University of Tennessee Athletics
Butch Jones Transcript (10/21/14)
October 21, 2014 | Football
Head Coach Butch Jones
(On Marcus Jackson and Coleman Thomas)
"Marcus was out there and did what he needed to do and the rest were getting the rehabilitation that they need. Coleman [Thomas] rehabbed the entire practice. So I think Marcus right now is a little bit ahead of Coleman in terms of availability. We fully anticipate Marcus going through full practice tomorrow. Coleman we will have to wait and see how it goes and tonight's rehab and then into tomorrow."
(On Justin Worley)
"Making progress. We will see how it goes. Again, just like everyone he was out there for practice but we will see."
(On the home-field advantage)
"Again, I think our crowd has provided a great home-field advantage for us. 102,455, our student body, everyone has been great. Third-down, everything, I think it is just creating that atmosphere. Obviously, third down and just continuing to do what they have been able to do to impact the game."
(On preparing the other offensive linemen to step up when needed)
"Message is prepare yourself. Everyone has to be prepared and ready to play. I see a hunger, I see excitement, but again we will know a little bit more tomorrow. Business as usual with video study and practice."
(On today's practice)
"I thought we probably had the best Tuesday practice we have had in a very long time. We finished strong. Tuesdays are a workmanlike mentality, a lot of the individuals don't even show up until 2 o'clock in the afternoon after a long day of classes but I thought the attention, I thought the small details of improvement. I thought it was one of the better Tuesday practices we have had."
(On the team not showing excitement today at practice)
"Again, you guys were out there for specialists and punt. The whole team doesn't get excited for punt, just the punt team. Again, I would tell you, I thought it was one of the best and we ended very spirited. We want a workmanlike approach on Tuesday, there is so much that goes into it, with the game plan, with the thinking process. We just want a workmanlike approach. But I thought it was one of the better days."
(On quality repetitions)
"It is something we have really started to take into consideration a few weeks ago as the season progresses. As we know, there is no secret, we don't have any depth in our football program yet. So you have to be cognizant what your football players need, the GPS systems, our sports science department is a big part of that as well. But again, we have kind of tapered back in certain areas. Again, it is a fine line between getting the reps that you need and also taking care of their bodies. At the end of the day it is really about quality repetitions, that is first and foremost."
(On being affected by injuries)
"Where we have been more affected is the scout team part of it. The demo squads, the scout teams. So we have done more ones versus twos and twos versus ones, more NFL-style formats just because of the lack of depth and the quality reps. Again, we are facing a very, very good football, another top-5 opponent, you try to simulate game speed repetitions, so that is why we have gone more good on good and more twos versus ones to try to simulate the speed factor."
(On wishing to have more depth on the offensive line to give them quality speed repetitions)
"Absolutely. Everything is creating game speed repetitions. Now we have used Chris Weatherd a lot to try and simulate the speed off the corner, off the edge. But again, that is just a byproduct of building a program and I anticipate year four, year five, year six of our program we shouldn't be having these conversations any more. But right now that is the realities of building a football program, building that depth, that competition and it is really a byproduct of quality scout teams and having that quality scout team reps."
(On the defense trying to do too much sometimes)
"We always talk about pressing all the time. When you press, you have the anxiety, that sometimes will be your emergency break. So again, just do your job, focus on your job. I think sometimes they want success so much that they try to do their job and someone else's job and that is when you get hurt. Just focus on the bullseye. Focus on your eye disciple. But overall, just do you job, execute your assignment and play great team defense. Also, great team offense as well."
(On keeping the defense focus on doing their job)
"I think it is human nature sometimes. You want to win and you press. Again, just trust and do your job."
(On the mid-state billboard)
"The mid-state area is a very, very strong recruiting base for us but the entire state of Tennessee is a very strong recruiting base for us. But again, you look at the individuals, particularly this past year's recruiting class from the mid state area, they are all making an impact on our football team. There is great high school coaches there, there is great players. We want individuals that want the opportunity to represent their home state institution and if they don't, we wish them well. But they are going to watch us win a lot of football games down the road. There is something unique and special when you represent your home state institution. It is something that brings value, not just for three, four, five years of your career, it brings a lifetime value. That is where the Vol For Life program comes in. That is where you leave your legacy. You will end up working in this state when you get your degree from the University of Tennessee or you get your degree and go play in the National Football League and come back, you are going to make Tennessee your home. Everyone knows who you are, you see the treatment that our former players get in this state, their relevance, the magnitude of being a Vol For Life is very, very important to us."
(On the idea to put the billboard up)
"A number of ideas, a number of individuals working together to formulate the idea. Also, a way to say thank you to the many people, the teachers, the administrators, all their coaches that really had a hand in developing these young men and making them ready for the University of Tennessee. I know their families appreciate it as well. That is one of the things of why you come to the University of Tennessee, little things like this. But also to get our fan base excited, to let them know how important Tennessee is for us as well. The billboards are very symbolic of many things."
(On idea to get GPS)
"It's part of our Sports Science Department and again everything we do is about research and development, vision and trying to be a better football program each day at a time and the GPS systems is part of it. Everything is about the overall player welfare and development so to be able to monitor their growth and development over a period of time. You get a little bit of information the first year but where the info proves to be beneficial is two year, three year, four year in their development. You are able to really monitor and track them over a long period of time."
(On which players use GPS)
"There are certain position groups as we continue to expand that part of our program more and more individuals will have those on"
(On Derek Barnett) "We were just talking about Derek today, his level of maturity, both on and off the field. He is a very even keeled young man. I like his temperament. He is extremely competitive and intelligent. What has been the riding factor, overall, is his maturity as a football player but also as a person, keeping things in perspective. He is very quiet but that internal drive he is makes him very competitive."
(On Jalen Hurd)
"The running back position is one of durability. All the great running backs in this game have tremendous durability and you have to have mental toughness. And again, you're getting hit on every single snap, whether it's in pass protection to running the football. It takes a little bit different mindset to play that position but Jalen has it."
(On importance of the Alabama/Tennessee rivalry)
"I've spoken about us getting back to making it relevant. But no, particularly when 50% of your team is new but understands the Tennessee-Alabama rivalry. A lot of these individuals, we talk about the mid-state, they've grown up on this rivalry. They understand the magnitude of this rivalry which means so many things to so many people. Our former players, our students, every one that's attended these institutions, there's a pride that comes along with it. I believe it's one of the best rivalries in college football. It didn't take me long to figure that out. So, in terms of importance to us, it will always be there. Everything, too, is educating the players also on the importance of the rivalry as well and we do that."
