Larry Scott, Vols players tout offseason 'growth' with 7v7 work

Much has been made about Butch Jones’ change in philosophy allowing Tennessee’s players to participate in some offseason 7-on-7 work this summer, and according to multiple Vols, the voluntary workouts have given the team a boost heading into training camp.

“It’s literally just the simple fact that we are going out there to do it now,” junior tailback John Kelly told VolQuest.

“Guys want to do it.”

Jones previously disallowed the summer 7-on-7 stuff due to injury concerns, but with a new starting quarterback, a young wideout unit and lots of competition in the secondary, Tennessee’s fifth-year coach was convinced by offensive coordinator Larry Scott and others to alter his stance this year.

“I think everything year in and year out, when you take a step back and evaluate everything is about growth. How can we grow as coaches? How can we help players grow?” Scott said.

“We felt like with a relatively young football team: New quarterbacks, young receivers, the more we can get those guys working together, getting them on the same page, communicating the verbiage, playing together and getting comfortable with each other it can build not only camaraderie of it all but a sense of urgency. A sense of competition. Holding each other to standards and expectations until we start practice.”

Scott added the sessions should allow Tennessee to “really hit the ground running” and “springboard them into the journey.”

Players say the 7-on-7 work has added a competitive component to the offseason, fueling some fiery trash talk and allowing leaders to emerge. Tight end Ethan Wolf said “timing” has been an important takeaway from the sessions, as has been simple player accountability.

“The coaches aren’t allowed to be out there, so it’s all on us,” Wolf explained. “We’ve got to go out there and develop (a plan), and then get the timing down. Another thing it builds is leadership because you can’t do it without leaders. Everything would go all different directions. You’ve got to have everybody on the same page, everybody running the same plays.

"We’re not going out there just to throw incomplete passes to the defense because we hear it from them. We obviously want to go out there and succeed and improve our timing and I think that’s going to pay off.”

The 7-on-7 sessions have allowed quarterbacks Quinten Dormady and Jarrett Guarantano to take added leadership roles, especially when the spirited competition possibly crosses a line between the two units. Wolf said the offense has bested the defense this summer, before laughing and adding, “But you know they’re probably not going to agree with that.”

“Sometimes we get to going and taking back and forth with the defense and things get out of hand. But there’s always somebody, and it’s different everyday, to get it back in the right direction.”

PHILLIPS PRIMED TO BREAKOUT?

After battling significant shoulder injuries the last two seasons, former 5-star prospect Kyle Phillips is finally healthy heading into his junior season. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Nashville native said he “feels great” and “is ready for fall camp to start.”

Phillips, who has just 3.5 career TFLs, missed spring practice after another shoulder surgery, but the junior isn’t fretting over time lost and is instead geeked about his upcoming opportunities to play strictly defensive end this fall.

“All that’s behind me,” he said.

“I’m just really excited. When you’re young, you just kind of get in where you fit in and do what you’re asked. Now that I get a chance to show everybody my real position, I’m excited.”

Phillips has played a lot of defensive tackle the last two seasons, but with Derek Barnett, Cory Vereen and LaTroy Lewis gone from the program, the junior finally has a chance to showcase his skill-set as an edge rusher.

“I’ve grown up a lot,” Phillips said. “Being a freshman and sophomore, sitting behind older guys and learning from them, but now it’s my turn to step up as a leader and a player.”

QUOTABLE

“When I found out Trey Smith was only 17, I was shocked. I didn’t know that. I didn’t realize he just turned 18. He’s a freak of nature. I’m excited to see how he does.”

— Senior tight end Ethan Wolf

NO DISTRACTION

Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with Penn State, his former employer, over money allegedly owed after leaving for Tennessee.

Shoop is being sued for not paying nearly $900,000, but the former Nittany Lions defensive coordinator filed a counter lawsuit, claiming he was fired.

“I really cannot comment on it at this time. It just a matter of the contract,” Shoop said.

"We have a number that we feel that we owe them and they have a number they feel we owe them. People who know a lot more about this stuff than I do are handling it. It’s really nothing I need to think about on a daily basis.”

Shoop reiterated that the lawsuit is “not a distraction at all.”