#VolReport: Line Up And Let’s Go

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In preparing his linebackers for one of the premier running games in the country against Georgia, Coach Tommy Thigpen has put an emphasis on three things this week: running fit, every man doing his job and above all else, tackling.

“Our emphasis has been, we’ve got to tackle,” Thigpen said. “When the day of reckoning comes, you’ve got to make those plays and tackle one-on-one.”

Tackling one-on-one is sometimes easier said than done, especially against a team that boasts an impact player such as tailback Todd Gurley. Gurley’s power and speed set him apart and as Thigpen notes, he’s a difficult player to match up one-on-one. Other opponent’s attempts have proven to be a mismatch this season, as Gurley simply outruns their coverage.

“[Gurley] has great vision, knows when to cut back, tuck it and run, and when to shake,” added Thigpen. “He does it all. He can give you shake like a little back, power like a big back, and speed like a small back.”

Tennessee’s linebacker corps is resilient. They adapt, they improvise and they show leadership within the entire defensive unit. Despite Georgia’s strength at the tailback position, Thigpen is excited to see execution and production from his group, led by senior A.J. Johnson.

“This is his kind of football game,” Thigpen said. “It’s an old school, smash-mouth, we call it, `double chin strap’ this week. Line up and let’s go play. [Jalen Reeves] Maybin is really smart. He is the epitome of being a smart player. He lines up exactly where he’s supposed to be and he is really good at tackling now. [Curt Maggitt] also does a good job at the point of attack. For those guys, playing in space and taking on the full back will be a good challenge for them this week.”

Working together to communicate in yet another hostile environment will be key for the Vols entering Sanford Stadium on Saturday. But when their moment comes, Thigpen feels confident that his linebackers’ level of mental toughness, physicality of play and field awareness will guide them.

“It takes eleven guys to play in a run-fit. What [Georgia] is doing can create a lot of challenges,” Thigpen said. “The theme for this week is, `Every man does his job, one play at a time.’ Don’t overdo it, just handle yours. When the time comes for you to make a play, make the plays you are supposed to make.”

SPECIAL TEAMS IMPROVEMENTS

Special teams coordinator Mark Elder realizes that there are some items to be addressed when it comes to the Vols special team performances. From kicking to returns, improvements can be made.

With expectations of a punt that will provide Tennessee an advantage with field position, consistency in the punting game is one of Elder’s goals.

“Matt Darr needs to be consistent with his punting, and consistent with good distance, good hang time and good accuracy,” Elder said. “He had been showing that and fell off a little bit in the last game and didn’t punt to the expectation that I wanted. He knows that. He knows what the expectation level is and he’s ready to get back to that.”

Analyzing the issue with punting, Elder had the ability to use the additional work week to prepare with Darr.

“His drop was getting a little bit off which was causing him to hit the ball a little differently because the leg swing, but that is correctable. That happens. You’re going to have small things that occur throughout your career and you just have to get back to the basics and be able to correct that stuff.”

As far as returns go, the team has been unable to return punts for significant yardage. Blocking down the field is one of the biggest improvements needed for success.

“We want to have good returns and we’re not there right now in the punt return or the kickoff return,” Elder said. “We have to do a better job blocking for both of those units. We haven’t been consistent enough in either unit.

“When we only have two returns on punt return because they’re forcing fair catches, that’s because we’re not doing a good enough job of holding up and blocking. We need to block at a better rate than what we are.”

After an extra work week to improve, the special teams group will be tested when they face Georgia on Saturday.

SAULSBERRY SET TO RETURN

The Vols defensive line will get a boost on Saturday. CoachSteve Stripling anticipates having junior Trevarris Saulsberryback in action after the junior missed the first three games of the season. Saulsberry had re-aggrevating a knee injury during training camp, which caused him to miss much of last season.

The Gainesville, Florida native will provided added depth and experience.

“I think he brings a lot to the table in that he’s an older player, so he brings some maturity to the room,” Stripling said. “He’s a popular guy in the meeting room, too. “He brings presence in that he’s a 300-pound guy. We’re a little short on those kinds of guys right now. It’s good to see him out there working with the reps.” Stripling has been happy with Saulsberry’s work heading into the Georgia game. “He had a good week,” Stripling said. “We just kind of let him go this week. We let him just kind of manage his situation, and he did great. I anticipate him being on the field Saturday.”

Saulsberry has played in just eight games in his four seasons with the Vols, four each in 2012 and 2013 as he has been plagued by ailments. He has 10 tackles.

GILLIAM STAYS ACTIVE, EYES RETURN

Day in and day out, redshirt senior offensive lineman Jacob Gilliam is on the practice field staying active as he rehabs from an ACL injury that was suffered in the season opener against Utah State.

His devotion to not just a team but sport he loves has been communicated through his relentless work ethic.

“That sums him up,” offensive line coach Don Mahoney said on Gilliam staying active during practices. “His character, his work ethic, his passion, and his want to is who he is and what he stands for. It’s just hard work. He has tremendous character. It’s not a surprise to me.”

“Some guys when it’s their senior year, they’re willing to sacrifice even that much more because it’s so important to them, and they never want to look back and have regrets. I think that’s the biggest thing with him. I can’t say enough good about him. I love seeing him out there.”

Although it is unlikely Gilliam will be able to return to the field to play, his character and work ethic remains at the top of mind for the coaches.

“Jacob is an individual, as we all know, that is extremely competitive,” head coach Butch Jones said. “This football team means everything to him and we will continue to progress. He still has a dream in the back of his mind of still playing. So we will see how he progresses.” On Tuesday, Butch Jones similarly mentioned Gilliam’s dream of playing for the Vols one more time.

“This football team means everything to him, said Jones. “He still has a dream in the back of his mind of still playing. So we will see how he progresses.”

SOUND BITES

Here are sound bites from Team 118:

DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH WILLIE MARTINEZ

»(On Georgia’s Isaiah McKenzie)

“Anytime that you have great players like McKenzie, who are tremendous in space, it forces you to tackle really well. You might be able to do it once, he puts a lot of stress in the perimeter. That is why we have to do a really good job of swarming to the ball, running to the ball so to speak, wrapping up and making tackles, because he generally makes the first guy miss.”

»(On Georgia’s play action game success)

“It helps that they have really good players, it starts with the running back. They don’t just have one great one, they have three or four of them. It starts there. Anytime you can establish a run game, it doesn’t matter where you are at, but obviously they have been doing it really, really well for a lot of years. It sets up your play action really well. So we have to be able to force them to get into a third down and long situation. And we have to be able to get off the field. You can’t defend like any other game, you can’t defend a bunch of third down and threes and third down and twos or it is going to be a long night for you.”

DEFENSIVE LINE COACH STEVE STRIPLING

»(On defensive third down efficiency)

“I think we have been really effective on third down. The key to get to a manageable third down is to be successful on first down. I know in Oklahoma we gave up some first down plays. I think that is something we talk to our guys about being 65% consistent on first downs, four yards or less. That is something that is important to us.With Georgia it is going to be about getting ahead of the sticks and defending that.”

OFFENSIVE LINE COACH DON MAHONEY

»(On learning from Oklahoma)

“Coming off of that ball game there were a lot of things to draw from, despite the loss there were some things to grow from. The biggest thing we stressed upon was what guys are going to step up to be the guys who can be major factors as this season goes forward in case something happens as well as competition. I think some of those guys have done that.Brett Kendrick had a solid open week, Austin Sanders made strides, Dylan Wiesman really improved. I saw guys, as coach was stressing upon them, what are the guys that are going to have the impact and really still establish our identity of who we are.”

»(On having the open week with starting five offensive linemen)

It was really good. As always with the open date, you are stressing work of really focusing on the fundamentals, really breaking things down in your stance, your footwork and all those things. I think the biggest thing is it is really more a mental deal for you, because it is the grind of week in and week out and getting prepared for an opponent and then not having a given opponent. It came at just the right time for some of those guys, especially Coleman Thomas who is a freshman, Jashon Robertson, some of the guys who are a little bit younger, it gave them a chance to catch their breath and reload for another run in consecutive weeks. The more time with them the better, I wish we had a month.”

LINEBACKERS COACH TOMMY THIGPEN

»(On what sets Gurley apart)

“It’s the power and the speed that goes with it. They are looking a lot of times to isolate a corner. Him one-on-one with a defensive back is a mismatch. You see guys try to take angles and he outruns their angles. Guys try to come in and hit him low but he is very strong on the lower extremities of his body.”

»(On importance of getting off blocks this week)

“That’s going to be our number one challenge… Can we get off blocks, and then make a play on the running back? That’s where people are going wrong, trying to get off running backs. Us trying to get off linemen, 300 lb. linemen, then stick your arm out on a 230 pound running back. You have to be able to do that.”