Notes From Vols’ Friday Practice

Apr 20, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Alton Howard (2) signs autographs after the spring Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

A hot mid-afternoon practice for the Vols opened with the sounds of Rick James, Zac Brown Band and Dave Matthews Band blaring from the speakers.

Butch Jones brought the intensity as usual, especially during team punt drills, which Jones described as “the best period of the day”. Jones was especially mad when the first punt of the period was blocked. He continued to voice his displeasure as he let his punting unit know “there’s no do-overs”.

Jones also had a moment that had the various media folks holding back a grin, when he called out Brian Randolph and another defensive back (that I couldn’t see) for “synchronized softness”.

Here’s some other notes from Tennessee’s practice on Friday.

• Curt Maggitt and Justin King were in green jerseys. Jacques Smith worked out by himself on the sidelines 
• Wide receiver Jason Croom was praised early by Butch Jones for running a good route
• During team drills, Nathan Peterman, running with the second-team, threw a pick-6 to defensive back Max Arnold. Jones of course used the moment as a teaching point for the offensive unit. 
• Cody Blanc was called out by coaches for dropping a wide open pass during receiver drills. 
• Alden Hill, Rajion Neal and Justus Pickett caught the ball well out of the backfield. 
• Marlin Lane had to be corrected on his route running a time or two. 
• Jones implored the running backs to “make defenders miss as the next level”. 
• Devrin Young, Pig Howard, Cameron Sutton and Marlin Lane worked as punt returners. 
• Devrin Young looked the most comfortable fielding punts. 
• Sutton struggled a little bit during punt-returning drills. 
• Justin Worley and Marquez North connected on three straight passes during team drills. 
• Marquez North looked very comfortable at receiver, making a nice up-field turn after a catch and also looking good on underneath routes.
• Riley Ferguson tended to lock-in on whichever receiver he was throwing to during team periods.

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