University of Tennessee Athletics
#VolReport: Assistants Talk S.Carolina
October 29, 2014 | Football
Oct. 29, 2014
Here are sound bites from the assistant coaches after Wednesday's practice
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MIKE BAJAKIAN
"For him, the biggest stride has been in his intensity and in his practice habits. Obviously, as a young player and as a true freshman, there's a little bit of an adjustment that goes with the speed of the game and the expectations on the practice field. Once he was able to embrace those, he's made great strides on the field during games."
"I wouldn't say necessarily that he ran harder, but I was happy with how physically he ran the ball. He's obviously got the size to lower his shoulder and fight for extra yards when there is nowhere else to go and he did that. He'll continue to do that."
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOHN JANCEK
"I don't compare from week to week. Every week is a new season and new challenges with the offenses that you face. We stay consistent with our messaging - it's fundamentals, it's tackling, it's communication, it's doing the things necessary on each and every single play to be successful as a defense, and that really doesn't change, regardless of your opponent."
"You have to be aware of where he lines up and obviously, his location on the field is huge. He's their go-to guy, they use him in a variety of ways. You can tell that they really like him because they get him the ball in so many different situations and so many different kinds of ways."
DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH WILLIE MARTINEZ
"Well he is extremely knowledgeable. He is constant. He knows how to win and he has proven that each year throughout his whole career. It's fun playing coach. You know it is going to be a challenge and he is going to compete all the way from the beginning to the end. You know you are probably going to get some things you haven't seen. He has done a great job and obviously you look forward to the challenge."
"I think the consistency is something we are going to hang our hat on. When we know what our job is,execute the defense and all 11 guys are playing on the same page we are pretty good. If one or two guys don't do what they are suppose to and there is a breakdown obviously it effects everybody. We have to be consistent."
DEFENSIVE LINE COACH STEVE STRIPLING
"He didn't even get hit on [the play when he was injured], that's the amazing thing. But, it will be week-to-week with him, as it was before. Obviously he gives our room a little something with his size, and obviously he's needed, so we'll just go week-to-week with him."
"I think we've been overachievers up to last week, and then for whatever reason...and like I said, there's no reason where you can put your finger on it - "that's that thing" - but, for a culmination of factors, we didn't play like we've been playing."
WIDE RECEIVERS COACH ZACH AZZANNI
"Daily habits for Josh are big. That's what's got him every week to get a little bit better, a little bit better, a little bit better."
"We block great all the time. We are going to try to be the most physical wide outs in college football and we really pride ourselves on that. That's not just a fancy slogan in our room, we want to do that. I think there was some more perimeter plays, so we showed up more maybe in the screen. I think people saw at the point of attack more but we are going to try and go out there and do that every game."
TIGHT ENDS COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR MARK ELDER
We trust all those guys to be able to go out and perform their assignments no matter who it is. We'll sub them in and keep them fresh so that they can play as hard as they possibly can for each and every play.
"Sometimes you can absolutely predict based upon whatever variables there are what blocking schemes you're gonna get and sometimes you're rolling the dice a little bit it might one of two or three different blocking schemes an you get the right one or you don't get the right one."
RUNNING BACKS COACH ROBERT GILLESPIE
"Be physical. In this league, the most physical team that can line up and hit you in the mouth, take care of the football, protect the quarterback, those are the teams that win in this league. Every week we understand we have to be the energy of this offense. The passing game opens up if we can run the ball and establish the line of scrimmage. We take pride in that . It'll be a big challenge for us this week."
OFFENSIVE LINE COACH DON MAHONEY
"We took some strides in the right direction last week. The receivers did a tremendous job with some of the blocks they made in terms of. Marquez North made some great catches, but he made a tremendous block on Marlin lane's run. It was really a group effort."
""How you practice and perform will determine how much you are going to play. At the beginning of the season I said to the group we are going to have to count on each and everyone of you at some point in time throughout the season. I didn't necessarily think it was going to turn out like this but from a competitive standpoint I wanted it to be that. It has beenthat way the past couple of days of practice. There are guys who are playing more butif I feel like, in a given series thatsomeone needs to come out and someone else come in then we can do that."
LINEBACKERS COACH TOMMY THIGPEN
"Just slowed down and guys communicating. We got caught off guard with a lot of the shifting and different guys coming off the sideline late. It messed our communication up. You go back and wish you could play that one again. Unfortunately, you can't. We let them out too early. For a team like that, as good as they are on defense, it's going to be hard to fight back from a 27-point deficit. The guys responded. They kept fighting and never gave up."
"They have a good running back. The Mike Davis kid is, you have the [Todd] Gurley and [T.J.] Yeldon, and he's right in that same mold. He's going to be a 1,000 yard rusher on the season. He's a really good football player, tough, hard to bring down with one guy, really good ball skills. He does a lot for them. Then the other guy that comes in #22 (Brandon Wilds), he's a really good football player. He reminds us of our [Jalen] Hurd. He's 6'2", 230 pounds, can cut, jump, can accelerate, explode inside the hole. He does a really good job of rotating those guys out. Our work is cut out for us. They're as good as anyone we've seen."
This week, the entire quarterback unit has taken repetitions with the offense. With a focus on ball location and consistency this week, Bajakian is continuing to prepare each individual quarterback as if they've received the starting nod against the Gamecocks.
"We approach every week with a business-like mentality and by no means do we approach this week satisfied with anything that we've accomplished," Bajakian said. "There are no moral victories. We lost and we do want to build upon some progress that we've made but we still have a lot of work to do as an offense and we still need to improve in a lot of areas."
For some, the hard work has not gone unnoticed. After entering the game on Tennessee's third possession against the Crimson Tide, Dobbs impressed with his ability to not only run a fluid, fast-tempo offense but move his feet, adding a different element to the Vols' offense.
"Josh has a lot of talent and has worked hard at his craft," Bajakian said. "[The run game] is where he adds a little bit of a factor that maybe Justin [Worley] does not. When anybody makes plays that the defense has to account for, that frees up eyes and space for other players. Obviously, what Josh was able to do with his feet and with his arm is going to garner the attention of the defensive players and open up other guys."
While Dobbs' performance may have provided a spark for Tennessee through the remainder of last week's game, Bajakian adds that the coaching staff is in no way appointing a new starting quarterback. The group is very much in constant competition with each other, as was the case throughout all of training camp.
"We have confidence in all of our guys," Bajakian said. "Justin Worley has proven himself and his abilities in the past and if he's healthy, he'll play. We preach to all of our players, quarterback especially, but you prepare as if you're going to be the starter. Obviously for all of our guys, but particularly for Josh, the key is to remain consistent."
UT STAFF FAMILIAR WITH SPURRIER'S PLAN
As Tennessee prepares to head into Columbia to face the Gamecocks this Saturday, the Vols' defensive coaches are spending plenty of time studying film in hopes of slowing down Steve Spurrier's offense.
"He has a way of getting into all the best plays. That's kind of his thing. He's got really good concepts," defensive coordinator John Jancek said. "Very solid, really good coach. We know we've got a great challenge with South Carolina and Coach Spurrier calling the plays."
Secondary coach Willie Martinez has also taken note of the Gamecocks' offensive success this season.
"They are very efficient, one of the top offenses in the country," he said. "Coach Spurrier has always done a great job. The quarterback has command of the offense and does a really good job with solid running backs, wide receivers and the offensive line is experienced."
What makes the Gamecocks especially dangerous, says Jancek, is their ability to punish opposing defenses both on the ground, and through the air.
"They're really committed to running the ball and they do a good job," he said. "They're really big up front, and they get on you and move you around and you have to make sure you stay in your gaps and your responsibilities, and then they have some really good pass concepts, too, when you try and gang up on them in the run."
Spurrier-coached teams also always offer the element of surprise, says Jancek, as his teams have always showed a willingness to go for it on fourth down, regardless of field position or score.
"They will (go for it), and as a matter of fact, they went for it on 4th-and-8 against us last year, and then, down kinda deep in their territory, were thinking about going, I believe it was 4th-and-2...they ended up punting the ball there, but you know Coach Spurrier, he's going to go for it," he said.
Coach Martinez says his secondary will have to limit big plays this week, and force 3rd-and-long situations for the Vols defense to succeed on Saturday.
"South Carolina's offense has been very efficient. They do it really well in the run and passing game. We have to do a better job on first down. The thing is they lead the conference in first downs. I think they are top ten in total first downs period in the country. So we have to get them in long yardage. Like any other offense if you do that you are going to be in for a long day. We have to force them in the 3rd down and produce like we have been producing."
DOBBS SPARKS OFFENSE'S MOMENTUM
With Joshua Dobbs making his season debut against Alabama, the offense was provided a spark that allowed for several receivers and running backs to make big plays.
Running back coach Robert Gillespie credits Dobbs and his mobility for giving others the opportunity to make those big plays. Tailbacks Marlin Lane, Jalen Hurd benefitted out of the backfield.
"Dobbs was able to run which softened up the defense and created more creases for us," Gillespie said.
His ability to run helped relieve pressure from the offensive line and provided the room for the Vols to get moving.
Lane had one of his more productive games rushing for 48 yards including the longest run of the season for Tennessee, for 44 yards. With Dobbs at the controls, Hurd ran for 59 yards pushing through the Alabama defense and also racked up 27 receiving yards. Tennessee racked up 181 rushing yards, early twice as much as any other opponent had run for all season (Florida 107).
"Marlin Lane always does a great job protecting, but it was good to see him make a play that gave us a spark on offense," Gillespie said. "Hurd ran hard. In big games like that you want to step up your game. Hopefully he continues that for the last four games."
The Vols receiving game benefitted from Dobbs mobility. He was 19-of-32 for 192 yards with a pair of 9-yard TDs to Josh Malone and Von Pearson.
"It forces you to not have to be so perfect on everything," wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni said about Dobbs' effect on the offensive unit. "I always tell them it doesn't matter who's under center. We are going to go out there and we're going to play as hard as we can anyway. I also told them, `We all know Josh can run a little bit so some of these plays might break and he might scramble so we have to be on top of our scramble rules and things like that."
