KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Prior to Fall Practice Day Three for the Volunteers, Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike DeBord and defensive coordinator Bob Shoop spoke to the media, along with tight ends coach/special teams coordinator Larry Scott and offensive line coach Don Mahoney.
Here are a few of their observations from the start of fall camp with Team 120.
(Stay tuned to UTSports.com forWednesday practice photos and more coming soon.)
Mike DeBord | Offensive Coordinator | Second Season
Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord spoke about the continued development and growth of Tennessee’s quarterbacks. He said that Josh Dobbs has strengthened his leadership by not only talking to teammates individually, but also by bringing the unit up and really taking control.
“Josh Dobbs started strong and he’s done some really good things out there. Also, he’s really improved his leadership. I like his start. Quinten Dormady, likewise. This is his second year in the offense so he is obviously ahead of where he was last year and performing very well. Sheriron Jones has gotten a few reps and he continues to learn. Jarrett Guarantano has come in and it’s a learning process for him. He wasn’t here in the spring, so every day is a learning situation for him. He has shown that he is very athletic and he’s got a really strong arm.”
Bob Shoop | Defensive Coordinator | First Season
Defensive Coordinator Bob Shoop reviewed the first two days of fall training camp, explaining what he has seen among the defensive players thus far and what he expects from his players as camp progresses. Football intelligence, mental toughness and explosiveness are a few priorities on Shoop’s list leading into the 2016 season.
“I always say this – Continuing to establish a championship culture on our side of the ball. Our room is really good. We always start up every meeting with either a joke of the day or a word of the day. We have a close knit group. We always emphasize our core values – playing a game of passion, great toughness and a ‘team first’ mindset. Second, we really talked about individual improvement, player development. If we can improve our players individually, collectively, we will be better. Third, we talked about techniques over tactics. It’s all about fundamentals. It’s about Football 101.”
Don Mahoney | Offensive Line Coach | Fourth Season
Working with a strong mix of veteran players and new talent within his position group, offensive line coach Don Mahoney discussed the development of his O-Line freshmen and how some have witnessed impressive gains in the weight room this summer.
“The summer has really helped them with the older guys providing some guidance with them, on the field with technique and expectations. We are really pleased with the amount of weight gain. Marcus Tatum’s up to almost 275 pounds after coming in at a weight where he was lean. He’s very athletic and has caught onto things mentally really fast and really shown some progress through two practices. Nathan Niehaus is much the same. He’s 300 pounds, his learning curve is one that is not quite as fast as Marcus but he is getting there and he’s showing a lot of promise. Ryan Johnson has had two solid days. Technically, there is a few things that he needs to improve on. Mentally, he really understands it. I am really pleased with the progress they’ve made so far.”
Larry Scott | Tight Ends Coach / Special Teams Coordinator | First Season
Entering day three of fall camp, coach Larry Scott has been impressed with what he’s seen from his freshmen tight ends Austin Pope and Devante Brooks, as well as the majority of the newcomers.
“What you want to do with new guys, you want to load them up and see how much they can handle with the physical stress along with the mental stress, and see how they naturally respond in that environment. Both of these kids have done a really good job. A lot of the kids in this class, not just at the tight end position, have done a really good job of responding to that. There are hiccups here and there, and you expect that a little bit, but for the most part, they have done a great job digesting that information.”
Sound Bites
Offensive Coordinator Mike DeBord
(On the freshman receivers and freshman group as a whole)
“First of all, I want to compliment all the freshmen. Our style of play is different, and what I mean by that is you don’t see guys out there jogging around when they’re in a play. It’s full speed. If they’re on the backside of a play, they’re sprinting across the field to go get a block. The entire freshman group has really picked up our style of play fast. I think it’s a compliment to our older guys who are showing them that. Those guys have really stepped up and everyday they are learning new plays. I really like their focus. I like the way they practice.”
Defensive Coordinator Bob Shoop
(On the defense’s focus at the start of fall camp)
“We’ve been using the phrase ‘hunt the ball’ – that’s a big term for us. We have one of those scopes with cross hairs right there, and a ball. Everything we’re doing is about hunting the ball. Whether it’s creating more interceptions or more strip attempts, it is an area we feel that can help take our game to the next level.”
Offensive Line Coach Don Mahoney
(On who stood out in offseason workouts)
“Jashon Robertson, coming off of his injury, has done a heck of a job of being a guy that’s been a complete workhorse with his approach in the weight room and meetings. Dylan Wiesman much the same and Brett Kendrick has been a guy that has really grown up a whole lot, a lot like Kyler Kerbyson, over the course of his career. He knows the time is now. They are some guys that have some playing experience, they have been through the highs and lows and they’re really touching some of the young guys with that, which has been encouraging seeing the way the young guys have responded so far.”
Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator Larry Scott
(On what stands out about Jason Croom)
“The versatility. We have the ability to play him in a lot of different places, whether it’s on or off the line of scrimmage or in the slot. We can move him around and use him as flexible as we want to within our system. On top of that, his ability to retain information and learn and be able to handle that has been really good.”