University of Tennessee Athletics
Butch Jones Media Transcript (8.20.15)
August 20, 2015 | Football
(Opening Statement)
"As we all know, we're back in class now. So, we gave the guys yesterday off. I was very anxious to see the maturity of our football team and how we would bounce back from having a day off and now, obviously, having a full workload in terms of being a student-athlete. We talk to our players all the time--there are four segments of football, four phases: offense, defense, special teams and football life. A lot of the times, it is not the speed of the game of football that really catches up with individuals in the transition, it is the speed of life--all of the time management skills that go into it, the clutter, the distractions that come about in an academic year. I thought our players, for the most part, showed up today. We had a very productive practice. For us, the maturity of our football team, the leadership of our football team is critical. We are starting to get the bulk of our players back in practice. We had Jalen Hurd, Jashon Robertson, John Kelly, Brett Kendrick, Dillon Bates and Jack Jones back. Obviously, that adds to the overall competitive component of the football team. We have lost one individual, so it is number two in terms of a season-ending injury, and that is Austin Sanders. We lost him the other day, and he will be out for the entire year. It is really the same injury that Marcus Jackson had, a bicep tendon. It just happens with body position. He extended his arm and in a contact phase of a block. He extended his arm, and his bicep tendon went. So, he is scheduled to have surgery shortly. We'll monitor his academics. We love Austin, and we know he will do a great job in recovery. But, we have lost him for the year."
(On offensive line depth with news of the Sanders injury)
"The positive thing going in is that we have recruited to have some depth at the offensive line position, but it does set us back. It is another individual's opportunity for some of the young freshmen to step up in terms of Chance Hall, Jack Jones and a number of individuals. You never recover, but that is a position that we have built some depth there. Next man in--it's another person's opportunity. I think you see around the country now not just in the college ranks but in the professional ranks, injuries occur everyday, and it is very unfortunate. But, it is becoming part of the game as well."
(On switching focus from camp to game prep)
"We still want to have a training camp mentality because we still have a couple weeks before the Bowling Green game. This weekend will be very big for us moving forward, but we started to work on scout teams a little bit today. The first day, there is a learning curve--but I thought for the most part they did a very good job of scout teams."
(On Kahlil McKenzie wearing green jersey)
"We are not going to talk about injuries. That is part of the policy we have put in place. They are out there practicing, that is all I care. Sometimes, it is precautionary."
(On deciding five starters on the offensive line)
"We need to start identifying that. Our goal is by the start of next week to have those individuals identified. I never like to put a time frame on you because it is about finding the five that work well together. We have spoke continuously about number six, number seven, number eight, but we would like to have something in place just from the overall chemistry of the offensive line group as we continue to move forward. The next couple of days, as we have all camp, we will move players around, different position groups, trying to find the best that will help us win and play winning football at that position."
(On if there have been improvements in the throwing game)
"There has, and it comes with repetition. When everyone thinks of throw game, they think of quarterback and wide receivers. But, a lot goes into it. It's the running back, the offensive line providing the protection needed to push the ball down the field. It's the tight ends being able to chip the defensive ends, blitz protection, blitz pickup. There is so much that goes into the effectiveness of the throwing game. It is not just the quarterback and wide receiver, but it is everything. There are so many moving parts and pieces, but we have worked hard at it. I can see us making progress in that area everyday."
(On Kyle Phillips being a surprise during camp)
"Well, you never really know what to expect until they get here, and Kyle's a young man that didn't have spring football. He was coming off of shoulder surgery. So, we liked what we saw obviously on high school video, but you never really know. From day one, he came in, he's grasped the system. He's worked very extensively in film study and video study. I think the older players have really done a great job. We talk about power of the position, and I can never underestimate or devalue that. It's all about the power of the position and having nine strong in everything that you do, and that's a position group that takes great pride in the details. They've done a great job of not only embracing him, but all the newcomers in the defensive front, of extra video study and really showing them the way we play football here. Its ongoing, it's a work-in-progress, but [I've] been very, very encouraged by Kyle, and obviously he's one of many freshmen that will play this year."
(On what makes Kyle Phillips unique as a pass rusher)
"Well first of all, he has a great skill set in terms of length. He's very long, he has a very, very large wingspan, so he bends exceptionally well, and he can flat out run. He has a tenacity about himself. He plays with a relentless approach to get to the football. He's really been challenged by Derek (Barnett) and Curt (Maggitt). I think he really watches their style of play, and he wants that. He wants to do well. He's a very smart player, and he has very good instincts as well. He has some God-given abilities in terms of just overall stature. You know, when you look at his size, you look at his frame, you look at his length, and the ability to make himself skinny and small coming off the edge, a burst on his get-off, we're very encouraged and excited about him."
(On the fundamentals of Kyle Phillips)
"I would say he's about where most of the freshmen are, but he's worked his craft. He took a lot of mental reps in the spring, and that's a tribute to him. Even though he wasn't able to get the physical reps, he was able to gain the mental reps. He sat and he watched, and then again, through his video study. Coach Stripling does a tremendous job with our defensive front and that entire group, and really teaching the fundamentals has really helped him."
(On Trevor Daniel and the punters)
"Trevor Daniel has done a good job in the weight room. All three punters are doing a very good job right now. I would say it's still an ongoing competition, but I've been very, very pleased. I think all of them have taken great strides in moving forward. Their accuracy, their op times continue to improve, and I like the way they're pushing each other. They work well together, and I like that. They're competing, yet they're coaching each other. I see all three individuals really making great progress every day."
(On what he has seen from Darrin Kirkland Jr.)
"I think when you look at him first of all, he's very mature and he's another individual that was an early enrollee but didn't have the luxury of spring football coming off an injury. He's very mature. He's very very intelligent. He's very instinctual and he can run. He has very good explosiveness so he has the skill set that we are looking for at linebacker, but the football intelligence. Again, he can retain information immediately. You only have to tell him one time and he's a run and hit individual. We're excited. Again, he's another one, just like Kyle Phillips, that continues to get better and better with every practice rep that they gain. He will play this year."
(On how hard it is at that position for freshmen to take the vocal leadership)
"Well, it is a challenge but again he is very intelligent. He is very humble, very quiet off the field. He listens to what everyone says and takes it all in. On the football field he's extremely confident, very very vocal and he communicates very well."
(On how quickly he wants to pick a guy at middle linebacker)
"It is on-going. We don't like to set timetables. I think the offensive line is a little bit more of priority because of just five individuals working together. We have a great competitive structure. We have a great competition going not only at punter but at linebacker. I see all these individuals pushing each other and getting better. Also, it is your makeup of your special teams. All these individuals are going to make up our special teams as well. With them getting better at their selected or chosen positions, they're getting better on special teams as well. We are going to need everyone's help in terms of special teams because we know it's a long season."
(On the class's preparedness compared to previous years)
"We do need everyone. We are still not there yet in any way in terms of the elite programs in the country, in terms of competitive depth, at all nine being nine strong. We can't afford to have a lot of injuries. We are still working on that. I have been very very pleased with this recruiting class. They are very close. They have a great work ethic. They have a very strong character about themselves. They have a great competitive character and they are intelligent. They are pushing each other. They have walked in from day one and they have embraced our standards and our expectations in our football program. I think that's a tribute to all of our older players in our football program. I have been very pleased and very proud of this freshman class. They are doing a very good job."
