Noteworthy excerpts from Butch Jones’ press conference today

#1
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Volosaurus rex

Doctorate in Volology
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#1
(1) On balancing the instant gratification mentality with incremental day-by-day progress, which is, for the most part, not visible to the public:

“I want it now, let's make no mistake about it. I want it now, our players want it now, our former players - our Vols for life want it now, our fan base wants it now, our administration wants it now, we all want it now but I see the positives each and every day. People in our industry that really study the game see it. Some days larger than others but I see improvements and sometimes you don't see it in the win column. . . . We have to put our heads down, eliminate all the clutter and just keep getting better as a football program. I'm just as encouraged right now as I've ever been. I see growth, I see maturation, I see attracting the best of the best student athletes who have great competitive character that want to be in the process of getting Tennessee football back so I'm extremely encouraged. Do we have a lot of work to do? You guys see what I see but I'm also encouraged by where we're going."

(2) With respect to Josh Smith’s dropped touchdown pass and other drops throughout the year:

"Josh, I'll tell you right now, has the best hands on our football team. . . . He's extremely difficult and hard on himself which we want, that's a mark of a great competitor. Now it's taking the practice field to the game field and he's a young man with a tremendous amount of upside. . . . It just so happened that his mistake was magnified because he was in the open field and it was a touchdown. I believe in Josh Smith, he's going to be fine."

(3) Examples of player development and the sometimes lengthy process of building mental toughness:

“We were blessed and fortunate my last year at Cincinnati to basically have a first round draft choice at defensive tackle and a third round draft choice at defensive tackle. Derek Wolf and John Hughes both start. One starts for the Cleveland Browns and one is a good friend of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Their junior years, . . . they were both soft mentally and we challenged them and the way they developed in a year's time is probably the most development I've seen in two individuals . . . John Hughes is a young man we spoke about a couple weeks ago who wasn't even being considered for the National Football League. His senior year he made a decision mentally and physically and we challenged him.”

. . . . "I can sit here and tell you John Hughes illustrations and Derek Wolfe stories, but let's talk about our players, Michael Palardy. Here's an individual for whatever occurred in the past, it occurred in the past. He's the same individual physically, gotten stronger, but mentally he's completely different. . . . He's playing with a lot of confidence and belief right now and that's a great illustration for every player in our football program, that development process” (Butch Jones Press Conference (Nov. 4) - UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics).
 
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#2
#2
Agree. (except with the Smith comments)

Palardy was a mental case last year and now he is the most consistent and reliable person on the team.

Thanks for posting.
 
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#3
#3
Volosaurus rex said:
(1) On balancing the instant gratification mentality with incremental day-by-day progress, which is, for the most part, not visible to the public:

“I want it now, let's make no mistake about it. I want it now, our players want it now, our former players - our Vols for life want it now, our fan base wants it now, our administration wants it now, we all want it now but I see the positives each and every day. People in our industry that really study the game see it. Some days larger than others but I see improvements and sometimes you don't see it in the win column. . . . We have to put our heads down, eliminate all the clutter and just keep getting better as a football program. I'm just as encouraged right now as I've ever been. I see growth, I see maturation, I see attracting the best of the best student athletes who have great competitive character that want to be in the process of getting Tennessee football back so I'm extremely encouraged. Do we have a lot of work to do? You guys see what I see but I'm also encouraged by where we're going."

(2) With respect to Josh Smith’s dropped touchdown pass and other drops throughout the year:

"Josh, I'll tell you right now, has the best hands on our football team. . . . He's extremely difficult and hard on himself which we want, that's a mark of a great competitor. Now it's taking the practice field to the game field and he's a young man with a tremendous amount of upside. . . . It just so happened that his mistake was magnified because he was in the open field and it was a touchdown. I believe in Josh Smith, he's going to be fine."

(3) Examples of player development and the sometimes lengthy process of building mental toughness:

“We were blessed and fortunate my last year at Cincinnati to basically have a first round draft choice at defensive tackle and a third round draft choice at defensive tackle. Derek Wolf and John Hughes both start. One starts for the Cleveland Browns and one is a good friend of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Their junior years, . . . they were both soft mentally and we challenged them and the way they developed in a year's time is probably the most development I've seen in two individuals . . . John Hughes is a young man we spoke about a couple weeks ago who wasn't even being considered for the National Football League. His senior year he made a decision mentally and physically and we challenged him.”

. . . . "I can sit here and tell you John Hughes illustrations and Derek Wolfe stories, but let's talk about our players, Michael Palardy. Here's an individual for whatever occurred in the past, it occurred in the past. He's the same individual physically, gotten stronger, but mentally he's completely different. . . . He's playing with a lot of confidence and belief right now and that's a great illustration for every player in our football program, that development process.”
Click to expand...

Not sure if serious :crazy:
 
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#6
#6
jamesthesame said:
Maybe he's a hand model? Or good at other things? haha
Click to expand...

george-castanza-hand-model.png


George says "Don't Hate."
 
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#8
#8
Volosaurus rex said:
(1) On balancing the instant gratification mentality with incremental day-by-day progress, which is, for the most part, not visible to the public:

“I want it now, let's make no mistake about it. I want it now, our players want it now, our former players - our Vols for life want it now, our fan base wants it now, our administration wants it now, we all want it now but I see the positives each and every day. People in our industry that really study the game see it. Some days larger than others but I see improvements and sometimes you don't see it in the win column. . . . We have to put our heads down, eliminate all the clutter and just keep getting better as a football program. I'm just as encouraged right now as I've ever been. I see growth, I see maturation, I see attracting the best of the best student athletes who have great competitive character that want to be in the process of getting Tennessee football back so I'm extremely encouraged. Do we have a lot of work to do? You guys see what I see but I'm also encouraged by where we're going."

(2) With respect to Josh Smith’s dropped touchdown pass and other drops throughout the year:

"Josh, I'll tell you right now, has the best hands on our football team. . . . He's extremely difficult and hard on himself which we want, that's a mark of a great competitor. Now it's taking the practice field to the game field and he's a young man with a tremendous amount of upside. . . . It just so happened that his mistake was magnified because he was in the open field and it was a touchdown. I believe in Josh Smith, he's going to be fine."

(3) Examples of player development and the sometimes lengthy process of building mental toughness:

“We were blessed and fortunate my last year at Cincinnati to basically have a first round draft choice at defensive tackle and a third round draft choice at defensive tackle. Derek Wolf and John Hughes both start. One starts for the Cleveland Browns and one is a good friend of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Their junior years, . . . they were both soft mentally and we challenged them and the way they developed in a year's time is probably the most development I've seen in two individuals . . . John Hughes is a young man we spoke about a couple weeks ago who wasn't even being considered for the National Football League. His senior year he made a decision mentally and physically and we challenged him.”

. . . . "I can sit here and tell you John Hughes illustrations and Derek Wolfe stories, but let's talk about our players, Michael Palardy. Here's an individual for whatever occurred in the past, it occurred in the past. He's the same individual physically, gotten stronger, but mentally he's completely different. . . . He's playing with a lot of confidence and belief right now and that's a great illustration for every player in our football program, that development process” (Butch Jones Press Conference (Nov. 4) - UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics).
Click to expand...

If Josh Smith has the best hands on the team that mean the other WR hands are cut off. It's just no way. That guy has dropped way too many balls
 
#10
#10
North has had numerous drops as well this year. People need to get a grip about a freshman dropping passes.
 
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#11
#11
JMHO

The difference between CBJ's comments about Josh Smith and many of our fans outlines the difference between a coach that knows how to build up mental toughness in a player and people who are just saying what they feel like or think is funny to a bunch of internet buddies.
 
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#12
#12
81Bubbavol said:
JMHO

The difference between CBJ's comments about Josh Smith and many of our fans outlines the difference between a coach that knows how to build up mental toughness in a player and people who are just saying what they feel like or think is funny to a bunch of internet buddies.
Click to expand...

Yeah we're not his coach, so as fans we're going to call it like we see it: Dude has brick hands.
 
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#13
#13
I had no doubt whatsoever that no. 2 would be extremely difficult for many people to believe, but Butch seemed to be both very sincere and emphatic in making that statement. Furthermore, this observation clearly falls under the category of what we, as fans, do not see within the context of practice. If you recall, Zach Rogers had a similar problem with what appeared to be hands of stone, but he truly blossomed as a senior.
 
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#15
#15
yoyoyoyo said:
North has had numerous drops as well this year. People need to get a grip about a freshman dropping passes.
Click to expand...

You're kidding right? If, as freshmen, they can't get off their blocks and get open or time their routes right that's understandable. If they can't catch a ball that smacks their palms when they're in the open field, why are they wide receivers and not defensive backs???
 
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#17
#17
GBOVOLS said:
If Josh Smith has the best hands on the team that mean the other WR hands are cut off. It's just no way. That guy has dropped way too many balls
Click to expand...

Its called being supportive. Its obviously just mental. Coach is trying to give him confidence. Duh.
 
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#19
#19
FWIW, Rucker tweeted that Josh Smith had the best hands of any Vol WR he'd ever seen in fall camp. You don't just get bopped in the head one day and forget how to catch a ball. It's got to be a mental thing. Hope he gets it corrected sooner rather than later. He is good at getting separation in his routes.
 
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#20
#20
yoyoyoyo said:
North has had numerous drops as well this year. People need to get a grip about a freshman dropping passes.
Click to expand...

CBJ is saying J. Smith makes the catches in practice but needs to be more consistent in games. He sees these guys make hundred of catches week in and week out. He would know.
 
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#21
#21
I like how somehow nobody has even thought of the fact that, in practice, he may have proven to have the best hands on the team and just has nerves/inexperience take over in a game? Palardy has proven to be this way in the kicking game, why not a WR
 
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#22
#22
He also said, "the guys who do the best in practice will start". That was a blatant lie seeing as how three DBs did not even practice and yet they all three started.

Now, even honesty is starting to be ejected from the interviews.
 
#23
#23
NashVOL93 said:
FWIW, Rucker tweeted that Josh Smith had the best hands of any Vol WR he'd ever seen in fall camp. You don't just get bopped in the head one day and forget how to catch a ball. It's got to be a mental thing. Hope he gets it corrected sooner rather than later. He is good at getting separation in his routes.
Click to expand...


Yes, if Josh has proven anything, it is that he can get WIDE open. Under those circumstances, it would not be surprising for a true freshman to see all of that green grass in front of him and forget to watch the ball all the way into his hands.
 
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#25
#25
I've got to say, Butch Jones has his players' best interest at the fore front of everything he says. He builds them up, doesn't tear them down and ultimately that will return in performance improvement plus loyalty/buy in.

How refreshing.

GBO!
 
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