KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Into its second week of preseason camp, the Tennessee Volunteers football team practiced Monday morning for the fifth time.
Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee took the podium after practice and harped on how deep and versatile his unit is, with players able to play in multiple spots on the front five.
“There are four or five guys at guard and the same goes for tackle,” Elarbee said. “There are guys who can bump and move like (Jerome Carvin) at center and Cade (Mays) at guard. Those guys give you enough flexibility that you’re deeper than you would (be) if one guys was just backing up one position.”
The installation of new system is one thing Elarbee feels his group is thriving in. It has allowed them to learn a style of football that is unique and especially fun to play because of its diversity.
“I think they’re starting to see how cool (it) is that you can mix up techniques, you can mix up schemes, and the defense isn’t sitting there waiting on a certain run or a certain play… I feel like they’re really enjoying learning the game of football.”
An exciting, high-octane offense means less time between snaps, putting an emphasis on the conditioning of the Volunteer linemen. With a strong conditioning regimen, Elarbee feels like all of his guys are well-equipped for that speed.
“I think their bodies look different than when they came in,” Elarbee noted. “I can’t take credit for that. That’s all Kurt (Schmidt) and (his team) working on it. Right now, you’re learning how to go play through a drive, finish a drive tired and play yourself into shape.”
Elarbee’s full availability and transcript can be seen below, along with quotes from select players following the fifth day of preseason camp.
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Tennessee Offensive Line Coach Glen Elarbee
On Cade Mays and if he has found a home at offensive tackle…
“I wouldn’t say ‘home’ right now. He’s still taking reps inside and out. Really, it’s just about trying to find the best five (linemen) on the field. We feel like he has a real chance to be one of those five, but he’s also so smart that he can help us push other guys and create competition. You’ve got competition at guard and you’ve got competition at tackle. That’s really what he’s done. He’s so awesome because he just wants to help them and be wherever he can.”
On who is giving competition to Cooper Mays at center…
“The way we’re doing it is JC, Jerome (Carvin), is taking reps at center. Then you have Parker (Ball) and Ollie (Lane) who are kind of pushing as well. We went in the first day and said, ‘If it turns out that the best five happen to be JC at center and Cade inside with another guard or two guards, whatever it is, that’s the way the best five go out.’ Jerome’s very, very comfortable with either one of them so that helps us be super competitive.”
On how many offensive linemen he has identified as starters at this point in preseason camp…
“I’m going to go old school and say that we have identified no starters since we haven’t had a tackling day in scrimmage and not go down that line just yet so I can keep the competition in the room the way it needs to be.”
On the depth of the offensive line…
“I do think we’re deep. I think that’s the neat thing. There are four of five guys that are staying out at guard and the same goes for tackle. There are guys who can bump and move like JC in at center and Cade (Mays) at guard. Those guys give you enough flexibility that you’re deeper than you would if one guy was just backing up one position. Even Dayne (Davis) has been able to slide back and forth and help us there as well.”
On how Darnell Wright has performed at left tackle and how quickly does he want to narrow down to six or seven guys for continuity…
“Darnell, the first couple of days was probably kind of feeling it out a little bit. I feel like by practice four, practice five he started to settle in. He’s done a lot better in techniques and footwork. From the mental aspect, knowing the protection piece of it. He’s obviously a very talented guy. I think it probably was challenging for him at the beginning (making the move to left tackle), because he hasn’t had to do it, but credit to him for pushing through it. He’s starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for it. As far as trying to find the pecking order, we’d like to at least get through the first scrimmage and get guys a chance to compete at all of the spots. It is obviously important for guys to play next to each other. There’s no doubt. At the same time, you have to have guys throughout the season who roll and guys that come into the game, guys who may be banged up for a game or two. They all need to be comfortable playing next to whoever will be that next spot. So, I don’t feel like losing it quite yet, but hopefully after that first scrimmage we’ll start to settle in and for sure after that second one.”
On how many guys he feels could start on the offensive line this season…
“I think we’re in that nine or ten range for sure. I really do think that. I feel like every time you step on the field you’ve got to work. If you don’t love the guy next to you enough—if he’s better than you that day and needs to start—shame on you. That makes us better. They’ve all got to buy into that. That’s the only way we’ll have a unit. You come out and have a bad day and you’re not starting the next day, that’s competition and is a good thing for us.”
On how Javontez Spraggins has evolved over the summer and what he’s seen from him at the start of preseason camp…
“He’s a lot more in-sync with the system. He’s made a lot of strides in protection, understanding who he has but also being able to help his buddy at center and his buddy at tackle. He’s not just playing for himself but playing within the scheme. There’s never a question of effort or strain. Now he’s starting to get a feel for the game. He knows there’s a lot more to go, but he’s way different than in the spring. He did a great job this summer.”
On where he has seen the most progress on the field so far on the offensive line…
“I can’t speak to before, but I feel like they understand the game of football right now better than we did. A lot of that is probably just installing the offense, I’m sure. Conceptually, what you can talk about without them having to see it—that’s when you know you have learning. You can talk about defense, where all the bodies are and they conceptually see it versus what they’re trying to do otherwise. I feel like they have a little bit different foot work than they’ve done on a lot of things. I think they’re starting to see how cool (it) is that you can mix up techniques, you can mix up schemes and the defense isn’t sitting there waiting on a certain run or a certain play. It gets really, really fun with that. I feel like they’re having fun doing different things and I feel like they’re enjoying learning the game of football.”
On if the offensive line has seen improvement handling the quicker pace of play…
“They’re in better shape and Kurt (Schmidt) has corrected that with the way he conditions those guys and the way they’ve got to push in practice. I think their bodies look different than when they came in. I can’t take credit for that. That’s all Kurt and themselves working on it.”
On how important it is for William Parker, Jeremiah Crawford and others to help bolster depth at offensive tackle…
“To me, that’s every position. Right now, everybody’s in the mix. If there’s a guy not here for a day or so, the next guys step up until everybody’s back and we’re rocking and rolling again.”
On how different Darnell Wright is compared to what he saw on his film from last season and what he’s seen from RJ Perry through the first few practices of preseason camp…
“Darnell’s definitely different. I think he’s enjoying learning the game of football and trying different techniques. I think sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. Give credit to him and Kurt for pushing himself, trying to change eating habits and get his body weight right. It makes a difference in being able to last, it makes a different in his twitch. Credit to Cade Mays too and some of the other guys that have kind of helped and been there for him. Credit to Darnell for just trying to get better, trying to be a great man and a great football player. He’s done a great job. Hopefully he’ll continue down that path. RJ is still coming along. I think he’s figured out how to go work and what it takes in all aspect, not just the game of football. I really enjoy being around RJ every single day. He’s young and has got to keep on coming. He’s always trying to find that next thing to work on, always trying to see what he can improve, which is cool. You’ve got to keep on doing that.”
On if he’s pleased with the conditioning with the offensive linemen and if any of them need to add weight…
“At this point in camp, I’m pleased. I think we’re where we’re supposed to be. Right now, you’re learning how to go play through a drive, finish a drive tired and play yourself into shape. It’s kind of like yes we’re where we need to be but are we completely there yet, absolutely not. There’s some pushing, some grinding and some sticking through it left to be done for sure.”
R-Sophomore OL Dayne Davis
On the progression of his career at Tennessee…
“It’s just truly a blessing. I’ve been really blessed. I was a (Tennessee football) fan once, obviously. So I’m just living the dream, absolutely. It’s been nothing but amazing.”
On the starting rotation along the offensive line…
“I think anybody, honestly, in the offensive line [group] right now could be starters. Whoever those five are going to be, whoever’s not starting, we’re going to support those guys. We’re all going to play hard, whoever it is.”
On staying motivated as a former walk-on…
“I never would’ve come here if I didn’t know that I could play here. I’ve always had that mentality, and I never got down on myself. I always knew it was in me [to play], just had to get that out … I knew my work ethic could get me where I wanted to go.”
On practicing in the morning…
“It’s a change. You aren’t in the heat as much, but you get up and get going. You get to stay around here the whole day, watch film. You get a lot more time to watch film. Sit down, relax and get ready to go the next morning.”
Senior OL Jerome Carvin
On the first few days of practice…
“The first few days went pretty good. We’ve been pushing tempo, pushing tempo really hard. Really strain, finish. Playing hard on our opponents each day. That’s we have been pushing for the first few days of practice.”
On his comfort level with the tempo of the offense…
“Pretty much the same from the spring. Just adjusting still, make sure we know everything, make sure we know where the balls going to be. Looking at the right referee to get lined up and play fast.”
On why offensive linemen like the offensive scheme…
“Offensive linemen like this offense just to tire the defense. It really works. You really saw it in the spring game, definitely going to see it in the fall. Once we get rolling, the defense is going to be really tired, not getting lined up, not getting set. We’ll snap the ball getting ready to roll.”
On the difference in the offensive line room without Trey Smith and Brandon Kennedy…
“Those two were great leaders. Pretty much, me and (Cade Mays) have kind of like taken over for that. We’re the older guys now. Those two are great men, great leaders and great football players. Of course, Trey, everyone knows Trey, he’s a great person. I got to sit there and watch him play for three years and he’s amazing. We’d pay money to watch him play every day. He’s a professional. He’s a real true professional. To see him play, as well as Brandon Kennedy – Brandon Kennedy is a true professional – just seeing him take care of his business. We really look at that, copy that and you just go up from there. He taught us all the way up. Just me coming in as a freshman learning from those older guys, it was great. Leading to our younger guys, making sure that we’re there for them, making sure that we’re encouraging because you know, fall camp can be hard. We know that we’ve got to stack days and be consistent in fall camp and keep pushing.”
Sophomore OL Cooper Mays
On adjusting to the offensive tempo …
“I think the biggest thing is just getting all of our conditioning under control. I mean, that’s all it really comes down to. If we can do our running, in the heat, then we will be in a good spot.”
On the running back room…
“Man, they are deep. I think (everyone) will be very pleased with what they see this year. We’ve got a very deep room. Very talented, very fast, very agile. I am very impressed with what I see out there, for sure.”
On facing the defensive line in practice…
“I think we are all getting better as a group. I think the D-Line has taken big steps forward, the O-Line has taken big steps forward. We are playing good ball right now. We’re playing hard and I think that is all you can really ask for.”
Sophomore OL Javontez Spraggins
On maintaining energy in preseason camp…
“I’m amped up every day. As far as the team goes, that’s what we are trying to do every practice. (There hasn’t) been one practice where we are down, it’s always up, up, up, up.”
On the off-the-field activities…
“Those simple activities, it’s like building with cement and bricks. The cement is the activity and the bricks are us. Just (bringing everyone) together and making us more of a team coming together. Teams win, individuals don’t win. That’s our glue right there.”
On playing confidently…
“Coach put it in our heads, the most confident team wins. Everybody play together, be confident, go out there and kick some butt. That’s been what he put in our heads.”
On the emergence of Trey Smith in NFL preseason camp…
“I was grateful to get an opportunity to play with that guy last year, and I am glad to see him where he is now. I am really appreciative of him… (He told us) go ball, man. That’s all it is, go ball.”