University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Report: Spring Practice Underway
March 07, 2016 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee opened 2016 spring football practice on Monday with nice weather and sunny skies at Haslam Field.
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SOUND BITES
- Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin
"It was definitely great to be back out there and to be on the field one last time with those guys, knowing this is the start of a special season. I think today definitely set the tone for us."
- Quarterback Joshua Dobbs
"It's huge (building chemistry with the wideouts during the spring). Obviously, you can only do so much in the offseason. Getting the chance to come out and do one-on-ones, seven-on-sevens, team reps, work on timing, passing and rhythm, it is big for those guys. They came out today and competed. They did a great job, and I am very excited to see what kind of spring they are going to have."
Today marked the first day Team 120 officially took the practice field. Tennessee head coach Butch Jones is excited to see how his most-seasoned team comes together this spring with each repetition and each practice geared toward continued improvement.
"In terms of Team 120, we have had a very, very productive offseason," Jones said at Monday's press conference. "To me, this is the most exciting time of the year. It's all about reinventing yourself and establishing your identity as a football team. It's the first time Team 120 takes the field."
Mid-year enrollees, new defensive coordinator Bob Shoop and new tight ends coach Larry Scott brought new energy to the first practice.
Shoop's First Spring In Orange
Spring is often referred to as a season of new beginnings and that sentiment might very well hold true for the Volunteer defensive unit beginning their first spring under new defensive coordinator Bob Shoop. The former defensive guru at Penn State made his spring debut in the Orange and White just a little under two months after joining the Vols on Jan. 9 of this year.
Shoop is tasked with pushing to new heights a Tennessee defense that finished in the top half of the SEC both scoring defense and total defense last year, not to mention a dominant performance in UT's 45-6 victory over Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. But Shoop is happy to start at square one: evaluating the talent and personnel that sits before him in the defensive unit.
"For me personally, what I want to get done, I want to evaluate our personnel," Shoop said on Monday. "(I want to) find out what the skill set is of each player, find out who are contributors are going to be. Who's our best 11? Who's our next best 11? Identify their strengths and put those players in a position that they can be successful and help Team 120."
One of those contributors will be rising senior linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who ranked among the SEC leaders in tackles (105) and tackles for loss (14) last season. The Clarksville, Tennessee, native has already established a rapport with his new defensive headman and has enjoyed the early work he's been put through in Shoop's physical scheme.
"It was fun," Reeves-Maybin said of his first spring practice under Shoop. "Like I said, I have known Coach Shoop since I was in high school. It was funny because last week was the first time that I ever heard him kind of yell at me and get on me a little bit. It was kind of weird to see because he was always recruiting me for as long as I have known him. It was definitely good to be out there and see his coaching style and how he works with the guys."
And while Tennessee's unique spring practice schedule -- which includes a week off next week for spring break -- could be perceived as a detriment for a new coach trying to establish his coaching style and expectations, Shoop believes the week off will help his unit. After being introduced to some fresh philosophies this week, the Vols will have a spring break week to absorb and commit it to memory.
"We've divided the teaching to treat this like a mini-camp, so to speak," said Shoop. "The first two days are non-padded anyway, so teaching the techniques, teaching the fundamentals, as Coach Jones put it, Football 101, then taking a break, digesting from there, then building as we progress. Getting to the week after spring break, then the week after that, then the week after that, then finally the Orange & White game. So, this progression is exciting for me."
Tennessee fans will have to wait the next six weeks to get an initial idea of what Shoop's aggressive defensive style will look like in the Orange and White, but Reeves-Maybin understands the anticipation.
"Everybody will have to wait and see," he said. "I don't want to spoil it for you. You will see it, though."
Initial Depth Exciting For Vols
As the Volunteers enter spring practice under 4th-year head coach Butch Jones, a shift in the program's overall talent and skill has become noticeable amongst the staff and players on Rocky Top.
"This program is really like night and day since I have been here," rising senior quarterback Joshua Dobbs said after practice Monday. "It is great to see that we are heading in the right direction. This year, we are trying to take the next step forward. Our dreams, goals and aspirations are out there. It is great to have talent across the board, and that is going to push everyone to continue to improve."
One of Jones' most voiced missions since his arrival in Knoxville, UT's football program, as a whole, continues to implement a new set of standards related to a higher level of play expected out of the individuals who come to the University of Tennessee.
"I think we have a lot more athletic guys," said rising senior linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin. "Everyone knows the standard to play to. We're playing to the whistle. Everyone is making hustle, effort plays. Knowing the standards and expectations of practice is the big difference that I see."
