University of Tennessee Athletics
#VolReport: Iowa Prep In Full Swing
December 16, 2014 | Football
Dec. 16, 2014
Here are sound bites from the assistant coaches after practice
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MIKE BAJAKIAN
"You always talk about how bowl practice affords you the opportunity to get a lot of work for your young guys, we call it youth development. The reality is we are playing those guys, they are starting and whether it is Josh [Dobbs] who started midway through the season or one of the seven true freshmen that we started this year at one point or another on our offense, it just means extra reps for our guys. Extra opportunities to master their trade, extra opportunities to work on their timing, just to take another step in their overall development."
"Those guys have worked, just the way we practice and the way we play, they are gaining valuable reps in practice over the course of the season. Guys like Vic Wharton, Ryan Jenkins, who has really come along in the course of the season, those guys are getting great opportunity to demonstrate in a game what they have been able to do over the course of the season in practice. The games are always a little bit faster, a little bit more intense. To have the opportunity to have those guys step in and play, as they did against Vanderbilt, and as they will continue to do in this game, it is great for their overall development."
"It is huge. Again, we have always talked about the process of making progress, having wrapped up 12 games now, you look at the progress we have made, again sometimes it is not apparent to the naked eye. But when you look at the body of work of what we have been able to accomplish with our tempo, with our production. Our offense scored 66 more points this year than it did last year, we were able to run 100 more plays then we did last year, we earned 26 more first downs, we threw nine more touchdowns and four less interceptions, our red zone percentage improved 50 percent over last year. Again, it is just part of the process. All that being said, we were able to accomplish that while starting seven different freshmen who accounted for 44 different starts. That is more than twice as many as any other offense in the conference. So the progress is there, it is evident, again, when you look closely and tell that this team that this offense is making progress, it is just a matter of taking the next step. Some of those close games that we could have, now winning those ball games. Again, this bowl allows us to get a step closer to that."
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOHN JANCEK
"It's a very important time to develop these young players. Almost kind of a spring ball feel making sure they're improving with their fundamentals and the things that it takes to be experts at their positions, but I think these practices are certainly valuable."
"They don't make any bones about it. They run right at you, inside, outside zone. They have big, physical offensive linemen. They have the outland trophy winner. It's going to be a great challenge for us to stop the run consistently each and every down. They're very patient. They're not going to abort their game plan. They have a belief in what it is they're doing."
DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH WILLIE MARTINEZ
"That's huge. He's a young guy coming in here and to not lose your confidence with some of the things that happened to him early on the in process, Emmanuel will be the first one to tell you it was tough for him. We give him a lot of credit for sticking in there and I think the leadership on the back end that we have there helped him grow and mature. It showed in the season because he got better and it was really nice for him to make some big plays."
"It's been very good. We're talking about 15 practices that we wouldn't have normally. For the young guys, it's priceless. It's an opportunity for them to continue to improve on what they've already been doing really well. Also, it gives them a time to experience something that hasn't happened here. It's the older guys I'm speaking of. To see their leadership continue for another 15 practices or another game is really good for our program."
DEFENSIVE LINE COACH STEVE STRIPLING
"Well Derek's been a treat to be honest with you. As I've said many times, his resiliency is just very matter of fact. He never gets high, never gets low, just handles the grind. He handles the accolades. The other day I said, `Are you sending your mom some of these things?' `No.' So, I sent them to her. It's just him. He doesn't really get high or get low, he just grinds it out."
"Well, I think that's one of Curt's strongest assets is that he has intelligence and he has instincts and he can play different positions. I think his leadership, just being on the football field, is really important to us. A lot of young men couldn't do that, but he does it easily. He puts in extra time with myself and Coach Thigpen, the linebacker coach, and he's able to handle all of that."
"Well it just kept growing. I think I realized at two-a-days I was surprised at his resiliency. His football instincts are what separate him from most guys also. That was real evident early, that he had great instincts, but then I think the thing that's surprising now that we've gone through the grind of a 12-week SEC schedule, and he's still the same guy, still doing the same things."
WIDE RECEIVERS COACH ZACH AZZANNI
"He had a great training camp. He wasn't quite there yet the first quarter or half of the season but it was nothing that he did wrong. He always works hard, he is always tough and I love coaching him. That's what happens if you come day after day with the same mentality. All of a sudden your time comes and you get better and better and his time is here. I'm pleased with Vic and he'll do a great job."
"I don't know, I think [the Big 10 and the SEC] are both power leagues. There might be some more speed in the SEC overall, but there is speed in all of the Big Five conferences. Certainly, there is some different speed in the south but nothing to where you can point it out, for sure. Iowa is a big, physical team and they can run in the back end now, I'm just going to tell you. Their corners will run just as good as any team we'll see in the SEC. Their two safeties tackles as well as anybody we've faced."
OFFENSIVE LINE COACH DON MAHONEY
"It's huge. Every day, like I told them, you look at it, you say, `Well, time's going to go by fast. The bowl game will be here.' Every day's critical for our development, for our learning, for our growing, for our identity moving forward for what we want to be for us. Really developing the habits for our style of play for what we need to do and that kind of thing. It's so important. In my years being with Coach Jones and our bowl preparation together and that time is, again, it's really creating the idea of it's a way of life."
"We built up some momentum off of the South Carolina with some of the results we had, carried into Kentucky. Missouri was obviously a game in which that was a very very good defensive front and we didn't play as well, but there were definitely some things that we could learn from. Of course, the last game of the year was a learning experience as well. I think the overall mentality of the team and program is being understood on Coach Jones' message of what and how our style of play. I think the consistency part is what we need to get better at. I think there's enough flashes in there where we can say we're getting close to what we want, but we need to be more consistent on it."
"Again, probably the biggest value for him, on top of the football right now, is that much more time with Coach (Dave) Lawson in the weight room. That's where, again, for the way of life with practice, with meetings and now the weight room part of it. It's just around the clock for these guys. For sure with him, just that much more times in which we're working to work his hand speed, his leverage, his pad level, and those kinds of things, everything that he needs. Really all of them point out to him. There's quite a bit for him to work on, but the weight room's the biggest and that was the one thing that we had to address as the season went on with him improving his weight room strength and numbers and all that."
LINEBACKERS COACH TOMMY THIGPEN
"For the most part it's going to be on us on defense because we don't have many reps against the personnel that they bring to the game. We don't see much of what they do. It's as good of a downhill run team as we're going to face, and they're going to run it. Their run games again mirrors kind of what Vanderbilt does and a lot of what Alabama does."
"For a guy who's not in the room as much, he did really well considering he is a defensive end as well as a linebacker. In certain packages, he would come in as a linebacker and then when they'd jump back into the small personnel he'd go back to defensive end. That's a hard thing to do. The fact that he's able to click both off and understand when he's playing linebacker and the responsibilities that go with that and turn around and play defensive end, which is a whole different skillset."
Offensive Coordinator Mike Bajakian: "They are pretty unique schematically, they are very simple, extremely well-coached. Upfront their defensive tackles, No. 71 and No. 90 are very good players, very stout, very active, upperclassmen with good size. Their MIKE linebacker, No. 52, Quinton Alston, strong, can really strike you, really good at the point of attack. Their secondary is veterans across the board and good players, their safeties are bigger, physical guys that run the alley well, their corners are really built for the system. Like I said, they are well-coached and know their scheme inside and out and they will get after you. Ole Miss was like that, although I wouldn't say their similar schematically I would just says, philosophically there are a lot of similarities there."
Defensive Coordinator John Jancek: "(Iowa has) a lot of 12 personnel, two tight end sets and then they go to a fullback. They bounce around between 12, 21 and 11 pretty good. That's pretty similar to Vanderbilt. Some of the same sets, some of the same plays. They're big up front so we have a huge challenge."
"I would say they're comparable to a lot of the teams we've played. You know, I think Oklahoma. They have good size and I think Oklahoma had a good offensive line. Obviously, Alabama had a really good offensive line and Iowa is in there with all of those guys."
Linebackers Coach Tommy Thigpen: "It's Vanderbilt (that Iowa is most similar to). A lot of two back run games. A little bit of Alabama when they decide to line up with two backs. It's a downhill running game. But it's Vanderbilt for the most part with the two backs , the 12 personnel as well as 21 personnel, inside, outside zone. Those are the things that the Big 10 is made of. When you watch them on tape, their downhill running is as good as anyone we've faced."
Defensive Backs Coach Willie Martinez: "(Iowa is) a very physical football team. They're very big and strong. The first thing that comes to mind is an Alabama, from the standpoint of line of scrimmage. They're very efficient and very fundamentally sound, very precise in the things that they do and very detailed."
STATUS UPDATE: WIDE RECEIVERS UNIT
This week, the Vols' wide receiver unit endured yet another loss due to a season-ending injury, as Jason Croom will no longer prep for the bowl game following a knee injury. With the unit witnessing four season-ending injuries this year including Cody Blanc, Josh Smith, Marquez North and now Croom, wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni explained the team's `next-man-up' philosophy in continuing to prepare for next month's TaxSlayer Bowl.
"We can wallow in our misery having four season-ending injuries or we can be next man up, coach them really hard and this is a good opportunity for some other guys to step up," Azzanni said. "That's how we've got to look at it."
As with each other injury sustained by his receiver core, Azzanni went on to express a profound disappointment for Croom, stressing the vast improvement the redshirt sophomore had made throughout the season.
"It's very disappointing," Azzanni said. "Here's a guy who has busted his tail and gotten better all season long and has done everything that I've asked of him. He just doesn't say a word and works his tail off and then the game gets taken away here at the end. We're going to go win this ballgame for him."
With a powerful team like Iowa awaiting the Vols come January, the wide receivers unit has continued to provide quality reps for those next men up, including Vic Wharton, Josh Malone and Ryan Jenkins. According to Azzanni and Offensive Coordinator Mike Bajakian, each is holding their own and will have their chance to contribute for the Volunteers very soon.
"It's reality, what's happened, but Iowa doesn't care," Azzanni said. "We'll find some solutions and like I said, next guy up. Vic Wharton is doing a heck of a job, having some great practices and I'm really proud of him. Ryan Jenkins is doing really well and he's stepping up. That's why we recruit and why we have a little bit of depth. We're definitely thinner now, there's no question about that. But we have enough good players to go play this game."
Bajakian added that although the unit as a whole may have lost some size in the process, each receiver plays with tremendous physicality and will only garner more of a field presence as they develop.
"Those guys are getting a great opportunity to now demonstrate in a game what they've been able to do over the course of the season in practice," Bajakian added. "They're refining their traits. We also still have Von Pearson, Josh Malone and Alton Howard, who plays with great strength and can elevate well."
As has been the story for Team 118 all year, development is again a key focus for this group and with more experience will come a solid, cohesive wide receivers core, striving to put a bowl championship under their very young belts.
"It's a day by day process," Azzanni said. "The good thing about bowl practices is we can scheme up certain things to get guys where we want them. We have a little bit more time than we would on a regular game week. They're getting better at the right times so it's ok. It's going to be ok."
JAKOB, BYNUM BATTLE TO START AT MLB
It's an open competition for the middle linebacker position with 17 days until the TaxSlayer Bowl.
Two individuals getting looks to start are freshman Jakob Johnson and redshirt sophomore Kenny Bynum. Both are getting valuable reps with an additional 15 practices allocated for bowl game preparation. Those practices will allow the staff to make a decision regarding who will start.
"The best man wins," linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen said. "Whoever practices the best. There's not a starter at that position. The position is open."
"[Jakob] and Kenny are able to be out there and speak the verbiage and set the fronts and get the adjustments. We can't do that enough. The fact that we get 15 more practices gives guys like Kenny, guys who haven't been in the fire, get a chance and help us in the bowl game."
Against Vanderbilt, Johnson and Bynum shared their time at the position.
"Jakob and Kenny Bynum both played a healthy bit versus Vanderbilt," linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen said. "I thought both of them did a pretty good job.
"I thought Kenny came in the latter part of the game and provided great relief for us. He was able to matchup with guys that Jakob wasn't able to do. The fact that both of them can help us to finish the game is valuable for our football team."
Preparation has been key for Johnson and Bynum. Defensive coordinator John Jancek says the two have responded well to the task at hand.
"They've both done an outstanding job preparing," Jancek said. "That was thing that for me that was most important. When everything happened, we knew we were going to go with Kenny and Jakob. I really challenged them to put the extra time in to make sure they had a thorough understanding of the game plan and what we were going to do. I was really pleased with their efforts, the time that they put in. It's paid off."
"They're competing each week. Kenny does a good job when his number is called. We'll make a determination as we enter bowl practice who will get the starting job."
VOLS PREPPING FOR NATION'S TOP LINEMAN
Cach Steve Stripling's defensive line will be put to the test in the TaxSlayer Bowl. Iowa senior offensive lineman Brandon Sherff was recently awarded the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in college football.
"He's a great player," said Stripling. "Over the years, I've had a lot of opportunities to play Iowa, and everything in Iowa is based on their offensive line, their toughness, their run blocking, it's the mentality for them. I told my guys today, when your head coach is an old O-Line coach and his son is the coach of the o-line, you can tell where the emphasis is. I think we've got a great challenge and obviously he's a great player. So, we're working on it and it will be a great game."
Sherff was named first-team All-American, first-team All-Big Ten and also the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year in the Big Ten Conference. Coach Stripling pointed out a few things that make Sherff so special.
"His feet, he has unbelievable feet," noted Stripling. "His ability to come off the ball with quickness, his ability to finish blocks. Obviously he is very strong and stout in the upper body, and I'm sure he's tough and got all the characters to go along with it. He's a great player."
Coach Stripling was asked if Freshman All-American Derek Barnett will line up opposite Sherff most of the game.
"No, I think we're going to move them around a little bit to be honest with you," said Stripling. "A lot of it's based on tweaks and body parts and all those kinds of things. I think all of them will want to line up on him to try to get a shot. That's a great honor to play against the Outland winner."
When asked if Sherff reminds him of anyone they have faced this season, Stripling pointed out that Sherff is the total package and they are looking forward to competing against him.
"Well you know, we've actually probably played some bigger guys in our conference, and maybe a couple that have been equal athletically, but he's got the total package. You know?" Stripling stated. "He's physical, got great feet, got great takeoff. He's going to be a great challenge for us. Then in their passing game, they do a lot of play-action, so that makes it tough. You're going to have to convert on pass. It'll be fun lining up against him."
