Day one a typical day one
Despite the hype surrounding Tennessee going into this season once the Vols got on the field practice No. 1 was nothing more than a typical first day in Butch Jones' eyes.
There were things he liked, but plenty more things that the fourth-year Volunteers coach said needs improvement as Tennessee left the practice field Monday evening.
“Looked good, but a lot of teaching points,” Jones said. “We're not anywhere in shape mentally or physically to play a game, but you don't have to be at this point in time.
“All in all, a good first day but we have a long way to go.”
Jones said the team isn't in what he terms “football shape.” A good offseason in the weight room and getting conditioned only does so much, according to Jones.
“It's a different shape when you get out here and you start performing football skills at this intensity, this level and what we demand and require from our practices you are going to get winded a little bit,” Jones said. “Those are learning experiences … and I thought we were in good shape, but it's hard to simulate getting in football shape.”
Most of Jones points weren't big corrections, but little details that come with time and repetition.
Timing of the passing, hand position on blocks, running crisp routes were teaching points Jones took from the opening day of camp. Jones doesn't enjoy mistakes, but they were all things he said that are correctable as practice continues.
“I do think (practice) one and two are very important … but you still can learn a lot,” he said. “We'll know more when the pads go on, but it's making sure we correct the small details and that we correct the mistakes from today and moving on.”
TEAM LEADERSHIP: Jones noted Monday morning how much of a player-led team this group is, and while he saw it the first day of practice he wants to see more.
“That's part of being a veteran, mature football team,” he said. “I see it more at some position groups more than others and we'll challenge those position groups to be more vocal with each other and hold each other accountable.”
Derek Barnett, a junior with plenty of experience, said Jones has really given a lot of ownership of the team over to the players, something the talented defensive end thinks will help the team in the long run.
“He just lets us run the team,” Barnett said. “If someone isn't doing something they're supposed to do he lets us correct it. He trusts us.”
Tennessee only has 11 seniors, but a number of juniors have three years of experience that gives the program a core group of leaders.
“It's different because ever since I've been here we've been a young team,” Barnett said. “This is first year since I've been here we've been a veteran team. It's good.”
Barnett is one of those taking on more of a leadership role. Jones noted an encounter the other day between highly-touted freshman quarterback Jarrett Guarantano and Barnett where the junior lineman corrected the first-year signal caller.
“Jarrett came up to me the other day and told me, 'Coach, Derek Barnett corrected me. He spoke to me,” Jones said. “These young players are welcoming that.”
EASING BACK: By the end of spring practice, the Vols were down 16 players to either injury of offseason surgeries. Those players returned to the field Monday.
Sophomore defensive tackle Shy Tuttle was on the field and going through a very limited number of drills as he works his way back from a season-ending injury he suffered in Tennessee's win over Georgia last season.
Barnett, fellow lineman Danny O'Brien and Kendal Vickers were also back on the field after missing spring practice. Evan Berry, Jashon Robertson, Chance Hall and Josh Malone also made their return to the practice field.
“I was ready,” Barnett said. “It felt good to be out here, back with the team finally.”
Jauan Jennings, Austin Smith, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Darrell Taylor were also on the field but in green, non-contact jerseys.