The motto for Tennessee's first two days of spring practice is simple: intense as expected.

"The first couple of days are more intense than it's ever been," junior wide receiver Robert Meachem said Friday after UT's second practice under new offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe. "Coach Cutcliffe says we're going to be like a fast-break, basketball offense.

"We're going to run and we're going to be the most in-shape team in the nation. That's true. We're going to be able to run all day."

Meachem said he's not surprised by the early tempo. He expected as much after the grueling workouts over the past two months.

The first day (Thursday) included extra up-downs for the wideouts led by new wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor. On Friday, the entire team participated in extensive calisthenics.

"He's not trying to run anybody off," Meachem said of Taylor. "He's just wants everybody to be the best and work hard."

Competition is already fierce because many believe that Cutcliffe and Taylor will play fewer receivers than played last year.

"Whatever he goes with, I just want to be one of the ones he's rotating in," Meachem said. "He said by halftime, we should have an IV in our arms. That's what he demands."

Media interviewing Meachem couldn't help but notice a training technique being executed by Bill Grimes nearby. The junior receiver was catching passes while flat on his back with a hard-throwing Jugs machine 10 yards below his feet firing footballs at arms length above him.

"That ball shoots all different kind of ways," Meachem said. "He can put his foot up to stop the ball from getting in his privates. If he doesn't, he's not ever going to think about having kids."

Courage wasn't the only attribute required for the workout. Each player had a partner loading footballs into the machine. If one receiver dropped a pass, both partners performed push-ups.

"We weren't all we were made out to be," Meachem said, recalling last year. "We were ranked No. 3 and a lot of people got cocky. Now, everybody has their head level and they know we have to go back to work."

Meachem admitted he has benefited from the increased pass receiving work after struggling with his concentration last season.

"If you don't concentrate," he said, "you're not going to catch that ball."

Old Habits: Meachem said Taylor, who coached running backs last year, was up to his old tricks with his former players.

"He made one of the running backs go on a field trip today because of a fumble," Meachem said.

Taylor was notorious for making running backs repeatedly chase a ball around the practice field after fumbling. As for his new group, Meachem said the wide receivers are forced to run after practice if they drop a pass, even in warm-ups before practice has started.

Overlooked: Junior quarterback Bo Hardegree said he hasn't been upset as media and fans talk about the competition between junior Erik Ainge and freshman Jonathan Crompton. For now, Hardegree is splitting snaps alongside Crompton with the second team while Ainge handles first-team snaps.

"This is the first time I've really gotten an opportunity to show people what I can do for the whole practice," Hardegree said. "My arm has gotten 100 percent stronger and I'm throwing the ball really well now."

Hardegree said physical maturity and extra attention to his footwork have helped improve his arm strength, which was a shortcoming when he arrived at UT in 2004.

What Cold?: UT coach Phillip Fulmer withheld any reviews for specific players but said his team was unaffected by brisk temperatures.

"I didn't notice it was cold," Fulmer deadpanned. "I didn't hear anybody say anything."

Schedule: The Vols will don full pads for the first time today. UT held its first two practices in shorts, as per NCAA rules.

"Playing football," Fulmer said of today's practice. Several contact drills are planned, including the highly anticipated one-on-one Tennessee drill.

"Hopefully we'll take the same energy we've had the first two days. I expect us to."

UT's first scrimmage is scheduled for March 11.