5-at-10: Friday mailbag

From FEChancellor

10 Ring, the football friendly major at UT, as you know, is Urban Studies. Question for mailbag: Is the Strength and Conditioning Coach's training regimen held responsible when a football team is beset with as many injuries as Tennessee has suffered this year?

Georgia running back Todd Gurley (3) is brought down Tennessee defensive back LaDarrell McNeil (33) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, in Athens, Ga. Georgia won 35-32. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

FE to the C -

No, not in this case.

If there were a ton of pulled muscles - and in-game cramps (when was the last time you saw an Alabama player leave the game for cramps? Yep, it was almost assuredly pre-Saban) - then you star looking around for ways to prevent them.

Tennessee wide receiver Vincent Perry makes a leaping touchdown catch against cornerback Rashaan Gaulden during the Vols' open practice at Neyland Stadium on Aug. 15, 2015.

But let's check the UT walking wounded:

LaDarrell McNeil (neck instability - whatever that is)

Jason Croom - knee

Vincent Perry - knee

Rashaun Gaulden - foot

Marcus Jackson - biceps

Austin Sanders - biceps

Without commenting on the neck situation with McNeil, the rest seem to happen in freak football ways.

That said, and we're sure this will come up when Butch Jones joins us on Press Row this afternoon (interview will be played at 3:25 and again at 5:10 on ESPN 105.1 and right here on timesfreepress.com).

The concern about the offensive line is real - Jackson was the most experienced returning starter on a group that was erratic last year.

Now the depth in the secondary will be tested since Gaulden (nickel) and McNeil (safety) were projected starters.

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From Steve

Did you see the kid from Nebraska and his handle bar mustache?

That would a be good Rushmore for you guys: Rushmore of sports mustaches?

I read the 5@10 almost everyday and love Press Row.

Ross Dzuris

Steve -

Thanks for reading and listening.

The kid you are talking about is Nebraska walk-on Ross Dzuris, and his 'stache is certainly not trash.

Rushmore of sports mustaches:

We actually need to split it into two

Best sports mustaches (relief pitchers division)

Rollie Fingers of course.

Goose Gossage, Al Hrabosky and Dennis Eckersly.

Best sports mustaches every other sport:

Dale Sr., Mark Spitz, Don Mattingly and of course Clu Haywood from Major League.

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From McPell

It seems the Braves are making a late season push to finish last. Is there any hope for next season? With the new stadium coming the talk from the Braves execs has been we're pushing for 2016. Will they be better? Or are we back to the 70's again? On second thought college football is nearly here.

Atlanta Braves' Jonny Gomes follows through on a two-run home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Monday, Aug. 24, 2015, in Atlanta.

McPell -

There's little hope for next season, but that's not the goal.

The Braves were overhauled with 2017 in mind.

And it's a move that had to happen, in truth.

The 2015 version is awful and they will be lucky to win 70-plus games.

The 2014 version, though, was flawed and doomed to Atlanta Hawks-like spin cycle of mediocrity that had no chance of ever winning on a large scale.

They are building around young arms and high OBP guys. It's a sound model and John Hart has a sound track record.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Shelby Miller (17) works in the first innings of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015, in Atlanta.

Atlanta will be better next year - hard to imagine them being worse - and it will be interesting to see what kind of moves they make in free agency.

Here's hoping they do not go after former Braves and current Cards outfielder Jason Heyward. Dude is a great defensive outfielder but he's going to command a nine-figure salary, and his stat line is a career .266 hitter (and that's boosted by his .287 average in a contract year) who projects to less than 20 homers per year and less than 70 RBIs per year. Defensively he's excellent, but his WAR average is between 2-3, which translates that he's a fine starter, but not a $100-million guy.

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From Stewwie

Jay, for the bag, who are the top 5 most exciting football players that you've seen play (either live or on TV)?

Stewwie -

Great question, and you asked this in terms of Mike Vick, who as an NFL player was certainly on the list.

We're going to give you two top fives:

Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton throws a pass during the NFL football team's practice in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, May 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Most exciting college players

Cam Newton (that one year at Auburn he was unreal)

Bo (duh)

Herschel (he was exciting on the radio for crying out loud)

Vince Young (back half of his senior year at Texas was special)

Tommie Frazier (Really it was that whole Nebraska team, but man that was a steamroller)

Most exciting NFL players

Deion Sanders (made kickoff returns must-see TV)

FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2007 file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre reacts after throwing a touchdown pass to Bubba Franks during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers in Green Bay, Wis. Favre will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame and have his jersey retired next year. Favre writes on his official website that it will be an honor to have his name placed among others such Bart Starr, Curly Lambeau, Ray Nitschke and Vince Lombardi, to name a few. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

Mike Vick (he was just different)

Barry Sanders (what would he have been on even a decent team)

Brett Favre (loved watching him play because it was going to be something amazing - good or bad)

Bo Jackson (too short of time, but you couldn't not watch him you know?)

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From several of you

You did not answer your questions last week. Will you do that again?

Gang -

Of course. Here's what we asked this week:

Rushmore of shortstops - Ripken, Jeter, Honus Wagner, Ernie Banks

Actor Vince Vaughn answers questions from the media before the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. Vaughn is the grand marshal for the race. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Rushmore of sports video games - Tyson's punch out, Madden, Tecmo Super Bowl (ahead of its time seriously), then the last one was tight between a slew of baseball games (RBI, old-school Baseball Stars and the current crop of amazing games), NBA Live (which gave us the now famous and over-used "He's on FIRE" line) and mid-1990s NHL games, which had a great cameo in "Swingers." When in doubt go with Vince Vaughn.

Rushmore of sports tandems - Ruth/Gehrig, Montana/Rice, Gretzky/Messier, Magic/Kareem (edging Shaq and Kobe).

True or false Tuesday

Mariota will have a better career that Jameis Winston (False - We think Winston will be really good.)

UTC will win 10 football games (or more) in the regular season (True - and yes, MT we thought they had 12 regular-season games this year, but we still think 10-1 is the mark. And Jomo's right, the expanded playoff does not mean JSU is do or die. But it would be an awesome start.)

Alabama will win 10 football games or more in the regular season (False - that schedule is too tough.