Tidbits from Training Camp and News from Around the League

Defensive Coordinator John Chavis lectures his new players

Are you ready to see some SEC FOOTBALL? It's getting closer, loyal readers and I can almost smell the smells of Football Saturday. Gator Tails being fried up, a nice rack of baby back ribs on the grill, and cat...well we leave Kentucky's mascot alone, let's pray they do the same with ours from now on.

We football nuts, you and I, have to have something to bide the time until our beloved sport begins so here are some goings on that may interest you.

Former UT Quarterback makes Position Change

"Yaw Yaw Yaw Yaw- Yaw- Yaw- Yaw- Yaw re-see-va!" Former Vol Brent Schaeffer, Coach O's heralded, Junior College quarterback and hand-picked starter from afar, has reportedly been practicing for the past few days with the Ole Miss wide receivers. I guess the disgrace of being beaten out by a walk-on was too much for Little Vick to bear. What I find funny in all of this is when the Volunteers' coaches tried to press him to make the move back in '05, he resisted, and ended up transferring.

Brent, just think about how much further along you would be now, had you listened to the people who know more than you do. Heck, you could be another James Banks. Come to think of it, that's a very real possibility.

So it looks like the walk-on that beat Schaeffer out in the spring, Seth Adams, will be the guy for Ogeron this year. Of course, Coach O is just biding his time until 2008 when Texas transfer, Jevan Snead will be eligible, and praying he still has a job. They don't treat coaches kindly down there in Oxford, ask David Cutcliffe.


Tennessee Drill Notes

Jacques (JOCK) McClendon fired up the team in the Tennessee drill when he registered one of the most dominating blocks of the day.

The next time he stepped up, it was against defensive tackle Walter Fisher. They fought to a draw and after whistles blew threw some punches at each other.

When asked about the tussle, Fisher said, “We’re family. Brothers fight everyday. It’s nothing.”

Fulmer on Jacques McClendon and Walter Fisher

“I think Jacques is growing up some,” Fulmer said. “Today, I saw him really, really get emotionally into it. That’s what I’ve been waiting to see.

“Somebody’s got to rise to the level of an SEC player (on the right side of the offensive line). Jacques is physically capable of doing it as anybody on the field.”

And on Walter Fisher
“Walter Fisher is making a move,” UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. “I’m excited about where he is.”

Cutcliffe Comments on Coker

Offensive Coordinator David Cutcliffe is known to be a disciplinarian. He does not put up with any nonsense on his squad.

“When a guy is totally wrong and what I consider a bad apple to the rest of the team, then you get rid of him as fast as you can. The program is always bigger than the individual.”

But LaMarcus Coker does not fit that description to him.

“I don’t feel that way right now at all,” Cutcliffe said. “I know some things about him that maybe a lot of people don’t know, that are his private business.”

LaMarcus has one more chance, if he is the kind of guy that the coaches think he is, then he will rebound, and he will be back.

Montario Hardesty was still nursing a sore hamstring on Tuesday while WR Kenny O'Neal was back practicing after dealing with his own hamstring woes. Cutcliffe said O'Neal has thus far been the most impressive of the new receivers despite the injury

Also, Lennon Creer is seeing a lot of carries in practice and figures to make a strong push.

BJ Coleman on Wearing 18

“I’m very happy with it. I was number 16 in high school, but they retired it for Peyton (Manning). He is a role model of mine, and he wears 18 in the pros, so I am more than happy to have it here.”

RB Lennon Creer

Crompton Pretends to Blow Chunks

I love Jonathan Crompton, but wow, does he not look like he's about to blow groceries every time he throws the ball?

Eric Berry Impressive Early

Fulmer complimented Berry after the first day in pads.

"Eric has done extremely well," Fulmer said. "There was nothing today to think that he's not going to be a great football player."

While Larry Slade, UT's secondary coach said he is as good as he’s seen.

“He’s a playmaker. He’s got outstanding speed. He’s tough as nails. All of those qualities that you find in an outstanding player,” Slade said.
“(He’s) as good as anyone I’ve had. He’s come in very well prepared. If you didn’t know it, you’d think he was an upperclassman. He’s ahead of most of the freshmen we have.” (Can I get a HELL YEA-UH?)

Phillip Fulmer said on Saturday that the Vols will have special offensive packages for the three lightning fast former high school quarterbacks including the nation's top cornerback recruit, Eric Berry.

"When Coach Fulmer told me that (during recruiting), I thought it was just a recruiting ploy," Berry said. "I didn't think it was serious. I thought he was joking to get me here.

"He told me once I get comfortable with the defense, just to come on to the offense at anytime."

Fulmer don't play, E-Bear.

"We want the ball in his (Berry's) hands as much as possible to make a play," Fulmer said. "Defenses this day and age are very geared to pressure, to giving different looks."

"Packages in which the quarterback is the ball carrier sometimes are a bit more difficult to defend."

Just ask Arkansas.