Butch Jones media session, Saturday 4/18 (video and notes)

With exactly one week remaining until the Vols’ annual Orange and White Game, Tennessee head coach Butch Jones met with the media after practice on Saturday.

FreakNotes (summarized and believed to be accurate but not guaranteed)

• It was a very productive day. Any time you can get into Neyland Stadium and try to simulate game-like conditions, it’s very beneficial.
• Our defense did a very good job of keeping the offense out of the end zone for the most part, particularly in the red zone. Offensively on the flip side, we need to score touchdowns. Third down in the red zone is a four-point play–the difference between a touchdown and a field goal.
• Butch on his dancing: “You guys showed too much video of that last year, my wife warned me not to dance.”
• When the offense did score in the red zone, it was usually on a broken play. Containing the quarterback in the red zone is critical for a defense and that’s a back-breaker when you allow the quarterback to escape the pocket. That’s one of the things we need to improve on.
• We have good days and bad days throwing the football. We need to be more consistent. Some of that has been our depth at receiver, but we have to get a lot better in a hurry.
• On Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara: They both know that they need each other. You can never have enough running backs. They push each other; they coach each other. They both play off each other’s skill sets. It’s been an extremely healthy relationship.
• Every position is a competition. The goal is to get the best 11 players on the field.
• Dontavis Blair has taken some steps in the right direction and continues to be a work in progress. He’s very athletic and is making strides.
• Emmanuel Moseley has stepped up and is competing every day.
• We all know what Jalen Reeves-Maybin can do, he’s been a model of consistency. We lack consistency at the other linebacker positions and no one person has emerged, but players are making progress.
• Rashaun Gaulden had surgery on his hand. He played through it last year, but it set him back some in the weight room. It wasn’t a tendon, which is positive, so he’s expected to be out about six weeks. He’s going to be a very good player and he had a productive spring.
• Mike Debord has a unique ability to relate to individuals. Coaches get older, but the players are always 17-22 years old. He calls our parents regularly. That office has never seen more people, it’s like a revolving door.

Forum discussion: Saturday practice updates 4/18