Butch Jones spoke at length on Monday about the changes he’s seeing physically in the team after a portion of the offseason with new strength coach Rock Gullickson.
That’ll be one noticeable change on the practice field when the Vols take the field for the first time this spring on Tuesday afternoon, but the other major change comes in who will be leading over half of the position groups.
Five new staff members will make their UT coaching debut, while a sixth, offensive coordinator Larry Scott, will be in a different role than last season. The changes came for a variety of reasons this offseason, but most can ultimately be traced back to Tennessee failing to match lofty 2016 expectations.
“As a leader it is always difficult to make changes and you are in constant evaluation of your program and what you need,” Butch Jones said. “Each team is different and each year is different. I have been excited about the staff. I think the chemistry has been there almost instantaneously. We have done a great job of spending quality time together and I think any time you add individuals that have the experience that they have, it lends itself to creative thinking, new ideas and new energy. Again I think it has also been verified that we are doing the right things in this program and that individuals want to be a part of this football program. I think it has been invigorating for our players.”
While changes brings plenty of uncertainly, there are also new opportunities for players who may have fallen behind under former staff members. Jones declared every position battle open when he spoke to the media on Monday, giving every player – from the fifth-year seniors to the five early enrollees – an opportunity in theory to earn a starting job, or at least playing time in 2017.
“They have an opportunity and everyone has a clean slate,” he said. “You are responsible for creating your identity on and off the field with how you win everyday. So these players can walk in and it doesn’t matter what you have done in the past, good, bad or indifferent. You have the opportunity to reinvent yourself and the opportunity to be responsible for what you create on a daily basis. It has been great. It has been great for me to hear different perspectives, so I think the chemistry has been good and they are a good fit. Here is the thing, they all want to be here and they understand the standard and expectation that comes with Tennessee football and so I have been very pleased.”
The backgrounds of the new staff vary from veteran to largely unproven. The two defensive additions – D-line coach Brady Hoke and defensive backs coach Charlton Warren – both come with plenty of experience and success over the course of their coaching careers. Hoke will be charged with retooling a unit that loses over 50 career sacks worth of production, while Warren will be charged with cleaning up some technique issues that cost the Vols against the deep ball in 2016.
On the offensive side of the ball, there are more questions about the newcomers. Quarterbacks coach Mike Canales brings a lengthy, though somewhat underwhelming, resume after spending the majority of his career outside of the Power 5 conferences. New receivers coach Kevin Beard comes with just one full season of experience as a full-time FBS assistant coach.
O-line coach Walt Wells might have the shortest learning curve after serving as a quality control coach for UT’s offensive line in 2016. Wells, however, still faces plenty of pressure and questions as he assumes his first full-time Power 5 job.
But Jones likes the new staff chemistry and experience. Though some of the newcomers are short on major college experience, Jones also placed an emphasis on adding former head coaches over the past couple years. Four assistants – Hoke, Canales, Scott and defensive coordinator Bob Shoop – have either been a full-time or interim head coach at the Division-1 level in the past.
Jones hopes all that works together to upgrade a staff, and a program, that needs to take a significant step in 2017 after falling short in several areas last year.
“I think anytime that you add individuals like a Brady Hoke, Charlton Warren, Walt Wells, Mike Canales, they understand,” Jones said. “They have been there and especially if they have been a previous head coach or an interim head coach they understand the chair that you sit in. They understand the position. A lot of these individuals I have known, and some that I didn’t, but I was very impressed in the interview process. Anytime you can hire individuals that have great experience from a recruiting aspect, but from a football knowledge standpoint in different places they have been, I think your entire football program is going to benefit.”
