I've heard Smith was cross training between G and OT and that he'd probably start at guard. And I know some project him as a guard at this level and beyond too. I just disagree on that point. I think Smith is a tackle all the way and that his future is there even if he plays G this season. It's crucial to get your best 5 on the field and Smith starting at tackle would def. help.

As for blown assignments and teaching, I think we've really upgraded. Wells has done wonders with Richmond and I think he knows how to teach players in a way Mahoney didn't. Wren it comes to teaching ya have it or ya don't and I do believe Wells has it.

Coaching appears to be a lot like academia at the college level -- you have guys who are brilliant minds that colleagues love but who can't teach/coach a lick. That keeps them around a lot longer than they should be because the other coaches already know what the guy is saying. I think Azzani was like that and it wouldn't surprise me if Mahoney wasn't the same way (he ran some really exotic OL packages at times).

At any rate, I think we're set at OL as long as the injury bug doesn't strike again. Wells knows how to teach and that's no small thing. You can go a long way on an OL with even mediocre players so long as they can do a few things right but I think our talent is better than that.

I'm also happy with our depth. Can Hall redshirt? If he can he really should. He's a monster when healthy but I don't think he'll be ready and for once we have the numbers to allow a player of his quality to RS.

On paper anyway, this is the best OL we've had since Fulmer. Hopefully it turns out as good as some of his.

ETA: Excited to see what Tatum can do this season. And as an aside, this year's in-state OL group is ridiculous so much so that we couldn't take all of them even if we wanted too but most of the ones we want likewise want to be Vols. It's good to be in that position.

This post was edited on 4/21/17 at 1:08 pm