Photo by Jaime Oppenheimer/The Wichita Ea
Bryce Brown
This season could prove to be a struggle for Tennessee's quarterbacks.
They'll have to learn a revamped offense under a new coach, take snaps behind a rebuilt offensive line and face the SEC with little - if any - experience.
Yet new coach Derek Dooley said no day is tougher for quarterbacks than Day One of spring practice.
"You're almost happy if they can just spit out the huddle call the right way and hand the ball off the right way," Dooley said Thursday. "Long way to go, but good first day."
Senior receiver Gerald Jones was slightly more impressed with the group, which includes senior Nick Stephens, junior college transfer Chris Simms, freshman Tyler Bray and sophomore Nick Lamaison. Only Stephens has taken a snap for the Vols.
"All of them did pretty good today," Jones said. "Nick Stephens did a great job. Simms actually impressed me a lot, made pretty good throws. Some of them made some mistakes but that's dusting the rust off."
And as for the highly touted rookie?
"He made some mistakes but he made some good passes too," Jones said.
Bray isn't available for interviews, as per UT's media policy on freshmen, and Stephens had to leave practice early for class. Simms didn't seem to mind handling the extra practice reps or the extra questions from the media.
"Just knowing the game, just knowing my position better and being more acquainted how to deal with certain issues on and off the field," Simms said when asked to outline his strengths.
While this battle won't be over for months, it's worth noting: Stephens got the first snap.
No Inky: Former graduate assistant coach Inky Johnson is no longer with football team but is still involved with the athletic department.
Johnson, who was at practice on Monday in street clothes, is now working in the development department.
"I'm just trying to broaden my scope," the former UT defensive back said.
Johnson said he still hopes to coach, but said he'll likely do so at the high school level.
Johnson was one of UT's up-and-coming players before he suffered a debilitating injury to his right shoulder against Air Force in 2007 that ended his playing career.
Other Spring Starters: Junior tailback Tauren Poole received the first carry over sophomore David Oku and redshirt freshman Toney Williams.
The first offensive line of the spring consisted of sophomore Dallas Thomas at left tackle, junior Cody Pope at left guard, senior Victor Thomas at center, senior Jarrod Shaw at right guard and redshirt freshman JerQuari Schofield at right tackle.
Limited: Some familiar names were wearing red, non-contact jerseys on the opening day of spring practice.
Defensive ends Ben Martin and Chris Walker and linebackers Herman Lathers and Greg King were limited at times during practice. All had injury issues last fall.
Practice Report: Dooley was pleased with UT's effort.
"It was a very workman like day by all of them," he said. "They were having some fun out there but they were focused on the job. I've sensed that the last couple of weeks."
Austin Ward contributed to this report.
© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 39
vol4tnfan writes:
IMO, was some good info.
steamboatticket#484773 writes:
"Other Spring Starters: Junior tailback Tauren Poole received the first carry over sophomore David Oku and redshirt freshman Toney Williams."
Hey Hook! Is Toney Williams cleared for practice already? How is he doing? And what about Neal? I hope that BB has some world-class, signed and notorized excuse for missing the first day of practice. What did he say when you talked to him?
FirstAndGoal writes:
I've really been wondering how the offensive line was going to shape up. Guess we'll see how Spring goes.
texasvol73 writes:
Hey Hooker, it's MATT Simms, not Chris. You too busy running down dumb "non-stories" about former players who have to call Condredge rather than editiing your work?
USCJohn1999 writes:
I thought it was 2006 when Inky got hurt.
mdvol writes:
Hey...I thought Chris was finally going to honor his commitment. Busted spleen and all.
PowerTandDD writes:
I am amazed daily at how easy it is to be a sports reporter. You don't have to check your facts, grammar, etc. Just write a bunch of phooey and they give you a check after its published.
et_vol_fan writes:
Must be nice to collect a check for lousy writing. He's almost as good as Bob Gilbert was for the The Daily Times a few years ago. He never checked facts/proof read either.
AllforTenn writes:
It was 2006, but then this is an article by Hooker. What do you expect?
britt writes:
Inky will be a perfect fit in DDs character dev. program. Couldnt think of a better example of overcoming all that can be thrown at you. Glad to have him in the program no matter what his job.
VolAlum2003 writes:
"Stephens had to leave practice early for class." C'mon son, reschedule that class! LOL.
VolAlum2003 writes:
Questions: why is this article supposed to be about the QBs and the only video we get is Dooley talking about Bryce Brown? Shouldn't that video be attached to the two or three articles that discuss BB exclusively? Personally, I'd rather see a video with coach discussing our new QBs and how our new WRs performed today.
FLVOL79 writes:
Gerald Jones needs some new cleats...
GOBIGO72 writes:
Chris Simms - really?! Unbelievable.....then again, not really...it's obvious you just aren't into it....but there you are...every other day...just miserable w/o what's his name.....just MOVE on, we'll all be happier for it.
Healeystyle writes:
Honestly I really enjoy Hooker on the radio but his work in the KNS is garbage. Also he's acted like a spoiled Farragut brat ever since Dooley punked him in the presser. Boom.
FrostyVol writes:
"spoiled Farragut brat.." for an '82 Bearden grad, that's pretty dang funny..!
givehim6 writes:
I'm just glad to be reading football again. I wish both the Lady Vols and men luck in the tournaments. Good luck to are diomond Vols this season. But it's good to be reading football news again.
allVolinGA writes:
Not all on the West Coast are enamored with Little L.
http://13psi.com/trojans-embrace-a-ph...
Orange_A_Holic writes:
LOL, Mr. Let's find a negative to report is probally still pout'n cause of Coach Dooley's slap down of him. Tooo Funny
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
LOL allVolinGA! Really LOVED the title too! Just wonder who put that up??? Don't care, just hope they find what they are looking for!
tnsportsman writes:
Yeah it was some good info and stuff. My bet and guess is Simms, Bray, Stephens in that order when all the time and smoke clears.
GO VOLS!
vol4tnfan writes:
As for me, I just hope we can keep all the QBs this year, hope we don't start in the fall with 1 or 2 gone.
GBO
vol4tnfan writes:
One surely cannot post something like that on this board! But really funny it was!
Orangeyouavol writes:
Gotta admit it was kinda funny.
allntl1#565211 writes:
New York Times picked up on the NCAA violation on UT playing a QB with no more eligibility.
Already been picked up by the NCAA, investigation pending. Thanks alot Adams or whatever your name is.
vol4tnfan writes:
What or who are you talking about?
Volnauburn writes:
Long way to go but useful info. GBO!!!
tnsportsman writes:
And whom would that be 'Ole Wise One'? If it's Bray, he was enrolled in January so he could practice this spring!
LOL, wow what people make up!
GO VOLS!
uwdawg25#557404 writes:
I really don't know if CD will be around long enough to even matter to write about him... If y'all want to himmm and hawwww because there is nothing else to do, then I guess thats ok.. But to see how he acts(lawyer) and keeps all hush hush is weird to me.. this isn't a nuclear plant. It's unpaid kids having fun and getting a great education at UT as I did. I dont miss Lame, but I know this guy won't be around long enough to matter.. too much bulldog in his blood to care also!!!
uwdawg25#557404 writes:
Oh and Dave!!!! Keep up the good scoop!!! I know its hard to keep your mouth shut at times. That's why I chose another avenue-KL
mm29680#645909 writes:
WHOA...I know Bob Gilbert, and your are right!
vols2#227315 writes:
Hope its Stephens until Bray get in the groove. Simm is a reject from Louisville.
Joevolsxtra writes:
It's sarcasm. He's referring "Chris" Simms. You didn't get it.
tnsportsman writes:
OMG lol, sorry long day here doing regular work! Nope, watch out head!
GBO!
Navalorange writes:
Good Luck Inky, in whatever you do. A true Vol who was great on the field and would have been even greater if given the chance.
uwdawg25#557404 writes:
News Flash!!! CD is not the answer!!! Wait we all really know that in our guts.. WE are just all still reeling from Lame Leaving!!! I vote John Gruden asap.. he has property in Jeff Co.!!!!That is a fact!!! His wife's family is from Jeff Co. also!!! CD couldnt motivate a pig to eat!!!
kd45music writes:
I'll consider a 500 season a success this year. I hope I'm wrong in a positive,upward direction.
cooper65#432178 writes:
What difference does the Louisville thing make? That's the past. What counts is what he can do now for the Vols. I think Stephens should have been our QB last year, to gain experience for this year. Since it looks like this is not going to be a good year, I think it would be best for Simms and Bray to be our QBs this year, to get a jump on next season.
luvorange writes:
Glad I didn't come on here to feel positive about things....Sheesh.
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