University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Working Youngsters During Weekend Practice
December 11, 2009 | Football
Dec. 11, 2009
Tennessee resumed its "mini-camp" like practices with a 90-minute workout Friday afternoon inside the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center.
The Vols have been all about development thus far in their third practice since the season closed with a bid to the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. Head coach Lane Kiffin has kept the focus squarely on UT thus far, while not placing a lot of emphasis on its opponent in the Dec. 31 game, Virginia Tech.
"We had a good opportunity again today to play a lot of the young guys," Kiffin said. "We finished practice making those guys go a lot of plays in a row so they can understand how physical the game is.
"We will continue to develop our young guys as we get closer and closer to this game."
The Vols practice again Saturday and Sunday before taking another round of days off during the mid-week, something that has been the norm since the Nov. 28 overtime win at Kentucky.
"I think the guys have come out with good energy," Kiffin said. "They understand the importance -- we have team meetings every day to make sure they understand -- that we've got to have a great practice.
Although they get time off to concentrate on studies and get their legs back, when they come out here it's got to be a work mode. They've got to come out and have very physical practices. We still are doing a lot of one-on-ones with the first-team players.
Kiffin clearly was excited to welcome back safety Eric Berry, who Thursday night at Disney World became Tennessee's first winner of the Jim Thorpe Award presented to the nation's top defensive back.
"For him to win that award is a big deal," Kiffin said. "It makes him the best defensive back in the country, and that's why they have the Thorpe Award. We're very excited for him, especially winning as a junior is a really big deal.
"Eric had a great year. And although his production numbers were not as big with turnover plays and interceptions, I know going into the last week that he was leading all non-linebackers in the SEC in tackles. That shows how important he is. To be the leader of a defense that, with a bunch of injuries, ended up ranked 17th (total defense) in the country is pretty good."
