Like anybody else, Janzen Jackson needs a position coach.
The Tennessee safety might occasionally want to see a familiar face from back home in Louisiana as well.
And the sophomore could probably use a confidant as he tries to shed a reputation he clearly doesn't want.
New defensive backs coach Terry Joseph can fill each one of those needs for Jackson, and the blossoming relationship seems to be working every bit as well on the field as it has off so far this spring.
"That (relationship) helps out," Jackson said. "I'm still battling an image crisis with the things from last year and still trying to show people who I really am. It'll come with time and me being on the straight and narrow, getting everything done right off the field.
"Coach (Joseph) is real avid in being concerned as far as books and different stuff, and he's also concerned about how your family's doing. You know, he likes to get deeper than just being a coach. He likes to be a mentor."
Jackson embraced the player he was often compared to as a mentor at the end of his freshman season, but with Eric Berry off to the NFL, in some respects the position was open again when Joseph was hired.
The two already knew each other from Joseph's time as an assistant and elite recruiter at LSU and Louisiana Tech, but they weren't exactly close then. Since meeting back up with the Vols though, they seem to have hit it off and taken things to another level.
"Lucky thing for me is that I knew Janzen before I got here, him being from Louisiana and so am I," Joseph said. "I just told him that I'm here to help him in any way he needs. So we've had conversations in my office, we've had conversations in the meeting room, we've had conversations from his dorm."
That communication has continued on the practice field, where there's been no questioning the impact Jackson can have at the back of the UT defense.
He was easily the most effective member of last year's well-publicized recruiting class, finishing with 37 tackles, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, a recovery and one wicked hit on Florida receiver Brandon James in The Swamp. Ultimately that was all overshadowed by his role in the infamous attempted armed robbery with Nu'Keese Richardson and Mike Edwards, and even though charges against him were dropped, Jackson is still trying to undo some of the damage.
But that isn't something he's working on alone.
"Every day it's a wait-and-see approach, and we're taking one day at a time," Joseph said. "I think that was a mistake that Janzen made, and he understands that and he knows he can't hit rewind on those.
"But I think he can win a lot of battles here in the future, and that's what he's been doing."
Jackson has already won plenty of them against the UT offense this spring, including one with possible starting quarterback Matt Simms during Thursday's first scrimmage.
New coach Derek Dooley raved about Jackson's interception of a well-thrown ball by Simms, breaking from the hash and making an athletic play to create a turnover - just like he did in the Chick-fil-A Bowl with a leaping grab against Virginia Tech. And just like UT will need more of as it leans on the defense and Jackson this fall.
"Unbelievable ability," Joseph said. "I was at LSU for a year and I was with (Washington Redskins safety) LaRon Landry, and this guy covers a lot more ground than LaRon. Probably not as physical yet, but surely he can be. I mean, just an amazing, amazing athlete and a damn good football player.
"He's been positive since we've been here, and for everybody it was a little crazy because we were not in the offices the first few weeks we were here. We were recruiting, chasing those guys, but once we got in and got everybody on the same page, he's been nothing but positive."
Joseph is doing everything he can to help keep it that way, too.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 35
AppreciativeAlum writes:
More good news.
txvolsfan writes:
Need a big year from Janzen
the kid is a stud
utvolnatl writes:
can anyone tell me why I can't find info on tix for the spring game in two weeks? last year you could buy tix four months in advance and this year I have seen nothing on autograph day or the game itself
help!
Brillovol writes:
This is encouraging. We will need Janzen making alot more plays this year fo sho. Oh yeah, stay healthy too.
always_vol (Inactive) writes:
JJ, couple of hints:
-vol fans will love you forever if you put it all into your game. Ever marginal players become fan favorites.
-talk to your coaches about 'how to handle success'. I know I have had problems with tat myself. Many, many of us ca work hard to reach a goal...then, when things start to work for us, we torpedo ourselves, almost like messing up because we cannot deal with success.
You'll never see this post, but if you do, and it helps you one little bit, I'll be happy.
NoSirRee writes:
You call 1-800-voltix1 and they will pay YOU 10 dollars for going and 5 dollars for every completion one of the QB's throw.
Orangeblood13 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Cldvols1 writes:
Janzen will be play a key role in UT's defense this year and I'm lookin for big things from him! GBO
OrangePsyched writes:
Bonding and trusting are good things to have on a team. We want headhunters and ball hawks in that backfield. We will have good schemes to set up some confusion with a new QB like Brantley who won't be sure what coverage we are in.
Wilcox, Thompson, Joseph, Smith will come up with the plan and the defense will execute.
TitanandVolfan4life writes:
This is a really good coach because getting players to trust and communicate well with a coach is not a easy thing to do but it's very important.
Just another small piece of the CDD puzzle falling into place well.
GO BIG ORANGE !!!
Orangeyouavol writes:
utsports.com
Orangeyouavol writes:
your an idiot
537081 writes:
Wellcome to the Vols Terry Joseph we need the kind of coach that knows the players as well as the game. There is a lot more to being a good coach than x's and o's being a good MAN is also important. You have a hard time teaching a young man how to be a man if your not perty good at it yourself.
always_vol (Inactive) writes:
DC....I have to admit to some 'drama-out' concerning UT football.
Phil's last few years where full of goings-on; then, Kiffin's screw-ups FOLLOWED by some damn good football FOLLOWED by his exodus and all the emotions of that....
Dooley's hiring has left me kind of deflated. I read this stuff, and I go, "Bill Battle", only the end of Bill, not the beginning.
Dooley may be a fine coach, we will see. It's just the program itself that has gotten out of sync. We have spent so long discussing every thing OTHER than winning games, of 'hey, that Top-6 was great, we should be playing X for the NC next season'.
The real tripper: where I live (not SEC country), a fellow said "Oh, Tennessee; they used to be good about ten years ago, right???"
I know you pull chains on here, but I think even you would like to see Tennessee back to worrying about playing big games, rather than just climbing out of mediocrity all the time. I know I felt that way about Florida when they had Zook.
What the hell fun is in beating a nothing competitor?
allvol9 writes:
Great read. Jackson has a great attitude. Sounds like he learned from his mistake and wants to prove it. He will be a star this year.
crimsonviper writes:
Casting a wide net today are we DC?
Mule_Days_King writes:
Did Corch Urba Mya threaten to beat up another reporter this weekend?
SECFaninSC writes:
Joseph may be a great coach, but Jackson has no business playing for Tennessee. I'm sorry, but that's the way I feel, and nothing will change it. The whole robbery thing was a sham in the way it was presented to the public.
Mule_Days_King writes:
I'm sure that you know more about the situation than the rest of us. Otherwise why would you post such nonsense?
feathersax writes:
About as soon as 'corch' meyer decides if he's sick, well, or missing kiffin's jibes...we'll let ya know, so don't get those panties in a wad gator troll.
volsfannsc writes:
So testimony from the store clerk isn't good enough for you? So video from six camera's isn't good enough for you? I get it.....you have the 'guilty until proven innocent' syndrome but you've even taken that to the next level- 'guilty until I get a warm-fuzzy'. Pleez- move on to SC's website and graze there. Surely Spurrier has said something interesting about his QB dilema.
givehim6 writes:
I think JJ is the guy that will fill Berry's shoes at safety, He is hungry and wants to re-prove him self a Vol. I look for him to be a threat in the backfield.
jawbreaker writes:
A coach like Joseph can make all the difference in the world in a young man's life. There has to be desire to change on the part of the young man, however. Let's hope that all this is the case for Jantzen Jackson.
civilianvol_formerly_marinevol writes:
Um, the fact that he was not guilty and all charges were dismissed might be something you should consider before arriving at that conclusion.
murrayvol writes:
He wanted to go but they didn't ask.
Mule_Days_King writes:
Or the headline should read, "Free speech dies at UF practices after Myer threatens media member."
always_vol (Inactive) writes:
DC, never bothers me when other fans are teasing with good humor. Used to work with Bama fans, UGA guys, .... it was great.
Now I live in Big 10/Big 12 country. Nowhere near as much fun.
Mule_Days_King writes:
And before the 90's your memory is a bit cloudy because before then your program was the equivalent of an also-ran.
Thanks for the back-handed compliment anyway, DC.
gatorstomper writes:
i agree he should be in jail for attempted murder. he hit those receiver last year so hard i keep watching to see if he would actually kill some body. need your arms shorten? come across the middle on Jackson. GO BIG ORANGE!
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Alright.
I'm on the mailing list for the Big Orange Newsletter, last year this is how I ordered my tickets and how I will this year.
Hope this link works for you:
http://us.mc839.mail.yahoo.com/mc/wel...#_pg=showMessage&sMid=3&&filterBy=&.rand=514641083&midIndex=3&mid=1_23948_AHlck0UAAX9KS6tXZASFnH5vHP0&m=1_12670_AGFck0UAAA%2F4S7ZDQAwje1tSVrA,1_13143_AGNck0UAAYYSS7Y46gfTYU9x6ck,1_23291_AGlck0UAAHPCS6v%2F8QZdhFM9hfU,1_23948_AHlck0UAAX9KS6tXZASFnH5vHP0,1_24712_AHVck0UAAS1%2BS6lvIAD3pWIXP5w,1_25184_AHNck0UAAX7zS6cYLAwqpmgt2a8,1_25865_AHtck0UAAS8eS6KCPgsZLEsal2g,1_26405_AGdck0UAAWWSS5yISgmNN3qb%2Bzk,1_26862_AGlck0UAATWZS3tJNQ0Cvkpabvg,&sort=date&order=down&startMid=0&hash=06174ff483d61d599fdc3b94c723ff3e&.jsrand=3433390
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Dang, sorry about that, nevermind.
SEAL_9821 writes:
We'll be back! Just as other top programs (N.Dame,Michigan,Florida.st,Miami,etc.) Great programs that has foundation never die, they just have some bumps in the road. Nebraska should be a prime example. They spent the last 12yrs in turmoil over in Lincoln and now their ready to make the run again.
Down_The_Field writes:
GBO!
HtownVol writes:
I see all the posts about UT being down, and one thing I always wonder is how we are so down.
I know the coach, and the O-Line. But we have to be the first team to have 2 straight top 10 recruiting classes and be "down in talent". Even the O-Line has 3-4 guys that out of HS could go almost anywhere. In fact over the last 4 years we average in the top 20 overall in recruits.
So just consider that we all are really just a coach away ( DD may be?) from correcting this team. I will not believe than any team has the talent to blow out UT in any game. If CDD and staff can gameplan and get the team ready for SEC football, we can play, and even win in al most any game.
Auburn... Had less talent overall and a new coach. They had a acceptable season.
I just think it is so unclear as to what kind of team we will field in 2010. But I will not be worried that we do not have as good of players as any other school. Theirs can not pan out, We had a NUKE Missile leave K-Town, but based on recruiting services UT has the players.
So, is that the MAIN reason that UT is "down" right now?
GO VOLS
Down_The_Field writes:
did you and grease head watch the game last night or was it your night to rock timmy to sleep?
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