Vols Practice Thread #4

[Fingers]

there was a scout from the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons over watching the linebackers and secondary

Nigel Warrior looked really good at safety today, both with his play and in his leadership.

Trevon Flowers looks fully recovered from his injury from last season and moves really well.

J.J. Peterson looked better today. He wasn’t scolded by Kevin Sherrer any today, and he looked more energized and smoother in his movements.

Savion Williams is adjusting to life in the SEC, at least as far as practice is concerned. I don’t think he’s in over his head or is “drowning” per se, but you can tell that even with the high work ethic he has and the work he put in during his stint in junior college that he wasn’t used to practicing the way Jeremy Pruitt and his staff want to practice.

Roman Harrison doesn’t just have photoshoot muscles; his strength is for real. He has good reach with his long arms, and those arms pack a huge punch on the blocking sleds.

rutherford

Jarrett Guarantano had his best outing during the open portions of practice so far.

Tyler Byrd in particular made a nice catch in addition to Gray’s catch. Guarantano hit Jennings with a pretty throw down the sideline, and Brandon Johnson continues to impress.

Johnson particularly looked good when the wide receivers and defensive backs teamed up to face off. With an emphasis on releases, Johnson punched Kenneth George Jr. in the chest and beat him pretty bad. Byrd also had a really good rep against freshman Jerrod Means.

Cedric Tillman continues to look impressive during the open portion of practice. His body definitely went through an overhaul over the offseason, and he seems to be reaping the benefits of that.

Today’s offensive line consisted of Jahmir Johnson at left tackle, Trey Smith at left guard, Brandon Kennedy at center, K’Rojhn Calbert at right guard, and Marcus Tatum at right tackle. Second through the drill, from left to right, was Wanya Morris, Riley Locklear, Ryan Johnson, Nathan Niehaus, and Darnell Wright.

b.mckee

There’s very little teammate-to-teammate interaction, whether it be praise or accountability. The one instance that did occur Tuesday was when Jarrett Guarantano snapped at Josh Palmer for a poor route. Tennessee’s quarterback voiced his displeasure with Palmer’s effort and then clapped his hands vigorously and encouraged the junior wideout to pick it up.

Wright already looks like he’s dropped some weight and looked more comfortable in drills Tuesday. He might be 325 pounds but he holds it well and is effortlessly athletic. He’s light on his feet and powerful out of his stance. Yes he’s a bit raw, but it’s hard to see him not factoring into the lineup soon rather than later.

Meanwhile, Bumphus and Solomon both received multiple thumbs up from Tracy Rocker during a couple different drills. It’s no secret the Vols would be very well served to have Solomon eligible this fall.

Another DL note: Once again, Elijah Simmons flashed his nimble footwork, leverage and power during two drills today. He moves like he’s 285 not 340. It’s also readily apparent just how agile and explosive he is when you watch his reps compared to a guy like Savion Williams.

As for Ignont, when Kevin Sherrer and Derrick Ansley talk about retention in Year 2 of the system, the junior linebacker is the perfect example of quickly knowing his assignments now — and that of his teammates.

JJ Peterson looked good during one drill and spent time talking with Kevin Simon between reps. But then the redshirt sophomore was pulled from a run-stuffing drill in favor of Solon Page.

The ball-skills of this group (secondary) has been upgraded the past two seasons with so many ex-offensive players in the group.

Maleik Gray made a nice diving catch. Deangelo Gibbs and Brandon Johnson had a couple good catches, too. The group worked on double-moves and other deep balls, with Guarantano overthrowing Jauan Jennings and Palmer on two reps.

simonton

Junior college transfer Darel Middleton joined Emmit Gooden and Aubrey Solomon as the first group through the drill. Gooden and Solomon, of course, ended the spring as first-teamers on the defensive line, so Middleton joining them is notable.

Williams shows good power and strength, and Simmons brings both of those to the table in addition to impressive quickness for a player his size.

Nathan Niehaus was mostly working at right tackle in individual work in the first three practices, but he was at right guard on Tuesday, leaving Marcus Tatum and five-star freshman Darnell Wright to handle the early-practice reps at right tackle.

Riley Locklear was working at left guard and freshman Jackson Lampley, who looks every bit of 6-foot-4 and 318 pounds, was getting reps at center behind Kennedy and Johnson.

Senior linebacker Daniel Bituli left the inside linebackers for one period on Tuesday and went through drills with the outside linebackers.

The Vols were operating with just three scholarship running backs (Ty Chandler, Tim Jordan and freshman Eric Gray) as they worked on mesh points and tosses with the quarterbacks early in Tuesday's practice.

Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano appeared to be as sharp as he's been in routes on air through four practices, dropping one beautiful pass to Jauan Jennings on a corner route out of the slot and having zip and accuracy on his underneath throws.

p.brown

Jeremy Banks & Ollie Lane were both working with the strength staff at practice today. Been told Banks should return to the field tomorrow

t. wallace

 

[OrangeU]

First!

 

[RockyTopTexas]

 

[volum3]

FIRSTIES!!!!

Edit: DAD-DURN THIRDIES!!!

 

[Catfishvfl]

1st page whooohoooo

 

[Chilmonty]

Fingers RULES!!!!!

 

[Power T-Rev]

Too many balls on the ground.

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

So JJ Peterson was on bust watch after 1 practice, so we can take him off after 1 good one right?

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Trey running with 1st team at left guard!

 

[tdbigorange11]

The longer Smith plays with the first team the more I'm convinced he actually has a chance to play.

 

[sjt18]

Jamir Johnson still looks too skinny.

 

[TheMagnificantOne]

Jamir Johnson still looks too skinny.

yep

 

[Ten_Titans]

So JJ Peterson was on bust watch after 1 practice, so we can take him off after 1 good one right?

He's still on the team? I thought they cut him after he messed during warm-ups last week.

 

[swchandler1988]

Jamir Johnson still looks too skinny.

He looks like he’s more like 280-290 now instead of 260-270. Strong AF though

 

[sjt18]

Part of the art of coaching is knowing what it takes to get the best out of players. I don't know what issues JJ Peterson has or doesn't have. But I am 99% sure the methods being used with him aren't incidental... and that it would be foolish to write off a player simply because coaches seem to be riding them hard. In fact, guys the coaches have written off... are more likely to be ignored than pushed.

 

[swchandler1988]

yep

 

[sjt18]

He looks like he’s more like 280-290 now instead of 260-270. Strong AF though

I'd like to know his true weight. The UTSports.com roster has him at 285 but those are notoriously un-updated. With his quickness and tenacity, I would love to see him develop into a really good OT. But he needs to be bigger to get the push UT needs.

 

[Gandalf]

even with the high work ethic he has and the work he put in during his stint in junior college that he wasn’t used to practicing the way Jeremy Pruitt and his staff want to practice

I like hearing that. Pruitt, Chaney and Ansley definitely know what a practice of champions looks like - and the more you practice like one, the more likely you are to become one.

 

[BeardedVol]

I'd like to know his true weight. The UTSports.com roster has him at 285 but those are notoriously un-updated. With his quickness and tenacity, I would love to see him develop into a really good OT. But he needs to be bigger to get the push UT needs.

280 lb steam rolling tight end?

 

[JettVol]

boom!

 

[jeff1vol]

Jamir Johnson still looks too skinny.

Jamir is a MONSTER when it comes to physicality! Even when he didn't know who to hit... he hit something. Hard! I think that is the biggest reason that JJ is taking 1st team reps. He plays much bigger than his size.

 

[Behr]

I just can't help but get excited.

 

[joevol33]

Boom

 

[NeverWe'llSever]

there was a scout from the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons over watching the linebackers and secondary

We are getting better. Quickly.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

Is it normal to have pro scouts around this early? I mean, wow. Is it 2-4-1 wingnite or something?