They said they expect me to come up there and play early, said Mincey. Im really focused on trying to work real hard to get in the rotation. Im kind of expecting to play early. Mincey said he has stayed in contact with Tennessee defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer over the past few months, and Sherrer has told him to just keep working and be ready when I come up.
Honestly, I saw theyre doing stuff that I can do also, but maybe I can do it better than them, he said. I might have a good chance of playing. Ive got really long arms, so I know how to use my length in my arms to separate. I think I have a big advantage in that over a lot of people. Seeing them practice on the field, I saw the kind of tempo their practice was, Mincey said. I saw how everythings going to go, and I see I have to work real hard for everything, really. Nothing aint going to come easy.
(Rocker is) tough. Hes real tough. Thats about all I can say. I didnt deal with nothing like that in high school. His style of coachings going to be real kind of new to me, so Im just going to have to get used to it. Mincey said he believes hes going to be playing primarily at defensive end in the Vols 3-4 defense, but he thinks hes going to be switching positions in different schemes. I feel like I can go down to D-tackle in nickel schemes, he said. I really feel I can play anything during any time.
To prepare for that type of role, Mincey said Tennessees coaches told him that I needed to gain a few more pounds before I get up there. He said the Vols envision him putting on plenty more weight in the coming months. They say Im going to probably be at, like, 285, maybe 290, Mincey said.
