Photo by Wade Payne
Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton throws during the Vols' first full-contact practice of spring.
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UT quarterback, Jonathan Crompton, is feeling a little more confident this spring. Crompton answers questions from the media following Tuesday's practice. Watch »
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney isn't ready to give up on Tennessee's quarterbacks following a subpar practice performance this week.
With UT's offense focusing on the shotgun formation more than any other time in spring practice, Jonathan Crompton seemed to take a step back Thursday after showing significant improvement in the previous week.
Crompton threw one interception that was returned for a touchdown and nearly had another pass picked off that was dropped by a defensive back.
"I think Jonathan's doing fine," Chaney said. "He's been progressing about how we think he would. Every time in spring ball, all the players are having little highs and lows.
"We've got to get rid of the valleys to try to find the consistent performance, which we're all counting on."
Chaney said he also was pleased with Nick Stephens' improvement. The junior is recovering from a broken wrist suffered before spring practice and returned to practice with no limitations for the first time Tuesday.
Stephens sailed several passes over his receivers' heads in his first return to practice but was more accurate Thursday. Still, the Texas native fumbled a shotgun snap and had a pass batted back that could have been picked off.
"I thought he did some good things the first day out and I'm sure he did some better things today," Chaney said.
B.J. Coleman's battle for first-team snaps could soon become more difficult if Crompton begins to improve again and Stephens returns to form.
"I think B.J. is doing a fine job," Chaney said. "He's a real competitive kid. He puts a lot of pressure on himself. We've got to let him loosen up a little bit and just play ball. He'll be fine."
Big D: Check Dallas Thomas's height, at least 6-foot-5, and he looks big. Check his weight, about 270 pounds, and suddenly he doesn't seem so intimidating.
Yet Thomas believes it's his versatility that makes him a great fit for UT's offense.
"Some plays you have to be a big man," the freshman offensive tackle said. "Some plays you have to be a finesse guy like me."
Either way, Thomas has impressed coach Lane Kiffin.
"Dallas is really athletic, really can move," Kiffin said. "He'll fit in the system. He has a ways to go schematically but we think he has a really good future."
Thomas said he's far better than he was in 2008 when he redshirted.
"I feel wiser," Thomas said. "I can understand what's going on on the field better and make better decisions."
Big Bart: Ben Bartholomew is happy with his move from fullback to tight end.
"I'm at tight end now and I'm enjoying it," the sophomore said. "I like it."
Bartholomew was part of a two-player experiment at tight end along with Austin Johnson, who will remain at fullback.
Bartholomew is UT's third-string tight end, behind junior Luke Stocker and senior Jeff Cottam.
"I've worked on my hands a lot," Bartholomew said. "I'm doing my best to have the best hands I can have."
Maryville Man: Kiffin said he's been impressed with redshirt freshman Aaron Douglas' athleticism. The former Maryville High School star moved from tight end to offensive tackle before spring practice.
Kiffin called Douglas a "great athlete that can run" but added, "coming in at tackle is a hard thing to do."
New Addition: UT announced that Steve Gortmaker has joined the staff as men's associate strength and conditioning coach. Gortmaker comes to UT after four seasons at South Carolina. He also coached at Oklahoma, Western Kentucky and Kansas.
"It's great to have Steve on board with us," UT head football strength and conditioning coach Mark Smith, who was at South Carolina last season, said in a UT release. "We've been together for a long time. He knows the type of program I run, so I can really count on him. He knows exactly what I want done, and I'm really excited to have him on board."
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Comments » 54
Weatherman writes:
Go Vols.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Trying to be positive, but reality rears its ugly head.
Coach 'em up.
HotlantaVol writes:
It won't happen over night, but hopefully it will all come together.
volsfannsc writes:
Crompton. Consistent. I'm a bit puzzled by these two words in the same sentence. I hope for our sake and his that he is coachable. Stephens....keep healing and learning.
thevoice writes:
It's interesting how the pecking order looks, after "open competition" for "all" spots, and only after a few spring practices... QB: JC, NS, and BJ. FB: Stocker, Cottam, and now Barth. Seems like last year's team to me. It will be super interesting to see who starts at TB. Oh well, I'm still with you CLK.
volsfannsc writes:
Seems to me there are a lot of players on that field looking over their shoulder. Maybe the pecking order works out that way, but it's obvious that competition has been introduced.
lomas98 writes:
How do you suggest it not look like last years team when a QB was not signed? Crompton will be the starter come opening weekend.
NorthwestVol writes:
No doubt the coaches are trying to restore some confidence after last years QB disaster. I think most of us agree that it won't take a great QB performance to have an improved season, but do any of the three have the 'stuff' to put last year behind them? And as many have said, much will depend on our thin offensive line. If they can stay healthy, improve their run blocking then the QBs will have a chance at some success.
Lots of 'ifs', but I'm excited for the season.
volsfannsc writes:
I feel we can depend on the defense to hold most teams to a couple of touchdowns. Then all we have to do is figure out a way to hook or crook three or four. I really hope that Crompton figures this thing out- I know he has an arm. Stephens probably has it close to being figured out but needs the arm. Whats a team supposed to do? Hopefully the blocking scheme works and our backs can figure out a way to break a few open.
bugman (Inactive) writes:
what about Warren???
UTandETSUfan writes:
He is now a WR, not a TE.
TurnUpTheVOLtage writes:
Slow Vols secondary, haha good joke
olozbal#646632 writes:
You know sometimes you just look into someone's eyes and know they're a complete moron? To me that's Crompton. Sorry, but I'm a Vol fan but this guy just doesn't seem to be beyond a 40 watt light bulb.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Amen.
volsoutwest writes:
Slow Vols secondary???
EHSvols23 writes:
Let me say this first, QB play will not be our strongsuit this year. However, I think it needs to be pointed out that either Crompton or Stephens( or Coleman for that matter) are far more effective when they know they will have a few seconds to drop back and throw. I think the real problem last year was they all knew that they had no time to read the defense because if they did, they were going to get nailed. That is because the ridiculously retarded blocking schemes we had last year. No one knew who to block. All the defense had to do was confuse the O-Line, and they knew they had a free shot at the QB
EHSvols23 writes:
I am not trying to make excuses, but if the line will give these guys some time to throw, and the QB can TRUST in that fact, then we can get enough pass plays off to keep defenses honest. Then I say we run the ball, run the ball, and run the ball. It may not be the flashiest season on record, but until we get a guy who can process a defense quickly, we need to hand the ball to our great backs. We have a stable of them. I say we play them all and go from there
Greer_Vol_22 writes:
A football team without a QB is like a basketball team without a point guard.
Crompton physically is as good as Tebow, but mentally he couldn't even match Tebow's socks. Better hope we are a much improved running team boys...
Weatherman writes:
99 I predict a storm coming to the central FL region in September...you might want to take cover as Tebow's socks will probably be blown away, along with most of the rift raft that frequent this mosquito infested area.
jsm67vol writes:
Sounds like you've been physical with tebow. I bet you have a poster of him on the ceiling above your bed.
jobrando#216494 writes:
It's always been not much better than a 7-5 team. The qb's have had zero coaching until now.
RoadTrip writes:
I agree and hope he shows it big time between now and September.
VAvolfanRON writes:
Chaney...coach em up!!!.....i expect improvement.....but then again, i expect class from Univ. of Felons posters....
which one will happen first?
VAvolfanRON writes:
are there any 'classy' gator fans reading that would like a civil, mature football conversation???
99gator seems to be with Elvis.....
please tell me there are mor than 99gator...or gatorzz represents you guys??
MattDillon writes:
"Watt" a fact
VAvolfanRON writes:
Wow....so you know Crompton.....unless you've seen him.....
give us more of your expert opinion of the rest of the team
VAvolfanRON writes:
and Matt..ill deal with you later...lmao....
you now that was to the guy above!!!!....lmao
OLROCKYTOP writes:
STEPHENS WILL START OPENING DAY. HE HAS TWICE THE UPSIDE AS CROMPTON, NOT TO MENTION HE WILL HAVE MORE TIME TO DEVELOP UNDER KIFFIN'S SYSTEM. NICK WILL BE GOOD TO GO FOR TWO SEASONS UNTIL LANE GETS "HIS" QUARTERBACK RECRUITED AND READY TO START.
VAvolfanRON writes:
olrockytop......i could barely read your post....but..shouldn't we let the coaches decide?....
VolunteerPassion writes:
is your caps lock key stuck?
OLROCKYTOP writes:
IS YOUR SMALL CAPS???
VAvolfanRON writes:
lmao...he sounds like my wife...always yelling!!!!.....lmao
the other thing......he should start a his opinion with......I think stephens will start..........
we'll teach 'em
rudy123 writes:
Did anyone notice that today
Blake Bell committed to
Oklahoma?????
I though CLK wanted this
Q.B. badly!!!!!
VAvolfanRON writes:
hey bud...look for gatorzz and bobthevol...id love to see yalls conversation
VAvolfanRON writes:
Rudy...you're kidding me!!!..i was liking him the most......but, again......the kiffins know more about that I
VAvolfanRON writes:
marc..id like a more comfy feeling about heaps......you know...how good he is...ive read good and not so good articles....you like him?
tholster_vol writes:
Why is it that "the gator faithful" have to always come into our blogs and put in their 2 cents when in reality no one cares what they think. Hmmm must be scared of the future.
VAvolfanRON writes:
i cant say it enough.....would you people quit responding to him....please
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
You should just go ahead and let your fantasies run wild and become fully gay and make it 69 with you and TEBOW
misplacedVOLinGA writes:
Any VOL fans that are going to be in Augusta for the Masters should let me know. I've got a good place here just a short walk from the course. Would love to have some good Volunteer company for the tournament.
If a response was missed on the post, contact me through email at jeremylgraham@yahoo.com. Will be in town during tournament, but always glad to share a room with a fellow VOL!!!
AllVol2008#1353998 writes:
Always it seems, insightful, intelligent posts from you, sir.
I, too would rather hear the turth than a bunch of workin' like heck cr-ap.
Aurely to Pete, we'll be better than we were last year.
We are gonna have to get a QB to compete for the conference--no way around that.
ravensearay writes:
Did any of you guys see this? It was posted by writer (Matt Mcguire) from WalterFootball.com who is attending the coaches clinic. This is what he posted on his blog - " Let me say this, the UT coaching staff is simply elite...period. If they can get a big time quarterback they will win a national championship."
I Love It..............
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!
G8RH8R writes:
I normally don't respond to interlopers, but this one time I can't resist. There is one Vol as physical as Teblow. His name is ERIC BERRY!!
philfan writes:
I think that Fulmer used competition as much as or more than Kiffin is using it, in order to improve the team's performance. Some of you are in denial or are not capable of realizing this because of hate towards Fulmer and his staff. With Fulmer, of course, we got more losses than wins.
On opening day, you will see a team remarkably similar in composition to what Fulmer would have put together.
volsoutwest writes:
I beg to differ, Philfan, I really believe it will be vastly different. Too many coaching differences, new players, players who watched from the sidelines, new enthusiasm, new strength and conditioning program, need I go on? Vastly different!!!
tnbanker_govols writes:
I love the fact that we're finally getting details about how practice is REALLY going instead of....."Well,it was a great practice today. The guys worked their butts off but there are still areas in which we need to improve on. We just have to continue to work like heck to get better."
Runningangry writes:
Are you taking bets that the Vols will cover this spread? Put your money where your mouth is or stfu.
tholster_vol writes:
Us people can respond to whom ever we wish, you aren't the blog lord, to tell who can and can't respond
StroVol writes:
Really? You're going for 68? Wow, do it man! Don't hold back. How bout a clean 70. STFU!
10volunteers98 writes:
COME TO KNOXVILLE JAKE HEAPS!
WE NEED YOU.GO GET HIM,KIFF.
GO,VOLS!!!
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