Tuesday, April 23, 2013

2012 YEAR OF STRUGGLES ON DEFENSE, WILL 2013 BE ONE OF STRUGGLES ON OFFENSE?


2012 YEAR OF STRUGGLES ON DEFENSE, WILL 2013 BE ONE OF STRUGGLES ON OFFENSE?

Knoxville, Tennessee  (HOUSEOFNEYLAND) The Coach Butch Jones Era is underway here in Knoxville, but with the conclusion of Spring Practice and last Saturday's Orange and White Game, many unanswered questions remain unanswered.



                                         Neyland Stadium
                                                                   From NW Corner
                                                                Photo by John White
                                                                      April 18, 2013

We do know that the 2012 season under Coach Derick Dooley was fraught with defensive struggles.

This year's spring game gave VOL fans hope that the DEFENSE for 2013 will be much improved.

The fly in the buttermilk, however, is on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage.

As Mike Strange writes in his News-Sentinel column today...

"The conclusion (is) that Tennessee in 2013 will be a mere shadow of the offense that scored 53 TDs and averaged 476 yards a game last fall."

Mike points out that the "bunch of playmakers"  we had on that team "are awaiting the NFL draft this week."

On the positive side, however, Mike tells us to keep this fact in mind...

"There will be at least SIX wide receivers and FOUR tight ends available (next fall) who did not play in the spring game."

And, of course, what VOL fan did not realize that...

"the offensive line operated Saturday without (ANTONIO) TINY RICHARDSON, potentially one of the top tackles in the nation."


                                                      Tiny Richardson and John White
                                                     Neyland-Thompson Sports Center
                                                                       April 18, 2013


                                                                           You Tube Video