No QB answer coming soon
Tennessee head coach Butch Jones answered the question before anyone could ask. Expect no news anytime soon on the battle to find a replacement for departed senior quarterback Josh Dobbs.
“I know the first question is going to be about the quarterback situation. To me we are all competing. Every job is open," Jones said Monday.
"It will be a very competitive spring. There is no depth chart. We have an organizational chart and all that means is who will take the first rep in practice and we will go from there. Again, we want them to compete. No timetable has been set on the starting quarterback or any starting position. They have to earn that right in their performance on the field, off the field and in the meeting rooms. You compete in everything you do.”
Junior quarterback Quinten Dormady and redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano are the two frontrunners in what will be Jones' first true quarterback competition at Tennessee. For Jones, offensive coordinator Larry Scott and quarterbacks coach Mike Canales, the quarterback focus is on one key area.
“It's consistency in performance every single day. Never being too high or too low. Individuals who can manage our offense getting us into the appropriate play,” Jones said.
“The leadership that is associated with playing the quarterback position. But I would say the big thing is going to be consistency day in and day out. Just competing day in and day out. When you do that, you are going to improve everyday. That's what we want to see.”
And if fans are looking for a quick answer to the Vols quarterback search, don't get your hopes up. Tuesday starts what's expected to be a lengthy battle to determine who will lead the Vols' offense.
JONES LIKES PROGRAM'S EXPERIENCE
One of the benefits of the Vols starting spring practice a couple of weeks later is that it allowed Jones and his coaching staff — one that features five new faces — time so grow and learn together. For Jones, it's not just five new faces talking ball. It's new faces, with the exception of Kevin Beard, who are long in the tooth when it comes to coaching experience.
In fact, Charlton Warren, Brady Hoke, Walt Wells and Mike Caneles don't just have combined decades worth of experience. The have experience in more prominent roles then what they are coaching in now. Canales has been an interim head coach for a year. Brady Hoke has more head coaching experience than Jones. Warren and Wells have both been coordinators.
“I think any time you add individuals like a Brady Hoke, like a Charlton Warren, like a Walt Wells and a Mike Canales, they understand and they have been there,” Jones said.
“Especially if they have been a previous head coach or an interim head coach they understand the chair that you sit in. They understand the position. Again, a lot of these individuals I have known, but some I didn't and was very impressed with them in the interview process. I think anytime you can hire individuals that have great experience from a football knowledge standpoint from the different places they have been, I think your entire football program is going to benefit.”
The opposite side of the spectrum is Beard. The former Miami wide receiver and wide receivers coach will bring a fresh approach to the receiver unit that is looking to really grow and expand their roles with two very strong armed quarterbacks dishing out dimes. Beard very well could end up having a Trooper Taylor type impact in terms of enthusiasm and how the players respond to him.
"I think when you look at coach Beard, the first thing that hits you is the ability to relate to our players," Jones said. "He has a unique way of being able to relate to them. Obviously he can go on the field and demonstrate and in todays era in teaching, a lot of that is through repetition and being able to demonstrate that. He has very good communication skills.
"He is able to communicate with them. He has done a good job of earning that trust. Trust is built every single day I think he is a very good teacher. He's a very good mentor. It's not all about football. It's about building that relationship off the field. He has great passion and great energy. I think it's rubbed off on our players."