The Film Room: Wide Receivers

I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the strength of our team, or what it was before, you know, the injury: Wide Receivers. Too often people think WR is all about speed. While it is an added bonus, it’s simply not all there is to playing the position. Pristine route running can make up for a lack of speed. To understand the receiver position, you first have to know the route tree. This is a fairly standardized system of numbered routes. Take a look.

 

Though it can vary from program to program, this is the general format. Even numbered routes go towards the ball, odds go away. Note that every route isn’t necessarily the yardage indicated. For instance, not every curl route is going to break off at ten yards, or every slant route at two or three. Also, not every route in football is listed, such a z-out, post-corner, or drag. But for all other intents and purposes, this is generally recognized throughout high school, college, and the NFL. Let’s take a look at the routes.

1) Flat - Sometimes called an arrow or quick out, this route is usually run within a combinations of routes, and is generally not a QB’s first option.

2) Slant - It’s run in everything from Pop Warner to the NFL, and for good reason. Possibly the best route against man coverage, it’s designed for the WR to get inside separation from the defender. It’s seen mostly around the goal line and short yardage situations, but can be run anywhere on the field.

3) Comeback - Another route that’s good against man coverage, and also some zone, the comeback is not the same thing as a hitch or a curl. It’s designed for the receiver to “come back” towards the QB, minimizing the chance for a DB to make a play on the ball.

4) Curl - This route is a timing route, meaning the receiver runs hard upfield, then plants and turns for the ball, which should already be on its way. This is usually designed for a set number of yards, such as the first down marker.

5) Out - Another timing route, the receiver sprints hard upfield and then makes a sudden cut to the sideline. Similar to the curl, as the WR makes his cut, the ball should already be on its way. This is the hardest throw and catch in football.

6) Dig - Sometimes called a in or square in, the dig is good against man because it allows the receiver inside separation from the defender. It’s also used to pick apart zones. The receiver simply finds a window in between zones for the QB to hit him in.

7) Corner - A deadly route against cover 2, it tests the discipline of a safety. Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison, then Reggie Wayne, made/are making (He’s not done yet!) millions off of this route.

8) Post - A route designed to test safety/linebacker discipline, the QB must have enough time to hit it. More solid against man coverage, it can be run against the zone.

9) Go - Everyone knows the Go route. Get hard upfield, fast. This is where that speed thing comes into play. Start outside the numbers and get outside, vertical release.

The Film Room: South Carolina Fumble

I thought it would be interesting to take an in-depth look at some of Tennessee’s best, and maybe worst, plays, and see if we can figure out why they happened. Let’s start out with Brian Randolph’s forced fumble. It was a fantastic play that could’ve busted the game wide open. A closer look reveals that it might not have ended so well had he not made the play. Here’s the play in real time.

 

 

 

 

Now we’ll take a look at it in still shots

1. Our lineup right now is Jordan Williams at RE, Mo Couch and Malik at DT, and Bohannon at LE. Look at the explosion off of the line, sans Bohannon. Williams, Couch and Malik are already across the line of scrimmage. Great get off.

2. Bohannon decided to take a nap, and this causes problems later on in the play.

3. I absolutely cannot tell definitively  who this corner is, but I think it’s Art Evans. In Wilcox’s style of D, the corner or the safety has contain. Even if he doesn’t have contain, the corner can’t let anything outside of him. His first step is backwards and towards the center of the field.

4. Poor Dontavius Sapp. I really liked him this game. He showed a lot of effort, he’s quicker than Maggitt, but he showed his green side. Austin and AJ Johnson have already made on step towards the ball. Sapp hasn’t moved yet.

5. Brian Randolph is lurking back there. Somewhere.

1. C’mon Bohannon. As my old coach used to say, did you give him money for that ride? He’s straight up and getting pushed backwards. Great play by that right tackle.

2. Notice Evans (Presumably). All his momentum is flying opposite where the ball is going. He’s had to shift his weight back across his body. This has lost him three steps, more than ample time for SC’s blockers and RB to get the edge over him.

3. Note the great surge by the D-Line, again minus Bohannon. Malik has already shed his blocker, Couch is in their backfield, and Williams is checking QB for the run and having backside help. Textbook, minus Bohannon.

4. Just wanted to note our linebackers, too. The problem with Austin Johnson isn’t his play recognition, just his speed to the corner. AJ Johnson is already on his way to the ball. Sapp still hasn’t made a move towards the ball.

5. Randolph comin’

1. Dear Lord, Bohannon.

2. Malik has recognized the play, shed his blocker, and is now in pursuit of the play. Textbook,

3. Evans is trying to gain back the ground he lost, but the damage has been done. The SC lead blocker is already at the better angle, and I’m not taking Evans over a 230+ pound fullback.

4. Poor Sapp. If he would’ve read this play, this might not be as big of a problem. But he doesn’t, and now he can’t even get over the top of Bohannon to try to make the play.

5. IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S BRIAN RANDOLPH!!!!

1. Yikes.

2. If I’m an NFL team, I take one look at this play and draft Malik Jackson. Incredible strength, speed, and football IQ here. He scrapes down the line for  25 yards and almost makes the play.

3. Yikes.

4. AJ Johnson has now run about 30 yards and is almost to the play. This is a man you can build a defense around. Once he gets SEC angles down correctly, this man could be the best LB we’ve had since Mayo.

5. He’s moving so quickly that he’s BLURRY!!!

1, 2, 3. Look at the three players near the ball. Dooley got all three of them. Yeah, we’ll lose Malik and that sucks, but there’s two freshmen that are emerging as our best two young defenders. Randolph’s play was pure effort and instincts. Read your key, react. It’s that simple for him, and AJ too. Please don’t go, Malik.

4, 5. At least Sapp hasn’t given up. Give him time, and this young man will be a terrific player for the Vols. No comment on Evans.

Note: Bohannon finally got off of his man. Good for him.

 

This play shows a few things. Firstly, the effort is there.

In all my life…

Throughout my entire life, there’s one thing I’ve always known, I’ve never doubted, and something that’s always given me confidence: I know that my parents love me. My dad tells me all the time that he would do anything for me. My mom tells me she loves me every time we’re on the phone or texting. I can’t even express how lucky I am to have them. I pray that I am the same kind of parent that they are.

Ramblings On Life

I’m not sure that anyone reads this anymore. Whatever. I’m not sure how many people read this to begin with. I am currently 19.7 years old. I like to think that I have a pretty solid grasp on the ways of the world. I don’t. I’m not sure anyone really has a solid grasp on the ways of the world. Some people just are willing to let things go more than others.

I recently had a long conversation with my brother and sister. (Side note: I thank God everyday that they are here with me. I could not think of anything better.) In this conversation, we talked about both Mckenzie and my football careers, Molly’s basketball career, coaches, teachers, adults in our lives, peers in our lives, what we want the world to be, and how we want to achieve that. I have so much ambition. I want to do so many things while I get the blessing to live in this world. There are so many things swirling around my mind. I just don’t know how to categorize them all or achieve them. In my short time on Earth, I’ve seen some injustices. I want justice. I want equality. I want everyone to love everyone. How am I going to do that? I’m not sure, but I think it starts with a marker and a whistle, in a classroom and on a practice field. Wherever it goes from there, we’ll wait and see. I miss home. I long for the feel of College Street. I miss my family. In the words of Robert Frost, “I can sum up everything I’ve learned in life in three words: It goes on.”

Class Flow

Tomorrow, er today, starts my sophomore year in college. It feels wildly different being out of the dorms. I have some interesting classes, and I love taking a class that I’m genuinely interested in. This way, a more holistic and real learning experience can take place. Then again, I am in my last math class of my life, and I can’t be more excited about that. I’ve been given a great opportunity this year, and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.

A Summer Of… Nothing.

Often times I take events from my life that have taught me something, and I write about them here, such as Ooma’s passing, injuries, etc. This summer isn’t really like that. After going away for a year, I’m not exactly sure what I expected in coming home for a few months. This summer has flown by, and yet it seems so long as well. That’s how life is, I guess. If I had to clearly define this summer, it would be one of reinforcement, or clarification. You take the good with the bad in life, and that’s how my attitude for Savannah is. I love Savannah with all my heart, yet I’m not naive enough to turn a blind eye to its shortcomings. I know we have a plethora of problems, but at the same time, I see people working every day to make it a better place.

Take the River City Market, for example. It is a wonderful idea that has come to fruition at the court square in Savannah. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, vendors come and set up their products. Lots of towns in America have these, yet when I discuss it with residents, they cast it off as some outlandish idea. Here we have hardworking residents and a chamber of commerce that has worked hard in bringing this together, yet our most premiere residents don’t support it. I’m unsure if it’s the leadership or an overall lack of apathy, but it’s things like this that need to be supported for this town to reach its wonderful potential.

But, I digress. When I say it’s a summer of reinforcement, I mean that it’s has shown me why I believe what I believe. It’s been a wonderful summer. I’ve loved visiting my cousin/neighbors, David and Anna, and talking until late with them. (Late by their standards.) Getting to have nightly talks with my parents is something I’ve deeply missed. I’ve been blessed to be able to work with the youth this summer at Hopewell Baptist, and it makes me optimistic for the future to have such bright minds and eager hearts in our society. I’ve had the opportunity to catch up on my reading, too. I’ve read Tony Dungy’s The Mentor Leader, Michael Oher’s I Beat The Odds, David Platt’s Radical, and a few more magazine features. I miss the days of painlessly checking out books at the HCMS Library (Shout out to the best librarian in the world, Marty Carroll.)

While it hasn’t been the most adventurous summer, it certainly has been fulfilling. I love being home, but something I’ve realized is that home is when I’m with the people I love. And I certainly love the people I’ve spent this summer with.

Check Out My Blog Roll

I just added my two cousins’ blogs. Sarah Ann is detailing her new life in Anna’s hometown, while Anna is talking about her new life in Sarah Ann’s hometown. I don’t think they planned it this way, but it definitely makes for some interesting reading. I also removed Sixteenth and Highland, as they haven’t written a blog in two years. Check it out.

One Year Down, 4 To Go

It’s hard to believe that I have about three weeks left in my freshman year. When I look back to when I first got on campus, it seems like an eternity ago. However, I can’t really remember much that I’ve done since then. I guess that means it’s gone by quickly. I’m not sure. Regardless, I’ve learned quite a lot in the past eight months or so, and not all of it academics.

 

Most of what I have learned has been more about myself. I’ve learned that I still do not like math. At all. I’ve learned that I can sleep for extremely long amounts of time, or go on no sleep at all. I’ve learned that I like different styles of music, and I’m becoming a huge fan of folk music. I now know what I enjoy, and why I enjoy those things, and why I don’t enjoy other things. I’ve learned that just because something isn’t easy, doesn’t mean it’s bad. It’s good to do some things the hard way. If life had no challenges, there would be no rewards. I’ve learned that a lot of people live for the moment, and I disagree with this way of thinking. Life is more than just the present. I’ve learned who I love, and the reasons I love them. I’ve learned how important home is. And I’ve learned how important family really is. I like UT, and being in Knoxville, but there is nothing like being westbound on I-40 towards West Tennessee.

 

Like I said, I’ve learned a lot about myself. The crazy thing is, I still have a long way to go before I know who I truly am. I’m comfortable with myself. I’m a unique individual. I don’t do things like most people, and I’m fine with that. But there’s still so much to learn. I guess it’s good that I have several years before I enter the real world.

Thanksgiving

My life has changed drastically throughout the last few months. Well… Maybe not drastically. But certainly a little.  A few things will always remain the same in my life. The love I know, the feelings I have will always be there. The holidays are here, and as a college freshman, I could not be happier. I’m currently taking a much needed break from severe writer’s block at a rather untimely hour. Sorry, Mama.

I hate how Thanksgiving is overlooked. It always seems kinda sad to me that we’re willing to forfeit one of the most beautiful holidays to get good deals on clothes. Thanksgiving has always been a major part of my life. My family does the holidays big, and it all starts with Thanksgiving. Some of my fondest memories are on Turkey Day. When we were kids, Marme’s grandkids would stay at her house the night before. We’d play cards, dominoes, board games and charades with Marme and Papa. It was such a time of unadulterated fun. We would hardly look at the TV. We were with one another, laughing, telling stories and just being near our loved ones, though you never really realize the attraction to hanging out with cousins when you’re kids. What I would give to just hang out with Kendall right now I haven’t the faintest clue. A lot, I know that much. I always had to stay in the Red Room at Marme’s instead of Mama’s bed because I was allergic to her feather bed. It’s been a really long time since I’ve been woken up by something like the smell of Marme’s biscuits and gravy. Over eggs, sausage, biscuits, gravy, toast and milk we’d watch the parades and pick out our favorite floats. I remember once Lee Greenwood singing “I’m Proud to be an American” on a bald eagle float. Talk about COOL. Those were really remarkable times. Not all cousins get something like that. I thank God that I did.

Then mama would pick us up and we’d get ready for Ooma’s. A few days prior to going, I’d go over to her house after school and make a log cabin out of Lincoln Logs and set up the Pilgrim candles around it. Ooma kept them in a special place and would only get them down for me once a year. I. Miss. That. Woman. She would fix a meal that would kill an average human. Again, the family time is what I miss the most. It seemed so calm and relaxing. Maybe it was just my adolescent mind, but it seemed almost… Slower.

Side note: Ooma’s side of the family is just Daddy and Aunt Marty, but our loved ones are hardly limited to that. Ms Meda, Burt and Misty, Mrs Cora Gene, Jody and Paul, Catherine, Trip and Bailey, Mrs Carroll & Ann… We aren’t all related, but we are all a family. We may be minus a few less, but I think that only strengthens our bonds to one another. Whether it be College Street or whatever, this “Holiday Crowd” has shared a lot of great times, eating a lot of great food, with a lot of great people. I truly love every one of them.

Back to Thanksgiving day, we always go to Marme’s mother’s side of the family in Adamsville. Cross county jokes aside, these people are just as much my family, and they mean a lot to me, especially now that seeing them routinely isn’t a common thing. And then… There’s a lot more great food.

I’m really excited to be home. But in this time of reflection, I’d like to list some of the things that I am most thankful for as of right now.

• My parents- everything I get in life is credited to them. They have allowed and provided for me to earn everything I already have, and they’ve gone above and beyond what parental duty entails. I am exactly who I am today because of their influence. I can’t begin to describe how thankful I am, so I won’t even try.
• My Siblings- Mckenzie has made my college transition as seamless as possible. I would be a total greenhorn out here if not for him. Plus he gets me good seats at UT games. Molly is the person that I text whenever I feel homesick. I don’t know why, but it has to mean that she is really important to me. I miss her so much.
• My roommate, Sam- I only wish that he benefits half as much from me as I do from him. College would suck without him, plain and simple.

Home

Tonight, I returned home from college for the first time in almost seven weeks. Once I hit Waynesboro, it occurred to me that this was the longest that I’d ever been away from home. I’ve missed my parents. I’ve missed my grandparents. When I crossed into Savannah city limits, something weird stirred inside of me. I’m not sure what it was. Somewhere between my chest and my throat, there was a lump, and no matter what I did, it wouldn’t go away. When I turned onto Pickwick Road and saw the Friday night lights, I got butterflies in my stomach. Driving down the streets, seeing the high school, and being alone at a stoplight were no longer a common thing. I felt like a visitor. That is, until bedtime. I stood up to go to my room, bent down and kissed my parents on the cheek, and just like that, graduation, going off to school, being away for so long… All of it faded away, and I was back at home. This is my home. It always will be. Turning onto College Street made my heart leap inside my chest. I don’t care what anyone ever says about Savannah, because in that moment, in the fading twilight as the orange sun set through the turning trees, I was a kid again on Halloween with an oversized sheet tripping my ghostly nine year old self. I was running over to Ooma’s for a Reese’s Cup. I was riding my bike as fast as I could from one end of the street to the other. I was playing football in the front yard with Mac. I was rollerblading down the driveway with Christopher and Molly. And when I stepped into the house, it smelled the same way it does in my dreams. Cramped dorms, busy streets, and crowded classrooms will be my life for the next few years. I get that. I am approximately 1/16th finished with my college career. As a college freshman, I’ve got a long way to go. But at the end of the day, I know where my home is.