Position battles healthy for Vols

Video

University of Tennesee tailback Montario Hardesty talks about his summer working for Calhoun's and getting into shape for the upcoming season. His secret? "If you look good, you play good." Watch »

Rico McCoy: Ever the professional

Often times a position battle in late August is cause for concern, a sign that someone hasn't shown the capability of locking down a starting position.

Not so in two instances for Tennessee's football team, both in the middle of its attack on offense and defense. In both cases, the Vols see strength in numbers.

The first of the two battles comes at defensive tackle, where seniors Demonte Bolden and Walter Fisher and junior Dan Williams are competing for playing time.

"I couldn't tell you right now who's going to walk out there first," defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks said of the UCLA game Monday night. "We're going to compete everyday.

"After the ball game, who performs? Those are the guys are that are going to start the next week."

UT has a similar scenario playing out at offensive guard, where Jacques McClendon's improvement on technique has the weight room warrior primed to be a star.

McClendon, who started six games last season and was first-string in all three scrimmages during preseason camp, seems poised to hold off fellow junior Vladimir Richard for a starting job at strong guard.

"It's nice to have your name called out in that starting lineup but we're not really focusing on whose going to be the starter right now," said Richard, who has yet to start at UT despite playing in every game last season. "Whoever is out there is going to get the job done."

McClendon said strong chemistry eliminates envy.

"We're just a tight knit group," he said. "We've all come a long way. To see how much we've all progressed as a group, it doesn't matter (who starts). We know we're all going to play. We believe we're all just as talented as another."

Offensive line coach Greg Adkins isn't ready to name starters for the UCLA game. He'll name starters and insert substitutes based on practice performance, match-ups and some good ole' fashioned coaching intuition. That means a concrete plan won't be in effect.

"It's not going to be a revolving door as far as a set rotation of any sort," Adkins said.

That should keep them motivated.

Touchy Touchy: Defensive coordinator John Chavis bristled when asked if he hoped cornerback Brent Vinson and defensive tackle Donald Langley would take their one-game suspensions for a violation of UT’s class-attendance policy as a learning experience.

“Yeah, I mean that’s obvious. Wouldn’t you think so?” Chavis said. “Gee, you don’t want to make the same mistakes over and over again. That’s what life’s all about. I made a bunch of mistakes growing up.

“I’m probably the only one standing around here that ever made a mistake. Nobody else ever made one but me. I made a bunch of them growing up. I hope I learned from them and I hope they learn from theirs.”

Slade Says: Defensive backs coach Larry Slade said he’s pleased with Vinson’s positive approach to spring practice despite having to serve a suspension against UCLA.

“That’s maturity certainly,” Slade said. “He went out and worked. We really appreciate how hard he worked.

“He got better during that time and he got better as a person. He’s focused now and hopefully he’ll stay that way.”

Ending it Up: Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell said freshman Willie Bohannon could play against UCLA.

“If I can get him in the ball game at the right time, he’s close to being ready to helping us,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell said he’ll definitely play the top four defensive ends on UT’s depth chart: senior Robert Ayers, junior Wes Brown and sophomores Ben Martin and Chris Walker.

Caldwell said Walker has responded well after missing last week’s practices with a groin injury.

“I think he feels good about his leg now,” Caldwell said. “The more comfortable he gets with that, the better his week will go.”

D’ed Up: UT coach Phillip Fulmer said part of the reason UT’s defensive ends were more productive late in preseason camp was due to an improved push by UT’s defensive tackles.

Fulmer said UT has had more push from its top three defensive tackles than anytime last year.

Notebook: Linebacker Gerald Williams did not practice on as he awaits his academic clearance. ... Tight ends coach Jason Michael said he is still evaluating freshman tight end Aaron Douglas to decide whether or not he’ll play against UCLA. Douglas, a former Maryville High School star, was slowed in the beginning of camp by a sore shoulder. ... Memphis junior Matt Reagan, a graduate of Bearden, and UT sophomore Daniel Lincoln have been named to the Lou Groza Award Watch List. The Lou Groza Award is presented to the nation’s top kicker. The 30 kickers on the list were chosen based on statistics from the 2007 season and 2008 preseason expectations.