Shoop's arrival fuels Vols' defense ... and their offense this spring
As the Vols prepare to exit spring practice on Saturday with the Orange & White Game, the respect and appreciation for how much defensive coordinator Bob Shoop has challenged the offense has grown.
The same can be said for how much offensive coordinator Mike DeBord has challenged Shoop and his defense.
For the offense, much of the spring has been about trying to grow the passing game and while much of that centers around better throws from the quarterback position and more consistency at receiver, it has also been about protecting the quarterback. And for an offensive line working two newcomers on the left side, pass protection has been a key emphasis and a challenge thanks to Shoop’s moving-parts defense.
“It's been great. It really has,” offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said. “When you just play against a stagnate front you can get false hope because you are doing things were the front is not moving and you are doing it well. When you are going against a front that's moving there's a lot of technique things that have to be right on. I think it's really made us a better blocking team because we have had to go against them.”
One of the issues in the second half in the passing game a season ago in the loss to Oklahoma was the Sooners’ pressure that resulted from how much they moved around. Offensive line coach Don Mahoney said this spring has been the challenge that his unit needs.
“It's great for us. The ability to protect against the different looks we see, movement, pressures, the fronts,” Mahoney said. “The communication and all the things required to execute the pass game in protection to allow Josh (Dobbs) and Quinten (Dormady) to set their feet and throw the ball. We like and embrace the challenge that Coach Shoop has brought for us this spring on a daily basis. That's been a huge benefit for us.”
On the flip side, the challenge for Shoop has been all about tempo and a run game heavy with quarterback rushes. Shoop admits it's what made him most anxious to start this spring.
“It's been a great challenge,” Shoop said. “That's been really the kind of fun part for me. I think anybody who does their homework on any coordinator in college football, not just me: the two things that show up a lot are tempo teams and quarterback run game. So you're telling me I get to practice against a team that does tempo every day and has one of the best running quarterbacks in the game? That was great, to test out our schemes, what we liked and what we didn't like. To teach our guys the proper fits, fills and force on the run-game piece.
“To me, I know that's made me, personally, a better coach and it's gotten me out of my comfort zone in many ways. It really does nothing but help us with that stuff.”
LINE’S DRIVE
Mahoney, overall, has been pleased with his offensive line’s development this spring despite the absence of expected starters Jashon Robertson and Chance Hall.
Working most days with, from left to right, Drew Richmond, Venzell Boulware, Coleman Thomas, Dylan Wiesman and Brett Kendrick, Mahoney’s group has steadily improved in the eyes of its coach.
“I think we’ve been making strides,” Mahoney told reporters. “We’re not where we need to be yet, but I think the leadership is starting to really … Dylan Wiesman is doing a nice job of setting the tone for what’s expected. Just as he went through the growing process of being young, the demands of what’s expected at the position. I’m seeing guys grow. I’m seeing guys that are understanding that they’re learning from mistakes and they’re building on those and correcting them.”
Specifically, Mahoney said Richmond has developed an ability to learn and correct mistakes as they occur on the practice field --- a significant development for the redshirt-freshman tackle who has spent the spring seeking to assure coaches and teammates he can handle the large task at the left flank.
“He’s really grown up a lot,” Mahoney said of the former Rivals.com five-star from Memphis. “From last fall to now; when I say that, really in the way that again if a mistake happens, he realizes that. A mistake or a missed assignment, he realizes that something wasn’t quite right. The game is starting to slow down for him. Where he’s playing at a higher level, he’s making calls and he’s playing faster. He’s really starting to make the progress we’d been hoping for.”
Elsewhere, Mahoney specifically praised Kendrick --- both for his work this spring and as an example of how an offensive lineman can evolve into a role.
“He’s really had a solid spring. He’s really a guy that’s been a guy that we’ve really been using the example of for the style of play, the fundamentals, the technique, the leverage we’re looking for,” Mahoney explained. “He’s just grown up. As you go through as linemen anywhere, there’s a process as a freshman, as a sophomore, as a junior as the bodies change, mentally, physically, all those things. He’s really been solid this spring.”
BROTHERLY LOVE
While tight end Ethan Wolf is a known commodity for the Vols after catching 46 catches 513 yards and two touchdowns, his younger brother Eli Wolf, walk-on tight end, is lesser known.
But, he’s made some noise this spring as Butch Jones and Larry Scott have both praised the younger Wolf.
And with the two sharing not only a locker room but also a position room, Scott said there’s no need for big brother to push little brother as Eli Wolf is a self starter.
“I think, just naturally, big brother takes on the leadership role. But, Eli is so competitive and he’s got his own chip on his shoulder and he’s kind of his own guy, that he’s self-motivated and you really like that about him,” Scott explained. “It doesn’t take Ethan to lead him to do anything extra or anything that he needs to do. He’s his own guy and he stands on his own two feet and he goes and gets it done.”
While Ethan Wolf stands taller and bigger at 6-foot-6, 245 pounds compared to 6-foot-4, 220-pounds, Scott said the two have unique skill sets.
“Ethan is a bigger, stronger guy right now so his body allows him to do a little bit more in all situations,” Scott said. “However, Eli has a special skill set that he brings to the table. He’s twitchy, he’s got really good speed to be the size that he is and he’s really focused and dialed in, too.”
JOHNSON CARVING ROLE
After beginning his career at linebacker, Jakob Johnson has now spent the last eight months at tight end and Scott said the junior is beginning to carve a role as a physical blocker.
“Yes, yes,” Scott answered when asked if Johnson has been able to carve out a role this spring. “That’s what he brings to the table; he brings a certain amount of physicality. He’s good with his fundamentals and his technique. The biggest part about him is that he embraces his role and what that means and what that is.
“The biggest part of any player being good is understanding what they bring to the game and what we’re going to ask them to be great at and asking them to be masters of that role. He’s just that kind of guy.”
Scott credited everyone at the tight end position for being team players and ready to take on any role asked of them.
“Those guys in that room are all pretty good,” Scott said. “They all want to win. They want to know what that role is so they can take it on and help Team 120 be as successful as it can be.”