#VolReport: Team 119’s Neyland Debut

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Team 119 made its debut at Neyland Stadium with the sixth practice of spring on Saturday afternoon.

“I thought it was another great day of teaching and learning for this football team, said head coach Butch Jones following the nearly two-hour session. “Good quality reps of playing football, situational football. It is really the first real opportunity that our players have really been able to play football without coaches on the field, live game situations and conditions.”

With two weeks of spring ball under their belts, Jones continues to preach education to his young Volunteers.

“I thought a lot of great teaching lessons today,” he said. “Still consistency and style of play, we are not there. Consistency and execution, long ways to go. You have to keep things in perspective right now.”

Saturday’s practiced marked the first this spring in which the Vols had a full SEC officiating crew on hand to create a more game-like setting.

“I thought our players did a very good job from a discipline standpoint with a full officiating crew,” said Jones. “Very few penalties. The other thing, when you have the opportunity to play 11-on-11, is really the in game mechanics that go. The ball rule, lining up, where to spot the ball, all those nuances of learning how to play in your style of play.”

WOLF STRIVING TO BE DYNAMIC TE

After a strong freshman season in which he became the first true freshman in program history to start the season-opener at tight end, Ethan Wolf is aiming to become the X-factor in a passing attack that has the tools to be extremely dangerous come fall.

“The next step is just to take what I had last year and build on it, just becoming that much more of a dynamic player,” he said. “Ensuring every ball that’s thrown to me is caught and making every block. The biggest thing is, now that I’m familiar with the offense and not a whole lot of things are changing, I can mentally lock down and not have any mental errors. Every freshman has them. And now that I’m not a freshman anymore I feel like I definitely know the offense that much more, in and out, and won’t have any mental mistakes that may have happened last year.”

The progress made between freshman and sophomore year can be pivotal in the career arc of a young player, and Wolf has not wasted a minute in transforming himself physically in the hope of becoming even more effective on the field next season. He finished with 23 catches for 212 yards in 12 games during his rookie campaign.

“I’ve been more explosive, just trimming my body fat down and replacing with muscle. That’s allowed me to come in and out of my breaks faster and just overall be faster in a straight line. So it’s providing me a better chance to get open and make plays.”

Those changes have been noticed by head coach Butch Jones, who had plenty of praise to offer his second-year tight end after his strong performance on Saturday.

“I thought Ethan had his best performance of spring today,” Jones said. “He did some really productive good things in the run game, allowing some big runs to hit. But also, ball skills, there was a number of times where the ball was thrown behind him and he was able to make the catch. He is still a youngster. But he has added the strength, again, not a finished product but I like his mentality, I like his effort and I thought today he has his best performance.”

MALONE USING SEC EXPERIENCE THIS SPRING

One year in the SEC has taught sophomore wide receiver Josh Malone a lot on many levels. This spring, he’s focusing on reminding his team and coaching staff of what he was brought to Tennessee to do as a five-star prospect out of Station Camp.

“I feel like my routes are getting better, releases are starting to get smoother,” Malone said on his spring improvement. “I feel like I’ll be able to work the game better.”

Having starting in six of the 13 games last season, Malone was up against some of the nation’s best in the secondary. With that, there’s not much much more that can hit him as a surprise.

“I feel a lot better,” Malone said of his confidence this spring. “I have a lot more experience this year. Just that one year of SEC play going up against the best corners in the league, that’s just valuable experience I can use going into this year.”

With nine practices left, he’s given the opportunity to work on his technique and skill set, but he continues to see his role as one that is ever changing. Like the rest of Team 119, his role is contributing to the team anyway he can.

I just want to prove that they brought me here for reason,” Malone said. “I just want them to still believe in that reason, and that I can still go out there and make plays.”

JASHON-OF-ALL-TRADES

It doesn’t matter where they put him on the field, he says. If it’s a position, he’ll play it.

Sophomore Jashon Robertson started in all 13 games at the right guard spot last season after switching from the defensive line. This spring, he has a new spot to learn: center.

“Since I’ve moved over to the offensive line, [Coach Mahoney] said you can’t be a one trick pony,” Robertson said. “You have guys like Kyler Kerbyson, Marcus Jackson and other guys that can play three, four, five positions. He’s just increasing my knowledge of the game and volume in everything playing both guard and center.”

With an open mind and more than willing attitude, Robertson has been taking reps at the center position alongside the likes ofMack Crowder.

“I played center when I was like seven years old,” Robertson said. “I’ve enjoyed playing center very much. My reps are going to increase next week. I’m looking forward to it.”

He shares the same unselfish attitude that his teammates hold, a mindset that says you do it all for the team.

“I want to do whatever the coaches want me to do,” Robertson said. “If they told me ‘Hey, we need you to work at right tackle this week’ even though I’m 6’3” on a good day, I’ll still do my best. It’s whatever they want. Whatever they want, I want.”

RANDOLPH’S VETERAN PRESENCE

As a fifth-year senior, Brian Randolph is able to offer sage advice to the many young members of the Vols’ secondary. Coach Jones calls Randolph a `coach on the field’ and Randolph is happy with the role.

“Brian Randolph knows the entire defense, inside and out, can get players lined up and our players respect him,” said Jones. “So having him on the football field really mentoring our young players has been invaluable for us.”

Randolph can see the tremendous potential for many of the Vols’ underclassmen and welcomed the opportunity to guide them with open arms.

“They have a lot of talent, give you a lot to work with. The more competition in our backfield will make me better,” said Randolph. “It’s good to sit back and watch them make plays and make the defense better.”

Improving the defense takes some pressure off of Randolph, but also pushes him to get better.

“I know I don’t have to play 80 snaps a game. It’s great knowing we have great backups and if I get a little bit tired I can count on the next guy to come in and give me a break.” Randolph added, “It does take a lot of pressure off. You don’t have to do everything else yourself, got to rely on other people.”

Jones knows the Vols’ secondary is in safe hands with Randolph.

“I always say it, the younger players have to have somebody to look up to,” said Jones. “They have to be able to say, `okay, I get it, that is how it is done.’ You need to follow Brian Randolph around. … When you have older players like that, that helps the development of the younger players in moving forward.”

SOUND BITES

Here are sound bites from #Team119:

HEAD COACH BUTCH JONES

»(On the development of the offensive line)

“They continue to be a work in progress. We have challenged them on their overall hand punch and their second step. Last year when we watched, a lot of the issues were generated off of their first or their second step and the transition into their fundamentals. We really focused on that development. You can see that, you can see that starting to come to play. They have worked exceptionally hard in the weight room, you can see the development, we are still no where where we need to be from strength levels. But you continue to see that. I have liked their work capacity. I have liked their mental approach each and every day. This football team, they come to work everyday. Now we have our deficiencies and we aren’t a real good football team right now. I think, number one is depth, we have to continue to work on our depth and we can’t be a team that hurts ourselves and that gets back to the mental errors. But we will get there. We are not playing games in the spring. We have to keep that all in perspective but we have a long ways to go. But I like their approach every single day.”

»(On sophomore defensive back Rashaan Gaulden)

“Rashaan is a very talented individual. He can run, he is very explosive, he can hit, he can cover. The big thing for him with being a young football player is just the over discipline of that position. Within the nickel position there is so much that goes into it. You have to be able to play zone coverage, reroute wideouts, you have to be able to play man to man coverage, you have to be able to set the edge of your defense, you have to understand the difference in blitz checks and blitz patterns. It is a mental part of it. Justin [Coleman] was able to handle it, I think because Justin, obviously, his skill set, but also his maturity level. Rashaan has that same skill set, it is just the maturity level of continuing to retain information and just being disciplined. We have been very pleased with Rashaan Gaulden’s progress.”

»(On junior linebacker Kenny Bynum)

“Kenny is very cerebral, Kenny should know the defense inside and out. That will help him in moving forward. It is all about being able to get lined up and football intelligence, football instincts and being able to play fast. He does a good job of understanding the schematics of our defense and what we are trying to accomplish. It is the `Power of Why.” Not just executing and doing your job but knowing why your execution of that particular assignment if very critical.”

SOPHOMORE WIDE RECEIVER JOSH MALONE

»(On the biggest thing he learned as a freshman)

“Last year, probably just taking care of my body. At some point in the year, you really start getting beat up. I really learned how important it is to take care of your body.”

»(On the opportunity to have more reps)

“It’s very big because we get to work more on our technique, more on our routes and really define our role going into the season.”​

SOPHOMORE DEFENSIVE BACK RASHAAN GAULDEN

»(On playing at both the nickel and corner spot)

“Coach wants me to play both positions. I’m going to try to be comfortable in both. I’m getting both nickel and corner reps. Two days ago, I played all corner. Today, I played all nickel. They’re trying to get me familiar with each position.”

»(On what Coach Martinez says he needs to work on)

“Technique. He has been on me everyday in the film room on my technique. If I can get down my technique, I can be a great player at this level.”

»(On the opportunity he has this spring with injured teammates)

“Coming into the spring, [Coach Martinez] told me I have a great opportunity. I need to have a big spring. I’m trying to take his coaching and build on my confidence and try to fulfill my role.”

JUNIOR QUARTERBACK JOSHUA DOBBS

»(On how spring practices have been)

“Spring has gone well. It has gone well for me. I started strong and I’ve been doing well. It’s gone well for the whole offense. We really picked up where we left off in the fall. We come out with great tempo. We came pushing the tempo, learning a lot and really taking big steps forward all across the board, so it’s really going well.”

»(On the improvement of the wide receivers this spring)

“You can tell just by the way they talk the game. The wide receivers are very knowledgable of the game than they were last year when they got here. You can tell that where they’re picking out defensive techniques, seeing coverages, seeing safety rotations. You can definitely tell that. It gives me a lot of confidence as a quarterback, and we’re definitely on the same page out there.”

»(On the difference with Coach DeBord on the field)

“We’re definitely pushing the tempo. It definitely helps that we have more experience across the board. We’re able to push the tempo. People know the plays like the back of their hand more than last year, so we’re able to go faster and do different things on the offense and the pass game. We’re installing various concepts. We’re definitely growing as an offense. We’re growing the arsenal that we have.”

RS FRESHMAN LINEBACKER DILLON BATES

»(On physicality of practice)

“It’s always physical. It’s different from being out on the practice field and coming into Neyland. You’re going to turn up the intensity, turn up the physicality, turn up the competition. You’ve just got to put your big boy pants on and come out to play.”

»(On junior linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin)

“He’s a smart instinctual player. He knows everybody on the field. He rarely makes mistakes. He’s always there to know so if you make some type of mistake he’ll correct you right then and there. We kind of joke that he’s a coach on the field too.”

RS SENIOR DEFENSIVE BACK BRIAN RANDOLPH

»​(On if he sees himself a couple years ago in the younger defensive backs)

“Yeah, especially [Stephen] Griffin just coming in here just flying. All the defensive coverage coming in at once. It can get overwhelming at times but I just tell him, `got to take it a little bit at a time.'”

»(On if the younger players are in awe at times)

“Oh yeah, Evan Berry is too. He’s a little wide eyed sometimes too but once he gets going he looks just like his brother. He’s getting it down.”

SOPHOMORE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN JASHON ROBERTSON

»​(On the tempo of the offense this year compared to last year)

“In the scrimmage, we didn’t go as fast we will be going in week one, but as far as practices it’s a blur. We’re going as fast as I’ve ever gone. We’ll go faster, and we’ll continue to work on the things to go faster, but I’ve definitely seen some improvement on speed as far as practice.”

»(On the difference having Coach DeBord on the field)

“He just has a lot of energy as far as running the ball in the running game. He has a lot of energy towards the offensive line. He likes a lot of the things we do. You can tell he enjoys and loves his job, so it’s been very exciting being around Coach DeBord and working with him.”

SOPHOMORE TIGHT END ETHAN WOLF

»​(On the accomplishments of the offense this spring)

“We came out there and pads are popping. Physicality is going really well. Some technique stuff needs to be cleaned up, and that’s expected. We’ve been making strides every day, haven’t taken any steps back. That’s really encouraging that we’re doing that. As far as the pass game, the chemistry is starting to come back between the receivers and Dobbs. We made some really nice plays through the air today.”

»(On sophomore running back Alvin Kamara)

“He’s done a great job. Honestly, I didn’t really know much about him before he got here. I just know that he’s a hard worker and he doesn’t say much. He just comes in and does his work. He’s got great vision and he’s not scared to stick his nose in there. He’s got incredible quickness and change of direction so he’s definitely going to be a good element to our run game.”