Tennessee's football coaches aren't pulling out the spotlight.

Spring practice -- especially this year -- is not the time to showcase stars. Clearly, this year's team is meant to be an ensemble cast.

UT's coaches have repeatedly avoided questions when asked who has impressed them. Saturday's practice was no different.

"I don't know that it's by design or if it's just a matter right now that we don't have anybody really stepping up," offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said after UT's first practice in full pads. "I'm not being critical. I don't think it's bad. We're trying to develop accountability."

The new approach is a far cry from last year's off-season when coaches lauded several individual players who seemed destined for a championship run.

"If we're not good as a team then we have no chance to be successful long-term," Cutcliffe said. "That's the mentality we've got to develop. If somebody messes up, then everybody's going to pay for it."

The new attitude hasn't been limited to public comments. Even UT's apparel has undergone a transformation. Individual expressions of style are mostly gone. They have been replaced by what uniforms were meant to be, uniform.

UT's coaches have demanded that players tuck their jerseys in their pants. Players also are required to stand with either offense or defense during team periods. Such was not the case recently.

"I think it's an issue and I think it's an all-the-time thing," Cutcliffe said. "That's our reminder that winning takes an effort that's an all-the-time thing."

The demands never were more evident than Saturday when offensive players were chided for not lining up correctly, then punished with extra calisthenics.

"I think we have a lot to learn to compete every play," Cutcliffe said. "It's not just after the ball is snapped but before."

Cutcliffe could be heard outside the practice field as he instructed his players. His post-practice interview took on the same military-like tone, although, thankfully, not as loud.

"Mentally tough," Cutcliffe said. "Little things. Attention to detail. Break the huddle. Listen in the huddle. Line up right. All the little details. We haven't been as good as we need to be."

Critics said the Vols needed such demands even before they slipped to a 5-6 season.

"One on one doesn't win," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "I think we learned a great lesson about living on your past laurels or looking past the time you're here.

"It's about the team."

While UT offensive coaches decline to point out individual performers, they will point out that their players are trying.

"They're eager," Cutcliffe said, "but there's a difference in being eager and being tough enough to do it every play. We're three days in. We're better than when we started."

Junior center David Ligon said the new approach likely will cause some unease among players still steeped in recent tradition.

"There's always going to be something like that," the offensive lineman said. "It's just human nature, I guess. Some people like different styles of coaching, like guys that don't yell a lot."

Ligon said the message has been made abundantly clear.

"Get your act straight or you won't be here," he said. "You certainly won't play."

Signal Callers: Cutcliffe said he was encouraged by his quarterbacks' tempo, rhythm, and sense of urgency but was displeased with the fundamentals.

"Consistency is not good," Cutcliffe said. "We didn't throw the ball as well as we can throw the football. That better not be our best effort."

Erik Ainge, freshman Jonathan Crompton and Bo Hardegree are splitting time with the first and second team.

Dropping Drops: UT's emphasis on dropping passes seems to be working.

"The first day, we had 33 drops in one day," wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor said. "The second day, we had 14. Today, we had seven. So if we keep cutting them, by next week we'll have it down to zero."

Taylor said he expects no drops during practice. He has punished offenders, and teammates alike, with extra conditioning.

Securing The Perimeter: Ligon said he expects UT's offensive line to be better on screen plays thanks to a lighter approach to conditioning and an emphasis on running.

"We're definitely going to have a whole lot of perimeter in," Ligon said.

One-Liners: Ligon, who is growing famous for keeping the media laughing, threw out a couple of playful shots after practice Saturday.

"You can just get an athlete and throw them in on defense," he said with a smile. "You don't have to be the smartest guy in the world to play defense. You have to have a little intelligence and athletic ability to play on the offensive line."

Ligon also quipped that UT wouldn't be limited by injuries at running back.

"If we're (offensive line) doing our job we could stick anybody back there; you could come back there," Ligon said as he nodded to a reporter. "Coach Fulmer could come back there. I'll get back there."