Packer: Coordinators ready for spring

Tennessee's two new football coordinators have a lot in common as spring practice is upon us. They are both anxious to see that hand they've been dealt.

"The number one thing we need to do this spring is to find out about our players and make sure they're in the correct position," offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. "I think our background in the NFL will help us with our evaluation of the talent that we have."

Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin says Tuesday is the real deal.

"I'm big on seeing the tape," Kiffin said. "We haven't been able to tape anything the players have done yet, but come Tuesday the cameras will be rolling. Players tell me that they can do this and that, but I tell them I need to see it on tape to believe it. We have to get these guys on the field to see what we have."

For Chaney, he's the fourth offensive coordinator in five years for the Vols. For some players on offense, the new playbook will be the third one they've had to learn. Chaney says that's a concern.

"Any time you come in, you have to sell your style of play and how you want to do things," Chaney said. "The guys are buying in real good right now. But, without question, it damages kids when they have to go through 4 or 5 people during their tenure at any college. It's now up to us to make sure they learn our language."

As far as calling plays, Chaney says that coach Lane Kiffin will the one to make that decision.

"Coach Kiffin will be heavily involved. He had a lot of success at USC calling plays and I don't imagine that will change. We haven't drilled down to that part of it yet. But, I'm at the point in my career that there's no ego involved. I don't feel that I have to do it. Whatever Coach wants to do, I will be comfortable with it."

What Chaney is anxious to find out about is the quarterback position.

"You know, I haven't really looked at a lot of tape of those guys," he said. "We've looked at a little bit, but mainly I've focused on one-on-one meetings with them in my office. It's been important to let them know what we want to do and how we want it done. Our evaluation of the quarterbacks will be done as we go forward from here."

Chaney has come a long way since being an all-conference nose guard at Central Missouri State in 1984. From the middle of the defense to running NFL and now Tennessee's offenses, Chaney has done it all.

"I was fortunate to work with some fantastic people early in my career that guided me down the path of the importance of great offensive line play. From there it sprouted out to the passing game. I've been luckier than I am good, and I've enjoyed the offensive side of the ball a lot."

While Chaney likes the offensive side, Monte Kiffin is all about the defense. In 1977 he was the defensive coordinator at Arkansas under coach Lou Holtz. It was during that season that the Razorbacks led the nation in scoring defense. Things didn't change much when Kiffin helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship in 2002. In the 48-21 win over the Raiders, the Bucs intercepted five passes, returning three of them for touchdowns. Scoring defense is what Kiffin stresses on a daily basis.

"It's pretty simple, really, the other team is trying to get the ball across our goal line," he said. "If we can take it away from them before that happens, we will have a better chance of winning. It is one of the five most important things that we will stress to our players, forcing turnovers and getting it the ball headed in the proper direction.

"I love professional ball, but I love college ball, too. Both games are the same, really. There are 11 guys on both sides of the ball and the field is the same size. It's all about having your guys in the right position to stop the other team and get the ball away from them. The difference between the pro game and the college game is the atmosphere. I can't wait to look up and see 107,000 fans in the stands with the band playing.

"I know that boats drive up to the stadium here and the team runs out through a 'T.' I will tell you right now, though, you won't see me running through the 'T.' I will be walking."

Monte Kiffin has been all football since he arrived on campus late last year.

"I have seen my hotel, office and the airport, that's it," he said. "This town is absolutely crazy about sports. ESPN Game Day came for the Florida game. I've been to men's basketball games, and the women's games are incredible. It kind of reminds me of my days back in Nebraska, except all they cared about there was football. These fans in Knoxville love anything that wears orange."

One major difference Monte Kiffin has found between the pro game and the college game has been recruiting.

"These guys recruit harder than anyone in the country," he said. "It's been amazing how much emphasis has been put on recruiting. We have meetings every day on recruiting. Listen, a coach is only as good as the players that he has. If you have great players, the coaches look like geniuses. We have some great players here already, but we need more.

"In the spring we'll work to figure out which ones are the ones we will have on the field. All positions are open for battle. Well, I guess except one … Eric Berry kind of has his spot locked up. I think we'd be run out of town before we got to coach too many games if we don't have him on the field as much as we can."

Monte Kiffin says that working for his son has been a lot of fun.

"It's a little reversed from the Bowden's and Spurrier's as far as the father being the head coach. Most times the son works for the dad, but this is a little different," he said. "Lane is the boss and I'll do what he wants us to do. My son knows the game of football and he has a way he wants it done. I believe in his way and that's the way we'll do it."

You can see the entire interviews with Jim Chaney and Monte Kiffin tonight on the Locker Room, Presented by Parkwest Medical Center, at 10 p.m. on MyVLT2.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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