Vols are serious about 3-4

HOOVER, Ala. — Tennessee spent about three days during spring practice working on a 3-4 defense.

The Vols might do a little more than that when fall camp begins Friday.

Based on Jerod Mayo’s conversations with UT coaches this offseason, the All-SEC linebacker says he thinks the Vols are serious about using a three-lineman, four-linebacker approach.

“I definitely do (think UT will run some 3-4), the way coaches are coming at me and talking to me about it,” Mayo said. “I think that’s still alive.”

Alive because it just might give Tennessee its best chance to put its best players on the field.

That was the reason given when UT coach Phillip Fulmer talked about the 3-4 look this spring.

Linebacker is certainly more of a strength than defensive tackle heading into two-a-days.

Ryan Karl returns as a starter at strongside linebacker, while Mayo is projected to move from weakside to middle linebacker.

Rico McCoy is ahead of Dorian Davis at the weakside spot heading into fall camp.

Should the Vols employ a 3-4, either Adam Myers-White or Ellix Wilson would likely move into the starting lineup.

Some of that could depend on how quickly Karl can be ready to play after suffering a compression fracture in his spine during a weight room accident this summer.

Karl is still expected to participate in fall camp, pending results of an evaluation.

At defensive tackle, J.T. Mapu and either Dan Williams or Demonté Bolden are the projected starts right now.

Behind those three, though, there’s little proven depth.

“At first I thought (the 3-4) was just a ploy to get the defensive tackles to step up, but they’re still talking about it,” Mayo said. “The coaches are going to put the best players on the field. Coaches been watching film on it, and I think they’re still watching film on it.”

Meanwhile, Mayo and quarterback Erik Ainge were among players who helped organize and script three regular season-like practices last week with incoming players.

“I’ll tell you who it really helps, the young players who just came in — Eric Berry and guys like that we’re expecting to play right now,” Mayo said. “Instead of just two practices a day to smooth out those wrinkles, we’re doing it now for three days. Come camp time, they’ll be used it.”

Discipline Counts: With the ongoing issues off-the-field in the NFL, Fulmer said that discipline is more important than ever.

In response to a question on Friday, he outlined his philosophy on dealing with players who get in trouble off the field.

“It goes back to the history of each one of them,” Fulmer said. “If a guy has had consistently inconsistent behavior, you know you’re getting ready to have a problem. That’s the reason our players understand we’re not putting up with any crap. This is the way it’s going to be.”

Evaluating individual incidents to determine what’s best for the program is key, he said.

“We’re going to deal with it as we see the right, firm way to do it,” he said. “Now that doesn’t mean I’m going to chunk every kid’s career at the first incident. But if it’s something that’s significant and we’ve had some consistent problems, we’re going to deal with it.

“I’ve let a couple guys go. Might have been the wrong thing as far as them, but it was the right thing as far as our football team.

“I think less tolerance is out there than ever before right now.”

Ainge’s Go-to Guy? When asked Friday who he would throw right now on third-and-10 in Gainesville or Tuscaloosa, Ainge pointed to two players.

“I’d say Lucas Taylor or Austin Rogers, just because they’ve made those catches against team,” he said. “Lucas caught balls against California; Austin had a great game against Air Force. I think I would have to say them.”

Ainge said that answer could change after a few weeks of fall camp.

Meachem Mistake? Despite the fact Robert Meachem was a first-round selection in the NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints, Fulmer said he thought Meachem could have done better if he’d chosen to remain in Knoxville for his senior season.

“I wish Robert had stayed,” Fulmer said in response to a question from a New Orleans television reporter. “I think he’d have been better off if he’d stayed. I think he could have been a top 10 pick, personally.

“But will he help the Saints? Absolutely.”

Vick Reaction: Jerod Mayo, a Virginia native who grew up a few minutes Michael Vick’s hometown of Newport News, said he’s hopeful the embattled NFL quarterback can get his career back on track.

Vick faces trial in November on a range of charges stemming from illegal dogfights that were allegedly based out of a home he owns in Virginia.

“It was real hard (seeing him in trouble),” said Mayo, who considered Virginia Tech during the recruiting process in large part because Vick played there in college. “Even though he hasn’t been convicted of it, just to be charged with that, he’s automatically guilty in the public’s eye. I just want the whole process to get over with.

“Hopefully he can continue his career.”

Mayo said he’s never seen a dogfight and “doesn’t condone that type of behavior.”

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.