What Tennessee’s Depth Chart Really Means

Lane Kiffin’s first depth chart at Tennessee is littered with freshmen. Here’s what to take away from that:

• Brandon Warren had better turn it around:  NuKeese Richardson is a 5’8” 160 lb freshman. There’s no reason he should not be ahead of Warren on the depth chart. Warren should take that as an indictment. When Denarius Moore and Gerald Jones return from injury, we will see the last of Warren. It’s a shame too.
• The Vols have little to no respect for Jarrod Shaw at RT. We’d just heard a story of how Aaron Douglas couldn’t lay a hand on the second team DE that he was attempting to block on passing plays when the depth chart was released. The fact that he’s listed as a co-starter could speak more about Shaw’s inconsistency than Douglas’s ability.
• Lane Kiffin is looking to attract recruits with every move. It seems highly unlikely that there are so many freshmen truly ready to compete. That does not happen. This is a move that shows recruits that they have an opportunity to compete from moment one.
• Monte may have trouble running the Tampa 2. The LB’s just aren’t talented enough and the front 4 seems small and lacks depth to control matters at the line of scrimmage.
• Bryce Brown is ready now. Don’t be surprised to see Brown surpass 20 carries by the UCLA game.
• The staff doesn’t know what to do with Dennis Rogan. Rogan is too small to really play FS and a step slow to truly be a CB. The guy plays too disciplined and with too much heart to leave him on the sidelines, though.