It's just one day away.
New University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones will hold his spring practice news conference late Friday morning, and the Volunteers will hit Haslam Field for the first of 15 practices nearly 24 hours later.
Tennessee is coming off a 5-7 season in 2012, so there are holes to fill and positions of concern.
The biggest -- and loudest -- complaints from the Vols Nation were directed at the previous coaching staff. With running backs coach Jay Graham's recent defection to Florida State, there is not one holdover from last year's staff.
Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen. Still, there are a slew of areas of concern as Jones and Co. start their first spring practice Friday.
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Comments » 46
traderjoe writes:
Good thing...so far.
jandjhome#228397 writes:
The season is tough and we probably will not have a winning season but I believe we have a coach and staff that will demand we give it all we have and more. This will be refreshing from what we had.
budd#207344 writes:
There is talent on this team. If these guys can coach, UT can have a winning season. But the No.1 question is "Can they coach?". Coach them up and UT will win.
manoffewwords writes:
"Can they coach?" Of course they can coach! Been coaching for a greater part of their lives. Biggest question is do we have enough talent and depth.
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
We have
-dog-awful defensive personnel
-no prove wr's...
-no qb; if someone does not beat out Worley, it's a waste (Worley = Joey Matthews).
Jones better be working on "plan B", whether that is a Pig Howard spread or a really juiced-up running attack.
He's got about a week to get that rolling in spring training.
Brewii writes:
"What will this staff do with Daniel McCullers, the mammoth nose tackle big enough to plug the run and collapse a pocket? He had just one sack last season and, after playing last season in the 360-pound range, could play at a lower weight with a new staff in a new scheme."
McCullers was never asked to pass rush and make sacks last year, he was just asked to eat up blocks and plug up the middle. But I remember towards the end of last season where you started seeing him play in more pass rush situations and he was getting penetration. I believe that he will be a decent threat at pressuring the QB in one of two ways. Do to his size, he will continue to eat up two of the blockers thereby putting the rest of the D-line in man on man situations to allow them to make plays. Or he will get single blocking and I think his size and strength will allow him to get penetration.
TommyJack writes:
If your opinion mattered, I'd be worried. But it doesn't.
Theo writes:
Here is another question - why does the Chattanooga paper ALWAYS do a better job cover thing UT than the Knoxville or Nashville papers. There is never a story from the Memphis paper on this site so I don't know whether KNS just doesn't bother or the Memphis paper never writes about the Vols.
Not only does the Chatt paper write more, they write better. Good grief.
volfanlostnbama writes:
Ditto...could not agree more, it is so obvious!
62vol writes:
This is a free site. KNS has business related reasons for what they do.
VolinCalif writes:
You're like I am' we're ready for UT to regain it's glory. I really don't want to put up with all the BS the trolls throw on here. But this is an open site.
We have all the makings for a great season.
We have talent, Coaching, Fan BASE and the best training area in CFB. Stop the BS and we'll get there in one year. I don't car what the sport writers and shows say, most of them are still wet behind the ears, and are really trying to advance their Primadonna image. Players always have and will respond to the fan excitement, always have and always will. All we have to do is support. No whining BS this year. NO feeding the Trolls, Lets not follow the nation in it's down hill trend, lets set the example for recovery. The Fans "WE ARE THE PEOPLE" Be harsh and exact and tell it as it is but NO political correctness BS.
We are there so lets do it. Without our 12th man we are died in the water. The press other fans, teams everyone will think we are quitters. WE ARE THE VOLENEERS. When you start whining and writing that ME ME phooey remember what this old man is calling you. YOU ARE A WHINNING A.. QUITTER. Lets start now and really show this new group what support means and we'll push them to the top whether they like it or not.
Go Big Orange, We're the Vols
Older than Dirt so I know.
VolinCalif writes:
Regrettable 62 but I'm beginning to feel that is a political correctness response. Feed the Fans with good stuff and you will never get your hand bit.
budd#207344 writes:
There is talent
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Wyoming.
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
I like this comment.
Technique-wise he was really raw.
I think the can still use his abilities pretty well in a 4-3, as most 4-3's move guys around on the interior anyway.
I'm wondering about the "playing lighter" as well.
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
As for 3-4...it's little more than the old 5-2 form ages back. Everyone ran it when the wishbone was the offense of the day. The disadvantage was you needed DT's who had 3 responsibilities: the 3/4 gap, the 5/6 gap, and contain. This usually meant agile DT's, who struggled to stop the straight-ahead run.
The 4-3 let's you put two mountains in the 1 and 2 gaps, if you choose, making offenses key on the outside.
Govols1995 writes:
There is not much talent on the defensive side. Name two cornerbacks worth mentioning!
6972 writes:
In my humble opinion, you have wisdom beyond your years.
UTvols33 writes:
Changed your name again? Loser.
VolGrad writes:
The bitterness still runs deep for some. For better or worse, what's passed is the past. It is time to move forward. Or do you believe there is really only one single, solitary man that can ever bring back the glory days?
Idiot.
Go Vols! This is Big Orange Country!!!
gomer writes:
Delusional!!! How are we in the makings of a great season? New staff, new systems, new qb,wrs,rb, coming off 4 losing seasons in the last 5 years, some of the worst talent in the conference, and a murderous schedule in butchys first year so tell me how your delusional brain thinks up this great season stuff based off no evidence, sorry but I'm just tellin the truth! You dooley delusionals just don't learn, y'all think as long as you keep shouting from the mountain tops how great the vols are it will make it true, but sorry to burst your bubble we are on the bottom of this conference and will be there for quite some time. As long as the incopetant bama dave and his clowns are running the circus, but go ahead keep smiling and proclaiming every spring and summer how great the vols are gonna do!!
tnoutlaw2001#228008 writes:
How the once mighty can fall. When Worley was breaking National high school records everyone said Dooley had to sign the guy. We won the recruting battle and the kid does decent in some mop up duty and now we are calling for his replacement before he even has a chance to play full time. Yes I know he started and subbed for an injured Bray but come on has he really been given a fair chance?
voloffaith writes:
The poster name begs the question.....emailno data...hmmmmm...like email with nothing substantive.....you throw this trash out there then try to come back with a real logical arguement that MIGHT have a credibility and wonder why no one bites.....
tnoutlaw2001#228008 writes:
Who is the new Running back? The 2 guys that started last year and the linebacker who ran the wild cat are all back.
Worley has more exp than most new guys. It is a new system but he's been in college 2 yrs and played/traveled to most all the SEC stadiums.
We lost D. Rogers, Patterson might have been better? he was in his 1st year(SEC).
I'm just pointing out you might be just as delusional. Before you get offended though, maybe it was the worst coaching staff and not the athletes as you think. Just hope that if you truly are a VOL fan.
voloffaith writes:
Makes it hard to be taken serious when call someone ,"incopetent" meaning incompetent. I've been slammed as well. Just a hint...proofread then submit and proofread again. Oh BTW we choose to be optimist ,rather than pessimist as it easier on the digestive system. Also, most people prefer to be around positive(honest though) people as opposed to Debbie/Danny Downer,sky is falling,glass half empty folks who usually can't tell you the last time they smiled or said a kind word to someone.
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
Look, bubba...
You wish to talk football, talk football.
Addressed poster's main claim to fame for year has been in flaming other posters.
Your choice to address football issues or not.
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
@trout
Composure.
8inarow writes:
It pains me so to see Vols going after each other like this!
volforeverandever writes:
Bet it didn't pain you as much as your gators losing to the Vols in Basketball.
pingkr62 writes:
I guess he have to take whatever we can get. I agree with you about the Chattanooga paper versus K.N.S. Forget Memphis, The C.A. is one of the sorriest papers in the country. It seems the C.A. hardly ever covers Tennessee, when they do, it's like someone is forcing them to do so. Like a lot of Memphians, they think Tiger High is the only sports program that exist, that is if they actually had a REAL sports program. G.B.O.!!!
utvolfan1955 writes:
Hey Gomer
Doug Dickey was a Gator
pingkr62 writes:
Who asked you anyway? If we want any "fecal matter" from you, we will pry your head open and dip out what we want.
smokeygrowl writes:
What are u talking about. Worley doesn't have a prayer of getting the job anyway. We got plenty of talent at QB and receiver just young. Not going to abandon it for pig howard spread. Good Lord
smokeygrowl writes:
Amen
Snapshot writes:
Jeffy, Jeffy what a rambling, incoherent load of krap. Must you regurgitate the same old, tired drivel? As far as B. Jones being in the "bush leagues", he was coaching in the Big East. But I guess that is what bitter, less talented, benchwarmers like you do, right?
Your man-crush on Fulmer is really getting embrassing. He is not the coach anymore, he is gone, and he is not coming back. Deal with it.
The_Power_T writes:
Just created an account to put a serious question out there. What kind of no life losers "troll" on another fan bases web site? I mean I have some free time during the day like the next guy but I think I'd literally kill myself if at any point during the day I said to myself, " man I'd really love to get go on an Alabama website and just start some stuff." I know haters gonna hate but c'mon guys. We all know all you trolls ain't getting none, but can't you get off on adult websites like the other losers instead of trying to get rise out of people who are REAL fans. This could be a decent website if not for the virgins using their parents computer. Get off our site, get a life, maybe a girl, and worry about your own team. We have our coach, the future is bright, and we WILL be back on top where we belong. History backs my previous statement. So if you're a "troll" do us all a favor and kill yourself! Go Vols!
10seVol85_Part_Deux writes:
Hey, Times Free Press! Hire a new editor or two to proofread your articles.
"How will Tennessee's new defensive use Eric Gordon?" New defensive what? Then there's "comfortability." Even if it were a real word (which it isn't) it's very awkward to the reader. "Develop a level of comfortability?" Why not try "comfort" instead? It's an actual word. People think using big words makes them sound smarter, but when they're making up those big words, it kinda backfires.
Before anybody starts in with the "grammar police" thing, let me just say that it's one thing for commenters on an article to use poor spelling or grammar, or use the wrong version of a word (there, their, they're). It's something entirely different when professional writers to do it in their published works.
10seVol85_Part_Deux writes:
What amazes me is that you haven't killed yourself yet.
illinoisvolfan writes:
Nothing to see here. Jeffy's just getting the most of his one hour a day at the computer in the insane asylum.
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
@smokey
easy, there, dog.
That's kinda the point...if Worley is not beat out, we've got a big problem.
As for WR...keep in mind it's not been that long ago that people were using their grandma's to cover our WR's.
Rockytopfan96 writes:
Cant wait to see what Coach Jones has in store for Tennessee!! GBO!!
Olddogsrule writes:
Ah agree in totalitee!
Itsa mighty pesterferious thang fer mah ol noogin to hafta cifer out whut sum of theez sportwriters try tu foist off ona unsuspectin publik! Ahve seen itza real problum cents ah commenceed to foller thuh Voles on this hear site. Sen em all bak to school fer sum mor larnin!!! Speshshully thuh editors!
notfunanymore writes:
Tennessee fans...delusional??? Where have I heard that before? Everything you wrote is 100% correct.
johnlg00 writes:
My answer to your question about Worley is "No, he hasn't been given a fair chance." He has the arm and the size, he just needs a fair share of reps with the first team and the attention of the coaches. Some will point to his "failure" in the one spell of extended action he got all last season when he threw an interception in a game that was still close at the time. Well, he and Patterson weren't on the same page; Worley was looking for the hook pattern they had run a half-dozen times already and Patterson decided to turn it into a hitch-and-go. That wouldn't have been Patterson's first ad-libbed route all season, but Worley was left hanging. It will not be a disaster for this team if Worley wins the job, it will be a sign that patience and hard work will be rewarded by this staff, which would be a positive sign in itself.
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
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