Football
Hey, y’all. We’re under three weeks to football:
https://twitter.com/Vol_Football/status/897442767768506368
GoVols247 has slideshows predicting the Vols’ offensive and defensive depth charts. Their projected starters aren’t much different than ours, except that 247 has Marquez Callaway starting instead of Tyler Byrd, Jack Jones starting instead of Coleman Thomas (because he’s the backup for Jashon Robertston at guard, who would move to center in place of Thomas), and Justin Martin starting instead of Emmanuel Moseley at corner. They’re probably right about that last one, so I’ve updated our chart accordingly.
Vince Ferrara goes down the list and updates how he feels about each position group now compared to how he feel before fall camp started. The answer is “better” about the receivers, tight ends, defensive line, and defensive backs, and “worse” about the offensive line and linebackers.
Butch Jones said some things about Jajuan Jennings the other day, and now every site has an article on Jennings’ leadership. Representative samples:
- Jones, Vols ready to ‘go to battle’ with new-and-improved Jajuan Jennings
- Tennessee football WR Jajuan Jennings getting used to new label: leader
Jennings isn’t the only receiver in the news, though. Marquez Callaway, who’s in the running for a starting spot at wide receiver and as the team’s primary punt returner, also threw the shotput and managed the girls track team in high school. I’m guessing there was a girl involved. Tyler Byrd, too, is competing for a job with the ones at receiver and has the added challenge of transitioning to the position from his high school position at DB.
Quinten Dormady is not a “rah rah’ guy, but coach Canales says he reminds him of Phillip Rivers, so who needs rah rah?
Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop says it was a mistake to not get more guys on the field earlier last year and is excited about fixing that this fall.
On the other side of the ball, offensive coordinator Larry Scott is in the weird position of not having to live up to the expectations of his predecessor but having to live up to his numbers. John Adams points out the following, which is sobering:
UT scored 473 points last season. That was second only to the 1993 team (484 points).
Tennessee’s 1998 national championship team scored 431 points. In 1997, UT had All-American Peyton Manning at quarterback, offensive guru David Cutcliffe calling the plays and an offensive depth chart manned mainly with future pros. And it scored 45 fewer points than it did in 2016.
Mike Debord was oft-criticized despite coordinating an offense that was pretty darn good.
Hoops
The bracket for the Battle 4 Atlantis is set, and the Vols open against Purdue.
Grant Williams was only two rebounds short of three consecutive double-doubles during the team’s trip to Europe, but his coaches are still wanting him to play with more of a chip on his shoulder.