#VOLREPORT: INCHES

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Football is a game of inches. After practice on Wednesday every member of the Vols was given an inch, literally. Head coach Butch Jones had rulers cut into inches and they were distributed to the players to emphasize the importance of each inch.

 

“We talk about the phrase, `inches make a champion,’ and as we’ve emphasized,” said offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian. “The process of becoming champions is an inch-by-inch process.

 

“You’re not going to go from the one-inch line to the three-yard line without covering some ground in a gradual process. Our guys know that improving on a daily basis and improving inch by inch is the way to become a champion.”

 

The little things matter and that importance is being pushed by all of the coaches on Jones’ staff. The Vols’ running game is improved from the last few season, but Robert Gillespie continues to preach the inches mantra as well.

 

“We talk about in the running back room, we talk about turning eight into 80,” Gillspie said. “There’s still just finishing our runs a little bit better, and some holes we’re missing and becoming better pass protectors, so there’s a lot of areas we can continue to get better in, but the thing is, that those guys come in every day, eyes wide open trying to find the extra inch that Coach is talking about.”

 

PRESSURING SHAW

 

When South Carolina comes to Neyland Stadium on Saturday, the Volunteer defensive line will be tested against the Gamecocks versatile offense and mobile quarterback in Connor Shaw.

 

This isn’t the first time the Vols have faced a running quarterback this season, but each week, each quarterback brings a new attribute that the defense must prepare for during practice.

 

“I think the fine line is holding your points but yet getting pressure on the quarterback and it is a fine line- telling them to sit there and hold your points on the quarterback, because you want to put pressure on the quarterback,” said defensive line coach Steve Stripling. “The balance of finding that line of pressuring the quarterback and yet keeping him in the pocket.”

 

Tennessee will have to do just that against the Gamecock’s senior quarterback.

 

“He has the ability to throw it anywhere when he is on the run- across the field, down the field, I think that is what makes him a little more dangerous, especially when you don’t have a lot of eyes on him to see where he is going,” said Stripling. “I think their quarterback is outstanding and extends plays, meaning that that he doesn’t scramble to scramble, he scrambles to find a better position to throw the ball and that is what makes him dangerous.”

 

Applying pressure to Shaw will be key but must be done with great discipline.

 

“There is a fine line,” Stripling said. “You want to apply pressure to the quarterback but you also want to maintain those points. Connor Shaw extends plays. He never pulls down to run for a few yards, he pulls down to get a better launch point. He has his eyes downfield. That is obviously the point of emphasis.”

 

NEAL’S PROGRESSION PROCESS

 

One week ago Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian named senior tailback Rajion Neal as his mid-season MVP. Leading the Vols in rushing attempts (108), rushing yards (616) and touchdowns scored (7) makes Neal the obvious favorite for the award.

 

But according the Bajakian, the Fayetteville, Ga., native has come a long way since the start of training camp.

 

“It’s been a process and he’s made progress every week,” said Bajakian. “Since week one and our first day here, he’s improved in a lot of ways. [He’s improved] in our pass protection and in his ability to make runs in a physical manner.”

 

Those aren’t the only areas where Neal has made improvement. He’s established himself as the go-to playmaker for the Vols.

 

“As guys make plays, they get the ball more,” said Bajakian. “Rajion has proved that he can make plays.”

 

One key to Neal’s improvement has been his developing relationship with the offensive line.

 

“We’ve got a great relationship on and off the field,” Neal said on Tuesday. “We find ourselves sometimes off the field talking about games, stuff that we might have done during practice that just spring up on us. We’re always kind of around each other talking about ball and just really spending time with each other.”

 

At the encouragement of the coaching staff, that relationship has also blossomed in the film room.

 

“We encourage our guys to watch as much video as possible and to watch as a group,” said Bajakian. “I think the receivers understanding what the quarterback is seeing and vise-versa is important. The running backs understanding what the offensive line is trying to accomplish and vise-versa is important.

 

“The offensive line knowing the running backs’ reads and painting a clear picture for him is an important part of executing. We talk about 11 hats being on the same page. In offensive football, if one guy doesn’t execute and 10 guys execute very well, the play can get blown up. In order to execute on the same page I think they all need to have an understanding of the entire scheme and the entire concept.”

 

Neal also said that he’s joined the guys on the o-line in the film room more this season than past campaigns, and credits the coaches for that.

 

“It’s definitely more of the coaches,” said Neal. “The coaches are bringing a lot out of us and have a lot of high expectations. We definitely find time to kind of get in and sit in with those guys and pick their brains a little bit.”

 

A FAMILIAR FOE

 

There are two coaches on the Vols staff that are very familiar with South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier.

 

Defensive coordinator John Jancek and defensive backs coach Willie Martinez went head-to-head with Spurrier from 2005-09 when they were at Georgia, winning four of their five match ups.

 

What they also know is that they better be ready heading into Saturday’s meeting with the Gamecocks.

 

“His teams are always well prepared,” said Martinez. “They are well coached. He has had great players. Bottom like that is what it is all about. Nothing to take away from him, he is a great coach, his record speaks for itself. But it is about the players.”

 

This season, Spurrier has a slew of offensive talent.

 

“He has got a great experienced quarterback to run the offense,” said Martinez. “A great tailback in Mike Davis and really a great receiving corps that has been productive. It all starts up front with a great offensive line so they got players.”

 

With all of the good players that Spurrier has had over the years, he has always adapted his offense to their abilities.

 

Exactly what he is doing with quarterback Connor Shaw.

 

“When he had Lattimore he adapted to his strengths and formed his offense around him and now he has Connor and he is doing some really good things with him,” said Jancek. “I just think he is a smart ball coach. He isn’t stubborn, he sees what his talented level is, he sees what the skillsets of his players that he has and he adapts accordingly. There are a lot of things that he still does but I think to his credit he has adapted to what he players can do.”

 

Jancek knows that they better be ready for anything when it comes to a Spurrier coached team.

 

“He is aggressive, he is going to take a shot,” said Jancek. “He is aggressive. You have to know the situation. He is a guy who is going to try and open it up and hit you right off the get go, he is going to come out swinging. That is what makes it exciting.”

 

SOUND BITES

 

Here are sound bites from Coach Stripling, Coach Bajakian, Coach Jancek and Coach Martinez:

 

ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH STEVE STRIPLING

 

»(On Trevarris Saulsberry)

 

“I think his primary role at that point was to come in on longer downs and I think that is where he will work back into. Like any injured player, you are going to be slow, be cautious, be patient but try and work them back in there as soon as we can.”

 

»(On mobile quarterbacks)

 

“No question. Again that is going back to that fine line. If you are leaning on that 300 pound man trying to stay on your point, and the quarterback takes off. It is hard to get off of that 300 pound man, cause you were just leaning. Applying pressure to the quarterback and holding your points.”

 

»(On Greg Clark)

 

“I think he is an example of one of those young men, when an opportunity arises, because of some injuries he is able to work in there, he has been improving and his attitude is outstanding. Keep working.”

 

»(On Corey Vereen)

 

“He has been trying to play catch up. We just want to keep force feeding him as much as you can. He has. We put him in some different situations instead of just passing situations. But yeah. We are trying to bring him along as far as we can.”

 

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MIKE BAJAKIAN

 

»(On the South Carolina defense)

 

“They have a lot of experience and they’re very talented. They’re relatively simple schematically, because they let their players play. They have good eye discipline, play hard, play with a swagger and isolate No. 7 (Jadaveon Clowney) quite a bit. Obviously, you always have to account for where he is.”

 

»(On the importance of third down success)

 

“That’s always a factor. Again, if you’re going to make conditioning a factor – as we like to do in our offense – then you have to sustain drives. Third down is a big part of sustaining drives. Being able to keep the offense on the field, keep the chains moving and obviously keep the defense off the field is an important part.”

 

»(On Justin Worley’s confidence)

 

“Justin (Worley) has always had an even keel to him and business-like approach. He’s approached this week and the bye week in no different manner. He understands where he needs to improve and he works hard to do that.”

 

»(On getting Devrin Young back)

 

“It comes down to identifying playmakers, putting them in a position to have success and Devrin (Young) is one of those guys that can do something with the ball in his hands. He can break tackles and he can make people miss so there is another weapon that the defense has to defend. It’s good to have him back.”

 

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOHN JANCEK

 

»(On Mike Davis)

 

“I think his top end speed is excellent. The thing that makes him so challenging if you get guys around him he can make you miss. He has a great ability to jump cut and then accelerate and then potentially break a tackle. So he is going to be a great challenge for us.”

 

»(On South Carolina’s offensive line)

 

“Size. They are big, they are long, they get on you, they move you, they wear you down. They are getting better. You see them getting better as the season goes. It is going to be a great challenge, it is going to be an opportunity for us to go out and see where we are at.”

 

»(On having 11 interceptions)

 

“We don’t talk about interceptions, we talk about eye discipline, we talk about execution, assignments, everybody playing together. The interceptions are a byproduct of that. We don’t really talk about interceptions, this or that.”

 

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/DBs COACH WILLIE MARTINEZ

 

»(On the team coming off of the bye week)

 

“We think we have had the best open week of practice in a long time, that I have ever been involved with in coaching. The three days that we practiced, the guys were on point, focused, we got something accomplished. Some of the things that we wanted to work on and improve on I think we did that. Coming off the open week and in these last couple of practices the guys have been really focused. We have been able to rest some of the guys in the open week, take some reps off of their legs. I think they seem a lot more fresh and ready to go on Saturday.”

 

»(On Riyahd Jones and Mike Williams coming back from injury)

 

“They are working, they are doing a good job with it. Probably Riyahd more than Mike right now, but they are working. We don’t know. We will see.”

 

»(On Malik Foreman)

 

“He is good. He is a work in progress. There are some things that he has improved on and there are things that continue to be difficult for him.”

 

»(On Lemond Johnson)

 

“I think he is getting better and his future is bright and he continues to get better.”