2022 Fall Practice #7

[Fingers]

updating...

We’ll start with some good news as offensive lineman Jerome Carvin was back at practice and wearing shoulder pads and helmet – along with everyone else. Carvin had missed both of the past weekend’s practice sessions, nursing a minor ankle injury

Same goes for cornerback Christian Charles as for the first time this camp, the sophomore shed his red jersey for an orange [defensive] one.

Cheyenne Labruzza continues to work in a red noncontact jersey. Joining him today was fellow defensive back Christian Harrison. Running back Jaylen Wright continued to work off to the side and cornerback Kamal Hadden again missed practice. We mentioned yesterday that wideout Bru McCoy was off to the side working with a trainer. Today, the transfer was not in shoulder pads, so it appears he’s a bit banged up at the moment as well.

The timing has been really good with quarterbacks and wide receivers overall in camp, but it’s not been as crisp the past two days in regard to the rollouts. Several receivers dropped some passes in the end zone – one being Ramel Keyton, who had to do 10 pushups as Kelsey Pope was not having it. I thought Hooker, Milton and Jackson threw well for the most part – one exception is they were all high on a few of their throws, though some were still caught.

Brandon Turnage is beginning to feel more comfortable as a guy to speak up in the backend.

Tomorrow’s scrimmage will be interesting from multiple standpoints. First off, who will the staff choose to hold out? I would be shocked if Jaylen Wright participated tomorrow, but what about Jerome Carvin who returned to practice or Bru McCoy who is limited today? There’s a fine line between pushing it and being smart early in camp.

And then, of course, we have the left tackle battle between JJ Crawford and Gerald Mincey. Following the scrimmage tomorrow, we should have our first indication on where that battle stands.

e.cain

ennessee’s quarterbacks and receivers focused on red zone work at the beginning of practice. The Vols did drills with slot receivers working in motion and with the quarterbacks rolling to both sides.

Throwing on the run was one of Hooker’s few weaknesses a season ago and coincidence or not, Tennessee has frequently done throwing while moving drills the first seven days of fall camp.

Tennessee’s running back work was much of the same to start the week as the group worked on cuts and protecting the football. Jabari Small unsurprisingly led the way during drill work and Justin Williams-Thomas, Dylan Sampson and Lyn-J Dixon followed him in that order.

We pondered on Sunday about when Christian Charles would take the red jersey off and be at full speed competing for a starting spot at cornerback. That day was today as Charles had his orange practice jersey on for the first time this fall.

Fellow cornerback Kamal Hadden remained absent at practice for the fourth straight day.

With Hadden sidelined, Brandon Turnage earned first team reps during the drill. Speaking of rep orders, Wesley Walker continues to rep near the top in most defensive back drills and that continued in the red zone portion of practice where he worked at STAR.

The linebacker room remains healthy to this point and Juwan Mitchell really seems to be carving out a much bigger role. Yes, the Texas transfer was hurt for the majority of last season but Mitchell struggled even while healthy.


Mitchell looks the part and is poised to give Tennessee a trio of solid linebackers in himself, Jeremy Banks and Aaron Beasley. Solon Page III is right behind them and the steady hand is bound to earn snaps in his super senior season.

r.schumpert

The wide receivers and tight ends worked some two-man rub route concepts and even had some three-player routes with two receivers and a tight end and the quarterbacks on a half-rollout. Aside from a Miles Campbell drop, things seemed to be much crisper when three players were running routes and there were three footballs in the air.

After some mesh-point work with the quarterbacks, the running backs got some pass-catching work in, running a quick turnaround route, catching the short pass from Jerry Mack and running through the blasters. Then the group went outside for more drill work. We again saw Josh Heupel giving some individual attention to new transfer Lyn-J Dixon as the Vols try to catch him up.

Things looked more normal during offensive line drills, which started with the players helping on a double team before peeling off to the linebacker on the second level, with Carvin back out there. He worked ahead of Ollie Lane, Savion Herring and Mo Clipper Jr. at left guard, while the right guards went Javontez Spraggins, Jackson Lampley and Masai Reddick. The lineups and orders at tackle remained the same.

As we were walking out of practice, the receivers and defensive backs went into some one-on-one work – we saw Ramel Keyton pull down a touchdown against Brandon Turnage and Jalin Hyatt made a grab on Trevon Flowers in the back of the end zone, but his reaction suggested he didn’t get a foot in bounds.

p.brown

 

[Gandalf]

First to finger! HA!

After seeing these, what I am really wondering is how we look compared to last year at this time? are we more crisp, etc. I have to imagine we are in a different place. I mean last year at this time, we didn't even have the QB situation truly settled, all the schemes were completely new, etc. So I have to think that there is a lot more familiarity with things this year that should help to get to another gear. Clearly we still have a long way to go to catch up to be a consistent top 5 team but hoping we are building that next layer on that helps us get there.

 

[HalfullVol]

Let's get it !

 

[KeepinUpWithJones]

first page

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Wright must be recovering from a more serious injury than first thought. Going to need him so hope he recovers soon enough to get some practice reps in.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Boom!

 

[VolInDayton]

Ive been skeptical of the defensive coach staff as a whole, but I'm starting to believe we might have an improved defense this year.

 

[MemphisVol77]

First page real estate premium is skyrocketing this year.

Is it inflation or we more excited than the past few years?

IT'S FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!!!

 

[TheVolsFrog]

10 push up's isn't enough...

 

[SayNoToJorts]

First to finger! HA!

After seeing these, what I am really wondering is how we look compared to last year at this time? are we more crisp, etc. I have to imagine we are in a different place. I mean last year at this time, we didn't even have the QB situation truly settled, all the schemes were completely new, etc. So I have to think that there is a lot more familiarity with things this year that should help to get to another gear. Clearly we still have a long way to go to catch up to be a consistent top 5 team but hoping we are building that next layer on that helps us get there.

Would be cool to see a side by side comparison

 

[Volatility]

Thanks as always Fingers

 

[IndianaVol]

Sounds weird, but am I the only one that takes some comfort in the fact that the media guys see the same stuff each practice and see small improvements each practice?
I recall in years past it seemed like every practice had a different 'drama' of players sitting out, new issues, etc.

 

[tennesseepride84]

Would be cool to see a side by side comparison

I can assure you that we look different physically. They look like how you would expect an sec team to look

 

[vegasvolfan]

updating...

e.cain






r.schumpert




p.brown

I've noticed over the past few years how performance drops in some areas (most notably the passing game, when the pads go on. I am no pro football player, but I can't help but wonder how much better these guys would be if they always practiced in pads. It's just different trying to throw and catch while having a big helmet and shoulder pads on.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

I’ve heard Mitchell has been a monster at lb. That’s a huge bonus, if true.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

I've noticed over the past few years how performance drops in some areas (most notably the passing game, when the pads go on. I am no pro football player, but I can't help but wonder how much better these guys would be if they always practiced in pads. It's just different trying to throw and catch while having a big helmet and shoulder pads on.

For as little as they hit in practice now anyway, I don't understand why they don't start practice #1 in pads.

 

[HalfullVol]

10 push up's isn't enough...

An hour long date with the JUGS machine might improve his abilities to catch the ball.

 

[LittleVol]

For as little as they hit in practice now anyway, I don't understand why they don't start practice #1 in pads.

It's not about hitting.

It's about getting your body prepared for the practice environment.

Everyone does this. From Pee Wee to NFL.
Its always been that way....

 

[Brave Volunteer]

It's not about hitting.

It's about getting your body prepared for the practice environment.

Everyone does this. From Pee Wee to NFL.
Its always been that way....

But these are 18-22 year olds in the prime of their physical fitness. What the hell do they need to "acclimate" themselves to?

 

[KeyVol14]

Where has Elijah Simmons been?

 

[titansvolsfaninga]

What about Jackson Hannah, isn't he a LB too?

 

[OrangeTsar]

I can assure you that we look different physically. They look like how you would expect an sec team to look

Not to be Debbie Downer….but I do remember this exact same comment made early in Pruitt’s tenure. Of course we did have that really good S & C Coach (forgot his name already)

 

[vegasvolfan]

For as little as they hit in practice now anyway, I don't understand why they don't start practice #1 in pads.

100%

 

[ftsandersvol]

Wright must be recovering from a more serious injury than first thought. Going to need him so hope he recovers soon enough to get some practice reps in.

Let's hope so. I agree, we are going to need him. Football is a violent game, but let's hope the injury bug finds better places to feed than Haslam Field.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

What about Jackson Hannah, isn't he a LB too?

He is he is

Rounds out the third team LB unit

Looks like we are in a much better spot right now than were last year at this time.

Hard to imagine we won't be better out at LB this year. Especially with Mitchell looking ready. Banks, Beasley, Page all back. Ya gotta feel pretty good about your top four, then Pak Garland, Mohan, Jackson Hannah and Herring whose impressing.

More reasons to feel good about this season.