By most accounts, it was not a good week of practice for the Vols that make up team 118.
But on Saturday night, Butch Jones was seemingly pleased with his team’s effort in the first scrimmage of fall practice.
The scrimmage was closed to the media (for the first time since the Derek Dooley era according to Reed Carringer), but Jones and players spoke to the media after the scrimmage concluded.
Jones’ overall mood was positive on Saturday evening, saying “I liked our approach for this football team, I thought we grew up a little bit, I thought we matured a little bit.”.
Jones followed that up by saying “‘I’m pleased overall with our football team in their mentality”.
That’s great news for the Vols after a less than stellar couple days of practice. It’s especially good news for the quarterbacks, who received positive reviews on Saturday night, after a couple of days full of criticism.
When asked about the quarterbacks, Jones said “I think all of them are improving….Nathan Peterman took some important steps forward. Justin Worley continues to get better.”
Peterman’s had a great week of practice and it looks like he could supplant Josh Dobbs as the likely number two quarterback.
Vol fans have a clouded view of Peterman, based on one half of action at Florida.
While that half featured some bad football played by Peterman, it certainly doesn’t define him as a quarterback.
Even though Peterman probably had the best week of practice of all the quarterbacks, this is still Worley’s team.
The senior from Rock Hill, SC has a certain aura of confidence about him this fall.
And I’m not the only one who’s noticed it.
Jones on Saturday night said “Justin is starting to play with much more confidence, more command of the line of scrimmage. We still need more, but I see that overall development start to happen.”
It should only be a matter of time before Worley is named the starter. He’s not going to be a threat to win the Heisman, but he will definitely give the Volunteers their best chance at making a bowl game.
Worley took time on Saturday (and showed great leadership in doing so) to praise some of the Vols’ youngsters. Guys like Emmanuel Moseley, Jalen Hurd and Josh Smith were the objects of Worley’s acclamation. He also had positive things things to say about the offensive line, noting “the offensive line did a great job picking up some odd looks that our defense has started to put in”.
All in all, it was a positive night of practice for team 118. The team took some important steps forward.
This team has a certain confidence about them that wasn’t present last season. True freshman running back Jalen Hurd said “we came out and we played really good as a team and I think the future is looking really good for us”.
The future is indeed looking very bright for the Volunteers. They have a long way to go, but they’re on the right track to get there.
Notes:
- Butch Jones continued to praise freshman defensive lineman Derek Barnett, saying “Derek Barnett is the one who is really standing out right now”.
- Sophomore wide receiver Josh Smith noted senior wide receiver Jacob Carter as the team’s best route runner.
- Jalen Hurd took time to praise the offensive line, saying they did “really well”
- Butch Jones says Jalen Hurd continues to get “better and better”
Quotes from UTSports.com