Offensive line wins over Vols with work ethic

The individual players on Tennessee's offensive line won't hesitate to talk about how much they have progressed since spring practice.

They're not alone. Just ask some of the Vols' defensive players.

"In the spring, I think people were scared," linebacker Nick Reveiz said.

"We were worried about our depth, we were worried about what was going on, how they were playing."

Added defensive end Gerald Williams: "They had a lot to learn."

Others weren't so worried with a unit very much a work in progress during the spring.

"I always knew they had potential," defensive end Chris Walker said. "It's hard losing five offensive linemen, your starting offensive line."

"It always takes the offense a little while longer (in a new system), so I was patient with them," said cornerback Marsalis Teague, who was still at receiver for spring practice.

A summer and a fall camp later, the five linemen who will start today's 6 p.m. season opener against UT Martin have earned the confidence of their defensive teammates.

"I think they scare (the defense) now in a different way because they come out and butt them in the mouth when we go team run," said Vols coach Derek Dooley.

Credit that to the offensive line's work ethic.

"For us right now, I can see they put in a whole lot of work," Williams said.

"That's the O-line that we need to see. Going (into) the game I feel very good about them, and they're going to do a nice job.

"They came in in the fall," Reveiz said, "and I'm telling you, nobody worked harder than them during the summer. Nobody.

"Early Saturday mornings, 6 a.m. Monday through Friday - quite honestly I don't know if anyone wanted it any worse than the offensive line."

Despite the inexperience, Dooley has exuded confidence in his front five throughout August. The Vols will start freshmen Ja'Wuan James and JerQuari Schofield at tackle and guard, respectively.

Center Cody Pope and tackle Dallas Thomas are also making their first career starts. Only senior guard Jarrod Shaw has ever started a game.

"I've always never had a lot of concern about our offensive line, other than the lack of experience," Dooley said. "And I can't fix that. But as far as the talent level and the willingness and the work ethic and the size and the toughness, I feel good about those guys.

"The only thing I don't feel good about is the thing that only Saturday will start fixing, and that's experience. Now I may have a different view next Monday, because you never know how they're going to perform."

Williams noted the line's discipline as its greatest improvement.

"They're taking their coaching and taking being coached," he said. "They come out hard every day and they're willing to learn and get better."

The line's embracing of "O-line Pride," its new motto, over the summer has brought the group together and strengthened the bond, thanks to the leadership of Shaw and Pope.

"They're always together, always bonding, always learning, always in their playbooks, always lifting (weights) together," Reveiz said. "They've done a great job of working and learning the offense and really taking it as their own."

"They were together all summer every day," Walker said. "They've built a chemistry about them."

"Most improved unit by far of anyone on this team," Reveiz said.

"I really believe they're going to have a great season."

Patrick Brown is a freelance contributor.