University of Tennessee Athletics
#VolReport: Focused On South Carolina
November 03, 2015 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- With four games remaining on the schedule, Tennessee enters the home stretch of the regular season in strong form as a team reaping the benefits of growing maturity.
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SOUND BITES
- Assoc. HC/D-Line Coach Steve Stripling
(On the biggest change in D-Line group)
"I think the biggest thing is we are playing with great effort right now. I think it's been a couple-year journey to know how to do that. Obviously, what helps is the style of play that Coach Jones emphasizes, but having numbers comes into play. For instance with the tackle numbers, they are all playing between 35 and 40 reps right now. It's much eaiser than playing 85 that some were playing in the past."
- Offensive Coordinator Mike DeBord
(On South Carolina's defense)
"I coached with Coach Hoke at the Bears and I see very similar defense to what they played when he was there. A lot of four man front, a lot of Tampa two defense, then they'll mix it in with some cover one. They'll occasionally bring somebody but really working on the fundamentals, trying to be a fundamentally sound defense. And I think they are. They're playing with great effort and it's very similar again to what they were doing there when he was there as in assistant."
- Defensive Coordinator John Jancek
(On Darrin Kirkland Jr.)
"Darrin's getting better each and every week. He understands the system better now. He's a confident guy. He's very vocal. He's got great leadership skills. It's just gaining experience that is allowing him to play the way he is."
- Tight Ends Coach/Special Teams Coord. Mark Elder
(On Aaron Medley's confidence)
"It's high. He went out and performed really well last week. He had a great day of practice today. He nailed every field goal, so his confidence is high. We believe in Aaron, and that's why we keep on putting him out there for field goal opportunities, because we think he's going to go out and make him."
- Wide Receivers / Passing Game Coord. Zach Azzanni
(On how to get WRs to become good blockers)
"Number one, they've got to want to win football games. You want receivers that want the football and you kind of build up; this is how you catch the football, you got to wear people down on the opponent every snap. Number two, we've also got two of the best backs in America and we take pride in having a part in that. Josh Dobbs hit Josh Malone the other night because of number one, great protection. Jalen Hurd picked up a looping middle linebacker that made the play. We show that on film and that makes those guys want to block even harder, so there's a myriad of ways to get the guys to buy in. The number one thing is they want to win."
Months of game experience and hard work on the practice field have shaped emerging standouts into grizzled veterans. The Vols' big plays in Saturday's win at Kentucky were rewards for the players' efforts and dedication to the process.
Joshua Dobbs and Josh Malone connected on UT's biggest offensive play of the season in a 75-yard touchdown strike that gave Tennessee the lead in the second quarter and set the tone for the rest of the game. That play was months in the making and Malone executed the route and catch like a pro.
"(Malone) is a completely different player now than he was a year ago at this time," Tennessee wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator Zach Azzanni said. "It's fun to watch and that's a tribute to his work ethic. The kid came out there today and he practiced as hard as I've seen him practice, so I'm proud of him. To see the fruits of his labor and to see the smile on his face when he jogs over because he wanted that play so bad, that's what it's all about."
Effort plays and stats that go unnoticed in the box score have been invaluable to the Vols' maturing defense. Associate head coach/defensive line coach Steve Stripling had praise for the way sophomore defensive end Derek Barnett has forced pressure on opposing quarterbacks over the last few weeks.
"Derek is playing with such great leverage right now, in his pass rush especially," Stripling said. "It's difficult to block him if you dont hold him."
Stripling added that Dimarya Mixon has been "on fire" since the bye week and sophomore defensive lineman has consistently earned the team's "juice award" for great effort.
"Dimarya is giving us what I call quality reps," Striping said. "He can go in at any point in the game and you'll not be worried about it."
How A Big Play Is Made
Tennessee displayed a full arsenal of offensive firepower last Saturday at Kentucky, most notably a 75-yard pass and catch connection between quarterback Joshua Dobbs and wide receiver Josh Malone that resulted in a big, momentum-swinging score in the second quarter.
The touchdown gave the Volunteers a 17-14 lead that it would never surrender en route to a 52-21 victory and stood as tangible evidence of the huge strides the passing game continues to make.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Tennessee assistant coaches provided their analysis on the big play and touched on the subtle nuances of execution that made the scoring strike possible. Offensive coordinator began with praises for the offensive line and for an impressive block by running back Jalen Hurd that eliminated a blitzing Wildcat from the equation.
"It was, number one, very good protection up front by the O-line and an outstanding pick-up by Jalen Hurd," he said. "Outstanding for him to have to come off the fake and go around and hit the guy on the move."
Hurd's block combined with the funnel created up front allowed Dobbs an opportunity to step up into the pocket and into a throw that traveled 54 yards in the air.
"The throw that Josh Dobbs made by stepping up in the pocket and letting that ball go - with that distance and that accuracy - was, in my opinion, a great play," DeBord added. "We needed that play right then."
Not to be outdone, Malone showed his playmaking ability as the 6-3 wideout hauled in the pass over his left shoulder, shook himself free of the lone defender, and sprinted the remaining 15 yards to pay dirt.
"I think, number one, the route was tremendous," said wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni. "It wasn't just a great throw and catch, it was a great route. Those are things we work on every day, I mean every day."
Azzanni also noted the essential timing of the play, but noted that it could be the first of many vertical successes coming for the Vols over the home stretch of the season.
"You work for a year to finally have an opportunity at one big play like that - and hopefully many more to come - [it's] very rewarding."
Containing Pharoh Cooper
South Carolina star wideout Pharoh Cooper is one of the SEC's best receivers and presents another tough test for the Vols' secondary.
"He's got a good skillset, but I think the thing that puts him at a very high level is really his competitive nature," Tennessee defensive coordinator John Jancek said.
In 2014, Cooper hauled in 11 catches for 233 yards and two touchdowns against the Vols.
This season, the ranks third in the SEC with 609 receiving yards to go with four touchdowns. His 44 receptions rank fourth in the league. The Gamecocks have also used Cooper in the running game with 16 carries for 104 yards and a score.
