Optimism abounds, unofficially. Tennessee won the initial scrimmage of the football preseason – or so we have been told.
That was supposed to be a secret. Don’t say anything about anything that might help Georgia Tech.
Reporters were uninvited to Neyland Stadium but leaks filled the voids. Maybe it was players’ relatives or significant donors or a few former Vols who observed the action. It appears somebody or several somebodies shared information with friends and neighbors and they told their friends and neighbors.
UT has not announced whether it will launch an investigation. Leaks are said to be hazardous for big business.
Second or third-hand buzz from Saturday, from four so-called sources, is that the offense did some good things and the defense did some good things and there were more good than bad – generally speaking.
Go Vols!
Of primary interest were the performances of the young quarterbacks. Please don’t jump to conclusions but the whispers I heard said Faizon Brandon finished three-fourths of a notch ahead of George MacIntyre. It might have been more if QB runs had counted. The stars-to-be wore do-not-touch jerseys.
According to rumors, Brandon had a big passing gain to running back DeSean Bishop, a big one to wideout Mike Matthews and another to Joakim Dodson. Just heard Faizon also had a TD throw to Idaho State transfer Ian Duarte. Confirmation pending.
MacIntyre was victimized by some drops. Linebacker Arion Carter got one of George’s passes – a remarkable one-handed interception. That supposedly led to scattered applause – and a frown or two from coaches of offense.
No. 3 quarterback Ryan Staub was said to look exactly like he knew what he was doing. He threw a TD pass against reserves but I don’t know who caught it.
I do believe slot receiver Tyreek King is making progress. I’ve been told that Daune Morris got away for a 99-yard run. That’s far enough for me. John Ward would have said “all the way to Gatlinburg.”
If what you heard was different from my information, please share the amendments.
Josh Heupel, as is his custom, spoke at length about the overall event but didn’t say anything you can hang your hat on. He didn’t go near details but did say George and Faizon “had really positive days, positive plays.”
He saw improvement in fundamentals, technique and understanding of what is going on.
The coach said there were early communication issues but, as the scrimmage developed, “both played at a really high level … made some plays down the field … worked through progressions … all in all, a positive day.”
Heupel said the youngsters “have taken really good care of the football.”
Players are less likely to make mistakes when they are off-limits to edge rushers and blitzing linebackers.
“They’ve continued to grow in control and command that you have to have at the quarterback position,” Heupel said. “For both, just like our football team, there’s a lot of growth to be ready to play Week 1.”
Once upon a time, defenses had to be pure vanilla in scrimmages to help quarterbacks gain confidence. It appears no such restrictions now apply. Heupel said the multiple looks from the defense have led Brandon and MacIntyre to make some really good decisions.
The coach said there was a lot of hitting going on at the stadium. That might indicate a trend toward a tougher football team. That could be a change in Heupel’s thinking or it could be Jim Knowles’ influence or it could flow from strength and conditioning coach Derek Owings.
In the recent past, there has been such an emphasis on avoiding injuries that actual tackling was often reduced to bumps and something called “thuds.”
Heupel said more than 50 percent of the scrimmage was tackling. He didn’t say who did it.
“Some good work. We’ve done a bunch of tackling during our practices, too.”
Only three SEC defenses missed more tackles than Tennessee last season. According to Pro Football Focus, the Vols missed 147 in 13 games.
On a previous occasion, senior defensive tackle Nathan Robinson said the new identity of the defensive line is going to be stopping runs.
“The emphasis is showing how different it is this year. And we’ve got to take pride in that. We’ve got to be a lot better in defending the run.”
Sophomore tackle Ethan Utley said “We’re in the business to stop people, get turnovers, stopping third down, fourth down.
“That matters. And it all begins with stopping the run, creating knock-back … and then that’s when you’re going to do fun stuff – pass rush, get the quarterback. And then, at that point, Neyland Stadium will be rocking.”
Sounds good but I don’t think the promissory note has reached maturity. Heupel was asked if he saw any of that on Saturday.
“Some real positives. Defensive line, applying some pressure to the quarterbacks, in particular early in the scrimmage. Offensive line, I thought the run game grew throughout the scrimmage. Getting everybody on the same page. All 11 on a unit. Four guys on the defensive line operating as one. That’s in defending the run game and affecting the quarterback.”
Heupel said the Vols are at the point in training camp “that you got to push, got to compete, got to grow, got to take advantage of every rep. There’s a lot left out there for us at this point. Always is. We just got to continue to work and compete and grow.”
Don’t take this as sarcasm but I think he said the same thing last August. You know how that turned out.
Medical report: Safety Edrees Farooq and linebacker Jaedon Harmon, lost for the season with week-old injuries, were at the scrimmage, encouraging teammates.
Tight end Ethan Davis remains out with an injured foot, ankle or leg. Cornerback Ty Redmond, on his way back from an illness, didn’t scrimmage.
Strategy adjustment: Break-neck tempo, Heupel trademark in the beginning of his time at Tennessee, may be a thing of the past. He slowed things down the last couple of seasons, first for the convenience of Nico, then to be a little more in tune with the NFL.
That tidbit is also unofficial. The next scrimmage may break the speed limit – but it probably won’t.
Marvin West welcomes comments and questions from readers at marvinwest75@gmail.com Read more westwords by Marvin West.
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