With new coaches and new schemes, expect some confusion on the first day of UT spring drills. Said new head coach Butch Jones, "I told all of our players. Tomorrow when the horn blows, if you don't know where you are going, just run in place and follow your position group. You guys may see a lot of guys running in place tomorrow."
Coach Jones had his offensive linemen running this off-season. He wanted them to slim down. Reporter-"Do you feel quicker or more mobile?" Said offensive lineman Ja'Wuan James,"Yes sir, I do. In this fast pace offense we are trying to run, as an offensive lineman, you have to be in shape." Added Jones,"Our nutritionist came to me today, and she said coach, I've never seen anything like this. The amount of body fat that our players have lost in a couple of months and gained weight through muscle is amazing."
New running backs coach Michael Gillespie wants his guys eating nails."We're going to ask them to do things that are tough. You have to block guys that are bigger than you. You have to protect the football when everybody on the defense wants the ball from you." Added offensive coordinator, Mike Bajakian,"We're going to hang our hat on being a tough offense. That's going to be our identity. We're going to be physical and tough. And we're going to play fast."
Defensively, the Vols will try to find an identity with a 4-3 scheme. Said defensive coordinator John Jancek,"We are a work in progress right now. We are transitioning back to the 4-3. We have moved some guys around. We're trying to get more speed on the field. We know that's a factor."
Reporter-"Do you thing the personnel is better suited for the 4-3?" Said linebacker A.J. Johnson,"I wouldn't say the personnel is suited, but I know it will be less complicated than the 3-4."
