Vols Spring Practice No. 4 Updates 3.13

[Fingers]

in progress.

Player interviews before practice









Video

Notes

DB Baylen Buchanan was limited during the open portion. Nothing new with Tyus Fields, Eric Gray or Trey Smith.

Pruitt works on the far side of the field with the DBs pretty often and can be relatively inconspicuous during open periods, which is usually just position-specific drills. Not today.

Pruitt was working really closely and vocally with his young defensive line for most of the first of three open periods. Spent some brief 1-on-1 time working with Michigan transfer Aubrey Solomon after a drill.

Observation, not a value judgment: I'm not sure I heard a word on the practice field from Tyson Helton a year ago. Jim Chaney is as loud as any coach on the field. Earlier today, Ty Chandler called him "a character." Just a total departure from a personality standpoint.

-David Ubben

The Vols continue to cross-train offensive lineman, something Marcus Tatum discussed during player availability earlier today. Tatum and Jahmir Johnson are working at guard and tackle, but notably, when Tennessee did 5-man line work Wednesday, both were at tackle, flanked inside by Jerome Carvin (LG), Ryan Johnson and Riley Locklear (RG).

Ty Chandler remains the most natural pass-catcher of the group. It will be interesting to see what Eric Gray’s addition to that unit will look like in the fall.

Pruitt worked some on the side with Michigan transfer Aubrey Solomon. The former 5-star continues to rep with the 1s — perhaps a sign of UT’s confidence he’ll win his waiver appeal? I don’t know.

I saw Jarrett Guarantano hit Deangelo Gibbs and Josh Palmer in-stride on deep 9-routes. Tennessee has some interesting pieces at receiver but the group remains very redundant. When the Vols spilt into possessions, Jordan Murphy is the only wideout in the slot who has ever caught a pass in college.

edshirt freshman defensive lineman Kurott Garland made his first appearance of the spring, running laps with trainers in the indoor facility.

-Simonton

Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt on Monday bemoaned the inability of his defense to control the line of scrimmage during Monday's full-pads work, suggesting he was unhappy with the play of the defensive line.

Tennessee's offensive line appeared to do less shuffling during drills on Wednesday with most of the important players sticking in the same positions.

Emmit Gooden, normally at nose tackle and sporting a noticeable cast on his wrist/hand, was working at defensive end with redshirt freshman Kingston Harris working at nose tackle and Solomon completing the first trio. Rocker was hard on Harris and made the group do the rep two or three times before he was pleased enough to roll in another group. The second group had redshirt freshman Greg Emerson at nose flanked by sophomore John Mincey and converted tight end LaTrell Bumphus.

Georgia transfer Deangelo Gibbs, who played defensive back in his two seasons with the Bulldogs, certainly looks to be making the transition to offense rather smoothy for the Vols.

He's shown to have pretty good hands and his natural athleticism stands out watching him run routes, and on Wednesday he made an impressive one-handed snag while appearing to keep a foot down inbounds along the sideline. The catch drew some audible reaction from his teammates.

Gibbs also had a nice catch on a long throw from Jarrett Guarantano as Tennessee worked on the downfield passing game on Wednesday.

-P. Brown




Pictures

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

First.

 

[alaVOL]

Bring on the GOOOOOD NEWS.

 

[cHiZzLeVOL]

Third!?!

 

[tn4elvis]

in progress.

You the man fingers.

 

[Behr]

He probably told Mrs. Fangers "watch me make these grown men suffer and beg".

 

[FLVOL_79]

 

[VolDaddy61]

Any word on the gentleman from Michigan and Georgia in regards to their eligibility ?!

 

[VolAllen]

I can’t shake the feeling that we’re just totally going to suck this year.

 

[Ratvol]

9th


Yeehaw

Go VOLS!!!!

 

[TrueVolsGBOInsider]

Any word on the gentleman from Michigan and Georgia in regards to their eligibility ?!

Nothing new, it will be a little while before we hear anything one way or another. It’s a good bet Solomon plays this year for us. Gibbs is iffy at best to play this year.

 

[tdbigorange11]

Question, I keep seeing concern over who will be the slot receiver this year. It seems to me we have plenty of options like Brandon Johnson or Tyler Byrd along with Murphy and Jacquez Jones. I guess Jennings is an option too. I'm not seeing why there's all the coverage over who will be in the slot.

 

[USMC-TNVOL]

Observation, not a value judgment: I'm not sure I heard a word on the practice field from Tyson Helton a year ago. Jim Chaney is as loud as any coach on the field. Earlier today, Ty Chandler called him "a character." Just a total departure from a personality standpoint.

Well, that could say a lot about our offense last year. Glad we got Chaney now.

 

[GlockVol]

He probably told Mrs. Fangers "watch me make these grown men suffer and beg".

And Mrs Fingers replied " women are used to making men suffer and beg all the time, it's what we do".

 

[Remy]

Question, I keep seeing concern over who will be the slot receiver this year. It seems to me we have plenty of options like Brandon Johnson or Tyler Byrd along with Murphy and Jacquez Jones. I guess Jennings is an option too. I'm not seeing why there's all the coverage over who will be in the slot.

I tend to agree. How many times over the years have we seen our opponents have a receiver who has a hot hand that day get moved on either side of the field, in the slot, and even in the backfield? Our WRs, especially a kid like JJ with his physicality and being a senior, needs to be able to go anywhere we can get a ball to him through the air, even more especially if he gets hot. Feed the hot hand and playmakers the ball man!!

 

[Gandalf]

Fingers - really want to say how much I appreciate your faithfulness in getting these practice updates to us. Most reporting services could really take a lesson from you.

 

[southpaw75]

That pic of Crouch and Peterson is pretty telling in terms of size and attitude. I hope I’m reading too much into it.

 

[Behr]

Well, that could say a lot about our offense last year. Glad we got Chaney now.

He'll be worth his weight in gold if he can work his magic on JG.

NB4 dumb fat joke.

 

[Dudleys87]

Who bets the offense as a whole is day and night compared to last season? I really think it’ll be that much better.

I simply can’t wait for Tennessee to pump out LBs and DBs again. Tennessee really has some special talent at the positions.


@Fingers, when will we know if They’re eligible or not?

 

[Dudleys87]

Well, that could say a lot about our offense last year. Glad we got Chaney now.

I absolutely believe it will. Believing in your kids and vocally coaching goes a long way.

 

[SmokyRiverDog]

Any word on the gentleman from Michigan and Georgia in regards to their eligibility ?!

They are still wearing ineligible shoulder pads and socks. When those change, you'll have a different answer.

 

[Behr]

They are still wearing ineligible shoulder pads and socks. When those change, you'll have a different answer.

Any word on when that might be? I think that was his question, not how do you know if they have become eligible.

 

[rdk4121]

I hope Gibbs gets eligible. That kid has wheels!

 

[SmokyRiverDog]

Any word on when that might be? I think that was his question, not how do you know if they have become eligible.

The team with their paperwork at the NCAA is cruising into Spring Break mode from what I hear. Their meeting pace likely will not pick up again until April. Date likely depends on traffic and airport delays.

 

[Behr]

The team with their paperwork at the NCAA is cruising into Spring Break mode from what I hear. Their meeting pace likely will not pick up again until April. Date likely depends on traffic and airport delays.

I was just joking man. But thanks. I'm not impatient, but I am looking forward to finding out and hope for the best.