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Coach Lane Kiffin said the recent rash of injuries suffered by Tennessee's receivers could actually improve the Vols' depth this season.
Aside from senior Austin Rogers, who is out for the season with a torn knee ligament, UT's receiving corps could be back to full strength by September.
Junior Gerald Jones' hand injury will limit him in fall camp but isn't expected to cost him much playing time. Junior Denarius Moore's broken foot is expected to keep him out for eight to 10 weeks.
"If we could get both of them back and healthy by the opener, it could actually work better sometimes," Kiffin said Tuesday. "All of those (practice) reps that they would have got go to younger guys."
Kiffin, however, admitted that both wouldn't likely be healthy by Sept. 5, when the Vols open the season against Western Kentucky. Moore's absence is expected to stretch into the season.
After seeing three receiver injuries in one off-season, Kiffin reviewed UT's summer workout program.
"They're all different, freak deals," Kiffin said. "It's not from overtraining and it's not from doing too much - just some unfortunate luck."
Kiffin said Moore suffered his foot injury in spring practice but continued to work through the pain before finally being sidelined after UT's training staff determined a pin needed to be inserted in his foot.
The trio of injuries means freshman Marsalis Teague will stay at receiver for now. During his recruitment, there had been talk he might move to defensive back.
Kiffin didn't seem to think he needed to move anyone else to receiver, despite the injuries.
"There are a couple of young guys that could go over there, but I think we'll have enough," he said. "If you get too many, it gets too watered down. You put six freshmen over there and nobody is getting really good."
UT is expected to have at least three freshmen working at receiver: Nu'Keese Richardson, Zach Rogers and Teague. Freshman receiver James Green from Tallahassee, Fla., is awaiting academic clearance to enroll at UT but could be on campus by August.
Injury (Weight) Report: Kiffin said freshman defensive tackle Arthur Jeffrey's surgically repaired knee looks fine, but his conditioning could use some work.
"He looks heavy, heavier than when we recruited him," Kiffin said. "He's put on some weight due to rehab. We'll throw him in there and find out."
Jeffrey suffered torn knee ligaments last fall.
Practice Report: Kiffin said he's been extremely pleased with the reports he's received from UT's players and trainers about summer workouts.
"The workouts - from what I've been told from other players - have gone great," said Kiffin, who isn't allowed to attend the workouts as per NCAA rules.
The seniors have led the way, Kiffin said: "They have to do it all on their own. They've taken a lot of leadership in this."
Kiffin said UT's players regularly work out more than four hours a day.
Media Matters: Kiffin said practices will be open to media until Aug. 28. They will then be closed except for the first four periods, which is approximately 40 minutes.
Freshmen will be available for interviews on UT's preseason media day on Aug. 9 at Neyland Stadium. Freshmen will only be available after that at Kiffin's discretion.
Kiffin has been surprised by the amount of media coverage his team has received in his first eight months on the job.
"You open the paper in the middle of July and there's five articles about the football team," the former Southern California assistant said. "You open the L.A. Times all July and there won't be one article about S.C. (Southern California) football. It's very different from where I've come from but I really like it."
Birmingham Bound: Kiffin was in Birmingham to meet with SEC commissioner Mike Slive on Monday.
Kiffin, along with safety Eric Berry and tailback Montario Hardesty, will be back in Birmingham on Friday for SEC Media Days.
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Comments » 17
Kevinyaheard writes:
I think the freshman recievers will def carry their load. I hope to see a lot of play action, especially after we run it down their throats and they have to put 8 in the box!!!
Volon writes:
I asked this on an earlier article, but was late getting to the table. Many Vol fans only know one coach CPF. How long does a new coach get as a "honeymoon"? 2 seasons? 1 season? first game? first half of first game? This is new territory for many Vol fans
Kevinyaheard writes:
I really hope the freshman are phenominally good for obvious reasons but all so for recruiting...It helps so much to know if you are as good as advertised out of high school, that you can come to UT and not be redshirted automatically. Here's to hoping that Bryce Brown has the impact of Maurice Clarrett his freshman year, without all the drama, that is...Go Vols!!!
Waldorf writes:
Can I please request never to see the words "stay" and "course" ever mentioned in a headline about UT football ever again?
bluetick writes:
For maybe once in my lifetime I can agree with you on that one.
imw8n4u writes:
I don't know so much about the "honeymoon" period, but generally people give coaches long enough to get their own players in place before really judging it as a finished product. For some coaches, this becomes more of a burden since they may be viewed as winning with someone else's talent, an example being Les Miles. Here's to hoping Lane can win with Fulmer's players and win a lot with his own.
prideofthesouthland writes:
I could have wrote this article in my sleep YESTERDAY!!!!! Come on Hooker, were you bored today and just decided to paraphrase the whole news conference verbatim? You are better than that.
IwillalwaysbeaVOLunteer writes:
Better late than never. Is KNS just trying to fill page space? I read this yesterday.
DennisVols writes:
It's amazing. Under Fulmer all the freshmen where tounge tied. Under Kiffin's watch they can actually speak.
TennesseeTodd writes:
or......."working like heck"
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
Hopefully, we won't need the receivers badly against WKU. This gives a little more time for them to be healthy by the Fl. game. Most likely we will need to pass heavily in that game, since they are 27 point favs.
record prediction 8-4
musicjl#606296 writes:
IMO I am expecting 8-4 plus a bowl game this year, but would not be surprised if we pull an upset and go 9-3. They were really talking TN down on ESPN's SEC talk tonight. They even laughed a little bit. They were dogging Kiffin too.... I like being under the radar like that. I think the coaches will use that to get the team fired up. I think we will see much more effort and energy on the field. I hate it, though, when the guys on ESPN dog a player. They were dogging JC, saying he would never be the guy to bring a turnaround. Kiffin has worked for months to try to build JC's confidence back up, only to have guys like that tear 'em down. I don't think JC will come out and be an All-Star QB this season, but I do think, with good coaching and confidence that he can come out and be a solid QB. Well, I guess I rambled a little bit, but I was fired up after the ESPN stuff....
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
we need one of the Freshman receivers to step up.If Fulmer was here we would be in deep doo doo! Atleast Kiff will have young players ready!
ravensearay writes:
Very well said... ESPN will not accept the Vols even after they post an upset or 2. I don't think 9-3 is that far fetched for the talent on this team. They will surprise some folks. GO VOLS!!!! 43 days and counting
Waldorf writes:
Always remember....you may not always be getting my true thoughts on something....it may be what is the most entertaining thing to post.
annemarie writes:
The only problem with that is that Meyer will be through by the time Jesse announces his decision.
WYLOVER writes:
I don't think we are going to get him...and I am not sure I actually care. I would like a guy from the South to come to get in on the challenge. The West Coast is soft and guys don't know what competition is....would rather look good than play hard.
I love Kiffin's jab at the lack of attention to USC in LA.
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