University of Tennessee Athletics
#VolReport: Assistant Coaches' Update
August 26, 2015 | Football
Aug. 26, 2015
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- After weeks of preseason training and kickoff in Nashville just 10 days away, the Tennessee players and coaches are just as excited as the rest of Vol Nation for the 2015 season to begin.
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SOUND BITES
- Offensive Coordinator Mike DeBord
(On the evolution of Joshua Dobbs' accuracy since spring)
"You know, there's times when the ball has to be on a certain shoulder, and it can't be on the other shoulder because of tight coverage. That's where Josh has really improved, is ball location. He had a heck of a day yesterday and today, and his ball location's really good right now."
(On the physicality of the offensive line)
"I like it. I like where our offensive line is. I like that every day they've gotten better. Coach [Don] Mahoney's done a great job of working with their footwork, their pad level, leverage, all that. That group just gets better every day, and that's all we ask [of] them."
- Defensive Coordinator John Jancek
(On what kind of rotation you would like on the defensive line)
"I'd like to use eight total, four and four ideally. You'd like to roll four guys in there pretty regularly, sometimes five if your depth allows it. The now-huddle is a thing that brings those guys down. They're big guys that get fatigued easily. You want to keep them rested."
(On coming to grips with the loss of Rashaun Gaulden)
"It's unfortunate right now that we have the numbers that we have. Like I said, nobody is going to feel sorry for us. We have to find a way to get it done. We're going to have to rely on our front and getting some pressure, forcing some errant throws. We have guys that are getting on the job training, that's just the reality of it. It's going to be fun. It'll be exciting."
- Wide Receivers Coach Zach Azzanni
(On competitiveness of receiver group)
"I can't say enough about Jonathan Johnson, Josh Malone, and Marquez North. Those guys have had a great summer and you can tell. Now they're starting to be like groups that we've been used to coaching where they're competing on stretch, on the jugs routine at the beginning not just going through it. So it's been fun to watch them compete at everything, not just football."
(On Josh Malone's maturity)
"Honestly, I think Josh would sit here and tell you last season he hit the midseason wall. Freshmen don't really understand it until it happens, and it happened to him. He looks back and he doesn't want that again. He wants to play at the same level he played the first five games at. He's learned from that. He's better in the meeting room, he's better in practice, he's better all-around. He's got some confidence and you can tell. He's been a leader; I can't say enough good things about him. I don't want to deem him the savior, but he's certainly head and shoulders above what he was."
- Running Backs Coach Robert Gillespie
(On the depth at RB)
"There is a big smile on Jalen [Hurd] and Alvin's [Kamara] faces. Going through spring their were three scholarship backs and fortunately we had a couple walk-ons to get us through. It's great to have some depth. It's great to have some guys who can get in and get some reps, and also save Jalen [Hurd] and Alvin's [Kamara] legs too."
(On Jalen Hurd)
"I think he understands that in this league, the guys that are the most durable are the guys, the running backs, that are going to have some success. I think him adding that weight has given him some confidence. He's definitely more explosive, playing behind his pads a lot better. I look forward to him breaking more tackles and being able to withstand the long haul of the season."
- Associate Head Coach (DL) Steve Stripling
(On setting the DL rotation)
"This year, I think we have more players that are able to go into the rotation. It's now the formula of finding the right number of reps in each rotation. The young guys are still developing, so there is nothing like a game to test you, and we are looking forward to that. We are getting closer to games, so you're putting details to the substitutions and the final phases of the kicking game and where the young guys can get involved."
(On his unit's maturity)
"We went through a substitution drill today, and it was probably the smoothest we have ever had this early in preseason. Coach Jones always talks about the maturity of our team, the leadership of our team or the health of our team being the key factors. Well, I think the maturity is showing that we have a lot of experienced players that are out there. Even though they might be young, they are still experienced and are able handle those situations."
The sweltering heat of early August has lowered to a late-summer simmer at Haslam Field, signalling that fall is on the horizon and it is almost Football Time In Tennessee.
"We've really tried to concentrate on getting one percent better every practice, and really concentrate on the practice," UT offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said. "But you can see [it], and Coach Jones is talking about, 'Hey, it's getting close. It's coming.' You can see that energy. We had a really good practice yesterday and today, and our guys are giving us great energy and focus right now."
All of the hard work poured into training camp and battles for starting spots will pay off once the whistle blows for the Vols to take the field against Bowling Green on Sept. 5 at Nissan Stadium. On Wednesday, Tennessee's assistant coaches answered questions regarding player progression, team depth and starting spots.
MIKE LB Race Narrowing
One of the most hotly contested positional battles of last spring and this fall's training camp has reached its final stages, according to defensive coordinator John Jancek.
"It's really been narrowed down," Jancek said of the MIKE linebacker competition. "To get three guys reps at this stage in the season, in camp, preseason, it's hard to do. It's really between Colton Jumper and Darrin Kirkland [Jr.]."
Jancek noted that Jumper's work ethic is what set the sophomore, Lookout Mountain product apart from the rest of the linebacking unit.
"He's spent countless hours in the film room on his own, taking notes, watching video and all that hard work is paying off. He's really a great example for a lot of players in college football. Guys that come as four or five stars but lack the maturity or the work ethic that it takes really make yourself a great player. I think Colton is an example of that. He's made himself a very good football player."
WR Johnson Having A Strong Camp
Senior Johnathon Johnson is having one of the best camps of any UT receiver. Johnson and Jauan Jennings have benefited from being healthy every day of camp, enabling them to improve with each practice.
The 5-8 Texas native received praise from wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator Zach Azzanni for his hard work and leadership.
"Jonathan Johnson I can't say enough about that kid," Azzanni said. "He is one of our best football players on this team in my opinion. Just because of everything he brings in special team value. He's a leader, he's smart, and he can play every position. He's a senior playing his best ball right now and that's what a senior should do."
Azzanni said that Johnson has been working both on the inside and on the outside.
"He's a little guy, but on the outside he's tough to cover because he can get separation, because he's so quick," he said.
Talent and Depth at RB
On paper, the Tennessee running back corps looks anything but experienced. The sophomore duo of Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara headline a group that features two true freshmen and another redshirt sophomore. Even the lone upperclassman of the group is a newcomer in redshirt senior transfer Ralph David Abernathy IV.
Despite the relative newness that precedes the Vols tailback unit, running backs coach Robert Gillespie is thrilled with the depth and experience he has found in this group.
"In this league, the best groups have guys who can lead by example and I think for [freshmen] John Kelly and Joe Young, to have two guys like Alvin [Kamara] and Jalen [Hurd] to show everyday them how to practice, how to study in the meeting rooms, being accountable to each other. I think it's been really good. Both those guys are going to be able to help us this year."
With two leaders taking the reins of a young and talented group, Gillespie believes Tennessee's running backs are becoming one of the complete units in a running-back-heavy Southeastern Conference.
"We talk [about it] all the time, and I talk to Butch [Jones] about it. In this league, if you have three NFL guys in your room, three out of five or six, you've got it going. And I think right now we're kind of at that point where we have guys that it takes in this league to make plays and help us to be explosive running the ball."
Depth A Luxury on D-Line
One year ago, the biggest question surrounding Tennessee's defense was who would fill a holes on the defensive line. Now, the defensive line represents one of the deepest units on the team and depth has become a luxury to coach Steve Stripling.
"I think we will go in with 10 that I will feel good putting on the field," Stripling said on the number of guys he is comfortable with playing. "Obviously, Bowling Green presents the tempo issue, so you aren't able to substitute exactly when you want, but I feel like we can go out there with 10 guys."
Having depth on the line means that Tennessee can spread out the amount of reps and keep fresh legs on the field.
"If you could play enough guys where they are all playing [40 snaps], you would be really excited. Last year, we had guys playing 70 and 80 snaps. That's not what you want. If you could get guys evened out between 30 and 50, I think that is healthy for your defensive line."
