Redshirt freshman quarterback Nathan Peterman is taking a more commanding role at the line of scrimmage, an encouraging sign for Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian, who has emphasized “leadership” as one of the traits that will decide the quarterbacks race.
“I saw Nate really step up,” Bajakian said after practice Thursday.
Peterman is competing with junior Justin Worley for UT’s starting quarterback position, and Bajakian said he was pleased with both players’ progress.
“Through practices one through five, we threw too many interceptions, but we’re getting better,” he said. “We emphasize completing the football, taking what the defense gives you and managing the football game. We emphasize getting rid of the football, being on time, being on rhythm and not taking sacks. A couple times today I thought we held onto the ball for a little bit too long, but overall I like the progress they’re making.”
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What names did UT assistant coaches drop during their weekly meeting with reporters on Thursday? Here’s the honor roll:
Offensive line coach Don Mahoney praised reserve Mack Crowder for making an impact on the second team.
Defensive coordinator John Jancek said defensive back Justin Coleman had displayed strong “tackling fundamentals.”
Redshirt freshman safety LaDarrell McNeil has been one of the most consistent defensive backs through six practices, according to secondary coach Willie Martinez.
Both Jancek and linebackers coach Willie Martinez credited senior Brent Brewer’s leadership even while learning a new position.
At receiver, Zach Azzanni said he saw good things from sophomore Cody Blanc in last Saturday’s scrimmage.
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Running backs coach Robert Gillespie did not meet with reporters Thursday. He is nursing a wound near his eye that required him to wear sunglasses during practice.
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Senior Michael Palardy and junior Matt Darr shared punting duties in 2012, and special teams coordinator Mark Elder said a decision on this year’s punter is still far away.
“They know the position’s up for grabs,” Elder said. “As the spring goes on, we’ll be putting those guys in similar situations to punt under pressure.”
Palardy is also likely the leading candidate to be Tennessee’s regular kicker, although he is being challenged by Derrick Brodus, George Bullock and walk-on Ryan Ault.
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Defensive back Daniel Gray returned to practice after missing one day. Running back Tom Smith, defensive tackle Maurice Couch and tight end Justin Meredith were in restricted jerseys.
Senior defensive back Eric Gordon continues to be a frequent presence around the football complex despite not practicing. Coach Butch Jones said Gordon is away from the team while dealing with personal issues. His return is uncertain.
Evan Woodbery covers Tennessee football. Follow him at www.Twitter.com/TennesseeBeat.
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Comments » 25
ut4life05 writes:
Butch is goin to turn some heads this season... Next season people will expect Tennessee to dominate and they won't be able to stop it... And by his third and fourth years here, we will be the contendin for a National Championship... Butch Jones proclaimed the storm cloud is no longer over Knoxvegas... I believe!!! Oh yeah... Also... First!!
volunteerintexas writes:
Has anyone heard anything regarding Gunner Kiel transferring to Tennessee?
Seems to me this is a no brainer. Kid may be looking for a home, and CBJ's style may settle him down a bit. This is a kid who last year was the top ranked, 5-star QB in the country... it's worth the risk to bring him on board, insulate him, and spend his "bench year" developing him.
I know there will be nay-sayers. However, in my mind, the upside is worth the risk.
grandtad#1402265 writes:
Good thought, but I would say Tennessee is way down the list for Kiel. His name would give CBJ a boost though. Would be an interesting thing happen to the Vols. GBO
OTPVol writes:
I've heard UT, Arkansas, and one other SEC school were hot after him, may have been LSU. Time will tell. All we can do is continue to support Coach Jones and our Vols. I think/hope/pray we got a winner in him. GBO!!!
cheetah-vol writes:
I like the way CBJ is challenging the kickers. Parlardy seems to be taking it seriouly. It's obvious every facet of our team needs coaching, but I'm glad he's not taking the kicking game for granted. It's been woeful for a long time, too The Vols have traditionally had a pretty good kicking game. Wonder how the punters are doing? Refreshing to see a coach pay attention to EVERYTHING we need to do become winners again. GBO!
usafvol writes:
I absolutely hated that "running punt" we were trying last year; more shanks than not!
SouthPaVol writes:
What is hauntingly absent are comments on our defensive line. With coaches being silent suggests two things: our very talented OL is smoking those guys; and two, incoming freshmen are going to get a long, long look.
Appears we have two stud defensive ends coming in. If either of these DEs can get past Tiny this fall in practice, that's almost good enough for SEC all-freshmen status before the season starts. Go Vols!
cheetah-vol writes:
Hahaha! Truthism.
VolsFan82 writes:
I like that CBJ is working with all positions so that everybody gets better. We have two good QBs, a great offensive line, our running game is coming along nicely, our wide receivers are developing at a good rate, our kicking game is improving, our secondary is getting better however I do wonder about our defensive line though.
johnlg00 writes:
Goodness knows, the Vols need help at a LOT of positions right now. All the people who are going, IMHO, overboard with predictions of eight or nine wins next year may be overlooking the fact that the Vols haven't really been competitive at a high level in the D-line for a good number of years now. If you took the best two D-linemen off the last five Vol teams and had them on the team all at once, they MIGHT be able to put together a high-quality SEC D-line rotation, but then again they might NOT. I think and hope the team will be more competitive next year, but until the D-line is a true STRENGTH of the team, they will be lagging behind the SEC leaders.
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
I have enjoyed the passing game in the Bray years.
This coming fall will be a real challenge there.
emailnodata (Inactive) writes:
In high school we could have 2 external scrimmages with other schools, in both the spring and the fall. My coaches usually picked really tough teams for those .
I think it's too bad colleges cannot do that.
IPOrange writes:
Dude, calm down. Just because your toddler flipped over on his back and kicked his feet in the pool and you've got video to prove it doesn't mean he's gonna be ready to swim the English Channel by the time he's four. I'm hopeful too, but let's keep it a little bit real. We've had six (6) practices since we lost to Vanderbilt.
FWBVol writes:
Count me as one of the nay sayers. This kid changes his mind as often as most people change their socks. He's leaving Notre Dame because he couldn't win the starting, or backup, QB job.
He may have been a great talent coming out of high school, but what kind of competition did he really face in basketball crazy Indiana?
Butch Jones is trying to build a tough mindset and team chemistry and Kiel leaves the impression that he's just the kind of kid that can destroy the chemistry of a program. That said, I've never met the kid and I could be wrong, but with the kids we've got on campus, the guys we signed and the QBs Butch is going after for the 2014 class, we should be fine without Kiel.
FLORIDAGATORHATER writes:
Don't want him. Next topic please.
VolsFan82 writes:
Tyler Bray has a cannon for an arm and he made some outstanding throws.
I believe that Peterman will be the starter and I can't wait to see how well this offense performs.
pingkr62 writes:
I'm curious to know how many times Kiel committed, then de-committed, and then transferred from one school to another. Just asking. G.B.O.!!!
IndyVolFan writes:
I thought when he left LSU, he didn't want the competition. I've seen him play here in Indy, and while he was good, he didn't amaze me (could've been the team they were playing). He supposedly lit up the camps though.
He would have been more impressive if he'd played in the MIC conference. It's the equivalent of Oak Ridge, Alcoa, CAK, Dobbyns Bennett, Maryville, etc ... in one conference. Was the 2nd toughest conference in the nation a few years back.
I tried like he11 to get Dooley to come up here and recruit. These kids want big time FB and they have IU, Purdue, ND, and OSU to choose from (2 out of 4 ain't bad, I guess). Many want something else. I think Coach Jones will rectify that. I've already heard he's after a few kids here.
ut4life05 writes:
You sir are absolutly correct... But in my defense, I pride my life on knowing football... I didnt have the goose bumps at all with Dooley, and after watchin the vol walk durin orange and white game some odd years back, I knew Kiffin was just using us and knew he wouldnt last long... I feel a spark about this coach that I hadnt felt in a LOOOOOONG time... Butch has just got me fired up this season and seein as I live in Mizzou right now, I only get a chance to vent my feelins here about how I feel about Tennessee sports... Up here all they talk about is Cardinals baseball... Sorry if I came across strong, but those are my feelins and I will share them until the day I die and aint no one gonna stop me unless they kill me... Bold statements have been made by me, but I not only believe em, but I stand firmly by them...
fan_for_life writes:
UT is in the SEC East with GA, SC, FL,& Vandy. And plays Alabama every year. They also have LSU,TA&M and Arkanas rotating n every few years. Really, can you see the VOLS dominating in the next few years untill we get some recruits? A bowl game next year would be a god-end.
RashaadSalabeb writes:
Everyone has to work hard and get better. May the best man in each spot get the majority of the playing time. I always thought Fugate would be a really good running back. It don't look like they are going to move him back. I'm sure glad to hear they are working a lot on tackling drills!
Go Vols!
hokievol writes:
IMHO; Kiffen had the luck of timing to get his "dream job". No one elso would touch it because of looming probation. Dooley also had the benefit of timing because of the destruction Kiff left behind no one wanted it. Dooley did a great job of laying a foundation of depth and doing off field work. Like you I saw his inability to motivate, relate, or manage the game live. Losses were the result but, a solid foundation has been laid for CBJ and his strength is what Dooley lacked. I have no predictions but expect UT to be feared by every opponent this fall. BTW VT alum, K'town resident for 15 yrs, baseball card fan, (lived in Cape G.) and Redskin fan. Life long fan of teams I love.
utnvolsr1 writes:
"Dooley also had the benefit of timing because of the destruction Kiff left behind no one wanted it."
Destruction of Kiffin? Give me a break. He was here one year only. Dooley had nothing to coach. Fulmer left nothing. The WR came here with Kiffin or Dooley as well as the QB we lost this year. Exactly what players did Fulmer leave Kiffin or Dooley? The last time a coach was left with this least amount of talent was when Johnny took over from Battle and Coach Majors had to rebuild for 3 or 4 years back to the top of the SEC.
This is worse the what Johnny had to work with.
I'm going with 6-6 and bowl game lucky anything more is wishing on a star. Then one more win each additional year till the forth year. Next year will bring no major upsets for the Vols. The season will be more like 5-7 again. But we play the elite teams tougher and stay close but still lose. JMO
mulletwatcher writes:
would like to see Gordon come back.
LaneBrains writes:
Yikes! I think you said the same thing when we arrived on campus. Of course you were right, we're just doing that from 'SC. Remember we were ranked #1 last year, with the best QB in the land.
Thank you again M. Hamilton.
CLK, Monte and Ed
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