Volstorm
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PRACTICE Day 3:
- Thread starter Volstorm
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Volstorm
VN GURU
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Retaliating receivers
Taking tough attitude like in days past
By MIKE GRIFFITH, knsgriff@aol.com
August 10, 2004
"Spider-Man" squared off with one of Tennessee's biggest hitters Monday afternoon.
A comic book adventure?
No, it was just the first day in shoulder pads for the Vols' football team. The team will practice in full gear Wednesday.
Receiver Chris Hannon, a spindly 6-foot-4, 195-pounder known as "Spider" or "Spider-Man'' to teammates, locked up with linebacker Kevin Burnett (6-3, 235) during an 11-on-11 drill.
The skirmish, which consisted of wild open-handed slaps to the helmet and hockey-style jersey pulling, was brief and mild.
"You've got to love it,'' Burnett said with a smile after practice. "You have to be scrappy out there, and Chris is a guy who thrives off that.
"Me and Chris are friends, but when the pads are on, it's different.''
Hannon, who Burnett said threw the ball at him after a catch, made it clear he doesn't plan to make a habit of picking on linebackers.
"But we've got to let them (defense) know we're not taking it any more,'' Hannon said. "There's a lot different attitude. We want success, and we want respect.''
Redshirt freshman receiver Robert Meachem said he liked the fact that Hannon stood his ground.
"You've got to love it, because we're getting held by these guys all day,'' Meachem said. "We have to show the defense that we need to take care of business like they take care of business.''
Over the past few years, the defense has gotten the better of the offense in physical confrontations.
It was just a few years ago that defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth - a Tennessee Titan the past three seasons - mixed it up with offensive lineman Will Ofenheusle. Haynesworth was dismissed from practice but returned waving a broomstick and hollering obscenities until restrained by coach Phillip Fulmer.
Of course, the offense has had its moments, too, such as when former UT guard Fred Weary demonstrated his wrestling background by throwing a lateral drop on ex-UT linebacker Keyon Whiteside.
The past couple of years of "spirited'' activities haven't been so intense.
The spunk being shown by the receivers in the opening days of fall drills hasn't been seen from them in a couple of years, since wideout Kelley Washington tossed cornerback Jabari Greer to the ground before Burnett stepped in with a shove.
The last UT receiving corps that made a habit of scrapping in practice was the 1998 unit with Peerless Price, Cedrick Wilson and Jeremaine Copeland. It seemed there were scraps with defensive backs almost every day.
It's still early, but already, UT's new receivers are setting the tone. On the first day of practice, cornerback Jonathan Wade and receiver Jayson Swain tangled at the end of a play.
"They've been thoroughly criticized for a long period of time,'' receivers coach Pat Washington said, "but they've worked and gotten better, and now they have confidence themselves.''
Even better news for Vols fans, when the receivers aren't fighting with the defense, they're fighting them off.
Meachem was particularly impressive Monday, making at least three catches of the highlight variety.
"I feel 110-percent,'' said Meachem, who left spring drills questioning his recovery from knee surgery last year. "This is better than I've felt in a long time.''
When the Tennessee receivers left the practice field Monday, their heads were held high.
Taking tough attitude like in days past
By MIKE GRIFFITH, knsgriff@aol.com
August 10, 2004
"Spider-Man" squared off with one of Tennessee's biggest hitters Monday afternoon.
A comic book adventure?
No, it was just the first day in shoulder pads for the Vols' football team. The team will practice in full gear Wednesday.
Receiver Chris Hannon, a spindly 6-foot-4, 195-pounder known as "Spider" or "Spider-Man'' to teammates, locked up with linebacker Kevin Burnett (6-3, 235) during an 11-on-11 drill.
The skirmish, which consisted of wild open-handed slaps to the helmet and hockey-style jersey pulling, was brief and mild.
"You've got to love it,'' Burnett said with a smile after practice. "You have to be scrappy out there, and Chris is a guy who thrives off that.
"Me and Chris are friends, but when the pads are on, it's different.''
Hannon, who Burnett said threw the ball at him after a catch, made it clear he doesn't plan to make a habit of picking on linebackers.
"But we've got to let them (defense) know we're not taking it any more,'' Hannon said. "There's a lot different attitude. We want success, and we want respect.''
Redshirt freshman receiver Robert Meachem said he liked the fact that Hannon stood his ground.
"You've got to love it, because we're getting held by these guys all day,'' Meachem said. "We have to show the defense that we need to take care of business like they take care of business.''
Over the past few years, the defense has gotten the better of the offense in physical confrontations.
It was just a few years ago that defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth - a Tennessee Titan the past three seasons - mixed it up with offensive lineman Will Ofenheusle. Haynesworth was dismissed from practice but returned waving a broomstick and hollering obscenities until restrained by coach Phillip Fulmer.
Of course, the offense has had its moments, too, such as when former UT guard Fred Weary demonstrated his wrestling background by throwing a lateral drop on ex-UT linebacker Keyon Whiteside.
The past couple of years of "spirited'' activities haven't been so intense.
The spunk being shown by the receivers in the opening days of fall drills hasn't been seen from them in a couple of years, since wideout Kelley Washington tossed cornerback Jabari Greer to the ground before Burnett stepped in with a shove.
The last UT receiving corps that made a habit of scrapping in practice was the 1998 unit with Peerless Price, Cedrick Wilson and Jeremaine Copeland. It seemed there were scraps with defensive backs almost every day.
It's still early, but already, UT's new receivers are setting the tone. On the first day of practice, cornerback Jonathan Wade and receiver Jayson Swain tangled at the end of a play.
"They've been thoroughly criticized for a long period of time,'' receivers coach Pat Washington said, "but they've worked and gotten better, and now they have confidence themselves.''
Even better news for Vols fans, when the receivers aren't fighting with the defense, they're fighting them off.
Meachem was particularly impressive Monday, making at least three catches of the highlight variety.
"I feel 110-percent,'' said Meachem, who left spring drills questioning his recovery from knee surgery last year. "This is better than I've felt in a long time.''
When the Tennessee receivers left the practice field Monday, their heads were held high.
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