Vols Practice Thread #5

[Fingers]

Neither defensive lineman Emmit Gooden nor offensive lineman Nathan Niehaus were present for the open-viewing portion of practice just now. Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt is scheduled to meet with the media after practice and is expected to provide more official updates on both players then. Practiced is scheduled to end in about 90 minutes or so.

p.brown

No Emmit Gooden (as expected based on our previous reporting) or Nathan Niehaus at practice. Will ask Pruitt on status of both players following practice.

simonton

On the good news front, linebacker JJ Peterson had a better session of practice during the open portion today. He was very engaged, energetic, and didn’t seem to have any issues with his conditioning today despite it being very muggy and only partly cloudy.

freshman defensive lineman Elijah Simmons had some issues today. The heat got to him, and he had to bail out of a defensive line drill for a bit as he gathered himself.

Matthew Butler and Aubrey Solomon continue to look like potential starters, and I was pleased by what I saw from Greg Emerson today and what I’ve seen from him so far in fall camp.

At outside linebacker, it continues to be Darrell Taylor and Deandre Johnson looking like the two main guys.

Jordan Allen was not on the practice field today.

n.rutherford

Tennessee’s O-line had an up-and-down day.

The biggest takeaway from watching the offensive line surrounded Trey Smith. The junior offensive lineman continues to participate in more and more contact during drills as each day passes. It’s still very light contact, but he’s doing a little more each day.

At tight end, the group worked on pulling behind the offensive line and striking a linebacker. Dominick Wood-Anderson was first in line as expected. Jacob Warren, Princeton Fant, Andrew Craig, Sean Brown, Jackson Lowe, Hunter Salmon, and Austin Pope followed Wood-Anderson, in that order.

As for the running backs, they went through drills with David Johnson. The most noticeable observation was that Jeremy Banks was back at practice after missing Tuesday’s session.

very few balls hit the ground, and Jarrett Guarantano was directing everyone.

b.mckee

Tennessee’s offensive line shuffled up its first unit Wednesday, with Ryan Johnson taking the initial reps at center over Brandon Kennedy. The rest of the unit — Wanya Morris, Trey Smith, K’Rojhn Calbert and Marcus Tatum — remained the same

Sophomore tailback Jeremy Banks returned to practice after missing Tuesday, while Chris Akporoghene, Ollie Lane and Jordan Allen remained inside working with the S&C staff.

At outside linebacker, Quavaris Crouch looked fine after getting dinged (shoulder) up Tuesday. I liked what I saw from Kivon Bennett briefly today, too. At inside linebacker, JJ Peterson was rep-hunting today. He had a little more eagerness about him today.

During the corner/release drill, I saw four or five reps, with notables including Warren Burrell losing to Marquez Callaway and Alontae Taylor beating Deangleo Gibbs. I continue to like what I’ve seen from freshman Kenney Solomon.

By my count during the seven-minute drill, Shrout attempted 17 passes, completing 14, throwing two errant balls and a drop. Maurer completed 12 passes, with three bad reps and a drop. At times, the two freshmen would take three reps in a row. Meanwhile in the same drill, Guarantano had just 12 total reps, with 10 completions and two drops. All the throws were short fades, quick slants, arrow routes and double-moves to back corner.

simonton

The big question in Gooden's absence is what the Vols will do at the nose tackle position, and junior college transfer Savion Williams, redshirt freshmen Greg Emerson and Kingston Harris and even converted tight end Ja'Quain Blakely were getting reps there as Rocker had them work on taking on double teams. Freshman Elijah Simmons is another option there, but spent part of the open-viewing portion of practice talking with the training staff after he appeared to get poked in the eye.

Ryan Johnson got increased work at center and was with the first group through drills with the offensive line early in practice. Brandon Kennedy was present and in uniform, but appeared to be limited, at least during one period of individual drills.

Shanon Reid made an impressive one-handed catch during the coverage drills.

During run-fit drills, veterans Daniel Bituli and Will Ignont were the first pair, and the latter appears to be practicing with real confidence as he made the required calls. During run-fit drills, veterans Daniel Bituli and Will Ignont were the first pair, and the latter appears to be practicing with real confidence as he made the required calls.

Tight ends coach Brian Niedermeyer continues to be both agitated and detailed with his group, particularly the freshmen, as he put them through run-blocking drills

p.brown

 

[tfaircloth08]

First

 

[OrangeU]

2nd!

 

[Mick]

Today's big practice news is what happened last practice.

 

[The Original Fade]

1st page of a Fingers practice report. Bucket list complete

 

[PEPPERJAX]

"Great gobs of Goose sh1t !"

 

[McDad]

1st page of a Fingers practice report. Bucket list complete

Your bucket is full of lightbulbs.

 

[The Original Fade]

Your bucket is full of lightbulbs.

Yeah, but I like turtles

 

[Pride85]

Man, this practice thread has really gone off on a more weird tangent than usual.

 

[Behr]

very few balls hit the ground, and Jarrett Guarantano was directing everyone.

Uh oh, this sounds good.

 

[Remy]

Thanks Fingers!!

 

[FLVOL_79]

8th

 

[superdave1984]

Got to get the O-line right. And quick.

 

[SpookyAction]

Two straight days of positives for JJ Peterson sounds nice.

 

[FLVOL_79]

Uh oh, this sounds good.

15-0

 

[Pride85]

Got to get the O-line right. And quick.

I love how some seem to be just waiting for anything not positive to be reported so they can get their compulsory hand wringing in. Oops, the O-line struggled in some manner for the first time during fall camp and OH NO! Do you even know what the reporter meant by an up and down day? It was one comment.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

I like how were looking early overall. Hopefully we can stay healthy overall as a team. Time for the rest of the players to work harder. GBO!

 

[hardyemt_p]

Two straight days of positives for JJ Peterson sounds nice.

Quick we need him fat again, might need help on the d-line.

 

[johnfnkelly]

What’s the deal with Nathan Niehaus? Allegedly quit the team.

 

[butchna]

What’s the deal with Nathan Niehaus? Allegedly quit the team.

And allegedly back problems which would mean medical retirement not QUITTING.

Edit: Pruitt just confirmed he quit...my bad JFK! Gotta own it when I spout out the wrong end.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

It's time for Emerson to make a move, I like hearing how he may have had his best practice today. GBO!

 

[butchna]

It's time for Emerson to make a move, I like hearing how he may have had his best practice today. GBO!

Hope whoever’s speaking is reliable.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Hope whoever’s speaking is reliable.

One of the comments is in the practice report above where one observer said he was pleased with what he saw in him today. The other I seen on VQ I think where some observer said he had his best day so far. Just what I read, he is a redshirt and a highly rated prospect that we need to contribute now, I have heard he is healthy and primed hope he is. GBO!

 

[butchna]

One of the comments is in the practice report above where one observer said he was pleased with what he saw in him today. The other I seen on VQ I think where some observer said he had his best day so far. Just what I read, he is a redshirt and a highly rated prospect that we need to contribute now, I have heard he is healthy and primed hope he is. GBO!

Good!

 

[OnOne]

And allegedly back problems which would mean medical retirement not QUITTING.

Edit: Pruitt just confirmed he quit...my bad JFK! Gotta own it when I spout out the wrong end.

Sometimes you should just wait for CJP to speak on it, before you start pontificating