2021 Fall Practice #6

[Fingers]

Health-wise, looked like only Jimmy Holiday was off to the side while media was present, stretching and working with trainers.

Linebacker Jeremy Banks was not at practice today. Not sure if it’s health or class related

Something I’ve noticed about Juwan Mitchell is that he is light. The roster has him listed at 6-2, 226 pounds. I doubt he weighs that much. He can move very well which is great for sideline-to-sideline tackling, but he can also come up and pop a blocker or ball-carrier.

Offensively, the quarterback order while we were out here was: Milton, Bailey, Hooker and Maurer. Tuesday marks the second day in-a-row that we’ve seen Maurer go last in reps, so the consolidating may already be under way.

I thought Milton threw the ball very well today. Always a lot of juice behind it, but showed some good touch on flag and post routes. Hooker again looked good throwing the ball from what I saw and Harrison Bailey had a bounce back day, connecting on several good throws. Bailey just has to tighten up his throws to the boundary as most had to much air on them.

A guy that stood out to both me and AP this morning was freshman Julian Nixon. He was getting some extra attention from Golesh on Monday during individual and looked crisp running routes out of the slot. He made an athletic catch over the middle on a ball that was high form Maurer.

e.cain

For the offensive skill guys, the routes on air session was solid as the quarterbacks delivered the ball pretty well. Milton spent time between reps visiting with coaches including Heupel on his footwork on certain routes.

I thought the tight ends caught the ball well and Alex Golesh ended their routes on air period to get to blocking working. Trinity Bell was out there for the first time, but not in full gear as he did some non-contact stuff in individual. Of course Bell is coming off ACL surgery.

A guy who looks more physical and aggressive in blocking drills than I expected is Julian Nixon. He’s not ready to help now, but he has some skills and a frame to build on. He has gotten more comfortable with things the last few practices.

At the running back position, I continue to be impressed and a bit surprised by Tyion Evans’ hands.

hubbs

Hendon Hooker continues to be the one of the most vocal players on the practice field as between periods or reps you can almost always hear him firing up his teammates or encouraging them. The Virginia Tech transfer went third through routes-on-air behind Joe Milton III and Harrison Bailey, and after a couple of off-target throws he was on the mark as he found a groove.

Milton was the sharpest of the quarterbacks, the big Michigan transfer barely missing a throw and on nearly all his passes the wide receiver didn't have to break his stride.

Bailey also was accurate in routes-on-air. The early vibes in preseason camp are Milton and Hooker are out front in the quarterback competition, but Thursday's scrimmage (as well as the second one the following Tuesday) looms large for that position and it could be moving day in the race.

seven players catching kickoffs from Paxton Brooks and a Jugs machine: Wide receivers Velus Jones Jr., Jimmy Calloway and Jalin Hyatt, running backs Tiyon Evans and Jabari Small and defensive backs Trevon Flowers and Theo Jackson.

Tennessee has a lot of bodies on the defensive line, and one of the more impressive-looking players in the bunch is Kansas transfer Da'Jon Terry, who has long, powerful arms and looks like an SEC defensive lineman.

The situation at offensive tackle on Tuesday was the same as it was on Monday as the Vols worked Dayne Davis alongside Cade Mays and freshman William Parker at right tackle. Clearly it appears the Vols are trying to get all three of their top tackles to be able to play both right and left.

RJ Perry, who worked primarily at right tackle in the spring and at the start of camp, continues to get work on the left side, though he was behind junior college transfer Jeremiah Crawford on Tuesday.

p.brown

The QB’s and WR’s were mainly focusing on short routes to the sideline and across the middle. It was an excellent start to practice for Joe Milton, as he was zipping the ball into the receiver’s hands, not making them hesitate on any routes.

I thought Hendon Hooker finally settled down after a few errant passes, while Harrison Bailey was efficient in his passes, especially across the middle. Most of the time, at least. The running backs were getting a little work in with the QB’s as the practice began, working on their swing routes.

The RB group continues to impress with their speed, which can be a very big factor for Tennessee this season. Tiyon Evans is impressive, and along with Jabari Small, they could be an exciting duo. In addition, the coaching staff will find ways to get Dee Beckwith and Jaylen Wright on the field, especially in open space.

t.wallace

 

[turnuptheVOLtage]

First

 

[McDad]

good work, Fingers. Thanks.

 

[VolFanNC09]

First

Edit: Dang It! first page

 

[rgvol]

My favorite time of the year… GBO!!!!

 

[KPT_VFL]

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

First! GBO!

 

[Volunteer08]

I keep reading how inaccurate Milton is/was, but I thought he looked real good in those clips!

 

[johnfnkelly]

All of Milton's passes looked crispy.

Hooker looked solid too.

 

[ClockworkOrange]

Didn't see a single rep with Maurer and couldn't find him until late, and he was standing in the back with his helmet off.

Are the rumors real?

 

[JCHateSteve]

No matter how things are, I always wait for practice videos with baited breath. GBO!

 

[VOLSAO]

Does Golesh have any eligibility left? #CB1

 

[VolBricks]

Didn't Heupel say that they would not name the QB starter until game 1, so that the competition would continue right up until the season starts?

Edit: I am becoming a believer in Heupel. The team really enjoys this coaching staff and is having fun at practice. Seeing the interviews this week with the players I realized we are going to be better than expected this year. Having fun and "wanting" to play and win goes a long way. Pruitt ran this place like a military camp and the players hated it, they did not enjoy what they were doing and under performed. I do not think we are going 9-3 this year but I do think we can be 6-6 or 7-5 and that is all we can ask for a first year coach under the current NCAA investigations on-going.

 

[BeardedVol]

I wonder if Vegas has odds on whether Banks sees the field during the 2021 season or not?

 

[A.J.]

Didn't see a single rep with Maurer and couldn't find him until late, and he was standing in the back with his helmet off.

Are the rumors real?

I saw some reports where he got some reps in, but was 4th in the rotation again. I’ve been pulling for him, but starting to wonder if the coaches are starting to make their placements, even though it’s still early.

 

[Dudleys87]

All of Milton's passes looked crispy.

Hooker looked solid too.

Hopefully setting themselves apart. It’s time we had another difference maker at the most important position in football

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Didn't Heupel say that they would not name the QB starter until game 1, so that the competition would continue right up until the season start?

No he did not say that, most think sometime next week after the second live scrimmage next tuesday. Now they did say they there is a chance it could go on but the thought at that time was sometime at the end of next week. GBO!

 

[Booker512]

I think Milton is solid. He might not be a super star, he looks confident when he moves and surprisingly crisp tbh....but yea, i think i actually have a little bit of confidence in our QB situation going into a season for the first time in about 4 years lol.

On a side note, i watched a couple of the coaching interviews today while drinking my coffee and none of them really give off weird vibes of being used car salesmen or sociopaths....thats also refreshing. lol

 

[VB_Vol]

Hopefully setting themselves apart. It’s time we had another difference maker at the most important position in football

Yep. Just think, if we had serviceable QB play last year, we'd still be stuck with Pruitt.

 

[BeardedVol]

Yep. Just think, if we had serviceable QB play last year, we'd still be stuck with Pruitt.

So if JG would have been serviceable, Niedermeyer, Felton, and Pruitt wouldn't be total morons who couldn't even cheat properly?

How does that work exactly?

 

[njvols]

I think Milton is solid. He might not be a super star, he looks confident when he moves and surprisingly crisp tbh....but yea, i think i actually have a little bit of confidence in our QB situation going into a season for the first time in about 4 years lol.

On a side note, i watched a couple of the coaching interviews today while drinking my coffee and none of them really give off weird vibes of being used car salesmen or sociopaths....thats also refreshing. lol

Definitely...it's entirely possible that we've got a non-dysfunctional staff for the first time in a LONG time...if they can coach we may be able to finally start moving back up the pecking order in the SEC.

 

[peaygolf]

Yep. Just think, if we had serviceable QB play last year, we'd still be stuck with Pruitt.

JG was bad................But him being "serviceable" still doesn't give UT many more wins. That was just a bad team with poor coaches. Bland offense and a complicated defense.

 

[VB_Vol]

So if JG would have been serviceable, Niedermeyer, Felton, and Pruitt wouldn't be total morons who couldn't even cheat properly?

How does that work exactly?

Not out of the realm of possibility. Pruitt could claim plausible deniability, COVID year or something else to save his skin. Either way, it doesn't really matter since he'd still be here if he wasn't taken down by someone on the inside.

 

[VB_Vol]

JG was bad................But him being "serviceable" still doesn't give UT many more wins. That was just a bad team with poor coaches. Bland offense and a complicated defense.

Serviceable gives us more than 3 wins and keeps KY from embarrassing us at home too.

 

[njvols]

So if JG would have been serviceable, Niedermeyer, Felton, and Pruitt wouldn't be total morons who couldn't even cheat properly?

How does that work exactly?

Well, for starters, if we were winning, our internal investigation may not have been quite as robust or may have gone the LSU/Will Wade route of denial... but we didn't win, and we cleaned house... all for the best. Pruitt, Butch, Dooley, Hamilton, Currie, Fulmer all ultimately proved you can't hide dysfunction. I like our new AD/Coaches...just hope they can win and set a long term culture.