Them Vols offseason thread

Butch had a great line on the 13 foot trophy, when asked why he made it so damn tall.. "Because we are Tennessee and we can" something along those lines anyway.
 
The stage at Neyland Stadium for Saturday’s Orange & White game won’t be the same as it will be whenTennessee*kicks off the 2014 season, but coach Butch Jones is trying his hardest to make it close.

The second-year headman is calling for 60,000-plus orange-clad fans to fill the stands. And he’ll likely get it.

Yes, fans and players alike eagerly await the day. But the glamour can be blinding — which is why Jones called Tennessee’s Thursday and Friday practices “vital.”

With the highly-anticipated event looming, Jones said he’ll use the Vols’ final two practices as a tool to asses his players’ mental toughness and “inner drive.”

“We challenged our players today. Every one is responsible for their own self determination in everything that they do — that drive to be the best,” Jones said. “This is the time where you really find out about that inner drive. How great do you want to be? Because it’s been a grind.

“A lot of times, when your mindset becomes you have the Orange & White game Saturday, you start to think down the road and forget about the process of becoming a great football player.”

Some players have past the test, turning in a solid practice.

Others not so much.

Namely, the quarterbacks.

Jones said Thursday he was particularly displeased all four quarterbacks’ effort and practice intensity levels.

“I was really disappointed today in the overall position. I didn’t think one quarterback really stood out amongst them,” Jones told InsideTennessee. “… Playing quarterback at Tennessee is not a sometime thing, it’s an all the time thing. We just need better command.”

Jones is still searching for that “alpha male” attitude among the four.

Up to this point, no one has demonstrated what he called controlled “swagger.” Jones said he’s looking for a quarterback who takes the practice field every day with the mindset of, “I’m the quarterback of this football team. Period.”

“You have to earn that right,” Jones said. “You have to bring it every single day. You have to command your teammates. You have to have tremendous juice and energy to play that position because people feed off of you.”

Jones mentioned former Texas A&M quarterback*Johnny Manziel*as an example of the attitude he’s looking for, saying the Heisman winner demands respect from his teammates.

“Johnny Manziel brings it every single day,” Jones said. “He elevates the talent of every one around him.”

Jones did say, however, that redshirt freshman*Riley Ferguson*brought the most leadership to spring practice No. 13.

But even then he still wasn’t overly pleased.

“It still wasn’t too our standard we hold our quarterbacks to at Tennessee,” Jones said of Ferguson’s practice.

But it wasn’t all bad news Thursday.

Other than the quarterbacks, Jones seem genuinely pleased with his squad’s practice demeanor.

“I think we had a very productive day,” Jones told IT. “…I like the way our players approached today.”

Specifically, Jones named newcomers*Josh Malone*andJalen Hurd*as players who are “starting to get it.”

A.J. wants the ball

Jones said the race to be named the starting punt returner is still “wide open.”

Last Saturday’s scrimmage featured an unlikely candidate trying his hand at the position.

Jones had linebacker*A.J. Johnson*field punts with hundreds of students circled around him.

“Oh, man. You know, I be talking to coach Jones saying, ‘Hey, I can go back there and get those and get one,’” Johnson told IT. ‘I can do it. I was telling him I’ll be the best and ain’t no one can tackle me. He told me it wasn’t easy.

“So, he tried to psyche me up and put me in front of the student. So, of course I had to capitalize.”

While not your stereotypical return man, Johnson is no stranger to having the ball in his hands. Johnson quarterbacked the “beast” package under Derek Dooley’s staff, recording a few touchdowns and moving the chains in some vital third-and-short situations.

Johnson said he hasn’t talked to Jones about bringing back the beast package, but added that he still has plenty of time to do so.

“Man, I haven’t talked to him about that this spring,” Johnson said. “But I’ll get on him during the summer. We gotta bring that back.”

Role models

Both the offensive and defensive lines are tasked with replacing all of its starters from last season, and both fronts feels they have the talent to be just as good as the existing group.

Often citing “togetherness” and work ethic as proof, some Vols also believe they can produce success this fall because of what they learned from past players.

Dylan Wiesman, who has been getting work at both guard and tackle, says his role model is*Zach Fulton.

“I was just taking notes on everything he did during practice. I would just watch his feet and try to learn from him,” Wiesman said. “I just want to play like Zach. He was so athletic but so strong. He was the perfect role model.”

Jordan Williams, who has been splitting time at defensive end and tackle, said he looks up to former Vol and current Denver Bronco*Malik Jackson.

“(Jackson) was a taller guy,” Williams said. “But he wasn’t a 300-pound power guy. Just watching him, his hands, he was a technician.”
 
Notes & updates:— The usual bunch were in yellow no-contact jerseys: Brendan Downs, A.J. Branisel, Drae Bowles, Ryan Jenkins, Trevarris Saulsberry and Brian Randolph.

*

—Max Arnold was in a green jersey.

*

—Jacob Carter again did not practice and has an air cast on his right leg.

*

— No newcomer has their black stripe removed.

*

From the offense:*—LaTroy Lewis, customarily a defensive end, worked with the tight ends. He did not look particularly sharp. He dropped a few balls and coach Mark Elder spent a lot of one-on-one time with him.*

*

—Tennessee wideouts and secondary spent much of practice competing in 7-on-7-type of drills. The defense handedly won, but the quarterbacks seemed to be the main reason the offense struggled. On several deep and mid-range passes, all four quarterbacks fired many uncatchable passes.

*

—Ethan Wolf shined during several pass-catching drills, hauling in a few one-handed and leaping snaps. He had been struggling with drops earlier in spring.

*

—Wideout Cody Blanc also continues to look improved. He hauled in several nice grabs and has throughout the entirety of spring.

*

—To sharpen his troop's cutting skills, running backs coach Robert Gillespie stood between two poles, then had each rusher charge toward him. Based on a last-second hand signal from the coach, the ball-carrier would cut sharply and pass outside the left post or the right post. To make the drill even more difficult, Gillespie occasionally signaled the ball-carrier to continue straight ahead.*A couple of*backs got caught anticipating which direction they would be told to cut, went the wrong way and had to repeat the drill.

*

—Wideout Johnathan Johnson had a couple of nice catches in the*early portion of the workout. Once he lunged to make a fingertip catch of a flat pass from Justin Worley. Later he gathered in a 30-yard pass after*beating his defender with*a crisp out-and-up route.

*

—Somebody has to be at*the back of the line but it’s best not to be there when Butch Jones is looking. During a change in drills the head coach chastised freshman running back Jalen Hurd by hollering, “How come you’re last, Hurd?”

*

From the defense:*—Nickelback Justin Coleman took the practice field and stretched with a metal chain with a pad lock on it hung around his neck.

*

—Cornerback Cameron Sutton showed he can handle size and speed, making a nifty breakup of a pass intended for 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end Alex Ellis and a few plays later blanketing wideout Cody Blanc.

*

—Riyahd Jones made a beautiful break on the ball to bat a pass into the air. Josh Smith reacted quickly, however, and still made the catch.

*

From special teams:*—During “live” punt team work, Matt Darr rocketed a punt that chased return man Devrin Young back to the end zone. Young did not field the ball cleanly and fumbled.*
 
Basically, a quarterback faces two challenges: Making plays and not making mistakes. Tennessee’s QBs are doing pretty well in the former this spring, not so much in the latter.

Noting that even a great quarterback will have “your errant throws and a couple of stumbles here and there,” Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian added: “But you’d rather it be once every 400 plays, rather than once every 20 plays…. We’re making too many mistakes, missing too many open receivers. We’ve got to be able to play pitch-and-catch. We’ve just got to be able to play with some consistency.”

Naturally, Bajakian says finishing spring practice with “a clear-cut starter who we can maximize his reps would be ideal.” That hasn’t happened as Justin Worley, Riley Ferguson, Nathan Peterman and Josh Dobbs continue to vie for the job. Still, Bajakian isn’t discouraged, noting: “The good part is, they’re all competing.”

Recently, newcomer Jakob Johnson has been spending his practices working with the defensive linemen. It appears the move is permanent.

“He’s got great size. He’s going to get bigger, we’ll make sure of that,” defensive coordinator John Jancek told InsideTennessee. “I think that’s his natural position from what I’ve seen to this point.”

Said defensive line coach Steve Stripling of Johnson’s move: “I’m not giving him back.”

But Johnson isn’t the only newcomer moving around.

Dimarya Mixon recently shifted from defensive end to tackle. That move appears set in stone, as well.

At 266 pounds, Mixon is an extremely undersized interior linemen. But Jancek said Mixon has been holding his own, using his athleticism to gain leverage and his speed to work his way in the backfield.

“We have a big deficiency inside,” Jancek said. “Dimarya is not the size right now that you want… but just down the road I think that’s where he’ll be able to help us most.”

Stripling said he wants to play a “minimum” of 10 defensive linemen in games.

As mentioned in an Insider Report following the Vols’ last scrimmage, safety Lemond Johnson received several first-team reps and appeared to be holding his own. Johnson broke up several fade passes in the end zone.

But it appears Johnson is far from a finished product and will not likely see starting reps come football season or even fall camp. Johnson saw increased reps during the scrimmage only because safety Devaun Swafford was out with an injury.

Swafford, who started several games at the nickel position last fall, appears to be Brian Randolph’s back up once the veteran is full go. However, defensive backs coach Willie Martinez suggested that Swafford may be challenging LaDarrell McNeil for the other safety spot.

“I’ve been real, real pleased with (Swafford). He brings some speed back there. He’s done good,” Martinez told IT. “…Other than (Randolph), nothing is set as far as the safety position goes.”

If the 2014 season were to start today, it appears freshman Emmanuel Moseley would start at corner opposite Cameron Sutton. Martinez has been pleased with Moseley this spring, saying he’s “one of the hardest workers” in his position room. But much more work needs to be done.

Moseley, who’s listed currently at 165 pounds, reported to have gained more than 18 pounds since he arrived on campus. Martinez said the youngster has lost much of that weight during the dog days of spring camp.

“He’ll be right back at (gaining) weight when he finish (spring),” Martinez said. “It’s very important he does.”

All but lost in the excitement surrounding midterm enrollees Von Pearson and Josh Malone is the quality play of fellow wideout Josh Smith. Best known for several conspicuous drops as a freshman last fall, Smith has impressed Vol coaches with his determination and toughness this spring.

“I’m so proud of him,” receivers coach Zach Azzanni said. “He missed the winter (following knee surgery), so he didn’t get to do any of the skill development. He literally was cleared the week of spring ball. Then he was really sick with the flu and missed two practices.

“He loves to play, and he’s tough. When he came back from the flu (team doctors) said ‘Limit him, he’s real weak. He lost 10 pounds and we’re not sure he can play more than 10 plays.’ Well, my man played like 60 plays that day. He didn’t want to come out. I had to almost carry him off the field.”

Tennessee’s offense was severely limited last fall by a lack of depth and production at tight end. Brendan Downs caught just 12 passes for 70 yards (5.8 yards per catch) and backup A.J. Branisel caught three for 28 yards (9.3 per catch). With both sidelined this spring, midterm freshmen Daniel Helm and Ethan Wolf are getting a lot of reps and taking full advantage.

“Tight ends allow for multiplicity in formations and personnel,” Bajakian said this week, “and they will give us the freedom to do so if they continue to develop along the same path that they have been playing.”

Although Helm and Wolf are ranked among America’s top five freshman tight-end prospects by Scout.com, Bajakian admittedly was not expecting them to be this good this soon.

“I did not, frankly,” he said. “They’ve surprised me. We knew they were very athletic, we knew they had great ball skills. They have come in and played with a level of physicality that has been encouraging. They lack a little bit in their physical development – that’s obviously the job of Coach (Dave) Lawson and our strength staff – but they’re eager and willing to learn. Their futures are very bright.”

Butch Jones noted Thursday that three of the June enrollees are safeties (assuming Evan Berry, Todd Kelly Jr., Cortez McDowell). Stripling said the D-line will welcome six guys (assuming Derek Barnett,*Joseph Henderson, Dewayne Hendrix, Charles Mosley, Jashon Robertson, Michael Sawyers).
 
I really do wonder where Riyahd Jones gets the money for all this expensive clothing, lol.
 
Tennessee wideout Josh Malone (6 catches, 181 yards, 3 TDs) produced eye-popping numbers in last week’s Orange & White game, looking more like a savvy veteran than a kid who should still be in high school.

His breakout performance may have surprised some, but not receivers coach Zach Azzanni. Azzanni told InsideTennessee things began to “click” for the rising star toward the end of spring.

“Josh ended spring on the, literally, on the perfect note,” Azzanni told InsideTennessee. “He made so many strides, you know, he started off real slow but in the last week he just matured like crazy. Things really started to click and he has a lot of momentum going forward, which is exactly what you want.”

Time and time again, Azzanni has called Malone’s potential and talent “limitless.” While Azzanni certainly sees the spring game as proof, he still believes Malone is a “raw’ product, which he calls “scary.”

“(Malone) has so much room to get better. He’s making so many freshman mistakes still — which is a good thing, kind of,” Azzanni said. “He’s playing so well and still not a finished product. That just tells me he’s going to be very, very special.”

Tennessee’s rebuilding offensive line has more to improve on than blocking fundamentals in order to grow into a survivable group by the time the season arrives.

Several defensive players feel the group’s lack of chemistry if often apparent during scrimmages. But in a way, they mean it as a good thing.

So, what’s defensive end Curt Maggitt think is holding the O-line back from being more successful? Time.

“Last year’s offensive line was basically together from their freshman year to their senior year,” Maggitt told IT. “You know what I mean? They were tight. This year, I feel like they just need to get together more. That’s it. They’ll get rolling with time. I have total confidence in them.”

Added defensive end Jordan Williams: “They’re tough and they want it bad. I think they’re just fine. I haven’t noticed any, like, dropoff from going against these guy than last year’s group. They’re a little raw, but that’ll come with time.”

Maggitt, who tabs Marcus Jackson as the “toughest” lineman to face, also praises the offensive line for having a “snap and clear” mentality.

“If they get beat, they gonna be right back at it the next play,” Maggitt said. “They’re going to work to get there. They all want to be good. Just give them time, baby.”

Devrin Young, who was moved back to running back this spring, received many rare compliments from running backs coach Robert Gillespie for providing a nice change of pace in the backfield.

But how much Young will be used next fall remains to be seen. While Gillespie calls Young fast, hardworking and elusive, the Knoxville native’s field time next fall will rely heavily on his ability to grow into more than a one-trick ball carrier.

“We can’t just have Devrin in there and run sweeps and tosses,” Gillespie said. “We just can’t have that. He’s got to be able to do it all to play. You’ll get eaten alive in this league like that. Can’t have it.”

It looks like Young will have a lot to work on in summer camp.

Tennessee defenders know what to expect when Young enters the game, which is exactly what Gillespie fears.

Said Williams: “If you pay attention, Devrin isn’t going to be a guy who is going to run up the middle. If you see him back there, (as a defensive end) you slide out a little bit — you know, cheat out every time. It makes it a little easier.”

Added linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin: “When it’s Devrin you know you have to be on your horses and get to the sideline. … I know he’s a threat to run outside. You start leaning over there a little.”

Before each Vol dismisses for the summer, every one of them has a meeting with strength and conditioning coach Dave Lawson and his staff to set up goals to achieve before training camp gets underway just shy of the fall semester.

Congratulations to rising sophomore Joshua Dobbs for his induction to the university's Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.

Shields-Watkins Field is a far better place to play now than it was 30 years ago. That comes from Tony Robinson, MVP of the recent alumni flag-football game. “We had SuperTurf when I was playing,” he told IT. “It was nice playing on the grass. It was wonderful.”

Robinson’s disdain for fake turf is understandable, since he tore up a knee on artificial turf at Birmingham’s Legion Field in 1985. Look for Shields-Watkins to get resodded in May.

In movie theaters now is Draft Day, which is the fictional story of general manager Sonny Weaver (played by Kevin Costner) attempting to rebuild an NFL franchise. Cast for the role of a Florida State running back and Browns legacy is for Tennessee runner Arian Foster. When director Ivan Reitman first approached the Cleveland franchise with the story idea, current Tennessee director of player personnel Bob Welton was employed by the Browns as a scout.
 
Also, I really like Azzanni. I hope we can keep him, he is going to be sought after when all these stud WRs blow up.
 
Last Saturday,*Dewayne Hendrix*sat in the bleachers of Neyland Stadium — covered in orange from head to toe — and periodically flashed an ear-to-ear grin.

He couldn’t help it.

The*Tennessee*signee was trying to play it cool. Act like you’ve been there before, he kept telling himself. And he had. But this splendid spring afternoon, one that practically begged you to be outdoors, was different.

Hendrix had watched handfuls of games at Neyland before, but the day he’d get a chance to take the field with the rest of the Vols always seemed so far away — like a distant dream. Then, he felt like any other spectator. Not last Saturday.

This time, he felt he should have been on the sideline. He felt ready to take on Southeastern Conference football.

But he’ll have to wait a few more Saturdays before he can.

As the final second slipped off the scoreboard at the Orange & White game, it signaled the end of spring and simultaneously started a new countdown: the day until Hendrix and the rest of Tennessee’s 2014 class arrives.

It’s so close, yet so far.

“I can taste it,” Hendrix told InsideTennessee. “My time is almost here. I can’t wait.”

And after last Saturday, Hendrix is even more anxious to arrive in Knoxville. More than 68,000 fans dotted the grandstands, one-on-one drills drew “ohhs and ahhs” from the restless crowd, and piped in music blended it all together.

“It was a great atmosphere. It’s the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to go here in the first place,” the Scout four-star told IT. “You can’t beat it.”

The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder said he constantly had to fight the urge to jump out of the stands, rush the field and beg coaches to let him borrow some pads.

“The wait is killing me,” Hendrix said.

In order to make the wait as pleasant as it can be, Hendrix said he’s trying to view his extra time as a positive. While he admits it’s easier said than done, he’s trying his best to use the time before he arrives on campus to his advantage.

“I guess, it just gives me a chance to sharpen up — get my skills ready,” Hendrix said. “I get the chance to put in all the work I want. I guess that’s a good thing.

The Illinois native says back home he’s hitting the weight room with a purpose, focusing on improving his explosiveness, agility and block-shedding skills before he arrives on Rocky Top.

“I wanted to be out there. But I have to take care of my business and I’ll be out there soon enough,” Hendrix said. “So, I’m just going to keep working hard.”

It should be a promising sign for Tennessee defensive line coach Steve Stripling. After all, he needs all the help he can get.

Tennessee must replace all of its starters along the defensive line this season. Hendrix is expected to hit the ground running. He knows it. And loves it.

“I know what’s expected once I get here,” Hendrix said. “And, watching the defensive line, I know I can come in and play right away. I’m confident in that.”

Hendrix also is confident Tennessee’s new-look defensive line will prove many wrong next fall.

Hendrix spent “most” of the spring game carefully watching the defensive front and is pleased by what he saw. Specifically, he said he was “very impressed” with early enrollee*Owen Williams.

“You know, they got after it,” Hendrix said. “(Williams) was a beast. He was really doing his thing. He’s gonna be good. I think we have the right players to be good. The future (is) bright.”

Certainly, Hendrix left Neyland Stadium last weekend with an extra pep in his step. That is, once he managed to finally escape the stadium grounds.

Arms holding anything from programs to posters jutted out like branches in a dense forest as Hendrix left. For what he said felt like hours, he grabbed marker after marker and signed his autograph for a fanbase as ready for him as he is for it.

“That’s the most I’ve ever signed for sure. I love it. It’s the first time this has ever happened to me. It’s humbling, and really just a great experience,” Hendrix said. “…Now, I just got to make sure those (autographs) are worth something one day.”
 
Per my buddy the manager:

Malik Brown is looking for another place to play. Will go on medical scholarship if he can't find anywhere.

Other guys to watch as potential defectors are Jaron Toney, Jason Carr, Justin King, Nate Peterman and Drae Bowles. First three seem very likely at this point.

Same one who told me Carr would be move to OT before it was released.


Butch is trimming the fat boys.
 
Scotty's Flat Top said:
Per my buddy the manager:

Malik Brown is looking for another place to play. Will go on medical scholarship if he can't find anywhere.

Other guys to watch as potential defectors are Jaron Toney, Jason Carr, Justin King, Nate Peterman and Drae Bowles. First three seem very likely at this point.

Same one who told me Carr would be move to OT before it was released.


Butch is trimming the fat boys.
Click to expand...
Can't believe Carr went from almost flipping to Bama to debating transferring and being moved to OT
 
wU-Tang Vol said:
Can't believe Carr went from almost flipping to Bama to debating transferring and being moved to OT
Click to expand...

I guess his work ethic is in serious question. Sucks. I had high hopes for him.

But, it will free up a valuable scholarship. Butch ain't playing around. I like it.
 
Scotty's Flat Top said:
I guess his work ethic is in serious question. Sucks. I had high hopes for him.

But, it will free up a valuable scholarship. Butch ain't playing around. I like it.
Click to expand...

I agree. Butch Stones finna get this money. And if you ain't bout this money, Butch ain't bout you
 
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