Phillip Fulmer didn't mind that the assembled media had to wait as he ran his backup offensive linemen through extra drills following Tuesday's practice.
And once Tennessee's football coach finally made his way to reporters, they didn't have to wait for a strong quote about UT's first spring practice in full pads.
"They're soft," Fulmer said after overseeing underclassmen Cody Pope, Darris Sawtelle and Ramon Johnson. "They're soft 300-pounders. They should be big, ugly, tough guys. Right now, they're not very tough."
Perhaps the shortcomings were to be expected following UT's first spring practice in full pads - a full 11 days after the Vols' last practice due to an untimely spring break.
Perhaps Fulmer's semi-tirade was a bit orchestrated, a motivational tool to get his players' best even though an actual football game is still more than five months away.
Whatever the reason, Fulmer didn't back down.
"There's a big dropoff from the first team line to the second team," he said. "We cannot have that. There's too much talent and ability and pride in the position for us to be that far back in the second group."
The offensive linemen caught the brunt of Fulmer's rant, but they weren't the only ones.
Fulmer's sights were also set on UT's defensive ends, including senior Robert Ayers and junior Wes Brown. That's the group that has to replace departed seniors Xavier Mitchell and Antonio Reynolds.
Fulmer said UT's defensive ends were better, but not assertive enough.
"I want to see them pushing for reps," Fulmer said. "We're going to call them. We need them."
With the offensive line and defensive ends adequately critiqued, Fulmer moved to defensive tackle, particularly sophomore Victor Thomas.
"He's eating good and traveling around campus as a football player and (yet he) hasn't done a (darn) thing," Fulmer said. "It's time for him to do something."
Fulmer's known to challenge players publicly, especially in spring practice. And while he may have bruised some egos, he was far from pulling any scholarships.
"If a guy's not courageous, it's hard to make him courageous," Fulmer said. "I don't believe we have any guys that are not courageous, just soft in a couple of positions."
More Thumbs Down: Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell agreed that UT's defensive ends were subpar Tuesday. However, Caldwell wasn't ready to say that Ayers had returned to the inconsistent ways that plagued him as an underclassman.
"Robert is over that inconsistency," Caldwell said. "I believe that. He played consistent last year. Especially down the stretch, I thought he played very well.
Caldwell said the Vols have moved junior Andre Mathis back to end from defensive tackle.
Thumbs Up: Fulmer complimented UT's running backs and junior quarterback Jonathan Crompton following practice. That's good news for a backfield that's only in its third practice under new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson.
"When you put pads on, it's always going to be a little faster," Crompton said. "That's the main thing. You have to get out here and play fast and know where you're going with the ball."
Fulmer also lauded seniors Nevin McKenzie and Adam Meyers-White as they compete for the open strongside linebacker position, vacated by departed senior Ryan Karl.
"Nevin and Adam are both competing really hard and doing a good job," Fulmer said.
Fulmer also cited an example for any underclassmen who weren't meeting his expectations.
"Josh Briscoe is a football player now," Fulmer said, referring to the senior whose reputation once lacked toughness. "He's not just a soft little receiver. He'll go block your butt and make the tough catch."
It's Academic: Fulmer said sophomore walk-on Nick Reveiz - a former Farragut High School standout - among linebackers benefitting from more practice repetitions, as starters Ellix Wilson and Rico McCoy have class conflicts this spring.
"That leaves more opportunity for those young guys to take their jobs," Fulmer said. "That would be fine with me."
Welcome Back: Ja'Kouri Williams is attempting to play another season. Williams, who has played running back and receiver, will graduate this summer and plans to attend graduate school in the fall. He had planned to end his career with one year of eligibility remaining.
Schedule: UT will practice Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week. The Vols' Tuesday meetings began at 6:30 a.m.
"At :25 (minutes) after, they were sitting there," Fulmer said. "That's a good sign."
Mark Burgess contributed to this report.
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Comments » 60
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
"Fulmer's known to challenge players publicly...."
Really? By the way some people talk around here you would think all he does is pat them on the head, tell them to finish their charts and say "We're working like heck to get better." I guess people just see what they want to see.
Anyway, the Tennessean is also reporting that Kenny O'Neal will miss most of spring practice due to academics (waste od scholarship?) and Ricardo Kemp is leaving the program. I thought the latter was odd because it seemed like he was pushing for playing time. He had a real good game against UK last year.
khelton657 writes:
Glad to see he is calling out the specific individuals rather than sounding like a Pop Warner coach..glad to see some things may be different....we're gonna need it.
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Let's keep it positive. Be hard on yourself, not our program. Coach Fulmer wouldn't mention any names publicly he didn't see as having a great deal of potential. Everybody he mentioned will have to grow up a little bit get in better shape and get after it......
wyomingvol writes:
Go Vols.
I'll hang up an listen to Ya....
VOLinDAWGland writes:
There seems to be a sense of urgency in Fulmer's approach...good!!!
Bigger_Al writes:
I can see Adams over there on the sideline looking at his watch, complaining on his cellphone to Finebaum that Fulmer has the nerve to make him wait...
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
Sounds like Phil is serious about the upcoming season. Extra claps and pats on the behind for everyone.
Volalumnus writes:
Say what you want about "the article" a while back, but looks like Adams was successful in cleaning up the off field mess.
I don't think there has been one incident since that article came out. Compare that to the 2 months prior.
GerryOP writes:
Win baby, just win!
peerlessvolfan writes:
Hey, I just read in our Detroit papers that a U-M offensive line starter, Justin Boren, has left the team. He's a 6'3", 310 center and left guard--do we need him and if so, can UT recruit him possibly? Just wondering.....
Silent_Fulmer writes:
Were less than 3 weeks away from Fulmer being the 2nd highest paid coach in Knoxville.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Yawn...Kemp lived with Coker. Also, O'Neal is going to tear it up in the 7 on 7 drills this summer. I promise. Hey, new offense gets installed this spring and he's not even there to learn it. Cut your losses, kick him off the team and give the scholarship to a deserving senior walk-on. O'Neal has been suspended multiple times.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
who?
VOLinDAWGland writes:
sjt18,
aka Foolmore?
nafslov,
Your chain jerking ain't working
TnKyFlAlGaScLaAkMi writes:
Volalumnus, if you think Adams had anything to do with that you are the stupidest person to ever post in the history of posters on the internet.
nastyman writes:
fulmer is so funny when he tries to be the stereotypical tough football coach.
He's like "Block your butt..." and "Damn, blah blah..." I really don't think he knows much about anything, but hell we won the east last year so it's hard to complain. (Yet so many of you do: stop being douches)
Anyways, it has never been about Fulmer. He's just the softie who convinces athletes that things are going to be easy at TN. Then Chavis and company do the actual coaching.
FlushTheJohn writes:
To borrow a line from Jim Rome's clone's
Make the world a better place, punch John Adams in the face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Somebody hit Pennington while your at it!
Flush The Johns!!!
BOASoldier writes:
A little information that GVX didn't mention. and the source of the Kemp story for SJT18.
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...
Going and coming: Defensive back Ricardo Kemp has decided to leave the program. The sophomore had two sacks and an interception last season. Meanwhile, receiver and special teamer Ja’Kouri Williams has returned to the program after informing Fulmer he was leaving following last season.
“(Williams) is a great story,” Fulmer said. “He’s real close to graduating and decided to play again.
Young and tough: Running back Tauren Poole continued to earn high marks from his coaches. The true freshman from Toccoa, Ga., has gained the respect of UT’s new running backs Coach Stan Drayton, as well as Fulmer.
“There are some guys, like Tauren Poole, who don’t back away from anything,” Fulmer said. “That comes out with the background they came from and the program they came from and their innate toughness.”
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
This really isn't news. I think coach Fulmer is always hard on soft players, however with the departure of Coach Cut, I think Fulmer will be tougher on the players (and coaches) this year. Hopefully it will pay dividends in January.
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
Regarding off-the-field conduct: I know a girl who is friends with Ben Martin and she said they (the players) are terrified of screwing up right now. They make sure they are in their dorms by curfew and are not goofing off at parties and such. The way she described the curfew thing was as if they take off like Cinderella 10 minutes to midnight.
Somehow I don't think John Adams put that kind of fear in them.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Nafslov, if that comment was about Austin Rogers, it is stupid and ignorant. He may very well be the toughest receiver we have. Fearless across the middle. Takes hits and keeps on coming.
Watch the games last year, you fool. Austin Rogers helped us win several -- by catching in the flat where the monsters lurk and hanging onto the ball. He was Mr. Go-To all season.
As my grandmother said: "What you don't know, don't talk it."
auttat writes:
And what would you lead you to "KNOW" Crompton is a "real" player?
He lost both games that he played the majority of the minutes in 2006. And, he enjoyed turning the ball over in the few minutes he got to play this past year.
Does he have the potential? Yes, most definitely. Do we KNOW he will perform? Of course not.
GerryOP writes:
Since we have a new QB and a new OC, not sure how anyone can KNOW much of anything about how our '08 offense will perform. However, I have high hopes ... and ... high expectations!
Silent_Fulmer writes:
Who else is looking forward to going 10-4 at best and getting an email from Hamilton that tells you how good you should feel about it?
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
any of you dudes notice Crompton is acting very QB-like?? Okay, most of us can talk the talk, and we try to walk the .... freaking dog! I HATE that saying.
Anyway, JC appears to be maturing and confidant. Get one thing straight: as pisspoor as Cut can be as an OC, he is regarded as one of the BEST QB coaches arouud. We don't know much about Clawson yet, but I get the feeling he is giving JC some respect, which often helps a young player's confidence.
TommyJack writes:
As I've said before on here, Cut obviously had no respect for JC. Instead, he stayed with the injured, weak-armed, EA to run his chuck & duck offense. I'm excited about JC.
givehim6 writes:
Sounds like phi finely got fulled up with all the talk about him, and his coaching from the past few years. Keep'em tough big guy, you my get that 2nd Nat. champ. yet. GO VOLS!
VOLinDAWGland writes:
Given our schedule next year, I'll take 10-4 which means we played in the SEC CG again. I'd prefer 11-3 which would assume that we actually won the SEC CG.
thesavageorange writes:
TommyJack ,Do you have an imposter running aroung calling himself TOMMYJACK?Didn't think it was you.Doesn't have your swagger.
TommyJack writes:
Savage: Yeah, there's an imposter out there. All caps tj is a poser. So far I have refrained from unleashing my superior intellect and rapier like wit on him. :)
bigbluevol writes:
There's no such thing as Division IIIA. It's just Division III.
GreerVol22 writes:
Amen , TomJack. First three words of the article, nice play Hooker.
GreerVol22 writes:
or first 4 if your an Adams fan.
jimr07 writes:
volalumnus--what makes you think adams article had anything to do with more exemplary behavior? could it be that fulmer and the coaching staff had anything to do with it. why would you give adams credit for anything?
Silent_Fulmer writes:
VOLinDAWGland - I said 10-4 at best, we will go somewhere between that and 6-6 in the regular season.
I'm guessing the average of both of those will be the most likely outcome. Hey, 8-5 here we come!
Hamilton better be crafting away at that email, I can't wait to get in January following a Peach Bowl win or loss.
invisiblekid writes:
If Adams gets any credit for defusing the discipline issue, then I deserve credit for Briscoe's turnaround from being a "soft" player to a tough one. After all, before last season I commented on here that Briscoe needed to be tougher. Truth be told, neither one had a thing to do with the other. The Vol program was on the verge of becoming the poster children for Football Players Gone Wild. Fulmer, along with what I would imagine was a serious nudge from Hamilton, has gotten them back in line. Simple as that.
I have to ask about another issue though, what the he!@ was Diamond Dave and company thinking with that title?
thesavageorange writes:
Posted by invisiblekid on March 26, 2008 at 4:38 p.m.
I have to ask about another issue though, what the he!@ was Diamond Dave and company thinking with that title?
His last name should have tipped you off.
dburgVol writes:
Yeah that's great, print EVERYTHING the coach says about his players. If the kids have a LOT of character, they will get pi**ed off and start knockin heads, if they don't, they will just get pi**ed off. I'm glad the local paper didnt print everything my football coach said about us linemen in hs.
Volalumnus writes:
To those that react like little girls who are told their hair is a mess.
Very simple
1)for several months there was at least one incident per week involving arrest or the sort.
2)Adams writes article
3)No more incidents
Figure it out yourselves.
If it was because TN administration it would have been done sooner.
Obviously they got with the players and finally laid the ground rules and they did so in response to "the article"
Facts are facts.
Some of you need to quit thinking your IQ is printed on the side of a bottle.
LargeOrange writes:
In contrast, here is what Mr. Adams' counterpart in the Greenville, SC paper had to say about Steve Superior's rampant off the field problems.
http://greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs...
Is it just me or did this Sports Editor seem to blame not SS as much as the kids who chose to break the law?
"This would be an excellent time for Spurrier's players to grow up and start acting more like adults and less like spoiled brats who think the world owes them something; they need to turn the page on the image of coddled athletes who don't feel bound by society's rules." I am guessing that, since this Sports Editor didn't call for SS's job and tour the South East putting the blame on Coach Steve, that SC will continue to have these off the field problems, until this Editor does so. This is yet another reason why we are so lucky to have Mr. John Adams as the leader of our beloved sports section. Were you aware that he has won several state writing awards in addition to solving discipline issues at major college football programs? How long will it be before other college town newspapers come calling and start throwing big money at Mr. John Adams to come and solve their off the field problems for them? KNS you need to spend what ever it takes to keep Mr. Adams right here at Tennessee.
invisiblekid writes:
That's OK General, you were a legend here long before you graced us with your presence.
SavageO, you're right, I guess I shouldn't expect high moral fiber from a newspaper that employs a Hooker.
Volalumnus writes:
Asheley
Actually if you weren't doing it now, you could get your point straight.
I came on here to point out what was right, not wrong and some can't keep from over reacting to a fact being pointed out that since and ever since that "article" came out, there have been no further incidents.
Don't shoot the messenger, especially when it bears good news.
Adams and his derived response from TN Administration have done far more good for Fulmer than most of his "supporters" will do for him in their lifetime.
Volalumnus writes:
I will give you more credit than the link to:
--Contradiction In Stock Shop at FragranceNet!
However, Yes I am crontradicting the pretense of those who indicate otherwise that the incidents stopped immediately following the article.
You can analyze why that is any way you want and will be more or less right depending upon your view but that is the nice thing about facts, they don't depend upon perspective
ThurmondEppy writes:
Nafslov- You are not a fan. Period.
philfan writes:
I suspect that the players respect (fear, admire?) Fulmer more than most people think. First, he is a really big man, and I can't see any player talking back too much or too often to him. Also, I have seen him give players some pretty mean, spooky stares when they were displeased when he had to remove them from games (for instance, when they had drawn too many personal fouls). It was pretty unnerving seeing this big guy with fire in his eyes. I would not want to get on his bad side.
LargeOrange writes:
Volalumnus- I understand your point and it is technically factual, but I have a question. If John Adams gets credit for these results, will you blame John Adams for the next time one of these kids screws up and breaks the rules? To do otherwise would seem to be a "Contradiction".
gohawks1 writes:
High moral fiber - that's rich!
BTW, what's up with Coach Caldwell moving one of our defensive tackles (Mathis) to another position? Aren't we hurting enough on the d-line already?
Volalumnus, your argument is so singular it's not even funny. You totally ignore any and all other factors simply because Adams printed an article in the right place on the timeline? You must be kidding me.....
Volalumnus writes:
Posted by LargeOrange
True if I was solely giving him credit for the results directly> I am giving him credit for being the conduit to cause appropriate corrective actions to be taken.
If more trouble starts my guess is that it will be dealt with differently, if not, Adams will need to be criticle again, or he too will not be doing his job.
If down the road, trouble is very limited overall, and the program is regularly successful without the on or off field embarrassments, then Fulmer should get credit for righting the ship.
However, the Actions by Adams seems to have created the most positive results and the fact is that things have been better since.
Ashley - who said I have a problem with Fulmer, he is a great guy from all that I know of him.
I do have a problem with the results of his team on and off the field and do not think he had done an appropriate job dealing with either.
LargeOrange writes:
Volalumnus, I hear ya, if things go awry again, at least we have John Adams who can come back and "be criticle again" as you say. That is reassuring, we are indeed fortunate to have Mr. John Adams as the leader of our beloved sports section. In case you haven't heard, he has won several state writing awards.
Volalumnus writes:
IPOrange
Great it wasn't suppossed to be funny.
In regards to other factors that is known tell us and I will consider them.
In the end Fulmer may or may not have done anything. The AD may or may not have done anything.
The UT Pres may or may not have done anything. It may or may not have been the players reacting themselves to the public scrutiny.
I DO know the article was written and the problems have stopped appearing. Thats factual.
If you have other things to consider that you know then let us know and I will consider them. Otherwise you will just have to be irritated.
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