Big Orange Roundtable Week 1

Welcome to the 2009 version of the Big Orange Roundtable, a collaboration of Tennessee Football web sites that spend a good portion of the college football season discussing the purity and goodness  that is Tennessee Volunteers football.

Hosted this week by 2009 Big Orange Roundtable (Vol)ume 1 | MoonDog Sports, the Big Orange Roundtable consists of the 3rd Saturday in Blogtober, Your Mother Slept With Wilt Chamberlain, Vol Junkies, Pigskin Pathos, Rocky Top Talk, Bleeding Orange, Gate 21 and Losers With Socks.

Here are my answers to the questions:

1. In my mind, this season’s success – or failure – centers around one man, Jonathan Crompton. What is your opinion of Crompton’s ability to run Lane Kiffin’s pro style offense? Can Crompton overcome his miserable 2008 season and lead the Vols to a winning record?

I believe that powerful young Crompton is going to cash in his Certificate of Deposit at the Bank of Fulmer where the interest continues to accrue, and is compounded continuously. Ignore last year’s INT’s, botched snaps, errant handoffs and throws off the back foot, this kid has guts and a cannon, he will be the best QB in the SEC .

I am planning on making reservations to Atlanta to watch my beloved Vols apply more smack down onto potently hapless Bama  in the SEC-CG.  Accordingly, Jon Crompton should make reservations to New York.

Picture from outside a bar on the strip in Knoxville

2. Last season, the kicking game was mediocre at best and the special teams – especially the punt coverage unit – was a disaster. Daniel Lincoln returns as the kicker and Chad Cunningham will return as the punter. What are your thoughts about the Vols kicking game and special teams?  I like the idea of having a coach that will coach.  Specifically, a special teams coach.

Disclaimer:   I don’t like to put a game on the shoulders of a young man  whose DNA is not a part of the Tennessee family (I mean I want a Colquitt back in the mix).  Even though Lincoln is not a real Vol, everyone with any knowledge of Tennessee’s kicking game knows Lincoln can routinely hit 60 yarders and is guaranteed on all field goals inside the fifty.  I see “Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Award  coming to roost in Knoxville!!!

3. Tennessee’s offensive line was thought to be a strength in 2008, but like the rest of the offensive unit, didn’t perform well. What are your thoughts regarding the offensive line for 2009?

Fat.  They were a bunch of fat ass, immobile, un-hostile lumps of poop.   Of course it was easy to get demoralized when your running back can’t hang onto the ball inside the red zone. The team sucked all over the field because the o-line can’t open a running lane against a bunch of girl scouts carrying a load of cookies.

You’ve got to make third downs. We’ve got to become a good third-down team. That keeps us on the field and keeps the ball away from the other team.

Now maybe we will wake up and quit playing like a high school team and be ready for Western Kentucky!

4. Tennessee finished 5-7 last season, a huge disappointment for a team expected to perform much better. How do you believe the Vols will finish in 2009?

10 wins is not unreasonable.  I for one do not have a problem with Kiffin’s perfect coif, Visor and black jersey, or secondary violations on tv.  He is a Kiffin…he is a natural winner.  We will not be going to Nashville or Shreveport for a bowl game like the stupid bammeroids did when they changed coach’s.  We are Tennessee.  We are better than that.  Tennessee is just like a old muscle car, a small tuneup can win the race.