Tennessee retuned to Haslam Practice Field on a chilly Monday morning to officially kickoff week two of the spring session. The Vols were in full pads for the first time as the intensity level was obviously kicked up a notch.
Following stretches and circuit work at the indoor, the team split into position groups for the daily individual work. The pace was accelerated early as the coaches wanted to emphasize the importance of going full-speed with the pads on.
Later on in the period, the running backs and linebackers joined forces for group pass rush– pass protecting work. Brian Jean-Mary set up two cones to simulate the interior of the offensive line. The linebacker would bullrush up the middle before picking a move while engaging the tailback.
It was all defense in this drill as the running backs really struggled with the blitzing linebackers. Jabari Small lost two-straight reps to Aaron Beasley and Jeremy Banks. Jaylen Wright looked good on his rep, defeating Aaron Willis while freshman Justin Williams-Thomas whiffed on his first rep and then caught the defender on his second.
Nothing to worry about long term as pass protection is one of the biggest adjustments for young running backs. Alex Golesh said as much on Williams-Thomas during Saturday’s media availability. Running back’s coach Jerry Mack made it a point to pull the Atlanta, Ga. native aside for 1-on-1 instruction.
With the wind hardly a factor today (unlike Saturday) it looked a lot better with the quarterbacks and wide receivers. Hendon Hooker looked polished throwing a combination of hitch, curls and ins before mixing in some deep posts and seams. Jalin Hyatt continues to look good in routes on air, as is both Jimmy Calloway and Holiday.
Make all the jokes you want, and it’s warranted, but Joe Milton threw a couple of beautiful deep balls today. Led the receivers perfectly, tip-toeing down the sideline on go routes or over the middle on deep posts. There’s no rush and no defense, so it’s not an accurate representation of what’s to come in ballgames, but it was good to see.
As far as the big guys, the offensive line continues to work in tandems or half line. According to Golesh on Saturday, it’s JJ Crawford who has the leg up on Gerald Mincey right now at left tackle – and that’s expected. He was first up again today with Darnell Wright at right tackle. The staff will continue to push hard there this spring to see if Mincey is a guy they can rely on come fall.
And the defensive line was getting after it, as you’d expect. After hitting the bags and then hitting the cage, the group repped on the tackling sled, focusing on explosion and extension. Tyler Baron has been leading that group. I’ve been impressed with how well Elijah Simmons is moving – along with freshmen Jordan Phillips and Tyree West moving well too.
LaTrell Bumphus missed his third-straight practice today. We are hoping to get an update from Rodney Garner when he meets with the media later this morning at 11:20. Addison Nichols returned to practice after missing Saturday (non-injury related) and USC transfer wide receiver Bru McCoy was on-hand for Monday’s session.
Four-star 2023 offensive lineman Luke Burgess of New Palestine, In. was at today’s practice. As was three-star 2023 defensive back Jermaine Matthews of Cincinnati, Oh.
Garner is coming up at 11:20 and will be followed by Omari Thomas, Tyler Baron and Elijah Simmons.
Following stretches and circuit work at the indoor, the team split into position groups for the daily individual work. The pace was accelerated early as the coaches wanted to emphasize the importance of going full-speed with the pads on.
Later on in the period, the running backs and linebackers joined forces for group pass rush– pass protecting work. Brian Jean-Mary set up two cones to simulate the interior of the offensive line. The linebacker would bullrush up the middle before picking a move while engaging the tailback.
It was all defense in this drill as the running backs really struggled with the blitzing linebackers. Jabari Small lost two-straight reps to Aaron Beasley and Jeremy Banks. Jaylen Wright looked good on his rep, defeating Aaron Willis while freshman Justin Williams-Thomas whiffed on his first rep and then caught the defender on his second.
Nothing to worry about long term as pass protection is one of the biggest adjustments for young running backs. Alex Golesh said as much on Williams-Thomas during Saturday’s media availability. Running back’s coach Jerry Mack made it a point to pull the Atlanta, Ga. native aside for 1-on-1 instruction.
With the wind hardly a factor today (unlike Saturday) it looked a lot better with the quarterbacks and wide receivers. Hendon Hooker looked polished throwing a combination of hitch, curls and ins before mixing in some deep posts and seams. Jalin Hyatt continues to look good in routes on air, as is both Jimmy Calloway and Holiday.
Make all the jokes you want, and it’s warranted, but Joe Milton threw a couple of beautiful deep balls today. Led the receivers perfectly, tip-toeing down the sideline on go routes or over the middle on deep posts. There’s no rush and no defense, so it’s not an accurate representation of what’s to come in ballgames, but it was good to see.
As far as the big guys, the offensive line continues to work in tandems or half line. According to Golesh on Saturday, it’s JJ Crawford who has the leg up on Gerald Mincey right now at left tackle – and that’s expected. He was first up again today with Darnell Wright at right tackle. The staff will continue to push hard there this spring to see if Mincey is a guy they can rely on come fall.
And the defensive line was getting after it, as you’d expect. After hitting the bags and then hitting the cage, the group repped on the tackling sled, focusing on explosion and extension. Tyler Baron has been leading that group. I’ve been impressed with how well Elijah Simmons is moving – along with freshmen Jordan Phillips and Tyree West moving well too.
LaTrell Bumphus missed his third-straight practice today. We are hoping to get an update from Rodney Garner when he meets with the media later this morning at 11:20. Addison Nichols returned to practice after missing Saturday (non-injury related) and USC transfer wide receiver Bru McCoy was on-hand for Monday’s session.
Four-star 2023 offensive lineman Luke Burgess of New Palestine, In. was at today’s practice. As was three-star 2023 defensive back Jermaine Matthews of Cincinnati, Oh.
Garner is coming up at 11:20 and will be followed by Omari Thomas, Tyler Baron and Elijah Simmons.
