Recruiting Forum: Football Talk XII

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#10,126
#10,126
At 6-2, 253 pounds, sophomore defensive end Corey Vereen spent last year most known for rushing the passer and his post-practice extra workouts. As fall camp opened Friday night, the Florida native noted he's stronger, faster and focused on more than just rushing the passer.

"Coach Lawson, I owe him a lot pushing me hard doing squats, running, lifting weights for my upper body and everything," Vereen said. "I am way stronger than I was last year. I feel like I can definitely play a role in the run game now. That's how I feel.

"To become an every down player, I have to read my keys. Stay strong and stay consistent on every down."

Vereen, who had 13 tackles, a sack and two quarterback hurries a season ago, isn't focused simply on becoming an ever- down player.

"I focused on that more in the spring," Vereen said. "That's not what I'm really focused on now. I felt like I became an every-down player in the spring. I will put it to the test eventually when the season starts. That's not really my focus now. Now, it's my consistency in my performance everyday, as well as focusing on what my opponent is doing and adjust to that."

Vereen still is one of the first players to workouts and practice and one of the last to leave. And that's where Vereen feels his pass rush skills will benefit the most.

"That's going to pay off for me in pass rush whereas last year I ran up the field a lot," Vereen offered. "Now, I'm learning to use my hands, get a better first step, use angles and be smart in my quarterback points."

A year ago, expectations were high for Vereen to bolster an ailing pass rush. That pass rush only produced 18 sacks. Now, with the loss of four defensive line starters a season ago, everyone wonders if the defensive line can hold up through the rigors of a very difficult season.

"Coach (Butch) Jones tells us everyday they picked us last and that's how they feel," Vereen said. "We are going to work hard everyday and not listen to them and play Tennessee football."

For Vereen and the Vols, Tennessee football means being an every-down player and not just a pass-rush specialist.
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-VQ
 
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#10,128
#10,128
These (albeit early) reports also confirm to me how insane it was to get "leaked" reports about offensive line fears before the offensive line even showed up to camp.
 
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#10,129
#10,129
Nobody's talking about it but one of biggest positives IMO was the fact Butch jones threw medley into a sudden change game winning FG situation without notice and he nailed it. Good sign that he may have what it takes under pressure
 
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#10,130
#10,130
We are on the verge of something very special here. Far too long this once mighty and

proud program has been depleted. Those days are over. Butch Jones has delivered us

from the depths of misery. The mighty Vol will rise from the ashes like the Phoenix. Now

is the time VN. Prepare thyself for the smack talk again. SEC, your days are numbered.
 
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#10,131
#10,131
Nashvegas31 said:
Nobody's talking about it but one of biggest positives IMO was the fact Butch jones threw medley into a sudden change game winning FG situation without notice and he nailed it. Good sign that he may have what it takes under pressure
Click to expand...

And you know Butch is just going to keep messing with him like that, too, which is great. Being a successful kicker is so much about navigating psychological warfare.
 
#10,132
#10,132
Nashvegas31 said:
Nobody's talking about it but one of biggest positives IMO was the fact Butch jones threw medley into a sudden change game winning FG situation without notice and he nailed it. Good sign that he may have what it takes under pressure
Click to expand...

AM is not the same kicker (minus MP last season) that you and VN have been accustomed to the past several seasons. He is the real deal.
 
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#10,133
#10,133
It's been a problem that's plagued Tennessee for several years, and it's a problem that spells doom in the SEC for defenses.

A lack of speed has unceremoniously been synonymous with the Vols for several years.

But, that trend is seemingly beginning to become reversed with the help of new blood as Tennessee adds young faces to an already young and inexperienced defense.

"Yeah, I did. I saw a much faster football team in all areas in moving around," Tennessee head coach Butch Jones said. "But now it's being able to get off blocks and make plays. But just our overall team speed I could see much improvement."

The added speed is coming from all over the field.

At defensive line, the Vols' first-team unit featured two former linebackers as defensive ends and a converted end that's moved to defensive tackle.

Defensive end Corey Vereen walked on to campus a linebacker but has spent all but his first spring practice after enrolling early as a defensive lineman.

"Monumentally," Vereen answered when asked how much faster Team 118 is compared to last year's edition. "Last year we had a lot of guys to plug up holes and that was good, but we didn't have a lot of playmakers on the defensive line. We had big bodies. Now, I feel like we have a lot of guys who can move. There's a lot of blitzes we are drawing up and I like how guys are moving inside and outside."

In the secondary the Vols have added a truckload of youth. Tennessee added safeties Todd Kelly Jr., Cortez McDowell and Elliot Berry along with cornerbacks Rashaan Gaulden and Evan Berry as well Emmanuel Moseley and D'Andre Payne, who enrolled last January and took part in spring practice with the Vols.

Even though the reality is the group of defensive back newcomers have zero snaps in the SEC their teammates see the added speed through one practice.

"It definitely helps, speed always kills," junior safety Brian Randolph said of the young group. "It will probably give opposing offenses a lot of stress this year."

At the linebacker spot the Vols are hoping the emergence of sophomore linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin will be a boost of speed at the middle level of the defense.

Jones said Reeves-Maybin has shown promise beginning last season on special teams and into the spring months and summer. There's no question on whether or not Reeves-Maybin brings speed; the question is can his now 230-pound body hold up at linebacker.

"We have a lot of expectations for him. Jalen gained valuable experience on special teams last year," Jones said. "We moved him to linebacker in spring, and we've challenged him to put the necessary weight on that he needs to be able to have to play linebacker in this league at a very high level.

"He's been able to do that. He's very instinctive. We talk about your habits and being able to create those instincts and relying on your training so that it becomes instinctual, and he's been able to do that. Now, the next step will be can he take the added strength, the added size when we put the pads on."

While Jones wants Reeves-Maybin to bring more strength to his game, and he's worked hard adding nearly 25 pounds since the season ended in late November, the Clarksville native wants to bring something else to the table along with the added weight.

"Just adding weight and becoming a more explosive player," Reeves-Maybin said. "I feel like we were missing that on defense last year, somebody that can make that explosive play, so that's what I want to become."

Tennessee's linebackers forced just four turnovers last season and all four were manufactured by the now-departed Brent Brewer and Dontavis Sapp.

With that in mind, Reeves-Maybin's goal is simple.

"I want to be known as an impact player while I'm out here so that's what I want to get to," he said.

He's not the only one on this Vol defense that wants to be a disrupter. In fact, it's a big focus for the Vols' defensive line and has helped bring about a shift in scheme with a smaller, but faster, defensive line.

"Our entire scheme this year we are trying to blitz 10 times as much as we did last year," Vereen said. "It really fits for the personnel we have.

"When we were out there (Friday night) getting off the ball, I was looking and we were just getting off the line consistently faster and faster you could see we are a lot faster than last year. Last year, we weren't really getting off the ball. This year I see a lot more speed and that was good to see."

Added defensive lineman Danny O'Brien, "We love it. Because I think this year, we're smaller but we're quicker. I think we're playing better moving around. I think the pressures are going to help us a lot this year, stemming and throwing off the offense's game plan and stuff like that. I think it's going to help a lot. Last year we were really big in size, but we didn't move that much around. This year I think it's going to be a different kind of ballgame."

For a team that's been plagued by lack of speed the past few seasons, a new ballgame is just what the doctor ordered.
Click to expand...
-VolQuest
 
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#10,142
#10,142
Update on Cody Blanc injury:

It's not yet 100% confirmed, but early indications are he tore his Achilles' tendon. Would obviously miss this season and will have surgery early next week.

He is scheduled for an MRI early tomorrow morning and we'll know for certain then.

Cody is a great kid that loves playing for his home-state TN Vols.

Let's pray for a quick, healthy recovery.
 
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#10,145
#10,145
jave36 said:
AJJ has forced one in 364 tackles.

Edit 324
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This one stat tells you what AJJ's issue has been even if you had never seen him play. Chase and arm tackling. If he doesn't get it this season he probably never will. Maybe he should watch Gavin Bryant square up in the hole and blast a RB to see how it is done.
 
#10,146
#10,146
Disappointing to hear about Blanc. Shouldn't hurt us too much, but I hate it for him.

As for AJ, I think it's been obvious for a while that he has some major weaknesses in his game. Hopefully we see him much improved this year. Specifically his tackling form and pass coverage.
 
#10,147
#10,147
Vols4us said:
This one stat tells you what AJJ's issue has been even if you had never seen him play. Chase and arm tackling. If he doesn't get it this season he probably never will. Maybe he should watch Gavin Bryant square up in the hole and blast a RB to see how it is done.
Click to expand...

Ahhhh yes because Bryant has played so much SEC football. AJ take notes. Gimme a break.
 
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#10,148
#10,148
North and Malone on the outside, Pig or Pearson in the slot, Wolf or Helm running down the seam, and Hurd or Lane in the backfield. What do opposing defensive coordinators do?


Cry. They cry.
 
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#10,149
#10,149
flowd82 said:
Update on Cody Blanc injury:

It's not yet 100% confirmed, but early indications are he tore his Achilles' tendon. Would obviously miss this season and will have surgery early next week.

He is scheduled for an MRI early tomorrow morning and we'll know for certain then.

Cody is a great kid that loves playing for his home-state TN Vols.

Let's pray for a quick, healthy recovery.
Click to expand...
Worst injury I ever endured. Albeit I was 40 it took about 3 months to walk without a boot and a year to walk without a limp. But, I have heard and have seen D1 players play after 6 months. Good luck to Cody.
 
#10,150
#10,150
SouthKnoxVOL said:
Ahhhh yes because Bryant has played so much SEC football. AJ take notes. Gimme a break.
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AJ is on track to be leading tackler in TN history but apparently he is terrible and we have posters that can play better than him. I get that he maybe slightly overrated and does alot of arm tackling which leads to less turnovers forced. He has still improved each year IMO. He is durable and at the end of the day he gets the guy on the ground. The kids and coaches look up to him for a reason. So he must not suck too bad.
 
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