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Tuesday was spring practice number three for Tennessee; the first in full pads. As with the earlier practices, you may want to check out the Practice number three, official thread for the full discussion, photos and all the embedded videos of both practice highlights and coach/player interviews.
Practice began with the ‘circle of life’ drill which pits two players going one-on-one trying to force the other out of the ring. It sounds like the old Tennessee drill that garnered so much excitement during the Fulmer era. It’s just man-on-man with the entire team circled around. There’s nowhere to run and nowhere to hide; it’s whip your opponent or be whipped. Based on eyewitness media reports, today’s notable winners were Von Pearson (who absolutely overpowered senior Justin Coleman in what was the biggest win of the day, according to Brent Hubbs), Dylan Wiesman, Daniel Helm and Jakob Johnson.
I think the defensive backs may just be tired of playing against Von Pearson by the time the Orange and White game rolls around if the current pace continues, don’t you think? He seems to be the one who has been mentioned the most during the first three practices. Pearson is still working with the first unit in the absence of Pig Howard.
Cornerback Emmannuel Moseley (photo) is another newcomer whose name continues to show up daily in print, usually in reference to his speed. Like Pearson, Moseley is still working with the starters.
A.J Johnson was a quote machine yesterday. He seems genuinely excited (and here) to be back at Tennessee for his senior year. His draft projection wasn’t high enough to lure him to the NFL last season and he returns determined and focused on continuing to improve. Johnson is optimistic about playing alongside Curt Maggitt, who sat out the 2013 due to injury.
“It’ll be a great feeling,” said Johnson. “Me and Curt say we’re going to be unstoppable. That’s our goal, to be unstoppable and have a good defense and play together and have fun. I know that’s one big thing – wake up every morning and have fun. It’s always a blessing to be playing some football.”
Jalen Reeves-Maybin is projected to win the other starting linebacker spot. Considering the way he stood out last year on special teams, many are optimistic about his playmaking ability. Together, that starting unit should be one to watch in 2014. The linebackers along with receivers, running backs, quarterbacks and tight ends all look more “SEC-ready” than last year.
Kyler Kerbyson, who has been working with the first team at right guard ahead of Dylan Wiesman, had a busy media session, and oddly several of his comments focused on critiquing his teammates. First he said JUCO offensive tackle Dontavius Blair has been struggling with conditioning, and later said about Coleman Thomas: “He’s got the ability. That’s plain and simple. He just needs to get his mind right.”
I don’t know, Kyler. Bruce Feldman has heard good things.
Name to remember for #Vols: OT Coleman Thomas. Was a 3-star recruit but Butch Jones is excited abt him: “Athletic, tough, could be special”
— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) March 12, 2014
Re: Coleman Thomas: Butch Jones’ eye for unheralded O-line guys is impressive. Joe Staley & Eric Fisher were Butch guys who became 1st RDers
— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) March 12, 2014
Coaches are already urging Jalen Hurd to play lower. His height (6-foot-3) has been a huge talking point on the VolNation forums over the past year because he’s taller than the prototypical running back. (Check out this photo of him standing next to Devrin Young. Young, by the way, continues to work with the running backs even though he’s still listed as a receiver.) Pad leverage will be key for him if he hopes to avoid punishment from SEC defenders. Check out Jalen going through drills on Instagram.
Sophomore receiver Josh Smith is the early favorite for most-liked quote of the day when asked about his drops last season.
“I’m white. They didn’t bring me here to drop passes.”
Yeah, he went there.
On to Butch. Even with the distinct talent upgrade on the field this spring compared to last, Tennessee’s head coach is keeping it real—pumping the brakes, so to speak.
“First day of pads,” said Jones, “(it was) pretty evident that we have a long way to go and a lot of work to do. Overall, just our style of play, what it means to play winning football, the consistency we are looking for, the mental toughness, the mental conditioning that we talk about each and every day. A lot of work to do.
“I thought we had very good tempo practice one and practice two and then we got into full pads our tempo really slowed down,” said Jones, who has also made some adjustment in the team’s protocol at practice.
“We are doing something a little bit different this year in practice, we have a 20 second clock, so as soon as that 20 second clock goes off a horn blows then we will do down-ups after practice for not maintaining the tempo. Today, I thought our tempo on offense, defense really slowed down. I think that was a byproduct of the pads. We have to learn how to work through those things.”
It’s worth noting that Butch went out of his way to mention that Daniel Helm “did some really good things today” and “made some big plays” and “took great strides in moving forward.”
You can read more quotes and tidbits from Butch and the players, here.
Here are the links to embedded player interviews, if you’re interested in watching them: Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Danny O’Brien, Devrin Young, Josh Smith (ask a Vol), Malik Foreman, Kyler Kerbyson, Josh Smith (yes again), Jason Croom.
The Vols will be back at it on Thursday at 4:20 p.m.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]