Four downs with Josh Heupel: Tennessee has final spring scrimmage

It’s the final week of spring, and Tennessee was on the turf in Neyland Stadium today, going through its final scrimmage of spring practice before Saturday’s Orange & White game. Josh Heupel gave a shout out to the first team defense for setting the tone early on, and generally liked what he saw from his squad.

“Good work this morning. Got some situational football in as well, some things to clean up from. Defense, one defense in particular, I thought had a really good day. Started really fast offensively,” Heupel said of his team’s work on Monday morning.

Penalties have been a point of emphasis from the head coach this spring after Tennessee was one of the most penalized teams in the SEC last year (14th, 66.8 ypg).

The head coach wasn’t overly pleased with some of the pre-snap issues he saw from his team in last week’s scrimmage.

It sounds like the head coach felt that area was still a work in progress after Monday.

“Just both sides of the ball, a few more penalties than we had in scrimmage one,” Heupel observed of Monday’s scrimmage.

“We’ve got to play smarter, play cleaner, that was true offensively, but on the defensive side of the ball as well, that continued to grow in the way that we play.”

BOTH WAYS BOO

One interesting wrinkle in Tennessee’s spring practice has been the inclusion of sophomore Boo Carter into some offensive packages.

Carter made his mark as a true freshman as a playmaker from his nickel spot, but he also flashed repeatedly as a punt returner when he got a chance to get his hands on the football.

Given his obvious skills, it’s not surprising that Tennessee is looking for ways to get Carter involved on the offensive side.

It’s an adjustment though, and a move that comes with a ton of new responsibilities.

As Heupel notes, it’s a work in progress for Carter.

“When you do that (play both sides), there’s a whole other workload load that that you got to take on. Because you got to understand what’s going on on both sides of football. And he’s done a really good job,” Heupel said of the progress that Carter has made this spring.

“(He’s) Spent a lot of extra time in here learning what we’re doing offensively, being able to handle the structure of the offense. We’re intentional on what positions we’re putting him in during the course of practice, today during the scrimmage and trying to manage that side of it. He’s worked hard.

“You can look at him as a punt returner to see the skillset when he has the ball in his hands that he’s got a chance to be a dynamic playmaker.”

IS THE RECEIVER ROOM READY?

Tennessee has zero questions at quarterback with Nico Iamaleava back under center, but who is going to emerge as reliable targets for the third year signal caller?

Returners Chris Brazzell (29 rec., 333 yards) and Mike Matthews (7 rec., 90 yards) pretty much represent the returning veteran portion of Kelsey Pope’s position group, and both are obviously talented. Matthews in particular seems to have just scratched the surface of what he can do.

Second year player Braylon Staley is a highly promising player and Alabama transfer Amari Jefferson is an exciting prospect.

But there’s no mistaking the fact that if the Vols’ passing game is going to be up to SEC standards, multiple guys at receiver are going to have to make significant strides this offseason.

“Braylon wasn’t going today. I thought the other two guys did a good job in the scope of what we were doing offensively,” Heupel said of the returning trio of wideouts and the scrimmage today.

“They’ve been consistent in making plays day in, day out on the practice field and for them it’s just constant growth as far as within the scope of what we’re doing. The fundamentals and technique, learning how to attack defenders, reading zone, man and ultimately get on the same page with the quarterback.”

The receiver spot is one that seems maybe more susceptible to having guys transfer out than some other spots, something that Heupel noted on Monday.

“You know, a year ago we had some guys that parted through the transfer portal. Hard to keep everybody happy at that position. I love the group that we got,” Heupel said of the wideouts as a whole.

“As a staff you always evaluate where you’re at on the back end of spring ball and we’ll certainly do that, but I do really like the guys that we got in there.

“How they work, how they compete, how they’re trying to grow. That’s on the practice field, it’s outside of it. Like what they’ve done through the course spring ball too.”

LEWIS MAKING STRIDES

With the monster season that Dylan Sampson put together last fall Peyton Lewis wasn’t called on to do much as a freshman, but when his number was called he answered the bell.

Lewis finished with 339 yards and three touchdowns on 64 carries.

He got a taste of playing ‘big boy’ SEC football with 20 combined carries for 74 yards against Mississippi State and Georgia when pressed into action late in the season while Tennessee was making a playoff push.

There has been some buzz around the building about how Lewis has attacked this offseason. Heupel confirmed on Monday that Lewis has been making noteworthy strides as he heads towards his sophomore season.

“Peyton’s had a great spring. He’s got a lot more comfort and understanding in the scope of what we’re doing. It should be that way in year two,” Heupel said.

“He grew throughout the course of last year, too. But he’s done a really, really good job. That’s with the ball in his hands, but it’s also playing without the ball.”