Vols Spring Football Practice #4

[Fingers]

Quarterbacks and running backs worked the mesh drill and then routes on air out of the backfield. We didn’t see a ball hit the ground during that part of the passing drills.

Then they went outside and linked up with the wideouts and tight ends for normal routes vs. air. It was a solid period. Certainly not the crispest that we’ve seen but it was not bad. They worked more short and intermediate throws but also incorporated outs from the far hash.

Kelsey Pope was urging his group to work harder. At one point, he yelled out “we are too slow.” Radarious Jackson dropped an out route from Faizon Brandon and had to do pushups with Pope watching. The freshman signal-caller threw behind and inside on a few routes over the middle that were still caught, but he looked decent overall.

George MacIntyre missed high on a couple of outs and slants. Ethan Davis climbed the ladder once to bring in a slant over the middle. As did Braylon Staley on an out route thrown by MacIntyre. Ryan Staub threw the ball well today.

Sophomore tight end DaSaahn Brame is going to help Tennessee. He arrived on campus this time last year weighing 218. He is currently 240 and running extremely well. He had a nice catch up the seam on a ball that was thrown behind him. he is still learning the in-line physicality of the position, but weighing 240+ pounds helps.

Jaedon Harmon performed an excellent spin move to get around the blocker and hit the dummy (QB). Jadon Perlotte showed some good feet and athleticism while winning his rep. Both of those victories were against running backs.

Spillman came off the side and made a move inside to beat freshman tight end Luca Wolf. Both DeSean Bishop and Justin Baker had good blocks to win reps against blitzing linebackers. Baker is one who continues to show up on the practice field. Cole Harrison denied freshman Brayden Rouse on a spin move. Freshman linebacker TJ White (245 pounds) got yelled out for a bullrush in the drill.

e.cain

Quarterbacks George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon were pretty sharp throwing slant, flat and hook routes before working on some deeper comeback patterns. The football comes out of their hands really well. Consistency even in this periods can be important as the young tandem continues to grow this spring.

MacIntyre threw high (but probably catchable) to Mike Matthews on a short slant and was just wide to him on an out route thrown from the far hash. Matthews got an outstretched hand on it, but couldn’t bring it in. MacIntyre’s best throws were on a far-hash out where Braylon Staley made a great extension to snag it and the deep comeback to Travis Smith Jr., who ran a good route.

Brandon’s rounds were pretty clean and he was getting coached up by Josh Heupel after the second round.

Staley was a standout in this period. His athleticism and movements are just effortless and smooth, but sharp with no wasted motion. The redshirt sophomore looks locked in.

Smith and Radarious Jackson, who had a drop on the deep out and had to do push-ups for it, worked at one outside spot. Matthews and freshman TK Keys, who is still not fully cleared but was running routes and made a couple of nice catches, were at the other spot. The order in the slot went Staley, Joakim Dodson and Ian Duarte, the Idaho State transfer.

Cole Harrison had an early drop but bounced back with a good route and catch, and South Alabama transfer Trent Thomas got some praise on one of his routes.

Nobody could block Jadon Perlotte. We saw the sophomore linebacker make an impact with his closing speed in games last season, and surely new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who was watching these drills, can find a role for him as a pass-rusher if nothing else in a crowded linebacker room. Perlotte’s speed and twitch allowed him to make subtle moves to almost glide around Ethan Davis and later Harrison.

Penn State transfer Amare Campbell was another standout defensively. Campbell used a subtle shoulder dip to get around Harrison and used his physicality to dislodge Daune Morris at the point of contact and create space to win the rep.

Offensively the standouts were tight end Brame and running back DeSean Bishop, who had a couple of reps that had De’Rail Sims very fired up and loudly praising him.

p.brown

 

[Hbg]

First

 

[Fatman Photos]

Second (after I read the thread) lol

 

[Orangeburst]

 

[PowerT.]

We might have the best LB room in the country this year.

Carter, Campbell, Harmon, Perlotte can all play

Haven’t seen what White and Rouse can do yet

 

[Pawleysvol]

We might have the best LB room in the country this year.

Carter, Campbell, Harmon, Perlotte can all play

Haven’t seen what White and Rouse can do yet

Spillman as well

 

[PowerT.]

Spillman as well

And he might be the best of them all this year

 

[zjcvols]

@Fingers as a VN mod, I just want to say how grateful the board is for your work and dedication to these reports. It has been invaluable for a long time and just wanted to say thank you so much for your work on these here at VN

 

[OrangeMoundTNVol]

We might have the best LB room in the country this year.

Carter, Campbell, Harmon, Perlotte can all play

Haven’t seen what White and Rouse can do yet

Don't forget the monster and top returning tackler Spillman, who's just scratching the surface of the player he will become. TJ White looks different from any backer on the team physically. I've competed against MS competition in HS and I can tell you that those kids are strong as heck. Him coming in at 240 is very impressive.

 

[GBO2011]

Don't forget the monster and top returning tackler Spillman, who's just scratching the surface of the player he will become. TJ White looks different from any backer on the team physically. I've competed against MS competition in HS and I can tell you that those kids are strong as heck. Him coming in at 240 is very impressive.

Also, a healthy Arion Carter hopefully…. Got a lot to be excited for out of our linebacker corps this year

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Work!!!! Just feels like this group means business. Got to keep putting in the work. GBO!!!!

 

[barney]

uh oh its time to start over reacting to routes on air again! happy offseason

 

[MOOOOONEY]

Brame is going to be a weapon in the pass game. Hope his block game improves dramatically.

Will Justin Baker be RB2? Or will he be a spring baller who disappears in the fall? I really liked his high school film. Hope he makes an impact this fall.

I will say it again. LB room is loaded. Could be the best in the SEC (paper doesn’t matter. Prove it on the field).

Staley will be the next Tennessee Vols wide receiver taken in the first round.

 

[Orange Navy]

Also, a healthy Arion Carter hopefully…. Got a lot to be excited for out of our linebacker corps this year

Patrick Brown speculating that Perlotte could be an edge rusher? Does he know something or just trying to solve the problem of the crowded linebacker room? That would be amazing since we are probably a little thin at Edge.

 

[joevol33]

Thanks Fingers!