Practice Updates 3.30.17

[Fingers]

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VQ Highlights:
https://player.vimeo.com/video/210838590
https://player.vimeo.com/video/210839122
https://player.vimeo.com/video/210839313
https://player.vimeo.com/video/210839458
https://player.vimeo.com/video/210839920
https://player.vimeo.com/video/210841128

Grant Ramey: Jauan Jennings was back on the practice field. More often than not, he seemed like Coach Jennings. https://twitter.com/GrantRamey/status/847552728456978433/video/1

Robert Meachem at practice.

Overall, the most notable takeaway was the return of wideout Jauan Jennings. The junior wideout missed a couple practices due to academic responsibilities and a nagging injury, but he looked solid in his return Thursday. Butch Jones had Jennings leading every rep, even stopping a drill for JJ to show everyone how to run a proper press-man slant.

I thought Jeff George had his best practice to date. Is that enough for him to make an impact in the fall? Who knows. But he looked smooth Thursday.

As for the quarterbacks, Quinten Dormady was pretty good, but Jarrett Guarantano made a couple of throws that elicited audible excitement from Mike Canales. He was really sharp.

* Without some guys on the OL, Trey Smith is getting a lot of work at right tackle.

* Kevin Beard had his wideouts practicing their release off the line during one drill. George actually beat Jennings on one rep. Later, the unit worked on run blocking.

Jesse Simonton

One thing that’s emerging this spring is that Walt Wells is a demanding guy on the practice field who isn’t afraid to light into his players to crank up the intensity. You can also hear Wells constantly focusing on details like foot placement, where to go with your hands, how to generate leverage, etc.

One of those is Trey Smith who we’ve seen working almost exclusively at right tackle. He doesn’t seem overwhelmed by anything getting thrown his way at the moment, and as we’ve mentioned repeatedly, physically, he already may be the Vols’ most impressive looking offensive linemen.

Ryan Johnson continues to get a great deal of work at left guard and it will be interesting to see if that move works out for all involved. It looks promising early on.

Defensively, with the defensive tackle depth chart being what it is, Alexis Johnson and Quay Picou are getting a ton of one-on-one attention from Brady Hoke. Now that the pads are on Kahlil McKenzie is working mostly on his own and Shy Tuttle is obviously not having any contact this spring.

Rob Lewis

Jennings — the first wide receiver to go through reps in most drills now that Josh Malone is preparing for the NFL Draft — was back in “dog” mode, making some nice catches and getting after his teammates, as well.

The Vols remain very much a work in progress at the wide receiver spot, especially with senior Josh Smith and sophomore Brandon Johnson sitting out this spring while recovering from injuries, but youngsters like sophomores Tyler Byrd, Marquez Callaway and Latrell Williams have more than enough athleticism to contribute. The finer points of the position, however, still seem to be a work in progress for that group.

Junior John Kelly seems to be co-coaching the running backs alongside Robert Gillespie, and the younger players clearly listen every time he speaks — which, of course, he does practically all the time.

Junior Quinten Dormady continues to (seemingly) be the first quarterback on Tennessee’s “organizational chart.” Both Dormady and redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano have very strong arms. And that’s about all we get to see — routes thrown on air and new quarterback Mike Canales drilling his guys on footwork.

Rucker

Quarterbacks Work on Slants: All five of the quarterbacks were working on quick slants over the middle for the practice periods that we saw. With Butch Jones mainly focused on the wide receivers, Mike Canales barked all the orders at all the QBs. Canales seemed to be overall pleased with the QBs’ progress on the day.

Most of what we’ve seen from the QBs has been long stuff down the sidelines. All five of them were throwing darts over the middle today. There weren’t any timing issues, which is the biggest thing in this drill. After a lot of short throws last week, I thought the QBs were more accurate this week as a whole. The slant drill was the most accurate I’ve seen them.

Latrell Williams continues to impress me. He is a great threat on a quick slant, and showed that on Thursday. Jones was complimentary of Williams and George on both of their couple of catches over the middle of the field. George, usually a fade threat in the redzone, wasn’t as quick as Williams, but used his strength to get off a block and make a grab in the endzone.

Butch Jones was more vocal again today. He spent all of the open periods with the wide receivers.

Will Boling

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[VOL 4 Life 83]

opcorn:

 

[24/7vol]

Wait'n for my fix.

 

[jpope9]

 

[NeylandTradition]

 

[Remy]

<my fingers drumming on my desk>

 

[Biopsyman]

,

 

[eVOLve]

.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

I think KMac has a breakout season this year. I just love the way he looks physically. Reminds me of Carolina Panthers star DT Kawann Short.

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

Cool to see Meachem giving George some tips at the end of one of those videos.

 

[BigOrangeVols]

Jennings and Williams looked crisp in the video.

 

[Biopsyman]

I think KMac has a breakout season this year. I just love the way he looks physically. Reminds me of Carolina Panthers star DT Kawann Short.

You called him a bust when O'Brien was named the starter last season

 

[Enki_Amenra]

Latrell Williams is going to be very good.

I'd hate to have to cover, or try to tackle, or get blocked by, or play against Jennings.

 

[Catbone]

DT or RB depth better?

 

[nesbuddha66]

You called him a bust when O'Brien was named the starter last season

Let him be man...

We change

 

[nesbuddha66]

These threads are great. I love my vols got-dangit

 

[Salvare]

Let him be man...

We change

Please, I haven't changed in months.:wink:

 

[DeusExMachina]

Cool to see Meachem giving George some tips at the end of one of those videos.

That was pretty cool.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

You called him a bust when O'Brien was named the starter last season

That was before I saw how much O'Brien improved in the off-season last year. Same with Vickers. I made a thread after the Va-Tech game about how much they both improved and how wrong I was about them.

Both players transformed from average SEC players into legit NFL prospects at DT last year. Something I did not think was possible one year ago.

 

[FLVOL_79]

Let him be man...

We change

lol:

No.

 

[FLVOL_79]

That was before I saw how much O'Brien improved in the off-season last year. Same with Vickers. I made a thread after the Va-Tech game about how much they both improved and how wrong I was about them.

Both players transformed from average SEC players into legit NFL prospects at DT last year. Something I did not think was possible one year ago.

Was that before or after your "I give up on this team I hate the Vols" thread?..

 

[KBVol]

Great news here imo. Looks like Warrior is stepping up. Jesse Simonton tweet....


Asked if @CHECK_UP_ has had a good camp, DC Bob Shoop says Y-E-S then raved about Warrior.
"He's probably been the best player in camp."

 

[Enki_Amenra]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnORUYJB-T8[/youtube]

 

[vol-un-tear]

Trey Smith is a big dude!

 

[VolnJC]

I think KMac has a breakout season this year. I just love the way he looks physically. Reminds me of Carolina Panthers star DT Kawann Short.