Knoxville Magazine
Eric Berry
Bad news, Western Kentucky. You too, UCLA, and the rest. Eric Berry is finally healthy.
Perhaps it won't make any difference. Berry, Tennessee's All-American predator, never really pulled any punches even when he was playing with a bum shoulder the past two seasons.
"My shoulder,'' Berry said Tuesday, "is back to 120 percent.
"It hasn't felt this good, I want to say, since I was 12 and hurt it.''
The junior strong safety had corrective surgery in the offseason.
Not that he ever appeared to be less than 120 percent while he was assassinating receivers and running backs and compiling an interception highlight reel.
But after the most physical preseason camp of his career, Berry is extremely confident in his rebuilt shoulder.
So is first-year head coach Lane Kiffin.
"Eric has played so well for two years and that was really not a concern, him being physical,'' Kiffin said.
"We know that's going to be the case. That's how he is.''
Berry tested his shoulder in UT's first scrimmage, laying the wood to running back Montario Hardesty. He admitted holding his breath but the shoulder felt great.
Thus, Berry is easing into a guided-missile frame of mind as UT approaches the season opener.
"It's been hit on every angle, and hits that would have probably hurt me last year,'' he said. "But now it's perfect.''
So perfect he'll be looking for victims on special-teams assignments. Berry will line up on both kickoff and punt coverage.
That might seem risky to some, exposing a consensus All-American to the violence of special-teams mayhem.
Berry and Kiffin, however, agree that UT should have its best tackler on the field in a volatile scenario when big plays can me made - positive and negative.
"As a defensive player, we specialize in chasing people,'' Berry said. "That's what we do.
"Defense is pretty much an organized game of freeze-tag. All we do is chase people. If you look out there Saturday, you'll see a lot of starters on kickoff and punt coverage.''
You'll also see a lot of youngsters out there.
The Vols have a handful of true freshmen on the defensive depth chart.
Berry calls them the "young puppies,'' but he remembers being one himself not so long ago. It was only two years ago he started in his first college game, at California.
"They're not really cocky,'' he said, "but I would say they're confident ... and having that confidence as a defensive back is a very good thing.
"You don't want to come in here thinking you can't do something as a freshman because (the opponents) are just going to take advantage of you.
"There's no pity in college.''
Berry has certainly never showed any.
And now he has two good shoulders.
Mike Strange covers Tennessee football. He can be reached at 865-342-6276.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 113
dlobh writes:
I'm not sure I agree with Berry playing kickoff and punt coverages. Sure he's the best tackler, but can nobody else on the team tackle well enough to play special teams? If he gets hurt, you're kicking yourself big time.
BleedOrangeForever writes:
The more he plays, the more he is going to make highlight reels!
Witch_Doctor writes:
Witch Doctor say S-L-O-B-B-E-R K-N-O-C-K-E-R coming to team near you soon. Bones never lie
jphilli5#240013 writes:
Its the time of his life. The best strength and conditioning of his life. I think he should play every down he is able to play. The game was invented for this guy. Stand back and watch his dust. He must tumble with the dice and riches and fame await this type of perfection in action. it is part of God's plan sure as the boa constrictor. God creates in our world and Berry "bees" HIS creation!
imw8n4u writes:
I don't really like the idea of putting him out there on kick off and punt coverage, too many people head hunting, looking for the big kill. What would be bigger than taking out EB? Personally I'd let Rogan and Jackson handle this duty, except maybe against UF or something. But that's what we pay them the big bucks for, in Kiffin we trust.
SHAWVOL writes:
ready for some amazing hits wonder who are going to victims this year i hope he lets loose on florida
Waldorf writes:
Eric Berry on the kickoff team?
He'll kill someone.
Witch_Doctor writes:
Witch Doctor say start of new "Faces of Death" Vol video series. Witch Doctor say runner better have head on swivel . Bones(breaking) never lie
Down_The_Field writes:
dang, this guy's got it all. an all american smile and a hit that would knock pluto back into the solar system.
i want to see another NO-SHAWN hit and another tim dweebo pic six.
VOLFORLIFE writes:
Yeah, he just might.
GO VOLS!!!
JUGHEAD
txvolsfan writes:
Good one WD
TXVOLSFAN
Down_The_Field writes:
maybe the 3rd game?!
amstelman writes:
The best where the best is needed. Kiffball!!
BleedOrangeForever writes:
I hope he circumsises Teblow.
AceVentura writes:
The Predator sounds like a good nickname. I can see it on a poster. Eric "The Predator" Berry. That's pretty sexy if you ask me.
Waldorf writes:
I dunno about the returner, but one of the front line guys better have it.
I'll be interested to see if they use him more as an outside safety or put him in the middle of the field.
The person that should be scared is a punt returner. If the gunners miss him and he gets a clean shot on a guy standing there...call the ambulance.
volnavy4life writes:
"I pitty the fool"....who gets drilled as an EB highlight.
BA Baracus for you young folks
Give_Him_6_Holloway writes:
The best teams play their best players on special teams. Florida does it and Bama does it. Are we to let the best defensive talent in UT history sit on the sidelines while Bama and Florida's best athletes are returning punts and kicks? Kiffen is sending the right message to his team and every recruit in the country. Come to Tennessee. If you are the best there is, you will get to play and make your mark towards NFL stardom. Nice.
KINGKONG writes:
lets chant s-a-c-r-y b-e-r-r-y he reminds me of dale carter,steve atwater,ronnie lot, jack tatum,last but not least= ed reed
lomas98 writes:
Rogan and Jackson will probably be out there too alongside Berry.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
He is all that,but at this close to kickoff let's think Team.
And about WKU Hilltoppers.
jst4tdyvols writes:
RELEASE THE BEAST.GO VOLS
dvhill100 writes:
"My prediction? PAIN." Clubber Lange
4114 writes:
Berry for Heisman.. Got to have your best overall player on the field as much as possible.
He will make plays that the other Vols probally would not have made.
Great players make great plays.
listentothemusic writes:
with his teeth?
Ahhh, just joshing with ya...
GeneralNeyland96 writes:
Berry - "Wham".....Crowd - "OOOOOooooooo"
Berry gonna knock da taste outta somebody's mouth
Berry vs. Bama Berry - "Whap"....Bama - "I'll stop spinning sometime today"
Berry vs. knowshon Berry - "Crack"....knowshon "I think I swallowed my mouthpiece, coach!"
acolvol#632266 writes:
Hey Witch, are you going to off the disabled list by Saturday? Hope you are feeling better.
murrayvol writes:
Berry will be doing the lion's share of the hurtin'.
acolvol#632266 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Volnauburn writes:
Oh man, like a kid at Christmas I can hardly wait! This season is gonna be a big turnaround for the Vols, I can sense it:) Go Vols!!!
OldSmokey writes:
Berry and Kiffin, however, agree that UT should have its best tackler on the field in a volatile scenario when big plays can me made - positive and negative.
I think that should be "be" made.
AllVol1 writes:
Here is a stat. Berry's first game in the SWAMP: 94 yard interception of Tebow--taken to the house! On national TV.
Even Tebow tipped his hat to the best defensive player in the country this summer.
ShaversChoice writes:
Let the slobberknockers begin and judge them by the snotbubbles they produce. GBO!
teampenny#658108 writes:
A lot of Vol fans talk about the NFL. Would be better if our players won in the SEC. Go Vols
Navalorange writes:
zz, give it a rest. Even you MIGHT have enough sense to know this ain't the same ol same ol. Trollism is in your blood, sad. Nothing to contribute but nonsense that nobody cares about, again, sad. You've got VOL in your name, again . . .
Navalorange writes:
This staff will give us that chance. Failure isn't going to be an option with these coaches. Before even playing a game, it's obvious to some of us that have been around UT football for a long time that something good is happening.
All the criticism by rivals fans and bias sportswriters from Atlanta can't change the fact that these coaches are good, and will win. When they have a couple of classes under their belt, they will win A LOT.
The_Four_Horsemen writes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpU4gI...
Berry said Sit down and shut up
Navalorange writes:
The one with the hit on Moreno is there too. That clip just hasn't gotten old yet.
99PairsOfJortsOnTheWall writes:
Good one DC, but you are still queer. BTW, Berry doesn't chase, he intercepts. Heck, you ought to know that he's nightmare fuel for a ghey-durr.
Germany_Vol writes:
I hope EB hits Tebow so hard his great grandma feels the jolt! Lets play some FOOTBALL!!!!!!!
Go Vols
FreeTDTN writes:
Hell, I'd play him on offense too. The guy is incredible. We are hurting at WR whether you want to admit it or not. You can't tell me Berry can't play WR and imagine the blocking he could do for those talented running backs. How about a reverse from Brown to Berry?
FreeTDTN writes:
Did you say Great Grandma? Coach O just said I'll have what Germany_Vol is having.
PMC2726 writes:
Every time we've punted or kicked off the last 3-4 years I cringe knowing that it could come all the way back....read: especially against Georgia and Florida. We MUST have our best players on the field at all times. It's FOOTBALL, not patsy ball. If Berry is worried about getting hurt, he should go pro NOW. Otherwise, you make him play balls-to-the wall. Isn't that what a true Heisman candidate should be doing? I love the folks on here who want Berry running the Wildcat (with a target on his chest) but think that special teams is too risky...hello?!?!?
utvolz#637682 writes:
Pull those panties down and snip away EB!
ctownvol writes:
Having played basketball and football with Dale Carter in high school, and having watched EB since his junior year at Creekside I can say that EB is better than Dale. And as any Vol fan knows that is saying a lot. Dale was an amazing athelete. Eric Berry is just that good.
Healeystyle writes:
Yes, Predator is a great nickname for EB. Now all we need is a clip of a scared Tebag screaming "Get to the choppa" as 14 is chasing him and Urban Creyer through the jungle.
BolivarBob writes:
Here's Rucker's interview with Bryce Brown.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/20...
sitinhere writes:
I never want to see a player hurt but I would love to see EB hit Tebow and Tebow have a "NOSHOW" Moreno moment. EB=Cryptonite
bluetick writes:
Good call putting him on the coverage teams like that. Hope nobody takes a cheap shot on him. When is Saturday?
BolivarBob writes:
Three more days!
http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/916...
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