On Day 4 of Tennessee’s spring practice, the Vols continue to work on fundamentals and scheme install.
Here’s the VolQuest.com observations…
* Tracy Rocker heaped some praise on his unit early in practice, specifically complimenting Jonathan Kongbo, Alexis Johnson, Matthew Butler and Greg Emerson for good pad level during drill work.
“There you go, G!.”
Emerson continues to impress in his second week of collegiate football. The early enrollee has shown no ill affects from his broken leg and comes off the ball with power and quickness in drills. He’s holding 300 pounds well, too. Naturally, his conditioning still needs work, but Emerson is a guy I didn’t think would contribute much in the fall and he’s quickly changing my mind there.
* On the flip-side, Tennessee’s outside linebackers were getting the business from position coach Chris Rumph today. The longtime SEC assistant was so mad at the start of one drill he made the entire unit do up-downs. “Y’all aren’t ready to practice today.” Ryan Thaxton and Jordan Allen were particularly drawing Rumph’s ire, with Allen later having to do more up-downs during the drill work.
* Tennessee’s offensive line had an extra body during some drill work today, as K’Rojhn Calbert worked some with the unit during run blocking drills.
* Later in practice, Tennessee’s LBs and DBs worked together on combo-coverages. The Vols were installing Alabama’s pass-matching scheme. Jeremy Pruitt, Kevin Sherrer, Charles Kelly and Terry Fair were all involved in the install. They split the field and worked two plays back-to-back. The start of the drill consisted of Quart’e Sapp at the WILL with Abernathy at safety and Baylen Buchanan at CB. On the other side, Nigel Warrior was at safety with Will Ignont at linebacker and Marquill Osborne at corner. Shawn Shamburger repped with the 2s, as did Theo Jackson at safety.
At the same time, the DL and OLBs were working on defending the zone read.
THIS & THAT
* The routes-on-air period today was just so-so. Will McBride was hot on some close throws, while Jarrett Guarantano was corrected on ball placement several times by OC/QB coach Tyson Helton. Guarantano did unleash a couple sweet play-action bombs — an element we know will be a big part of Helton’s offense. Later, all the QBs — Guarantano, McBride and the walk-ons — were crisp on rollout throws but struggled to complete a single pass on deep corner routes.
* It’s Day 4, and Latrell Williams is still healthy and still garnering attention. He’s thicker in the lower half and continues to just burst after the catch. He also plucks the ball out of the air better than most of the WRs on the roster. It appears he’s battling with Brandon Johnson for the first-team spot in the slot. On the outside, Josh Palmer and Marquez Callaway took the first reps with Jordan Murphy and freshman Alontae Taylor slotting in behind them.
* The guys working on the side remained the same, with Todd Kelly Jr., Jauan Jennings, Trey Smith and DJ Henderson all training with Fitzgerald. Austin Pope was not with the group but with Fitzgerald on the side working 1-on-1.
* Dillion Bates continues to cross-train at both inside and outside linebacker. Tuesday he was working with the inside linebackers.
* Former longtime FSU and Georgia assistant coach John Lilly was working with Brian Niedermeyer and the tight ends today.
* Phillip Fulmer was present at practice again, chatting with a number of donors and boosters.
Here’s the VolQuest.com observations…
* Tracy Rocker heaped some praise on his unit early in practice, specifically complimenting Jonathan Kongbo, Alexis Johnson, Matthew Butler and Greg Emerson for good pad level during drill work.
“There you go, G!.”
Emerson continues to impress in his second week of collegiate football. The early enrollee has shown no ill affects from his broken leg and comes off the ball with power and quickness in drills. He’s holding 300 pounds well, too. Naturally, his conditioning still needs work, but Emerson is a guy I didn’t think would contribute much in the fall and he’s quickly changing my mind there.
* On the flip-side, Tennessee’s outside linebackers were getting the business from position coach Chris Rumph today. The longtime SEC assistant was so mad at the start of one drill he made the entire unit do up-downs. “Y’all aren’t ready to practice today.” Ryan Thaxton and Jordan Allen were particularly drawing Rumph’s ire, with Allen later having to do more up-downs during the drill work.
* Tennessee’s offensive line had an extra body during some drill work today, as K’Rojhn Calbert worked some with the unit during run blocking drills.
* Later in practice, Tennessee’s LBs and DBs worked together on combo-coverages. The Vols were installing Alabama’s pass-matching scheme. Jeremy Pruitt, Kevin Sherrer, Charles Kelly and Terry Fair were all involved in the install. They split the field and worked two plays back-to-back. The start of the drill consisted of Quart’e Sapp at the WILL with Abernathy at safety and Baylen Buchanan at CB. On the other side, Nigel Warrior was at safety with Will Ignont at linebacker and Marquill Osborne at corner. Shawn Shamburger repped with the 2s, as did Theo Jackson at safety.
At the same time, the DL and OLBs were working on defending the zone read.
THIS & THAT
* The routes-on-air period today was just so-so. Will McBride was hot on some close throws, while Jarrett Guarantano was corrected on ball placement several times by OC/QB coach Tyson Helton. Guarantano did unleash a couple sweet play-action bombs — an element we know will be a big part of Helton’s offense. Later, all the QBs — Guarantano, McBride and the walk-ons — were crisp on rollout throws but struggled to complete a single pass on deep corner routes.
* It’s Day 4, and Latrell Williams is still healthy and still garnering attention. He’s thicker in the lower half and continues to just burst after the catch. He also plucks the ball out of the air better than most of the WRs on the roster. It appears he’s battling with Brandon Johnson for the first-team spot in the slot. On the outside, Josh Palmer and Marquez Callaway took the first reps with Jordan Murphy and freshman Alontae Taylor slotting in behind them.
* The guys working on the side remained the same, with Todd Kelly Jr., Jauan Jennings, Trey Smith and DJ Henderson all training with Fitzgerald. Austin Pope was not with the group but with Fitzgerald on the side working 1-on-1.
* Dillion Bates continues to cross-train at both inside and outside linebacker. Tuesday he was working with the inside linebackers.
* Former longtime FSU and Georgia assistant coach John Lilly was working with Brian Niedermeyer and the tight ends today.
* Phillip Fulmer was present at practice again, chatting with a number of donors and boosters.
