#VolReport: Jones Welcomes Barnes

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — As Rick Barnes was being introduced as the Vols’ men’s basketball head coach at Pratt Pavilion, Butch Jones was leading Team 119 through its fourth spring practice over on Haslam Field. But that doesn’t mean that Barnes wasn’t on Jones’ mind as he was on the football field.

When Jones walked to the podium to begin his Tuesday post-practice press, the first thing on his mind was the newest member of the Tennessee athletics family.

“I would like to start off and officially welcome Coach Barnes to the Tennessee family,” Jones began on Tuesday. “Obviously very excited about him being here.”

The pair of coaches spent quality time together on Monday night at a dinner with their wives. Then on Tuesday, Barnes visited with Jones several times as he toured around the Anderson Training Center.

“We are very, very excited,” said Jones of Barnes’ hiring. “You look at the experience that he brings to this institution. Everything is about a fit. Everyone thought he was a great fit. And the time that I spent with him, I agree with that.

“I think that he will be a great fit and I think he will do a great job and looking forward to getting to know him and picking his brain a little bit just with coaching and motivation and all the things that go into it no matter what sport you coach.”

DORMADY GETTING ACCLIMATED TO COLLEGE LIFE

Finally true freshman quarterback, Quinten Dormady, is seeing some spring practice action. After sitting a month out of throwing due to a shoulder injury, Dormady is getting his first feel as a Tennessee quarterback.

He spent his down time in the training room, eating right and doing his best to transition to the level of college play. The Texas native is adjusting and using the video to help correct beginners mistakes.

“Just getting in the playbook is the biggest thing. I try to get in the film room and learn from my mistakes,” said Dormady. “I made the most of what I had.”

​Butch Jones has seen the work put in by Dormady and feels good about it.

“I see him making tremendous progress each and everyday,” said Jones. “As a coach we have to keep in perspective that he should still be in high school, but I have been very, very encouraged with him.”

Dormady is working alongside and learning from starting quarterback, junior Joshua Dobbs. ​ “I think I am trying to push him to make him better and he is pushing me. He is helping me out a lot,” said Dormady on Dobbs.

SPRING BRINGING RENEWED HEALTH, CHEMISTRY FOR MALONE

Josh Malone appeared in all 13 games for Tennessee during his true freshman campaign in 2014. But through most of those games, the former five-star prospect found himself dinged up from multiple injuries that left him playing at less than 100 percent. Malone still finished the year with 23 catches and a touchdown, but the sophomore is relieved to be going through his second spring at full health.

“I’m just a lot more healthy and prepared,” said Malone. “I know what I’m going through, going through my second spring. I learned lot last year through all the adversity and the ups and downs of the season. I think it will benefit me in the long run because I know what to expect now. I’ve been in SEC play, been through the season. I just know what I’ve got to do to take care of my body.”

Going through the rigors of spring camp, Malone has emphasized playing with more speed–a focus that has come naturally with more familiarity of the playbook and pace of the game.

“I’m used to the system. I know the playbook. When you know what you’re doing out there you can go a little bit faster.”

It also helps that Malone has seen increased reps with starting quarterback Joshua Dobbs, even after the two hooked up for a nine-yard touchdown against Alabama in late October. It was Malone’s first touchdown reception of his career and the first touchdown pass of the season for Dobbs.

“It’s a lot easier to build the chemistry because we know who the No. 1 guy is going in,” Malone said. “So we can build off of that and really get the rhythm down and get on the same page.”

TK LOOKING TO IMPROVE FOR TEAM

If there’s one thing sophomore Todd Kelly Jr. doesn’t emanate it’s selfishness.

After a successful freshman season, Kelly is looking to make an impact on the field with a huge opportunity this spring. With the limited practice of some of his counterparts, he’s getting valuable reps with the first team.

“I wouldn’t call it pressure,” Kelly said about the increase of reps. “Whenever you step foot on the field, it’s a game. You don’t really change your mindset when you go out there. You just go out there and play to your ability.

“I’m trying to go out here, learn the process and learn what I need to do better on the field versus relying on my strengths.”

Kelly’s goal is to learn from his mistakes rather than overlook them with his strengths. Wanting to be a playmaker like former Vol Justin Coleman, whom Kelly played under, he wants to make plays when his name is called, not for himself, but for the betterment of Team 119.

“We only lost one guy from last year, but we’re not losing so many guys,” Kelly said. “It’s a close group, really well knitted. We take care of each other. When someone messes up, we try to correct him. The older guys take care of me and make sure I’m doing the right thing.”

LEWIS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EXTRA REPS

With several defensive linemen out for the spring, junior LaTroy Lewis is taking full advantage of the opportunity to receive more reps. Despite the tougher conditions coming from more reps, Lewis sees it as building the toughness that a Tennessee player needs.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Lewis said. “Even when we have everyone healthy, it’s always a competition. Right now, I see it at even more of an opportunity to compete and show what I got.”

With players out, defensive line coach Steve Stripling is able to spend more time with individual players.

“With everyone out, we all see a little more attention,” Lewis said. “Fewer people, more reps. We get more attention, but for the most part it’s pretty much the same. [Coach Strip] has the same high expectations. He expects us to get after it everyday.”

Working hard in the weight room, Lewis is taking his accomplishments there onto the field as motivation as he focuses on improving his consistency and first step.

“Nobody is perfect but for me right now it’s improving my first step and being violent hands via hand placement,” Lewis said. “Right now, cerebrally, I’m understanding it. If I had to go play another position, I have that in my back pocket to be able to do it. Right now, it’s about making plays.”

SPEED WARS

The race is on toward the title of Tennessee’s fastest and the early spring standings show junior defensive back Malik Foreman atop the list.

“I’ve been the top guy [in the speed drills],” declared Foreman. “It’s been pretty close between me, E-Man [Emmanuel Moseley], AK [Alvin Kamara], and also Pig [Howard]. It’s a constant battle every time we do it.”

Not surprisingly, certain amounts of bragging rights come with being recognized as UT’s top speedster and Foreman knows he’s in for a fight to maintain his place out front.

“Everybody wants to be the fastest so we check the charts every day to see who is first, second, and third and to see who is dropping down the group. We talk a lot of trash in there.”

When asked if he thought he had a target on his back, Foreman replied, “I think so.”

The junior from Kingsport, Tennessee, had four kickoff returns for 70 yards last season and is continuing to make strides towards one of UT’s spots at cornerback in 2015. He admitted to feeling surprised when seeing his name on top of the leaderboard, but is hoping to parlay that into significant minutes come the fall season.

“I knew I’d be up there, but I didn’t know I’d be No. 1. So it’s a good confidence boost.”

SOUND BITES

Here are sound bites from #Team119:

HEAD COACH BUTCH JONES

»(On improvements on the offensive line)

“I see a lot of differences. I see growth and development in a lot of areas. First of all, fundamentally, we really focused on their second steps and their footwork, their hand placement. We still need to get lower, we are still playing too high. I also see the growth and development in terms of a strength standpoint, we are much more stronger unit than we were a year ago at this time. We still need to continue to develop that strength, we are not where we need to be. But I see marked progress across the board.”

»(On sophomore kicker Aaron Medley)

“Aaron Medley is as driven as anyone on our football team. He didn’t have a great performance on Saturday and Sunday he went in and worked on his craft all day. I could see a difference in his game and his confidence today. That is Aaron, Aaron wants to be the best in everything that he does. I am excited about him. our snappers and holders are all doing great. We are still truing to find a punter and that will continue to be a work in progress as well. It is going to be a process. Trevor Daniel is a young man that when he works his technique, he understands the operation time, he has a very, very live leg and he has a very strong leg. He can place the ball. Now what we need from Trevor is just consistency on every single kick.”

»(On the battle at middle linebacker)

“Ongoing. Kenny Bynum continues to get valuable repetitions there. Jalen Reeves-Maybin, we continue to move him around. Dillon Bates, Cortez McDowell, all these individuals are gaining valuable repetitions at the linebacker position. Again, it is going to be a work in progress, no one individual is a finished product to say the least. We have to continue, now we are starting to go through the grind of spring football, this is where your toughness is born as a football team. Now you are sore. You have academics, you have a full workload and it has been a physical spring football so far. Now is when you have to rely on our leadership. I am going to challenge our leadership, I am going to challenge our players staff. We need to step up and we need to hold everyone accountable.”

FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK QUINTEN DORMADY

»(On what sets Joshua Dobbs a part)

“He is extremely smart. He has been in the system. He has an arm. He is the whole package. Like I said I’m just trying to learn from him. Obviously he has had SEC reps, starts and that kind of thing and succeeded. I’m just trying to take everything I can from him.”

»(On impression of the receivers)

“Outstanding. It is great to be able to just throw the ball up and go make a play. I think I can do a better job of letting them make plays and not having to be so perfect all the time. I think in some of the goal line stuff I can put it up and let them go make a play a little bit more than I am right now.”

»(On the biggest adjustments)

“Obviously the speed of the game is a lot faster. Like I said getting in the playbook all the time. You have to go to class, be able to separate that and come here and flip the switch. I’m still trying to figure that out right now.”

JUNIOR DEFENSIVE BACK MALIK FOREMAN

»(On the competitiveness of the UT secondary)

“It’s real competitive. That’s what’s making us all better. You can see how it’s gotten more competitive and guys are getting a lot better than they were going from year two and making a lot of strides.”

»(On the improvement of sophomore DB Rashaan Gaulden)

“Rashaan is making a lot of strides. He’s getting better at nickel. He’s cutting down on his mental errors and he’s getting more physical. And that’s what he’s got to do to get a nickel spot.”

»(On his focus for improvement this spring)

“I need to get better on my conditioning, just staying on drives. I want to perfect my technique, as usual, and just get faster and perfect my game all around.”

SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER PIG HOWARD

»(On the feeling of getting back in pads)

“I’m feeling real good. It felt good to be back out there with my team. There are new faces out there. I see a lot of energy and everybody’s chemistry from the off season. I think everybody is up and moving really good.”

»(On importance of staying healthy last season)

“It was very big because we were in a lot of tough games. It came down to the 4th quarter at the end of the day. We had a couple people go down so it just took that mentality, practice habits and just taking care of your body. You have to discipline yourself to be ready for those moments.”

»(On improvements from last year)

“I think I have come far just the mentality standpoint, academically and athletically. Just on and off the field in general I made a big step.”

SOPHOMORE DEFENSIVE BACK TODD KELLY JR.

»(On the competitive nature of practice)

“Right now I’m just trying to work on my craft, listen to my coaches and my other peers to get better every day. At the same time, it’s not just about me. When we all go out there and play our butts off for each other, that’s what it’s about.”

»(On not just the players who played a lot this past season making plays in practice)

“I think it’s pretty important. I think we have some younger guys that are making plays as well so it’s not just us. It’s other guys stepping up on the field. Rashaan Gaulden is out there making plays. Stephen Griffin is a young guy. He’s like my little brother in the program. He’s just a freshman, so we have a lot of athletes making plays.”

RS JUNIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN LaTROY LEWIS

»(On freshman defensive lineman Shy Tuttle)

“He has a great first step burst even for his size. You don’t see a lot of 300-pound people that can get off the ball quick and keep it going. We expect a lot from Shy after seeing his first few practices.”

»(On coming into games last game ready to make a play)

“It was difficult but it was staying into it mentally. With Curt [Maggitt], [Corey] Vereen, [Derek] Barnett or whoever came on the sideline, try this move or if you see this, try that. It was a stay locked in thing because you never know when it’s your turn. You never know when it’s your time.”

SOPHOMORE WIDE RECEIVER JOSH MALONE

»​(On the lessons learned from an injury-plagued 2014)

“The most is taking care of my body and preventing the injuries that I dealt with last year. That, and watching film.”

»(On how his injuries affected him last season)

“I can deal with upper body injuries easier. The lower body injuries are a little more frustrating. They mess up my stride and my running.”

»(On his focus this spring)

“This spring I’ve been working on just catching the ball and finishing the catch. Right now I’m really focusing on my releases. After my releases, I’m working on getting into the route.”