Practice today 4/2/2016

#2
#2
"We will have full observations upcoming after interviews but just a couple quick things that stood out:

The defense missed about an additional half-dozen contributors to injury/illness/maintenance

Alvin Kamara had the overall highlight w/ a 75-yard run in which he made two great cuts and finished it by dunking the ball over the goal post.

Kahlil McKenzie was really active and difficult for anyone to block.

Aaron Medley kicked it very well despite the wind, hitting a couple of 46-yard "game-winning" field goals.

Tommy Townsend also punted well.

Corey Vereen showed up with some qb pressures.

Quarte Sapp was very active and recovered a fumble during an "overtime" session.

Rashaan Gaulden was a missile.

Josh Dobbs scored an "overtime" touchdown on a deftly executed keeper and then scored a two-point conversion on a read-option."

- John Brice
 
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#3
#3
CfD_6_3WIAAHS1L.jpg:large


Richmond and Lewis
 
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#4
#4
Catbone said:
"We will have full observations upcoming after interviews but just a couple quick things that stood out:

The defense missed about an additional half-dozen contributors to injury/illness/maintenance

Alvin Kamara had the overall highlight w/ a 75-yard run in which he made two great cuts and finished it by dunking the ball over the goal post.

Kahlil McKenzie was really active and difficult for anyone to block.

Aaron Medley kicked it very well despite the wind, hitting a couple of 46-yard "game-winning" field goals.

Tommy Townsend also punted well.

Corey Vereen showed up with some qb pressures.

Quarte Sapp was very active and recovered a fumble during an "overtime" session.

Rashaan Gaulden was a missile.

Josh Dobbs scored an "overtime" touchdown on a deftly executed keeper and then scored a two-point conversion on a read-option."

- John Brice
Click to expand...

It's nice to hear that about Medley, I really like the kid and I know he can kick the ball pure, just needs to kick for the middle, stop aiming at the uprights.

Jump higher Vols.

Fumble in OT, unacceptable.
 
#8
#8
"Rashaan Gaulden was a missile. "

That's a powerful adjective. He sounds like the "star" position wise. Someone that has consistently shown a nose for diagnosing a play and getting to the ball cannot be kept off the field or limited to the nickel spot on 3rd downs. IMO. Anyone know where they are working him and what his role might be?
 
#10
#10
Taken from RF

Little bit abbreviated today since Brent and Paul are in Atlanta at the Rivals Camp, but we've still got a lot of thoughts coming out of the Vols' work inside Neyland Stadium in front of a solid student turnout and tons of family and friends in town for family day, including Eric Berry and Ramon Foster, among other former players.

JOHN'S TAKES:

From concussions to illness, and some limiting of players for precautionary reasons, the Vols missed several key defensive contributors such as Justin Martin, Emmanuel Moseley, Darrell Taylor and Austin Smith, but that didn't stop both Quarte' Sapp and Rashaan Gaulden from having very impressive days.

As I mentioned before, Sapp recovered a fumble in a simulated overtime session while Gaulden was very active, especially in run support. He blitzed off the edge with great speed and also repeatedly made good reads on running plays. His aggressiveness is among his key attributes and should only improve his skills as he gets more reps in defending the pass.

Corey Vereen, whose class schedule has him limited to working only Saturdays in full effect, made several nice plays and proved, at times, problematic for the left side of the Vols' line. Drew Richmond had some solid pass sets and is improving in run blocking, but neither he nor Venzell Boulware had just sparkling days. Josh Dobbs got "tagged off" a few too many times, especially in a simulated late-game session where Dobbs was sacked when Boulware appeared to make the incorrect read and stepped inside, leaving a gaping hole.

John Kelly is clearly the No 3 back, but I think he could start for several teams. He's really impressive. Darrin Kirkland Jr. joked that Kelly hasn't stopped talking about hitting 22MPH on the GPS during Tuesday's long run.

Aaron Medley kicked it well in some mock pressure situations, and Tommy Townsend arguably had his best day punting.

Vincent Perry made several tough catches while Ethan Wolf and Jauan Jennings took turns shining in the passing game.

Kahlil McKenzie was, frankly, at times unblockable.


ROB'S TAKES:

With the Vols holding out a high number of players—especially on defense—today, it was a chance for multiple guys to step up and several took advantage.

Rashaan Gaulden is just a tackling machine at safety. He was everywhere today in scrimmage situations, making plays from sideline-to-sideline as well as coming up and getting in the mix at the line of scrimmage. Just a strong day for him.

Quarte Sapp also stood out at his outside backer spot. Sapp could stand to add some weight, but he’s a playmaker with a nose for the football. Much like Gaulden, he just shows up around the ball all the time and is a sure tackler when he gets there.

Khalil McKenzie was just a beast in the middle today. If he got moved backwards any at all, I missed it. He did a great job of clogging things up and just creating havoc in the trenches while freeing other guys up to make plays around him. Obviously conditioning will remain something to watch with him, but it looks like he’s developing at a pace the staff should be thrilled with.

Corey Vereen had a good day off the edge, showing up in the backfield on numerous occasions as a disruptive force.

Butch Jones seemed to give Bob Shoop a free hand today when it came to dialing up blitzes. The defense was sending guys fairly relentlessly at times, and it seemed to give the offensive front some problems.

Offensively, it wasn’t an awesome day for the passing game but very windy conditions inside Neyland Stadium were a factor in that.

On a positive note Preston Williams repeatedly showed the ability to create some separation and get open deep. He got behind his guy by several steps on at least three occasions but the throw was never in a spot where he could make a play on it today.

Vincent Perry also had a really nice day, working mostly in the slot. Perry came down with some tough, contested catches in the middle of the field and showed some burst and elusiveness after the catch.

John Kelly continues to make the most of his chances this spring. He picked up some tough yards between the tackles today and also had a couple of chances to show his speed on the perimeter. This offense is in a really good spot when a guy like Kelly is the third tailback.

AUSTIN'S TAKES:

Let's first start with John Kelly who continues to impress as Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara see limited reps this spring.
The Michigan native is taking full advantage and is putting several on notice to not panic if Hurd and Kamara both leave early for the NFL after this coming season. Kahlil McKenzie is also taking full advantage of the lack of depth on the defensive line. He's eating up the reps like he does opposing quarterbacks and running backs.
The competition at safety is one that will be hotly contested in the fall once all are healthy. I just love what Rashaan Gaulden is doing and Saturday was more evidence that if healthy he could be pound for pound their best contact defender. So where does Tennessee go from here? The next week is crucial for some of these players as they look to impress before the Orange and White game, which will be more of a carnival than a game."

- John Brice
 
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#11
#11
We sound really well rounded so far fellas. Great news minus the injuries. Fortunately most of them will be back and ready my summer.
 
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#16
#16
When 1st team defense is on the field, who's offense is being simulated? Or are they just working on fundamentals?
 
#17
#17
Gaulden is going to be a stud. I really think this may be one of the best secondarys we have had a UT. If Martin becomes a shut down cb opposite Sutton our defense will be a beast. Gaulden will be the eraser in the back, and the pass rush will feast!
 
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#20
#20
OT Drew Richmond:

The redshirt freshman Richmond says he has matured and grown as a player after his first season on campus. As Richmond makes the switch to the left side of the offensive line, he expressed the challenge that he will face at a new position next season.

“It’s the coordination,” Richmond, who is receiving first-team reps this spring at left tackle, said. “You do everything with your right hand and now you’ve got to do it with your left.”“I’ve gotten stronger,” Richmond said. “I’ve got to continue to get stronger. It’s a mental game. I’m starting to realize there’s certain things you’ve got to study. You study your opponent.”

In practice, Richmond said that he has to go up against the best defensive end in the country, but he isn’t talking about Derek Barnett.

“I know for a fact, for me Corey Vereen is probably the best defensive end in the country,” he said. “Just simply because he’s got a lot of things that other defensive ends don’t have as far as speed to power. That’s probably one of the most difficult things to block.”
 
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#21
#21
Mick said:
"Rashaan Gaulden was a missile. "

That's a powerful adjective. He sounds like the "star" position wise. Someone that has consistently shown a nose for diagnosing a play and getting to the ball cannot be kept off the field or limited to the nickel spot on 3rd downs. IMO. Anyone know where they are working him and what his role might be?
Click to expand...

I think Sapp is going to be the "star". Smaller, faster LB that can play in space. And, it sounds like he is a solid tackler which will be huge in run support.
 
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#22
#22
Ha!

This is what it looks like when you get to the point where you no longer have to rebuild, just reload. Hurd and Kamara leaving for the NFL after this year? No problem, meet young Mr. Kelly. Sutton and JRM out of time in Knoxville? We'll be cheering for them in the NFL, as Gaulden and Sapp pick up where they left off. O'Brien headed for the NFL, too? That's okay, KMac and Shy filling the gaps, while Kongbo picks up the edge that Barnett's not monopolizing. No Dobbs? No probs, we've got a nice Dormady-Jones-Guarantano competition brewing!

The young studs on the bench are chomping at the bit, eager for their turn. From this point on, every year is a potential championship year for the Vols!
 
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#24
#24
What Rob mentioned about PW beating his man and getting open deep 3 times and the QB missed him all 3 times, is I think what is hampering this offense the most. It allows the D to play the run and all the short passes. If we can complete just enough of these passes to keep the D from keying on the run so much, the offense has the potential to be absolutely dynamic, one of the best we've ever
 
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