Summer Practice

#1
GenNeyland9

GenNeyland9

Keeper of The Game Maxims
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#1
Good morning and happy Monday to everyone out there.

I just watched the highlights video from Friday or Saturday's practice and had a few observations:

1) We're wearing black shoes this year, and almost all of the players are also wearing black socks. I'd heard this rumor several times, but this was the first time I'd actually seen it. It looks pretty tough.

2) Ainge's footwork in the pocket has improved, and he seems to be scanning the entire field and looking off defenders. Granted, I don't think their was a rush on, but he just looks a lot more cool and confident/smooth in the pocket.

3) The defense is doing a lot of "wrapping up" tackling drills. They're not just trying to hit hard and bounce off people; they're wrapping up and driving you back and into the ground.

4) Inky Johnson (29), no. 20 (is no. 20 a freshman, Hardesty maybe?), no. 23 (this also may be a freshman; D-Morley?) and Chris Hannon were seen fielding punts.

5) Who is no. 34? He looks like a freshman RB. Is this Coker? I think he wore 22 in high school, but Robert Boulware might not want to give that number up. Whoever it is, it looks like he's picking up the blocking scheme fairly well.

6) Chris Hannon drops a pass that hits him the hands, and it gets picked off. Arrgghh . . .

7) Cutcliffe was at the practice, and he said he definitely recognized a lot of the play calls. This reportedly made Fulmer a bit concerned, but he should already know how predictable we are.

Also read today that Gandy is way ahead of schedule, and that the only one of the offseason injuries that may not be ready to roll against UAB is Cameron Mayo, a third string center.

Also good to hear that most of the players that had offseason problems off the field got up in front of the entire team and apologized for their transgressions. Reports say even Tony McDaniel got really emotional during his speech to the team. Jason Allen said that this is a very close team, and that the speeches brought them even closer together. At least some good may come out of all the offseason madness.
 
#4
#4
I read an article in the paper yesterday that said he and Hardesty were really making an impact already in practice. Several of thier teammates had commented on them. Morley said, "I haven't earned their respect yet, until the lights come on."

Man, I can't wait for this guy. I think he will bring some needed swagger to our Defensive Backfield.
 
#5
#5
I agree. He brings that swagger taht a true shutdown DB needs, and that we haven't had a lot of lately. Really reminds me of some of the great Miami corners in recent years. I hope he's gonna make a lot of people scared to throw it his way.

Also love his attitude about getting respect when the lights come on. That's freaking awesome.
 
#6
#6
By the way, #34 is Montario Hardesty. Coker is #22, just as he was in HS. Robert Boulware is no longer with the team. He is still at Tennessee, but is now soley focusing on the track and field team.

Everyone has raved about Hardesty and Morely. Also, Vlad Richard is said to be one of the best looking freshman lineman that has ever stepped on campus at UT from a physical standpoint.
 
#8
#8
Read in the Tennessean that D Morley is already getting good looks at safety. Also very encouraging to hear Morley, Vlad Richard, and Gerald Williams (all from talent-rich South Florida) say that "more are coming." (referring to more recruits from South Florida)

Also, Ainge has spent some time with Peyton Manning in the offseason, and says he studied how Manning play action fakes. He says UT is going to use more of the Colts-style of play action this year. If he learns how to fake like Manning, there should be quite a few open WRs this year when that's used in combination with Riggs/Foster's ability to run the ball.
 
#9
#9
I really think Morley is a Ko Simpson type player... probably better. I am SOOOOO excited for the games to get rolling! :D I wish I could go to sleep and wake up tomorrow to that first saturday!
 
#10
#10
No doubt about that. I'd say Manning is a pretty good guy to be learning and taking advice from when it comes to playing QB. Nobody runs play action as well and as effective as Manning does. And that is an area that I felt Ainge really needed to improve on. I don't feel that he did a very good job last year at selling the run and freezing the defense. The thing that I was probaly most impressed with in regards to Ainge was probably the poise and awareness in the pocket he showed as a true freshman. He just seemed like a Tom Brady type in the way that he just seem to almost always know when and where to move around in the pocket to avoid pressure coming from the defense. Plus, his rocket of an arm wasn't to bad either.

I can't wait to see him this year. I think he is in for a really good year. The difference between this year and last will be night in day in terms of him knowing and understanding the offense and whatt he's suppose to be doing out there. Not knowing what your doing leads to the problems Ainge had last year with some of his timing issues, accuracy problems, and bad decisions. I think he has a chance to be very good.
 
#11
#11
Ainge could be the best QB to come out of TN. He has many of the attributes of Peyton, height and arm strength, and the Marinoesque type of quick release. If he can become Peytonesque in his study of the game, we may have two TN boys in the NFL Hall of Fame.
 
#13
#13
Originally posted by rwemyss@Aug 8, 2005 12:25 PM
I really think Morley is a Ko Simpson type player... probably better.  I am SOOOOO excited for the games to get rolling!  :D  I wish I could go to sleep and wake up tomorrow to that first saturday!
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Well since he is from south florida, I want to say that if he plays saftey look for him to be the next ed reed. This kid is that talented. I have seen him play a couple games and his closing speed on a wide reciver or running back is un real. I have seen a wide reciver have two steps on him and the ball will be thrown and he just speeds up to make it look like he was toying with him. I think in the game i saw him play he had like 6 tip balls and 2 picks. that kid is a beast. But I hope he is a force in the lockeroom like ed reed. Do you remember what he was saying at halftime aginst rutgers not to long back. god he got everyone fired up. then how he stripped the ball from his own teamate to score a td.
 
#14
#14
Morely reminds me of deion sanders his attitude. I mean its all in a respective or fun way. I am not comparing his abilities to sanders just his attitude!
 
#19
#19
he'll either be a big mean mlb or a very quick rush end. either way, we got an awesome 3-some from florida in morley, williams, and richard.
 
#20
#20
Originally posted by GenNeyland9@Aug 8, 2005 8:43 AM
Good morning and happy Monday to everyone out there.


3) The defense is doing a lot of "wrapping up" tackling drills.  They're not just trying to hit hard and bounce off people; they're wrapping up and driving you back and into the ground.

Also good to hear that most of the players that had offseason problems off the field got up in front of the entire team and apologized for their transgressions.  Reports say even Tony McDaniel got really emotional during his speech to the team.  Jason Allen said that this is a very close team, and that the speeches brought them even closer together.  At least some good may come out of all the offseason madness.
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These two reports address the two biggest concerns I had coming into the season. We will need excellent tackling and team chemistry to survive our schedule.

Go Vols!
 
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