Tennessee's football team had the pads popping a little bit on Monday and Tuesday. But today it all begins in earnest with UT's first practice in full pads after spending the early part of the week in shorts, shoulder pads and headgears.
And it's hard to find anyone more excited about contact than center Josh McNeil.
"It's been since Wisconsin since I even thought about hitting anybody," said McNeil, a junior who spent spring practice on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery in February. "We got some good licks in (Monday). It was good to get those first few licks out of the way, and now I'm back feeling comfortable and picking up where I left off."
Tennessee's offensive line didn't leave spring practice in the greatest place.
New coordinator Dave Clawson's offense brought big changes to the line, and the group struggled at times during spring practice.
The early returns this fall have been good, says offensive line coach Greg Adkins.
"I want to keep seeing progression made," he said. "I have seen progression from spring practice to the what I've seen these first three days out here. We're playing faster. We're still nowhere near ready to play a game, but we're playing faster."
Now that the NCAA's four-day acclimation period is over, the pace will continue to pick up. But junior guard Vladimir Richard said the pace has been pretty quick already.
"We don't think once we get in pads that's when it really starts, because I feel that teams that are able to practice in shorts are teams that are going to be great," Richard said. "Those first few days in shorts, it was still physical, it was still intense. We're able to practice in shorts. Before we weren't such a good team practicing in shorts. Once the pads come on, it's just another step. It's more intense."
Doubly so for McNeil and UT's centers.
Clawson's offense puts a lot of responsibility on the center, and today will mark McNeil's first day of full-contact work in the new offense. Junior Cody Sullins, who will figure into UT's rotation up front, and senior guard Anthony Parker have also worked some at center.
"There's a lot more pressure on the center in this offense," said Adkins, noting that a lot practice reps for UT's centers are critical. "You're making more calls and being more in charge, so to speak, than in the past."
Another big change was terminology and the strongside-quickside concept that has players lining up on either side of the line on a given play.
Adkins praised his group's retention from spring practice and said a few slight changes seem to have helped.
"I thought it has been excellent so far," Adkins said. "We helped them a little bit. We tweaked a few things within the system to help my guys in particular, some verbage. That seems to have helped so far."
Despite being viewed as one of the strengths of the offense with all five starters back, UT's line still has work to do. The move to full-contact work will accelerate the process, which has been going on since offseason workouts, McNeil says.
"The biggest thing is the expectations that ourselves as an offensive line have set are way higher than what everyone else is thinking," he said. "We come out here every day wanting to be the best. That's the attitude we took through the summer. All six of us worked out together. That's been our big focus, just being the best offensive line we can be.
"And we know that can be a very good one."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 115
Silent_Fulmer writes:
No question McNeil (Fulmers Pet) is one of the biggest linebackers on our team. I heard he's up to 245 this season and looking forward to being one on the top players for the opposing teams defense again every game.
orangebloodgmc writes:
We missed McNeil at center this spring, but it gave those other guys a more reps at that position. Good to have him back.
AlWilson writes:
McNeil wakes up with 2 women in his bed and Silent has been kicked off Match.com. It's easy to see the frustration.
Jamey1210 writes:
I don't know why but I feel better about this team than I have ever felt about us. This could be a magical year or the first four game could make me an alcoholic. This is our shot to go back to the top. Can you all imagine all those haters if we do win out. Go Vols I get chills thinking about kickoff>
murrayvol writes:
I hope this offensive scheme will keep DCs (and not our players) up all night. We'll soon know.
bgreybass#247717 writes:
McNeil @ LB???? He is between 290-300 lbs and UT's projected returning starter at the C position. I doubt the #1 rated Center in the 2005 class has switched from Center to LB and lost about 50 lbs.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Who? I think Cody Sullins is bigger than McNeil. 26 yards rushing vs. Florids the past 2 years. Ouch. We can sure run it against Arkansas State though.
vol1994 writes:
attn vol fans- don't listen to workin like heck and silent fulmer as all they do is complain.
Probably not even UT fans.
anyways, I too think UT will surprise a lot of people this year. I think we will be 2-0 going into Florida week. According to one of the beat writers in gainsville, this is probably one of the best offenses in florida history which is scary
OakyVol09 writes:
Don't think the line is to blame for the lack of rushing yards against UF. We ran pretty well against Georgia, USC, UA, etc.
For three years now, I have watched Foster run against the Gators like he is trying not to wake his parents up after coming in past curfew. Time to man up against the Gators this year Foster. Go Vols. (No fumbling either!!)
orangebloodgmc writes:
bgreybass, take with a grain of salt anything written by silentfulmer/workinlikeheck/pleasegetridof.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Too bad McNeil weighed around 255 at the end of last year.
Silent_Fulmer writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
VOLMAN40 writes:
JerkinLikeHeck,
I see you still have spelling issues. Do you mean "f-l-o-r-i-d-a"? I separated the letters so you could see how to spell the word correctly for future reference. What a dumba** you are.......
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
VOLMAN40 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
alfrizzle097 writes:
Volman: You're being a bigger jerk than they. Just take it in silence. Though I'm sure silentfulmer would have a field day.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
You are going to harass me every chance you get? Oooohhhhh...I'm really scared. Good luck with that, you'll need it. LOL!!!!
VOLMAN40 writes:
Point taken Al, but it sure gets old "wading" through all of their BS!
VOLMAN40 writes:
No need to be scared, jerkin'. I'll be looking out for your intelligent, insightful posts and share my thoughts as needed. Any corrections or suggestions I make will be free of course. GO VOLS!
gnm53108 writes:
OakyVol09...Love the past curfew comment.But our o line does have to take some of the blame for not owning the line in running situations.I also blame the play calling to some extent.What we need is when we have third and short(under 3 yrds)we need a good push out of our o-line even when the defense knows its coming.Too many drives were stopped last year on 3rd and short.
mjohnsonvols writes:
Volman that is what he likes just leave him alone and comment on his childish post and he will leave. I know it is tough to do b/c I have been there before but I now just leave the man alone.
Good luck this year McNeil and to the rest of the team have a good season. No matter what happens always a vol.
mjohnsonvols writes:
sorry don't comment on his post.
I'm sure he will let me have it for that.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
is there a parrot in here? Oh nevermind, it's just mjohnsonvols back after a long summer.
4114 writes:
gnm53108..i totally agree with your post.it's been like that for the past several years. Hopefully OC Clawson has another play call besides the 2 yard pass on 3rd and 3.
LargeOrange writes:
Well it looks like Silent_Fulmer and JerkingLikeHeck appear together again, surprise, surprise. Here they are on the big screen. JerkinLikeHeck as Zeke, Silent_Fulmer as the Gimp, mcbrim1998 as the redneck, Nafslov as Marcellous Wallace, and GeneralWatermellon as Bruce Willis.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HlZal...
newtonrail writes:
And I thought this article was about our offensive line?
LargeOrange writes:
Sorry Jerkin is Zed not Zeke. Remember what nafslov does to him with the shotgun, classic.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
What a surprise, LargeMoron can't get it right the first time. It sort of ruins the post when that happens.
cjraney writes:
McNeil is about the same size, w/in 10 lbs, of 2 of the 3 All-SEC centers. The exception is a guy at 315. I think he'll be fine, as will the rest of the O-line.
The season will turn on the QB's decision-making and the D-line.
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Lazylikeheck:
You are making this blog tedious. It is not about you or the other negatgories out there. Have a constructive comment or get off. Mcbrim, that goes for you too. You are a guest here. Stop trying to rain on our parade. We are about to get the Florida problem under control, just like we did the Alabama and the Georgia thing.....
Musicman74 writes:
The o-Line needs to get down and dirty this year. There is no reason why we can't avg. about 250 yard per game on the ground. after all we do have the best o-line in the nation!!! They should also be great at pass blocking too. GO BIG ORANGE
gnm53108 writes:
Musicman..Agree with the down and dirty but 250 yrd average would probably be a stretch.I dont see why we shouldnt be able to do that a few times this year.
Dont understand the comment "they should be great at pass blocking too".They led the nation last year by only giving up four total sacks for the year.
Man,I can almost smell football season now.Where's them Bruins.
orangeblood writes:
I don't care, call him largemoron all you want, but that was by far the best allusion to all the pathetic naysayers on this site! I cracked up! Quentin Tarantino!! Go BIG ORANGE!
VolFanInAtl writes:
All this optimism is freaking me out.
We absolutely have to figure out a way to run the ball against Florida. We've got to keep there offense off the field.
07 - 37 yards
06 - -11 yards (yes, that's the wrong direction)
05 - 66 yards
04 - 171 (we won)
03 - 139 (we won)
gnm53108 writes:
100% Agree with VolFanInAtl.
gnm53108 writes:
Well,not about the optimism.I kinda like seeing a few posters who think this years Vols are going to be special.
Let the Frost Brewed Orangeaid FLOW.
richvol writes:
Even in today's college football OL don't have to weigh 300 lbs to be effective. It's about footwork, technique and hustle.
Most 300+ OL you see are carrying 40 to 50 lbs of fat that slows them down. The line on our 5 and 6 team was the largest in college football but they couldn't get out on the opposing linebackers and consequently could not run block.
cisgovols writes:
VolFanInAtl you got it right! The O-line has been there before. They are all back from last year so let's hope that a year more maturity and a new scheme will get them down the field via the ground. I love it when everybody in the nation knows that you are going to run and you pull it off. And richvol you also got it right brother. Get off the line, mow down the linebackers, and then you have a running game. Again!
Goodvol writes:
I don't care what size a guy is as long as he gets his job done. McNeil has done a fine job so I don't care if he weighs 140 lb. I think it's a positive if all you can find to complain about McNeil is that he doesn't weigh what you think he should. To me, that's a glowing endorsement!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
O-line should be fine. Probably Fla defensive scheme has a lot to do with lack of yardage.
We're not considered too hard to figure out, I guess.
VOLinDAWGland writes:
Make that past tense pdhuff and I agree. We nor anyone else is sure what to expect this year. Playing Florida early this year might actually be good for us for a change.
Jamey1210 writes:
The supposed vol fan that complain about everything are worse than the gator fans on this site. Slimone and workin would be off this site if it was up to me. I bet they are the guys at their work that bit** non stop and everyone tries to dodge them when they see them coming. You all know who I am talking about we all have them at our work place. It is funny how you can tell who they are just by their posts.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
tngeoff - true, quality LBs and CBs (Fla- Ga- Etc.) have way too much speed for Foster's 8 yard sprints which get him to within 2 yards of the line of scrimmage going East and West.
Hardesty, please stay healthy a full season and maybe Phil won't have a snit and keep you out as he did vs Bama. One of the strangest things I've ever witnessed especially with a player who was really needed in that debacle.
I doubt if we find out much about Poole under the "caste" system.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Jamey, too bad you don't get to make those decisions. LOL!!!!!
ThurmondEppy writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Wow....looks like people are having meltdowns about my posts before our 1st loss. Be patient, it will come.
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
Jamey1210,
I guess after the Vols lose to Fl, GA, and Auburn all of the negative posters should be banned too. You will probably be one of them. Watch them all come out early in the season but start to think positive after closing the season with wins against UK and Vandy. Happens every year. I am smart enough not to fall into that trap.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
yeah, we'll make it another November to Remember (forget) and they'll flash up Fulmer's November record and everyone will feel all warm and fuzzy until we have another Peach Bowl debacle.
AlWilson writes:
I'm curious what would make the haters(i.e Silent, Workin, Please) happy? Another perfect season? Fire the entire coaching staff and bring in someone with no loyalty like Saban? Or just completely shut down the football program?
miamiVOL writes:
run blocking needs to improve
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