Freshman Barnett having 'tremendous camp' for Vols

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WilliamDuVOL

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Freshman Barnett having 'tremendous camp' for Vols | Times Free Press

Nice little read to start your day.

KNOXVILLE — At a couple of different points during the open viewing periods of Tennessee's football practice Thursday, the Volunteers were trotting out all newcomers on the second-team defensive line.

Whether the doors are open or closed, one new guy in particular continues to pop up.

Tennessee coach Butch Jones singled out freshman defensive end Derek Barnett for praise following Thursday's workout, echoing the early buzz the 6-foot-3, 267-pounder has generated.

"One individual who has really upped everyone's level of play has been Derek Barnett," Jones said. "Derek Barnett has had a tremendous camp [with] his effort. He made one of the best plays I've seen in a long time two days ago in practice, where he caught and chased Devrin Young down the sideline about 30 yards running to the football. It's been great to see.

"Derek Barnett has elevated the defensive line play."

Young, by the way, is the speedy 5-foot-8, 178-pound tailback and return man.

Barnett and freshman end Dewayne Hendrix appear to be ahead of Tennessee's other new defensive linemen, though early enrollees Owen Williams, a junior college transfer, and Dimarya Mixon, along with freshman Michael Sawyers, have been getting work with Tennessee's second-team defense so far.

A consensus four-star prospect, Barnett starred for Brentwood Academy, winning Tennessee Mr. Football awards his junior and senior years. In 2013, he racked up 60 tackles, 18 for loss and 5.5 sacks for the Eagles.

"I could tell from the summer he had the physical aspect, and he definitely has speed," senior defensive tackle Jordan Williams said. "It's just a lot of times, D-linemen have trouble with the mental aspect of the game. But he's picked it up real well, and he's coming along great."

Jones also singled out freshman defensive back Elliott Berry, linebacker Dillon Bates, cornerback Emmanuel Moseley and tight end Ethan Wolf.

"Elliott Berry, we continue to challenge him," Jones said. "We're asking a lot of him in terms of playing nickel and playing some Will linebacker, moving him around."

Quarterbacks struggle

Jones continues to be displeased with the play of his quarterbacks and had some direct words for Justin Worley, Josh Dobbs and Nathan Peterman on Thursday.

He said the Vols are "not playing winning football" at the position and called for all three "to step up."

During the open viewing period Thursday, Worley had a deep pass in situational work intercepted by Moseley because the ball was underthrown, and he and Dobbs both had drives go four plays and out.

Peterman led the offense into position to kick a "winning" field goal after a long completion to the red-hot Josh Smith.

"Efficiency is what we're hunting," Jones said, "and we're not efficient right now at that position."

Messing with Medley

Aaron Medley was the kicker who made that 31-yard "winning" kick, and the freshman made all five of his pressure kicks at the end of practice.

His first kick, though, came with the obnoxious noise of a crying baby blaring over the practice field loudspeakers.

"It get pretty annoying, I'm not going to lie," Medley said after practice. "But you've just got to learn to block it out. I feel like I've had a good start. I had a couple of rough patches there, but today was a good confidence booster."

Medley also was the kicker for the first-team kickoff coverage unit, with George Bullock with the second group.

"Take one practice out of the mix, he's been pretty consistent all camp so far," Jones said of Medley. "George Bullock has done some good things, along with Derrick Brodus."

Travel for Darr

Punter Matt Darr put more than 6,000 miles on his Toyota Tacoma pickup truck this summer, driving across the country to train with NFL specialists or work with other college kickers.

While in Mobile, Ala, and Pensacola, Fla., the fifth-year senior worked with Ryan Allen of the New England Patriots and Richie Leone of the Baltimore Ravens, and he trekked to Wisconsin to work at a camp with Thomas Morstead of the New Orleans Saints and other college kickers.

"Getting with other college and NFL kickers and punters in the offseason to train is really where you learn," Darr said. "You start to develop your own techniques and habits. It was very beneficial for me, and I'm carrying that over into camp right now."

Once one of the nation's top-rated punters, Darr hasn't seen his career pan out that way, but his punting predecessor, Michael Palardy, turned an up-and-down career into a fantastic senior season last year.

"The journey's not over," Darr said. "That's kind of what I'm banking on right now, is to have a good season with this team and hopefully win a lot of football games."
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#2
#2
And to think Barnett almost wound up at Candy. What a mistake that would have been!
 
#3
#3
Most on here know I'm more of a tap the brakes kind of poster, but E. Moseley could be one of the biggest steals in recruiting at UT in a long time.

BTW, I know the thread is about Barnett, but just wanted to put in my 2 cents on EM.
 
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#4
#4
fade route said:
Most on here know I'm more of a tap the brakes kind of poster, but E. Moseley could be one of the biggest steals in recruiting at UT in a long time.

BTW, I know the thread is about Barnett, but just wanted to put in my 2 cents on EM.
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Thats where the staff benefits in recruiting speed, speed, and more speed and then depends on their coaching abilities to coach these prospects up. Gonna be tough to go over the top of our defense now and should allow us to bring the safeties closer to the line of scrimmage and play more aggressive. I think this defense will be a lot better than last year considering we basically only had to replace that underachieving line with quicker lineman that should be able to help pursue mobile quarterbacks out of the pocket and what a refreshing scene thatll be.
 
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#5
#5
D. Young will get razzed for getting caught from behind by a D-lineman. Gotta love the effort.
 
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#6
#6
This kid has been my favorite recruit from this class since day 1. If you have not watched his highlights, do yourself a favor and watch it. This guy is a freak athele to be his size. Just watch it! And this is on one of the best teams in the state of Tennesse. Go Vols!:yes:
 
#7
#7
I don't get it with D Young. All you ever hear about is his speed but personally I can't really recall ever seeing him run in a game and thinking "wow he's got another gear".

My memories of him so far only consist of watching him catch a punt and then hop around like a chicken on a hot plate waiting for something to open up.

I'm pulling for him as with all vols. I just hope he finally turns the corner and takes that straight line speed and applies it to football.
 
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#9
#9
VolBricks said:
D. Young will get razzed for getting caught from behind by a D-lineman. Gotta love the effort.
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I doubt he ran him down from behind. He probably took a great angle and beat Young to a point 30 yards downfield. Still very impressive. DL tend to struggle with angles like that in pursuit.
 
#10
#10
jlf2n said:
I don't get it with D Young. All you ever hear about is his speed but personally I can't really recall ever seeing him run in a game and thinking "wow he's got another gear".

My memories of him so far only consist of watching him catch a punt and then hop around like a chicken on a hot plate waiting for something to open up.

I'm pulling for him as with all vols. I just hope he finally turns the corner and takes that straight line speed and applies it to football.
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People keep getting agility mixed up with speed.
 
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#11
#11
Rucker said that Young is a sub/low 4.4 guy. I think he's more like McCluster shifty and quick but top end speed isn't great. McCluster ran a 4.6 and that's what I'd say Young is. If he was a 4.4 guy then the fastest DE we've seen in decades couldn't catch him (Clowney 4.56) and I dont think Barnett is that freakishly fast. 4.6 is still very fast.
 
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#12
#12
Darth_Shiveman said:
I doubt he ran him down from behind. He probably took a great angle and beat Young to a point 30 yards downfield. Still very impressive. DL tend to struggle with angles like that in pursuit.
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You are probably right about this. DY likely made some cuts and turns and Barnett ran a straight line. But it is great that a big lineman gets down field to make a play. It can be the difference of winning or losing a game. I remember Jacques McClendon being way down field and recovering a fumble to save a game. I think those are the standards that Butch is trying to set.
 
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#15
#15
CroKev said:
And to think Barnett almost wound up at Candy. What a mistake that would have been!
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Yep. I think he may be thinking of Sawyers.

Couldn't find Jashon's thread buy official roster has him listed now as OL.
 
#16
#16
fade route said:
Most on here know I'm more of a tap the brakes kind of poster, but E. Moseley could be one of the biggest steals in recruiting at UT in a long time.

BTW, I know the thread is about Barnett, but just wanted to put in my 2 cents on EM.
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Butch knows talent.
 
#17
#17
fade route said:
Most on here know I'm more of a tap the brakes kind of poster, but E. Moseley could be one of the biggest steals in recruiting at UT in a long time.

BTW, I know the thread is about Barnett, but just wanted to put in my 2 cents on EM.
Click to expand...

Try Midas. They may be able to adjust those brakes for you. Maybe the tapping will start working again.

:)
 
#18
#18
I guess the press needs to ask D. Young, as we heard from interview of Devrin Young that Emo is fast but would not catch him >>> BUT I guess Derek Barnett CAN!
 
#19
#19
Hayezb said:
People keep getting agility mixed up with speed.
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No, no, no, no, no, no....

We have to describe players in terms of FAST twitch vs. SLOW twitch.

& if you have been on the Basketball forum lately, those players are now evaluated by a PPI ratio. (pounds per inch)

Don't confuse me with this agility/speed issue. Too difficult for me to grasp. (I got the twitch thing down thanks to VN)
:pardon:
 
#21
#21
DL916 said:
Rucker said that Young is a sub/low 4.4 guy. I think he's more like McCluster shifty and quick but top end speed isn't great. McCluster ran a 4.6 and that's what I'd say Young is. If he was a 4.4 guy then the fastest DE we've seen in decades couldn't catch him (Clowney 4.56) and I dont think Barnett is that freakishly fast. 4.6 is still very fast.
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Hate to say this but DY is no where near as elusive as McCluster. I've never seen DY come close to what McCluster did to us in 2009. He mauled us.
 
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#23
#23
That game made me seriously consider never going to an away game ever again. I was embarrassed. We owe them big time. I hope Eric Berry gives the team a pep talk before that game and reminds them of how terrible we played.
 
#24
#24
fade route said:
Most on here know I'm more of a tap the brakes kind of poster, but E. Moseley could be one of the biggest steals in recruiting at UT in a long time.

BTW, I know the thread is about Barnett, but just wanted to put in my 2 cents on EM.
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Going to be another Cam Sutton 3* stud. Best pair of corners we have had in YEARS!
 
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#25
#25
USCGVOL said:
That game made me seriously consider never going to an away game ever again. I was embarrassed. We owe them big time. I hope Eric Berry gives the team a pep talk before that game and reminds them of how terrible we played.
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:whistling: The ole Miss game ranked up there w/the Arkansas away game where we made a punt returner look like Superman on the ESPN replays of the day awards.
 
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