#VolReport: Day 1 In The Sun

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Butch Jones led Team 119 through its first practice on Tuesday afternoon on Haslam Field. “Obviously good to get back on the football field and play football, although we didn’t have any pads on today,” said Jones. “I liked our energy, I thought our players came with a workman like approach, like what they have done all off season. I thought our energy was good. Now the big challenge is maintaing that high level of consistency from practice one all the way to practice 15.”

Entering his third spring season, Jones was curious to see how the veterans have been able to build on their experiences, including a TaxSlayer Bowl Championship.

“I really was anxious to see our older players and how much retention there would be, how much carry over from the fundamentals to our style of play to the way we practice and our habits,” said Jones. “I tell you what, it really benefits when you have a lot of returning players.”

Tennessee leads the SEC in total returning starts with 240 coming from 18 returning starters, which is tied with Vanderbilt and UCLA for the most of any Power 5 conference team.

Jones was also happy with the underclassmen’s performance on the the first day of action.

“Some of the younger players did some really good things,” he said. “We had some players when we got into some team and competitive situations, which is natural with young players, kind of freeze a little bit, kind of let the mind tie the feet up a little bit. But I thought for the most part, very, very productive day one.”

THE INTERVIEW: DOBBS AND DEBORD

One of the more noted news stories coming out of the Vol Football camp this winter was the hiring of new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord. A major emphasis of DeBord’s primary duties will be working with quarterback incumbent Joshua Dobbs–a relationship that began early when head coachButch Jones allowed his QB to sit in on a portion of the interview process that screened DeBord for the job.

“That’s the first time I’ve done that,” said Jones. “I thought Josh had earned the right to sit in that interview. I wanted his feedback. As we all know, Josh is very cerebral and I wanted his input on some of the things. I also wanted to see the chemistry, the mesh those two individuals would have. You could see in an instant that there was a chemistry there.”

Dobbs made the most of the chance to pick the brain of his future coach and mentor.

“It was great,” said Dobbs of the experience. “It was great to sit down and speak with your future coach, potentially, and get in his mind and understand how he looks at football and how he looks at different concepts and schemes. It was great. It gave us a great introduction to each other and just being able to talk some football and get to know each other a little bit.”

Though the spring has produced just a single practice and DeBord has been on staff for only two months, Dobbs is confident the mutual impressions that were made in that meeting will create a lasting impact for the Tennessee offense.

“Coming in he was a very upbeat guy and obviously he knows a lot about football. His history tells that and that stands true today. He’s definitely bringing a new element to this offense that we’re going to like this year.”

BATES TRANSITIONING INSIDE

After missing most of his true freshman season with a torn labrum, Dillon Bates was more than ready to get back on the field with his teammates. But his return came in a slightly new role as the Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, native has begun to make the transition from WILL linebacker inside to the MIKE linebacker.

“Just throughout the offseason, contemplating where everybody was [the coaches] told me to start looking at the playbook and learning both worlds. So I started learning MIKE as well and we’re just now starting to emphasize the MIKE.”

Playing as the backup WILL linebacker for four games last season, Bates recognizes that a shift inside requires a strong mental capacity — a challenge he has no trouble accepting as one of the “high IQ” guys, as labeled by head coach Butch Jones.

“The MIKE is the quarterback of the defense. You have to be a more vocal leader and you have to set a front and know everybody, what they’re doing, where they’re place is. So it’s just getting with everybody, working with all the older guys, getting the terminology down.”

Beyond the cerebral aspect of the position, Bates has battled back from his injury to prepare his body for the positional transition, pushing his weight to nearly 235 pounds from his previous listing of 222 at the beginning of last season.

“I’m just trying to put on weight with the strength program. Coach Lawson has done a great job. We’ve been working in the weight room all offseason. That weight is going to come naturally; I’m not going to force myself to put on that kind of weight. But I’ve been steadily getting bigger and it’s been coming on naturally so I’ve kept my speed and kept my agility.”

O-LINE READY FOR REBOUND

Last season, the Vols’ offensive line struggled with five new starters. That group included two true freshman on five different occasions.

With every contributing offensive lineman returning for 2015, with the exception of since-graduated Jacob Gilliam, the line will have a chance to make major improvements in what amounts to its second year as a unit.

Those two true freshmen are now sophomores and are feeling good about their second season on Rocky Top.

“The offensive line is a position where you have to have a lot of chemistry,” said Robertson, who was named a Freshman All-American, as he started all 13 games at right guard. “Being around each other, in workouts, skill development, practice, going out to eat with each other, all those things get us on the same page. Having that time, has been helpful.”

Thomas drew five starts along side his roommate Robertson, on the right side, at tackle and had a tough time. But Thomas never let that get to him and staying focused on improving.

“I try and be a positive guy with everything I do I come in here with a good attitude and I’m willing to work,” said Thomas. “I never got down or put my head between my legs I just realized that this is my calling here and this is what I need to do.”

The Vols return 58 of a possible 65 offensive line starts from last season and have added a bevy of talented true freshmen adding to the competition for spots on that line.

“We have a lot more depth and a lot more guys battling for positions,” said Robertson. “It definitely makes you play harder, train harder, focus on the little things. We have to keep developing and let the competition on the O-Line push us forward.”

SOUND BITES

Here are sound bites from #Team119:

HEAD COACH BUTCH JONES

»(On the freshman quarterbacks)

“I thought our younger quarterbacks did some good things when we got into some competitive environments and some team situations. But again, overall consistency, I thought Josh [Dobbs] did a great job of providing leadership, experience, but again, even getting into some situations he was locking his front leg a little bit but will get corrected. I thought Quinten [Dormady] did some good things, I thought Jauan [Jennings] did some good things as well. So it makes you realize they are freshmen and they have a long, long ways to go but that is very understandable that that was their first collegiate practice. I was very encouraged by what I saw at that position as a whole.”

»(On the impact of strength and conditioning on winning games in the fourth quarter)

“Tremendous, you win games, you win championships in the fourth quarter, you have to have the ability to close games out and come from behind. I think everything is about the mental toughness, the physical toughness. And if you don’t have the strength it is hard to have the physical toughness. We always talk about working to dominate your opponent how you wear your opponent out. You don’t wear your opponent out on play one, play two or play five, you wear your opponent out with a consistency in approach and that usually occurs on play 50, play 55. That is something we talk about to our players all the time.”

»(On Cam Sutton)

“I put Cam Sutton into that Jalen Reeves-Maybin category. Cam is very consistent. He is very competitive. We have great dialogue. We talk all the time. You know what you are getting in Cam Sutton everyday. You are getting an individual who is driven to be the best every time he steps on the football field and he is reliable. Our players trust him, our coaches trust him and he wants to be one of the premier corners in our conference. He is working exceptionally hard at that.”

JUNIOR QUARTERBACK JOSHUA DOBBS

»(On his overall perceptions of the first day of spring practice)

“It went well. It was great to get back out there competing with my brothers. It was definitely a good day. We got a lot accomplished, a lot of install, and a lot of things worked well. So we’re definitely picking up where we left off last year.”

»(On the focus of these early practices)

“Execution. We’ve installed things all throughout winter so our goal now is, through the first couple practices, to execute what we know already so that we can build on that in the practices throughout the spring. We executed well today so we’ve got to build on that for the next practice.”

»(On the energy level of the day’s workout)

“It was very good. I know a lot of the guys were ready to get back out there. It gets monotonous just coming in here and lifting, and lifting, and lifting. So it’s good to get back on the field and playing the game we love and competing. So it was a good day.”

RS FRESHMAN LINEBACKER DILLON BATES

»(On staying mentally prepared despite missing most of last season)

“It’s all about mental reps, even when you’re not in. Even right now, you’ve got to sit back and get the call, `alright, where am I going to line up, what’s the formation, what’s the personnel?’ All that kind of goes through your head and what you’re going to do. So it’s all about seeing your position and seeing what you’re going to do on that play.”

»(On being labeled a high IQ player by Coach Jones)

“The MIKE has to know what all the pieces do, where everyone is going to be. So it’s a big part to have that high IQ to be not just on the field but a student of the game. To be in the classroom, be studying the game, turn off the TV and get in the playbook at night. It’s all about learning the game and getting with people to watch film and getting with your coaches to learn it better.”

»(On the health of his shoulder)

“It feels 100 percent. It’s just all about getting it stronger. I’m going to see how it feels out on the field and we’re going to progress into it and not go 100 percent. It’s spring ball and I’m working for a spot right now and I want to be smart about it.”

JUNIOR DEFENSIVE BACK CAMERON SUTTON

»(On Stephen Griffin)

“Eager kid. Willing to learn anything and everything. He’s always coming up to me “what can I do better, what can I learn.” I’ve sat numerous times with him and watched film. He’s still learning and he’ll gradually get into it. I’m looking to see him do big things this year and keep improving.”

»(On replacing Justin Coleman)

“Losing Justin Coleman is going to be a big loss for us this year. We have guys that step in and it’s a continuous process. We have multiple guys learning that nickel role. Nickel’s a big part of our defense and they’re involved in so much. With the loss of him we have to find a guy to step in and replace that role.”

»(On spring practice)

“Spring is an opportunity to showcase who you are, who we are and what we’re about. We talk about style of play on both sides of ball, even with special teams every single day. We just have to embrace those roles whatever they are. Each player knowing their role on the team and everybody has a role. Everybody’s important to this team.”

SOPHOMORE TIGHT END ETHAN WOLF

»(On the new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord)

“I honestly haven’t noticed a lot of difference, maybe in their height would be the biggest difference. They are using pretty much the same stuff; coach D-Bo came in a said he didn’t really want to change anything. Anything he does change we are picking up as fast as possible you have to learn it, get it out there and run it the next day. It hasn’t been overwhelming or anything he’s doing a great job at the position we are excited about it.”

»(On timing of routes and practicing with defenders)

“Everything is going really well, Josh is putting the ball on the money, receivers are running good routes; tight ends are running good routes. The o-line is doing well with the amount of pass protection we can get it looked and felt smooth and crisp today so we are just going to build onto that and take into the next practice.”

SOPHOMORE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN JASHON ROBERTSON

»(On his breakout freshman season)

“I surprised myself a bit. I didn’t know how my transition was going to go, going into college. I just wanted to contribute, whether it was on punt shield, field goal block, it didn’t matter, I just wanted to do the best I could.”

»(On starting alongside a fellow true freshman in Coleman Thomas)

“It was a lot of fun, Coleman is a roommate, it was something I looked forward to, ever since I met him. We had some growing pains and made some mistakes, but it was a lot of fun.”

»(On his strength increase)

“I give a lot of credit to the strength coaches that we have here as far as the strength programs they put us through. I also had a good start coming out of high school. A lot of guys don’t get a great strength program out of high school. I really appreciate what all of the high school coaches did in getting me prepared coming out of high school and taking it to the next level.”

SOPHOMORE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN COLEMAN THOMAS

»(On how important this spring practice is)

“It’s big time, especially for the two new guys Chance (Hall) and Jack (Jones) it’s big for them. I remember me coming in last year this time it was a big curve ball for me but it’s good for them to catch on and stuff to get the style of play down for the fall.”

»(On balancing the tackle and center work)

“I’m doing whatever it is to get on the field I really don’t mind, I will stand on my head if they need me too. I can play center, I can play tackle it really doesn’t matter. As far as the reps, Coach Mahoney said just half and half are what we are trying to work there, so I’m just trying to do what they tell me too. “