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What is this "coaching" thing that is spoken of?
Tracy Rocker challenging Vols' D-line physically, mentally
Wes Rucker
Tracy Rocker challenging Vols' D-line physically, mentally
Kennedy: Vols' program not 'missing anything' under Pruitt
RYAN CALLAHAN
Tennessee football: OL Brandon Kennedy says Vols not 'missing anything' under Jeremy Pruitt
Tracy Rocker challenging Vols' D-line physically, mentally
Wes Rucker
Tracy Rocker challenging Vols' D-line physically, mentally
College football practice is hard work for anyone, but it’s really hard work for the 300-pound guys expected to remain physically and mentally sharp while running around and slamming their bodies into other 300-pound guys.
Those 300-pound guys trying to learn a new scheme have it even harder than that.
In other words, practices for Tennessee’s defensive linemen are plenty tough these days.
The early portions of Saturday’s practice were especially no picnic. Any mistake defensive line coach Tracy Rocker spotted resulted in the entire unit — even those sitting out that rep — to run the length of the field and back. And the poor sap who finished last had to go it again.
Saturday wasn’t the first time that’s happened, either.
As senior Paul Bain noted earlier in camp, Rocker isn’t messing around.
It might seem cruel, but there’s a reason for it. And Bain said he understands that reason.
“The thing with Coach Rocker is he wants us to know everything,” Bain said. “He doesn’t see it [as simple]. Actually, the whole defensive staff, they want us to know everything. They think everybody should know what everybody is doing. When you know what everybody’s doing, then you know why you are where you are and why what you do is so important to the whole scheme of the defense. You know why what you’re doing matters, and it makes you want to do it even more to the best of your ability, because you know where you fall into the big picture.”
Kennedy: Vols' program not 'missing anything' under Pruitt
RYAN CALLAHAN
Tennessee football: OL Brandon Kennedy says Vols not 'missing anything' under Jeremy Pruitt
After winning a national championship at Alabama last season, Brandon Kennedy left the Crimson Tide this spring to transfer to Tennessee coming off the Vols’ first eight-loss season in program history.
It’s natural to assume that Kennedy, a redshirt junior offensive lineman, might have noticed some glaring differences between the perennial title contender he left at Alabama and the rebuilding team he joined at Tennessee.
But if there’s anything that might be holding back the Vols as they look to climb back toward the top of the SEC, he hasn’t noticed it yet.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t say we’re missing anything,” Kennedy said Thursday in his first media availability since he arrived at Tennessee this summer. “I just feel like Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt, he wants us to be physical, and he’s bringing that. And we’re all having that mindset every day when we come out to compete, so I’d really say (we are missing) nothing.”
“Pruitt, he’s bringing a winning mindset here,” Kennedy said, “so me, I just want to bring the leadership and the experience that I’ve had as a championship player to Tennessee.”