What Tennessee linebackers coach William Inge said after Wednesday's practice

What Tennessee linebackers coach William Inge said during his press conference after Wednesday’s spring practice:

Tennessee linebacker Edwin Spillman’s development and if he plays both linebacker positions

“The one thing that we do in our position room is everyone is responsible to know both positions. So we call them dual-purpose linebackers. So he’s someone who is being able to do both of them. And the one thing that we like about it, it really puts our guys in scenarios where no matter what, you can get the best guy on the football field when needed. But also we can put them in scenarios where they understand our defense. I tell recruits all the time how our defense is designed. If you can count to three, you can play for me.” 

Tennessee’s lack of experience at linebacker behind Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander, what the Vols are trying to build this spring 

“Well, the biggest thing that we’re looking for from them is just the continued, as we would say, thriving when you’re on the field. And the best way to do that is you have to get them on the field, put them in the fire. Allow them to understand what happens when they’re under pressure. And be able to coach them in those moments. And that’s the biggest thing that we’re doing now, with a lot of guys on the team. Because there’s a lot of individuals who are coming back that are fairly new. So we’re really putting them in as we would call, putting them in the heat, under pressure and allowing them to thrive under pressure. And being able to coach them up. Because the mistakes that are made, we got to coach them, make sure that we get them better.” 

The approach this spring with some linebackers out, being shorthanded  

“We’re not shorthanded. The approach in our room is attack. And the standard is going to be the standard. Everyone who is on the football field, you’re going to be ready. You have to manage your role, you have to do your job and you got to go execute. So we don’t see it as being down. We see it as a really, really, really great opportunity for the next men to continue to keep developing in the program.” 

What he has seen from Tennessee’s three freshmen linebackers, Brenden Anes, Jadon Perlotte and Jaedon Harmon 

“Yeah, to think about us finishing practice (No. 9) and Brenden Anes, he was here prior to us going to the College Football Playoff and him coming back now, to see the steps that he’s taken thus far, we’re so proud of him because he does a few things that you want all your players to do. He prepares, it’s important to him and he understands how to ask questions. And when he’s on the field he plays like, literally, like his hair is on fire. And if you see him you’d think his hair’s on fire, literally. But he does a great job of just learning, applying the things that we want him to do in the system. And it’s been great having him here during these practices because he’s going be in the center who have a chance to go help our football team. 

“Now with Jadon and Jaedon, those guys are coming along as we say, playing the mental game. And what I have to do for them, basically put them through what we call Navy Seal training, to where you’re doing everything that’s going to be mental. I’m going to have you mentally sweat every day and try to have you push the panic button every day from a mental standpoint. Because if you get the mental portion of the game correctly, we know athletically and physically they have already shown us some of the skills during the recruiting process to be able to apply them. And when we take this next step during the summer, that’s when they’ll start getting there, what we call, intensity through repetition.” 

What he has seen from Tennessee redshirt freshman linebacker Jordan Burns

“Jordan possesses some things that very few people on our team have. When you see some flashes, you would think you’re looking at like an Al Wilson, who plays extremely fast, extremely aggressive and extremely physical. We have to understand this time a year ago, Jordan was not here during training camp. Jordan was not with us. So this is really his first time of being in a scenario where he is in the heat and and the fire. And seeing him excel every day, we’re definitely happy with his progress thus far and we know when he’s on the football field, he does everything that he needs to be able to do. He will be someone everybody will know about.” 

If the Navy Seal kind of mental preparation has been a shock to the system of Tennessee linebackers 

“Oh, it’s not a shock to the system for them. Some of them are probably happy that it’s not them at this point in time, because they endured it last year. But some of the newer guys, that’s what we have to be able to put them through. Especially when you can’t get all the reps that you would typically do when you’re on the football field. So us being able to make some of the newer guys or our newcomers be able to mentally sweat, or the injured guys be able to mentally sweat, is great. I think the thing that we see from a leadership standpoint in the room is the guys who have endured it, those are the first guys to jump in and try to help aid and assist. That’s what’s awesome. And when you’re building a championship-caliber team, that’s what you want. You need your players to be able to lead and that’s what we’re getting from those guys now.”

If making the College Football Playoff and having success on defense sets a program up for more success

“Yeah, because on one end it’s our responsibility as coaches, mentors and leaders to make sure that the message is set to everyone on the football team. If you get the message to each of your individual positions, they know what the standards are, what the standards of excellence is and what you have to be able to do on a day-to-day basis. So seeing them know what they have to be able to do is our responsibility to keep pushing them. And what they do, they get to go endure the process. And during this process of development of attaining all of your goals, and being able to mentally sweat and really thrive under pressure, that’s where you try to work toward the final outcome. The one thing that we’ve tried to have our players really stay focused on is just a focus on where we are right now. Be 1-0 on this given down.”

Where he’s pushing Arion Carter this spring and summer

“We’re pushing him to make sure that he keeps the 10,000-foot view so he can see everything that’s going on around him. Not just knowing his job but knowing all the guys around him. Not just seeing a respective formation, but knowing what are the three to four things that can happen on these given plays. If we can have that thought process continue to expand very fast, the game slows down, you make more plays, everyone knows who you are and you become the best linebacker in the country. And that’s what we’re pushing him to be able to become. Along with all of the other guys in the room as well.” 

The biggest priorities to take the next step for Tennessee’s linebacker group

“Probably the two biggest things that really stand out for us is being able to, it’s what we call shock and snatch. Where you have to create separation and disengage from blocks. That’s something for everyone on defense that we really made an extreme point of emphasis. The next thing is going to be us being able to play in space. The body position, the balance, the footwork that you have to to have. And we’re so happy that Coach Schmidt and his staff in the weight room have really done a good job of being able to attack that during the offseason for the guys so far. So that’s kind of two of the things that we really, really, really are focusing on. Along with the standard things, making sure you can improve in your tackling, improving in your communication, being able to attack and take the football away.” 

How pivotal has Jeremiah Telander been in bringing along Tennessee’s younger guys along? 

“My man Power T, he is awesome. Because he’s someone that when he comes to the field, you know he’s there because he’s going to speak, he’s going to communicate and he’s also going to act. So when he does his reps, he wants to set the gold standard for the rep. That’s exactly what he’s been doing all the spring. We wouldn’t exchange him for anyone because he is someone that you want to have on your football team. He is like glue. And in a sense, he is literally like another coach because he’s someone on the football field that has been there and done that. And his learning was accelerated once we got game six last year, with him having to come in and be a full-time starter. So seeing him continue to take steps that is so gratifying to see as a coach.”