2022 Fall Practice #9

#1

Fingers

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#1







Elijah Simmons and Solon Page were both going through stretches and some work indoor before the team went outside. No pads for either of them. Simmons, who was a bit banged up over the weekend, did not scrimmage on Tuesday. Freshman wideout Squirrel White was not dressed or going through drills today as he, too, was slightly banged up in the scrimmage. Nothing to worry about with those guys – they will be fine.
I did not see Christian Harrison at practice today, which suggests he’s inside doing other work. Harrison was in a red non-contact jersey on Monday, the last practice before the scrimmage. Kamal Hadden again was not practicing as he could be seen inside doing some stretched with Elijah Simmons. Cheyenne LaBruzza was still in a red jersey.
Some players who were back in action, or at least partially, were Bru McCoy and Jaylen Wright. McCoy was in shells running routes and going through individual while Wright was seen going through drills with the running backs for the first time this camp.
We got to see the quarterbacks air it out some today as each one took their turn taking a shot down the field on a vert or deep post. Joe Milton (as you’d expect) threw the prettiest *practice* deep ball today, one of which Walker Merrill hauled in on the sideline – a really, really nice looking play from Merrill. Hendon Hooker connected on deep shots to Hyatt and Warren while Tayven Jackson hooked up with Kaleb Webb down the field.
Now to the intermediate throws and it was another sluggish period, in my opinion. Quarterbacks and receivers weren’t on the same page at times for options routes (Hooker, Keyton) or a receiver broke too soon and was in front of the ball (Miles Campbell, Milton).
The atmosphere wasn’t horrible this morning, but I wouldn’t say it was a lively session while we were out there. Again, that’s somewhat a given following an OFF day and scrimmage. Still, work was getting done and players were flying around as representatives from the Lions, Commanders, Titans, Steelers and Seahawks were all on hand for this morning’s workout.
e.cain

McCoy worked in a similar spot on routes on air, towards the back of the wide receiver line but with Hendon Hooker throwing to him. The Southern Cal transfer had one bad drop over the middle before hauling in a Hooker deep ball in his next rep.
In fact, more passes hit the ground Thursday morning than maybe any other routes on air portion of fall camp. Jalin Hyatt couldn’t haul in a deep ball, Hooker overshot Tillman and Charlie Browder dropped a comeback route on the sideline on top of other drops.
It was not an overly crisp day for Tennessee’s quarterbacks and receivers.
Walker Merrill did make the catch of the period, hauling in a Joe Milton III deep ball while keeping his feet in bounds on a pass that drug him right to the sidelines.
Freshman receiver Squirrel White was in his normal white jersey but working off to the side Thursday.
Jaylen Wright did more running back drill work than I’ve seen in the first eight days of practice. Wright didn’t work off to the side and participated in drills with the rest of the running back room— though he participated in a slightly moderated version of one drill.
Kamal Hadden was absent from practice once again after not participating in Tennessee’s scrimmage Tuesday. Christian Harrison joined Hadden in being absent from the open portion of practice. The freshman safety was in a red non contact jersey Monday— the last time we watched the Vols’ practice.

Cheyenne LaBruzza remained in a red non contact jersey as he has for much of fall practice.
Solon Page III was working to the side in his normal orange practice jersey. With Page sidelined, Jeremy Banks and Juwan Mitchell repped together to open drills followed by Aaron Beasley and Kwauze Garland.
r.schumpert

We wouldn’t say running back Jaylen Wright is fully back, but he does appear to be easing back into some things and getting noticeably closer, which would be good news for Tennessee ahead of the season.
Also looked like wide receiver Bru McCoy was practicing normally, going through drills as the wideouts worked catching quick perimeter bubble screens and getting upfield and then getting work in routes-on-air.
The cornerbacks also drilled some coverage technique and tackling and were again split into two groups, but perhaps how they were split was notable. One group had Warren Burrell, Christian Charles, Brandon Turnage and Dee Williams, and the other had De’Shawn Rucker with the position’s walk-ons. It’s a big few days for that competition as Tennessee sorts it out and determines who starts and who’s earned snaps.
On the right side with the guards and tackles, the pairs went Javontez Spraggins/Darnell Wright then Jackson Lampley/Dayne Davis and Masai Reddick/Brian Grant. The centers also got some work with the left guards, the combinations going Cooper Mays/Jerome Carvin, Parker Ball/Ollie Lane and Addison Nichols/Savion Herring. Left tackle order is unchanged: Jeremiah Crawford, then Gerald Mincey, then RJ Perry.
Tight end Miles Campbell wasn’t happy with himself after he couldn’t quite grab a pass just outside his body in a dig, and he got some quiet coaching from Alex Golesh after it.
p.brown
 
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#7
#7
Sounds like today's practice was all about 'we going to rest, but still practice' and positive reinforcement of things done well during the scrimmage. I like the approach. I like too how a couple of guys (TE Campbell) are self-aware and push themselves to be better before the coaches do, but are still open to the coaching.
 

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