2022 Fall Practice #11

[Fingers]

Squirrel White dressed in shells Saturday while being a limited participant at practice. White went through stretches but didn’t participate in drill work. Fellow slot receiver Jimmy Calloway was absent from Saturday’s practice.

Jaylen Wright was fully dressed out and going through drills. It’ll be interesting to see if he scrimmages Sunday after being banged up for much of fall camp.

Not much to report from the offensive line. Everyone was available and working Saturday morning as the left tackle competition roars on.

Let’s start in the secondary where Kamal Hadden was dressed in a non contact jersey, shorts and no helmet. Hadden went through stretches but no more on Saturday morning. Freshman Christian Harrison was the same—in a non contact jersey but not participating in any drill work while we were at practice.

Cheyenne LaBruzza was in a red no contact jersey but did participate in some drills, including the red zone one-on-ones.

Solon Page III has been limited at practice the last few days before putting on the red no contact jersey Saturday morning. He was active participating in drills while we watched.

Defensive tackle Elijah Simmons did not participate in the open portion of practice— a common theme the second week of fall camp.

While on the defensive linemen, I’m really impressed by freshmen Jordan Phillips and Tyre West. I’m unsure how much the duo can produce in their first collegiate seasons, but I expect both will be major pieces on the interior of Tennessee’s defensive line in coming years.

Princeton Fant toasted Trevon Flowers on an out route before hauling in a Hooker pass.

Walker Merrill beat a defensive back on a slant route but dropped Joe Milton’s pass to promptly do push ups in the back of the end zone.

Christian Charles deflected a Tayven Jackson fade route intended for Jimmy Holliday.

Jackson quickly recovered by throwing a beautiful back shoulder fade that Bru McCoy hauled in over walk-on Trel Riley.

Jack Jancek easily beat Dee Williams on a slant route, leading to Tim Banks chewing out Williams. Kaleb Webb ran a beautiful fade route, beating De’Shawn Rucker for the catch. The quarterback for those two reps was either Navy Shuler or Gaston Moore.

r.schumpert

Players working inside with a strength-and-conditioning coach as the team went outside were defensive linemen Elijah Simmons and LaTrell Bumphus, running back Lyn-J Dixon and cornerback Kamal Hadden. Working outside were two freshmen – wide receiver Squirrel White and cornerback Christian Harrison (in a red jersey), who secondary coach Willie Martinez said on Friday that Harrison “had a little setback” but would be back “in the next couple of days.”

Wide receiver Jimmy Calloway not practicing as he watched his fellow wideouts work in street clothes. Injured players still normally wear their practice jerseys if they are working on the side. Notably, Calloway was doing neither of those things.

Dixon being unavailable obviously is not ideal as he’s playing catch-up, and him not being able to scrimmage on Sunday after getting very limited scrimmage work on Tuesday won’t help his process. Dixon appeared to be walking with a little bit of a limp. His absence leaves the backfield with just three scholarship players (Jabari Small and freshmen Dylan Sampson and Justin Williams-Thomas) as Jaylen Wright continues to work his way back slowly into more practice involvement

Linebacker Solon Page III practiced in a red non-contract jersey, and freshman linebacker Kalib Perry was back out there after we didn’t see him on Friday morning.

One standout play on offense was Bru McCoy bringing in a one-handed catch with walk-on cornerback Montrell Bandy all over him – the throw was on-point (didn’t see who threw it) and the big transfer basket-caught it and pinned it to his body with his right arm.

The other play that drew a big reaction from the players was tight end Jacob Warren “Moss-ing” Doneiko Slaughter – the 6-foot-6 veteran simply reached over the top of a smaller defender and caught it just above the nameplate on the back of Slaughter’s jersey before completing the catch.

Christian Charles also broke up a pair of passes against Jimmy Holiday, and Warren Burrell generated an incompletion against Hyatt and let Cedric Tillman catch a slant in front of him but short of the goal line.

Freshman Kaleb Webb put De’Shawn Rucker in a blender with a quick shimmy off the line, his release freeing him up to make a nice play. Walker Merrill won off the line but had a drop. Jack Jancek made a couple of nice plays, beating Dee Williams once and later making a nice high-point catch in the corner of the end zone against a fellow walk-on.

p.brown

I didn’t see Elijah Simmons again today as he continues to be limited. The expectation is that he’ll be back in action next week, so I’d be surprised to see him or any of the guys who have been limited play tomorrow. Jaylen Wright continues to get more work in with the running backs, but he’s still slowly ramping up and was not in full pads yesterday while the rest of the team was.

Lyn-J Dixon did not practice today. There was a Christian Harrison sighting for the first time in days as he was out on the field (side) with a red noncontact jersey on, but no shoulder pads. Solon Page was back in action today, though he donned a red noncontact jersey as well. No change in the status of Squirrel White or Kamal Hadden from the past few days.

Bru McCoy reeled in a catch, one-handed, on the sideline. Jacob Warren had the catch of the day, going up and over Doneiko Slaughter to bring in a ball that was underthrown. Ramel Keyton displayed a nice vertical to go up and get one while keeping his feet in bounds.

As for some individual, single-route matchups: Princeton Flant won out over Tre Flowers. Keyton beat Brandon Turnage. Kaleb Webb got the best of Deshawn Rucker. Cedric Tillman beat Warren Burrell on a slant. Jalin Hyatt ran a really nice route, shaking Wesley Walker, but the ball was underthrown by Joe Milton.

The offense won the period, in my opinion, but there were a few defensive standout plays that come to mind. Walker stuffed Warren off the line on one rep, not allowing for him to get open. Christian Charles defeated Jimmy Holiday twice in the period, lodging the football out of his hands at the last second on one rep. Jaylen McCollough also had one deflected pass that I saw.

Guys who I am intrigued to hear about scrimmaging would be: Crawford/Mincey, Keyton/Merrill/McCoy, Williams/Charles, Walker/McDonald and the entire LB and DT units.

e.cain

 

[Kingzport]

First?

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Why do I feel worse about this team the longer camp goes on?

 

[RockyTop140]

Great, so now Dixon is dealing with an injury too now?

 

[VAVol85]

Why do I feel worse about this team the longer camp goes on?

I think it is the nature of the practice reporting. They don’t really see anything of note, so all they can talk about is who is on the sidelines or in a non-contact jersey.

 

[HalfullVol]

Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

VOLS !

 

[DC_Vol]

Why do I feel worse about this team the longer camp goes on?

That’s the BVS talking. I know the feeling.

 

[strongj81]

Back on track! First page! Gbo!

 

[OffTackleVol]

Why do I feel worse about this team the longer camp goes on?

?????

 

[joevol33]

Thanks Fingers

 

[BarnesIsCaliparisDaddy]

Why do I feel worse about this team the longer camp goes on?

Injuries

 

[turbovol]

I always wonder how so many players can be injured/banged up after a week and a half of light/no-contact practice--half of it not even in pads. I guess we had one scrimmage. What's going to happen when we actually play for real?

 

[T2P_Priceless]

I always wonder how so many players can be injured/banged up after a week and a half of light/no-contact practice--half of it not even in pads. I guess we had one scrimmage. What's going to happen when we actually play for real?

They’re a lot more cautious in camp vs in season

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

Why do I feel worse about this team the longer camp goes on?

The VFL's who have watched some of these practices don't feel the same. Like Swain, Ainge and Kyler Kerbyson.

 

[TN-POSSUM]

Thanks.......

GO VOLS

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

I always wonder how so many players can be injured/banged up after a week and a half of light/no-contact practice--half of it not even in pads. I guess we had one scrimmage. What's going to happen when we actually play for real?

Well it is only a small handful out of 110 bodies.

 

[LittleVol]

Why do I feel worse about this team the longer camp goes on?

What exactly is there to feel good OR bad about at this point?

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

It always seems like it is something with Simmons, maybe they are just being cautious. He needs to be able to play more snaps and stay on the field this year. GBO!

 

[LittleVol]

I always wonder how so many players can be injured/banged up after a week and a half of light/no-contact practice--half of it not even in pads. I guess we had one scrimmage. What's going to happen when we actually play for real?

So you haven't played football.

What's going to happen is, BECAUSE their bodies became readjusted (pre-season dings and strains) they will be ready to play through the physicality of the season.

I'm being very condescending in this response, I know. But SERIOUSLY, this is every year!! Every single season this happens to EVERY football team.

Have you not paid attention at all the years you've been watching football???

This here is what scientists mean when they say people go into a comatose state when they watch TV and do not retain anything.
Literally EVERY YEAR that football has been played this happens .

What are you going to be suprised about next??
" Wow they let a true freshman play out there!?"
"Wow Pitt is better than Ball State!"
"OMG Florida beat us!??"

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Why do I feel worse about this team the longer camp goes on?

Cause you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Why do I feel worse about this team the longer camp goes on?

My guess is the manifestation of an Eeyore complex.

 

[DonDiego]

I always wonder how so many players can be injured/banged up after a week and a half of light/no-contact practice--half of it not even in pads. I guess we had one scrimmage. What's going to happen when we actually play for real?

You have 666 posts. You are cursed. They hit each other ever since pads have come on. Many of the drills are pretty intense. Easy to pull a hammy or groin, or twist an ankle.

 

[SAPPER 5]

r.schumpert








p.brown






e.cain

"but the ball was underthrown by Joe Milton "
Can't help myself, but there's something you don't see every day...please excuse my BVS.

 

[LittleVol]

My observations.

This camp is probably the best fall camp we have had since 2016.
Offense
- Established QB returning as one of the best in the conference and all he's done is allowed others to get up to speed faster in the offense.
- Jaylen Wright is being held because he will get a heavy load this season until Dixon gets ready. Then Small, Wright and Dixon will shred defenses.
- WR is deeper than many would have guessed. Calloway and Hyatt have learned their lessons. And if not, Webb and White have already gotten the coaches attention.
So much so, that they feel comfortable with bringing Bru along at a comfortable pace.

Defense:
- We have some big explosive dudes on that DLine. Barron and Harrison will be sold, but Byron Young is about to etch his name in Tennessee's history book. This dude has done nothing but get better since arriving on campus last year. Will be our highest draft pick in 2023. He has the explosive ability of freshman Josephs with the stature of Elijah Simmons. Has learned to play with violent hands. Is part of the reason LT hasn't been decided yet, because neither can block him.
Banks and Mitchell both looked dialed in. There is a noticeable difference in those two from the others in explosive abilities.
DBs are physical and fast. McDonald is basically a 3rd LB out there at STAR. Tank, Flowers will have strong years. Walker is a huge addition. Turnege is ready to showcase his whole skillset. He'll blitz and play in the box more than anything.
CB will need more time to develop. Hadden is similar to Wright situation. Heavy load. Needs rest more than reps. Charles needs the reps, but is already probably 2nd best CB
Turnege might just need to stay here if Hadden doesn't stay healthy.

Overall:
The most athletic team in the East behind UGA. Florida ain't far behind. This is team had a really good combination of experience in key spots along with talented youngsters learning under them. This is a foundation year. Not "year zero", but a year when Tennessee begins to play at a standard they haven't in a long time. This is a considerably better team than last year. Starting to lean towards 9-3. I think we take LSU more and more.

 

[butchna]

They’re a lot more cautious in camp vs in season

True, but Tiyon Evans was continuously red jerseyed and “working off to the side” so…harbingers.