Thursday, July 1, 2010

Eight battles to watch in Vandy's preseason camp

Here are some key battles to watch as Vandy players fight to crack the opening day depth chart:

BACKUP QUARTERBACK
(Starting quarterback is R-JR Larry Smith)
Contenders: R-SR Jared Funk, JR Jordan Rodgers, R-FR Charlie Goro
Best bet for preseason: Funk
Opening day: Funk
Middle of season: Goro
End of season: Goro

THIRD STARTING WIDE RECEIVER
(Other starting receivers are R-JR Udom Umoh and R-SO John Cole)
Contenders: R-SR Turner Wimberly, SO Brady Brown, FR Jonathan Krause, FR Chris Boyd
Best bet for preseason: Wimberly
Opening day: Brown
Middle of season: Krause
End of season: Boyd

STARTING GUARDS
(Starting center is R-SR Joey Bailey)
Contenders: R-FR Wesley Johnson, R-JR Kyle Fischer, R-SO Jabo Burrow
Best bet for preseason: Johnson and Burrow
Opening day: Johnson and Fischer
Middle of season: Johnson and Burrow (Fischer to tackle)
End of season: Johnson and Burrow

STARTING RIGHT TACKLE
(Starting left tackle is R-SO Ryan Seymour)
Contenders: R-JR Kyle Fischer, R-SO Caleb Welchans, R-FR Mylon Brown
Best bet for preseason: Welchans
Opening day: Welchans
Middle of season: Fischer
End of season: Fischer

SECOND STARTING DEFENSIVE TACKLE
(First tackle is R-JR T.J. Greenstone)
Contenders: R-SR Adam Smotherman (injured), R-SO Rob Lohr, R-SO Colt Nichter, FR Vince Taylor
Best bet for preseason: Lohr
Opening day: Lohr
Middle of season: Taylor
End of season: Smotherman

SECOND STARTING DEFENSIVE END
(First defensive end is R-JR Tim Fugger)
Contenders: R-SR Teriall Brannon, SR Theron Kadri, R-FR Walker May
Best bet for preseason: Brannon
Opening day: Brannon
Middle of season: May
End of season: May

THIRD STARTING LINEBACKER
(First two linebackers are SR John Stokes and R-JR Chris Marve)
Contenders: R-SO Dexter Daniels, R-SO Tristan Strong, R-SO DeAndre Jones, R-SO Archie Barnes
Best bet for preseason: Strong
Opening day: Strong
Middle of season: Strong
End of season: Barnes

STARTING NICKEL BACK/THIRD CORNERBACK
(First two cornerbacks are JR Casey Hayward and R-JR Jamie Graham)
Contenders: SO Eddie Foster, SO Trey Wilson, SO Eric Samuels, FR Andre Hal
Best bet for preseason: Wilson or Foster
Opening day: Foster
Middle of season: Wilson
End of season: Samuels

PUNTER
Contenders: R-SO Richard Kent, FR Carey Spear
Best bet for preseason: Kent
Opening day: Kent
Middle of season: Kent
End of season: Spear

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Goro Guy likes your predictions!!

DIMON KENDRICK-HOLMES said...

I suspect the Goro Guy won't be satisfied with Goro winning the backup quarterback job.

Anonymous said...

Good post. I think that the most interesting battles will be for the offensive line positions. With fewer injuries this year on the line I think our best hope if with Larry smith at qb. I hope that the wr position is shaken up after last seasons dismal performamnce. Heres hoping that Chris boyd cracks the openiing day lineup.

Anonymous said...

I'm curious, who do you think will be the top 3 WRs at season's end? Are you expecting Brown or Krause to pass up Cole/Umoh and knock one/both of them to the bench, or just think Boyd will beat out Brown and Krause for the #3 slot?

DIMON KENDRICK-HOLMES said...

I think, but have no way of knowing, that it'll be:

• Cole in the slot
• Krause beating out Umoh as a deep threat
• Boyd and Brown sharing time as possession receivers

Also, expect Jordan Matthews to spend the season learning the ropes and maybe even redshirting, and Trent Pruitt being a steady, game-ready backup along the lines of Collin Ashley from last season.