Did you say 9 days?
Christian Lundy leads off with a practice report.
Christian Lundy
Thursday Notes
The Vols officially began Utah State preparations on Thursday afternoon at Haslam Field. For the first time this fall, several players were wearing scout team jerseys, rather than their standard practice jerseys. Treyvon Paulk, Drae Bowles, A.J. Branisel, Marques Pair, Joe Henderson, Mike Sawyers, Evan Berry, Rashaan Gaulden and Cortez McDowell were among the notable players in blue jerseys. Among those, it seems most likely that Berry, Gaulden and McDowell could find their way on to the field at some point this fall. Sawyers, Henderson and Paulk are definite redshirt candidates and there is at least some chatter around the program that Branisel could possibly be headed for a redshirt year as well as he continues to try and get fully healthy after suffering a shoulder injury and torn ACL during his freshman season last year.
The Vols did not go through any team periods on Thursday, but the offensive line did work some as units.
The depth chart remains unchanged there and it appears very likely that UT will start Jacob Gilliam, Marcus Jackson, Mack Crowder, Jashon Robertson and Kyler Kerbyson left to right against Utah State next Sunday night. Dontavius Blair, Austin Sanders, Dylan Wiesman, Brett Kendrick and Coleman Thomas continued to work with the second unit. Robertson, who moved to guard mid-way through camp, has had praised heaped on him from all directions. Offensive line coach Don Mahoney believes the sky's the limit for him.
"He's one of the best (freshmen) that I've had a chance to really be around," Mahoney said. "When he first started playing the position, the first day we had to practice, I left the field and I said to Coach Jones, `Coach, he's asking questions that most guys would not ask.' I said, `man, this guy's special.'"
He's not the only one taking notice.
The general consensus around the program seems to be that Robertson is going to be a staple on the offensive line for years to come for Tennessee.
I spent most of my time on Thursday watching the corners go through drills with defensive backs coach Willie Martinez. Martinez was very, very pleased with what he saw from them during the portion of practice I saw. Cam Sutton, Michael Williams and Justin Coleman all had good days and it appears as though all three of them will be in the starting lineup on August 31st, although Willie Martinez said after practice that freshman Emmanuel Moseley remains in the mix. Williams has aggressiveness about him that I haven't seen over the last couple of seasons here at the cornerback position. That kind of relentless aggression to go along with his sprinter's speed should serve the Vols well on the perimeter, assuming he can doesn't become reckless.
Martinez added that Brian Randolph has locked down the starting job at strong safety and noted that Devaun Swafford, Todd Kelly, Jr. and LaDarrell McNeil are all in the mix at free safety.
Injury Update
Curt Maggitt returned to the field on Thursday and was wearing an orange full contact jersey. Maggitt had missed a string of practices towards the end of camp. Vic Wharton also returned to practice after missing some time with a nagging leg injury.
Trevarris Saulsberry, Derrell Scott, John Johnson and Woody Quinn all sat out Thursday's workout.
The Vols will return to the practice field on Friday at 4:20 p.m.
Follow me on twitter @C_Lundy1
Remember to listen to Young Guns today as we launch a new show on the tonybasilio.com platforms (apps and live stream). You can hear Jon Reed and me today from 3 to 5.
Christian Lundy....Wow son...That was stronger than frozen rope...
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Beano
MAN-ALIVE; HOW DO WE GO 7-5?
LAST CFB-LESS WEEKEND FOR A LOOOOONG TIME
SINCE WE LAST SPOKE 8-21-14
HOW TO KEEP ALIVE 7-5: A couple of weeks back Jonathan Reed started a firestorm with his contention that Tennessee Fans should EXPECT the Vols to finish no worse than 7-5 this season. As only Tony –and his Phillies bullpen- can do he fanned the flames by adding “Reed says anything less would be a failure”. I think the Twitter uproar was due to a Cool Hand Luke-like “failure to communicate”. Jon said “expect” while most heard “demand”. Reed later amended –or stated more plainly- that 6-6 would show signs of progress and be acceptable but 7-5 is not an unreasonable expectation. With that clarified I agree with young Jon 100%. This team can win 7 games and here is what they will have to do different from last season and beyond to make it happen:
CATEGORIZE TO 7-5: If we objectively break down the schedule here is another look at the journey to 7-5
...[more]
Saturdays This FallTune in right after the game!
Well, this is it!!! The final weekend of the year without college football is here!!! Then again....not so fast my friend as this isn't entirely true. There IS COLLEGE FOOTBALL THIS WEEKEND! Eastern Washington hosts Sam Houston State tomorrow afternoon on that hideous red turf. How much dope do you think LaGarrett Blount and fellow members of the Steelers backfield would have to smoke to watch all four quarters played on that blood red field? 3:30 kickoff on ESPN. Here's a preview of the game! Dig it!
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Michael Williams...Wow...What a find for Tennessee. Nice to catch a break every once in a while. Williams was a high level 3 star football recruit out of high school that signed a football scholly with Maryland and decided to come to UT and run track. He had about a dozen college scholarship offers for football. His brother is Madieu Williams who plays safety with the Bengals was originally born in Sierra Leone. Yesterday UT secondary coach Willie Martinez called Michael Williams the most consistent of the corners this side of Sutton and Coleman. Williams is going to play a lot of good football this year. Be nice to find a few others like him off the scrap heap. Can you imagine?
And recruiting does matter too. Barnett and Hendrix are men when you consider Steve Stripling telling the press last night after practice that neither guy looks like a typical freshman.
Also, I'm hearing that he reason JaShon Robertson is going to start at guard is because he's literally a man child. The guy has been wonderful in camp. One source told me coaches can't believe he's only a freshman when they watch the tape. That's wonderful news indeed!
When the turnaround comes, this class has to lead it!
Tennessee's kicking battles continue to draw interest.
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When Tennessee and Utah State tussle in Neyland Stadium in 9 days, the top pro style QB in his class will be on hand. This is exciting news. Any QB looking down the line here has to be intrigued by the possibilities.
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Great to see Curt Maggitt was back at practice yesterday as the Vols went through the first day of game preparations for Utah State.
THANK GOD we don't have to worry this around here any time soon (10+yrs IMO). This hot seat stuff is exhausting when it's in your backyard constantly. It's interesting when it occurs in your league/region and among your enemies in sports.
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Nice tribute to Will Overstreet here. I wish a guy like this would emerge this year. Had a motor that would not quit.
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You can count the # of Tennessee players on one hand over 3 teams on the pre season all SEC teams. Talk to me in the post-season and I'll bet you there are at least 6 Vols across the three teams. At least!
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Congrats to Maryville's Patton Robinette for landing the starting QB job at Vandy!
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Those morons in Alabama can't even put their sh** aside for 10 minutes to raise some money for a sick little boy. What kind of people are these?
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Why does ESPN put the Little League World Series on TV in prime time? Because unfortunately, people really watch it. In fact the Philly team's battle versus Las Vegas drew more viewers than any college basketball game on ESPN last season. 4.968 million people watched that game on Wednesday night. That's absurd if you think about. BTW, I'm not a fan of ESPN showing this much Little League for a couple of reasons. For one thing, baseball at that level is already out of control with kids believing they are stars. We are raising a generation of burned out and entitled youth baseball players. How those two attributes can mutually coexist in that sport is a real accomplishment when you think about burnout and entitlement and what they mean. They've turned these kids into sports stars way before their time. It can't be healthy. Mo'ne Davis is on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated for crying out loud.
Oh and one more dark humor sports note from me. Not only is America paying attention to the girl pitcher and her team but Philly has really adopted them to the point where they are getting better TV #'s than the Phillies, not to mention more chatter than the Phillies on Philly sports stations. Oh, and once that city started openly rooting for them, you just knew they would crash and burn. After all, that's how it works around those parts.
Keith Hatfield follows me today with a beautiful program lined up for you. He's jammed with great guests and you're going to want to listen in.
Hatfield's Nine
'Tony,
We are now on the verge of game week here in Knoxville. You can feel the anticipation in the air.
1. Dominic Woodson's addition has the potential to change UT's outlook substantially. If he is in shape and motivated, Woodson gives the Vols the big, physical presence they were lacking.
2. Donnie Tyndall is building his roster how you have to at a program outside the blue bloods. When you can get talent, you take the shot.
3. Kedren Johnson to Memphis makes sense. Josh Pastner desperately needs experience in the backcourt.
4. The Toronto Blue Jays have shown a level of greed and arrogance that is laughable. Their attack on Creighton's logo is petty and silly.
5. If you read nothing else this week, go over to the CBS Sports website and read Gregg Doyel's piece on Kelly Wells. It is what sportswriting should be.
6. The Sports Illustrated story on Curtis Malone is a window into the darkest side of college recruiting. You have to make deals with the Devil to get winning caliber players.
7. Anyone who has listened to me on air or read my work knows I generally dislike Pete Thamel's style of work. However, his work on the Malone story was evenhanded and spared no one.
8. College of Charleston has made a complete mockery of their search process. Bringing Bobby Cremins back for one year while Anthony Johnson "learns" is just silly.
9. UT desperately needs Curt Magitt to get healthy and on the field. Without him, the Vol defense lacks any dependable pass rush.
Tune in today for Show Cause from 1-3 on the Basilio Platforms and WLAF 1450 and 100.9.
Thanks & Go Vols!
Keith'
Spurrier is the best and all others are just a cheap imitation.
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Brady Hoke looks an awful lot like Mike Golic. But so far his teams at Michigan have the weight in the Big 10 of Mike Greenburg. This season is huge for him and many down in Tellico and even at the boat dock!
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When somebody hits a ball and you pull a gun you're probably a Bama fan.
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Here's a real head scratcher for you courtesy of ESPN/Stats/Info. The Padres traded Chase Headley in a salary dump and it's paying off in wins. 'Padres are 18-12 since ASB (.600 win pct is 2nd-best in NL), including 11-6 this month. SD hasn't had winning month since last Sept. (16-11).'
So, how much money is there in the college football business? Consider Larry Coker, head coach at UTSA is now $2.25M over 5 years. $400,000 per year plus to coach at University of Texas San Antonio. Quick....What is their mascot?....That's what I thought.
This will inspire you on this Friday.
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Vol Colonel returns Monday to kick off game week with a comprehensive prognostication of the SEC East!
Have a great weekend!
Enjoy the programming here at Tonybasilio.com