Espinosa's ankle

[Matt Cotcher]

Nobody will go on record with severity. He'll have an MRI tomorrow.

The general feeling is not optimistic - especially for this early stretch of tough games.

 

[UTK66]

Chip is reporting that it's broken and he's done for the year. Hope that's not the case.

 

[Aaron Carrara]

No confirmation yet from UT but it didn't look pretty.  

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Chip is reporting that it's broken and he's done for the year. Hope that's not the case.

Nobody on/around the team that I've talked to will go that far until the MRI is done.

 

[utisdabomb12]

1-If Chip Brown is wrong about this, I will lose all respect for him as a reporter. Chip better know for sure because he shouldn't be speculating on injuries. It's come to the point where Chip is wrong more often than correct, so I take everything he reports with a grain of salt. 

2-If ESPY is out for the year, he would still be eligible next year correct? 

3-I actually think Raulerson is a more physically gifted player, but experience is the biggest problem. 

 

[UTK66]

Nobody on/around the team that I've talked to will go that far until the MRI is done.

I hope like hell that he's wrong again. We need Dom. No replacement for his experience and leadership.

 

[Juan]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[utisdabomb12]

I hope like hell that he's wrong again. We need Dom. No replacement for his experience and leadership.

Does he get a redshirt is the question? 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

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Staffers at OB.com changed their stance after Chip's report. Whether they're talking to Chip or team sources???

 

[HornEsch]

Does he get a redshirt is the question? 

If he is out for the rest of the season, he should easily get an additional year.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Does he get a redshirt is the question? 

If he misses the year, my understanding is he can apply for a medical 'shirt, but that wouldn't be ruled on until after the season.

 

[Juan]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[java]

That is terrible, if true.  However, for a big guy, it may be easier to recover from a break than from a soft tissue injury.  I would think that he would petition for the redshirt year and take advantage of the coaching that is available on the 40 now.  The exposure may actually help him in the long run.

Wishing Dom the best.  He certainly paid his dues.

Hook 'em!

 

[Shannon Kelley]

That is why in practice you will always hear coaches screaming "Stay up, Stay up"!..When guys go to the ground, they can roll the big guys up. That is exactly what happened to Dom. Poor guy gets rolled up while pulling. He is the one guy that would be hard to replace. 1st, he most likely makes all the calls when he walks up to the LOS. He most likely is the O-Lines QB. Gets them redirected and makes all the calls. (most good center's make all the calls). It also can screw up QB/Center exchange when you lose your starting Center. 

Don't know enough about his back up. They will adapt, but QB/Center exchange is vital not only with the QB under the Center, but even more importantly when in the Gun. The ball placement on the snap is crucial so the QB can keep his eyes down field and on his keys. When the ball is snapped too low, or too high, too far right, too far left, the QB loses precious time having to locate the ball and then redirect his vision back to his read. Remember, you only have about 3.4 seconds on average to get the ball off, so any loss of time on a snap, can really hurt you.

 

[java]

Supposedly Raulerson is very sharp and very capable of making the line calls, from any place on the line.  He received lots of praise from Wickline for doing exactly this during Fall camp.  However, he is also still a little light for center!?!  Possibly another lineman will step in at center with Raulerson making the calls.  Have no idea if this is fact or fiction.

Hook 'em!

 

[Aaron Carrara]

Espinosa would qualify (eligible to apply) for a medical redshirt if he were to miss the remainder of the season.

 

[Duke C #11]

Since guards and tackles tend to be bigger than centers, if he's light for a center, playing guard or tackle isn't an option probably. 

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Since guards and tackles tend to be bigger than centers, if he's light for a center, playing guard or tackle isn't an option probably.

Reminds me of my favorite center of all time, Mark Stepnoski (sp?). He seemed really small but was a very effective center. Of course, it helped that he was surrounded by a bunch of amazing talent on that Cowboys OLine.