Two days later, I'm in Pasadena wearing UT Orange for three days. Go Vols. Tenn 52-0 over UCLA.
vol4gzus writes:
Those of us who have been voting for Smokey on Mascot hall of fame beware it tries to attach a file to your computer. I saw the message yesterday. You computer geeks tell if what I saw was dangerous please.
On topic, remember the Ramones" No relation to this big fella from the windy city.
VolGraduate writes:
locke and workin went to college at the same time
GoVol writes:
miamivol - we need to show we can perform the basics (run blocking, ball control) well before any wrinkle formations will work. It takes winning in the trenches to win football games...both sides of the ball!
Now, if we do the basics well, will it be fun to watch wild berry and G-gun,..etc....hell yes!
pdb73216#339474 writes:
Speeking of Tight ends, does anyone know what happen to Lee Smith, he commited to us back in 06? And will A. Douglas be cleared to play in the scrimmage today?
pdb73216#339474 writes:
Just found out wher Smith went. Never heard he changed schools.
NeylandWest writes:
VolGraduate: Thanks. I grew up with Eric and our families are very good friends.
VolGraduate writes:
anything sounds better than the mustang package. the mustang package(signalled by the players flapping their arms...which is wierd and confusing) means a first down for the other team on third and long
rockitwithrespect writes:
didnt lee smith get booted for dui?
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
all these packages = same results. Hopefully the packages this year work better than our "trick" plays last year.
Pablopeepants writes:
I heard Georgia was experimenting with an offense package that is assembled with all eleven non-injured, non-incarcerated players.
b_neas writes:
eric locke was a nutjob - after the debacle at UT he tried to walk on and play at a small college in my hometown "tusculum college" the guys i knew that played during that time said he was friggin nuts, and we are not taling crazy/funny nuts, we are talking bi-polar chemical imbalance stuff
andy112382#209793 writes:
WorkinLikeHeck - man, it's a new day, move on and stop living in the past, I am sure you would be able to enjoy the whole football experience a little bit more. You're right about the 'trick plays' of the past, they were so seldom used it was very obvious when they were being used and they were pretty one-dimensional at that, but we have some new blood running the show on offense and I think we should all be pretty pumped about it.
GO VOLS!!!
invisiblekid writes:
b_neas, I knew there was something wrong with you and being from Greeneville explains it. Just kidding. I vaguely remember hearing about Locke around Tusculum as well.
murrayvol writes:
andy: Please forgive me if I don't get "pumped" about a new package that includes 1)option right or 2)option left. Our package experiments have for the most part been found wanting.
But, we can hope I suppose. There is a new OC.
pdb73216#339474 writes:
Rockitwithrespect, yes, L Smith got booted for dui. I think he later signed with Marshall.
auttat writes:
I thought Lee Smith was sleeping with his guidance counselor?
I may get booted for that one
thesavageorange writes:
Smith is a back up to Cody Slate at Marshall.He was in all kinds of different trouble and the guidence councelor thing was the last straw.
vol88 writes:
Give it up andy. That dude is in his own little pathetic world.
Volnavychief writes:
It just kills me that we would put it out to our opponents that we have a package for this guy and when he comes in "we are going to run because the coaches won't throw it to me". Just put the playbook on line with all the terminology and say here ya go!
orangebloodgmc writes:
Dang, we got BNeas, GreenDevilVol, and I think there's a Kilday on here ... I'kid, you from up in there?
thesavageorange writes:
Guys the Chicago package is simply another name for the Jumbo/short yardage/goaline package.they are just having a little fun with it.You hear it in football all the time:Ref "# 76 of the offense is an eligible receiver", then they turn and hand it to the TB.If they do anything w/ this it will be against UAB,Northern Illinois, or Wyoming.
GreenDevilVol writes:
Tusculum,hmmm.... Thats a school that had UT on its schedule in years past. Good ole G-town !!BTW, i-kid are you from the area?
invisiblekid writes:
Originally from there a long time ago in a galaxy far far away G Devil Vol.
threehundredbowler writes:
Take it easy on old workinglikeheck.She reminds me of the tires on my car.Bald,unbalanced and full of hot air.
TommyJack writes:
Good article on b/u QB's from Chatty.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/20...
PreventUT writes:
“I’m trying to build some confidence in coach Clawson to let me run some routes”
I would love to see a 315 lb. guard catching the ball in open space and running past the secondary with blazing 5 sec. forty speed.
I can hear the coaches yelling it now: "Pull up your pants, son!"
scvolalum writes:
Basically there's a little more flexibility in the OL because one more of the big guys has demonstrated some athleticism with consistency. I'm happy for Clawson, as all that talent and experience is going to contribute to a lot of success stories for his first year. I hope, I hope, I hope, I hope. Go Vols!
PreventUT writes:
I guess I should've said 315 lb. TE
PreventUT writes:
he'd be like a slower, heavier and yet taller version of VT's Greg Boone...I mean what isn't there to love?
Can you say, MOOOOOAAANNN!!
Pablopeepants writes:
This is rediculous. How many people have to die before we have some gun control. Look at the murder rates in other countries that have stricter gun laws. Please give me the excuse that maintaining a militia is your right. Please try to tell me that hunting is important because you can't get meat at Food City. Please tell me that you have kids and value your right to bear arms more than you value knowing that your kids can go to school and be safe. This latest incident at Central High School is one of many that could have been prevented. So as much as some people like shooting deer and other animals, please buy some Jack Links and stop justifying why any moron can aquire a gun. Please support tuffer gun laws!! No one since the Beverly Hillbillys has to hunt food anymore. What if it where your child???????
LCvol writes:
The only problem I see with the statement 52-0 is Coach Fulmer doesn't let the team embarass the other team like some of the coaches in this league. He will put in the second and third string before that.
volroadwarrior writes:
Pablopeepants-What an appropriate user name for a bed wetting liberal.
el_duderino writes:
HAHA awesome... I KNOW RAMONE!!
Pablopeepants writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Navalorange writes:
Pablo everyone knows it's a sad and terrible thing. Unfortunately you can't defend yourself from a criminal with a gun with your fist, thus the right for law abiding citizens to keep arms. That being said... THIS IS A UT SPORTS FORUM.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Murrayvol and VolNavyChief are exactly right: our "special player packages" have left much to be desired, and why not tell the whole world what our playbook is when we put certaing guys on the field.
Could we be any more foolish?
Navalorange writes:
BigVol, they might be playing a feint. Building up an aspect of a certain package then using it differently or in an unexpected way. Kind of like when you have a known blocking TE and receiving TE that you rotate, then pop up and use the blocking TE on a route. Anyway, Clawson is supposed to be very good at playing to a defenses weakness. Maybe he is good at trickerology too.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Man, we need some football to be played already, these comments are becoming like broken records and not to mention half of them come from somewhere out in left field....everyone is an expert I suppose.
Lets play some football!!! GO VOLS!!!
Pablopeepants writes:
I agree Naval Orange. I will give my eight year old the 22 tommorow just in case trouble arises.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Pachyderm package on short yardage situations: Ramone Johnson at TE, Vlad Richard at FB, the Baylor kid at BB-HB, and A. Foster behind a ton of fun! Stop us if you can! Go Vols! SAVol
UTvols12342000 writes:
everyone has the right to have firearm protection!
if you outlaw guns, only outlaws have guns. how stupid and communist can some people be after getting to live in the glorious USA.
on topic now.....no packages, no special stuff, no trickery. Run it down their throat till they put eight in the box, then sling it long!
go VOLS!
Pablopeepants writes:
we all have firearm protection. It is called the police force. I know utv that it is a war zone here in the Knoxville Metro, but I doubt that you sleep with a pistol under your pillow. All I know is that I can't remember the last time a story was printed about a robbery being stopped by a home owner with a gun. I do remember many stories of idiots that hide behind a gun because they are affraid of taking an butt whipping. Somebody dies because a kid is affraid of getting a black eye. Sorry to get you fired up comrade, but I understand that you have to guard your welfare check when your hanging in the trailer park.
VolGraduate writes:
angie stanfield smells like cabbage
TommyJack writes:
Pablo: Whatever credibility you may have had just tanked with your last post. Like most left leaners, you showed your closet elitism with the trailer park remark.
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