KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Two weeks away from the season opener against Bowling Green, the Tennessee Volunteers took Haslam field for the 13th time in preseason camp.
Secondary coach Willie Martinez took the stand after practice to discuss how developed and experienced his group has been throughout camp.
“I’ve been a lot of places, this group, even in the springtime, they did a really great job of getting lined up,” coach Martinez started. “Eyes in the right spots … they’re confident, they feel like they can get lined up fast enough now and actually get the calls in and get their eyes on the guy who is the playmaker, the formations, the sets, trying to ID to be able to make a good play.”
Technique and fundamentals have been a key part of preseason camp, but Martinez expressed confidence that when the defense executes, they can compete with anybody.
“If everyone does their job, and does it to the best of their ability, and understands our defense and scheme and play fast and strained on plays, that gives you a chance if you do it on a consistent basis against fast-tempo offenses, or offenses in general in this league.”
A few returning Vols in the secondary have been a great resource to establish the scheme of the defense and Martinez acknowledged the impact that leadership has meant to him.
“You can see the leadership there,” Martinez said referring to Alontae Taylor, Warren Burrell and Theo Jackson. “I think that’s why the young guys and new guys have really been connecting well with the group.”
An added bonus is the coaching players in the secondary have given each other. That is how growth multiplies, according to Martinez, who couldn’t’ be happier about his team’s commitment to success.
“If it’s not player-driven, you’ve got no shot. I think they are doing a good job of that as a collective group on the backend. I think the whole defense is.”
The Vols take the field on Sept. 2 against Bowling Green to open the 100th year of Neyland Stadium, Shields-Watkins Field at 8 p.m. ET. Tickets are available at AllVols.com.
The full transcript of Martinez’s press conference, as well as quotes from Juwan Mitchell, Solon Page and Roman Harrison can be seen below.
Defensive Backs Coach Willie Martinez – Preseason Camp Media Availability – 8.19.21
On what he’s learned about transfer defensive backs Kamal Hadden and Brandon Turnage…
“Obviously, you really don’t know how they learn – as far as in the meeting rooms and being to execute the stuff on the field – and they’ve been really good, both of them, as far as having the knowledge of how to execute our defense. That’s been good. One is obviously ahead of the other, he’s got more experience as far as a standpoint of playing in this conference, and I would say that’s Turnage. Kamal, even though he was at an SEC school (Auburn) this spring, that does help a little bit… But I’ve been really pleased to be honest with you. They’ve been really competitive. Obviously, they’re mature, they’re older and I love their skill set. But again, we’re a work in progress and I just like the way they’ve done a great job of connecting with everybody else in the room, and they’ve done a great job of that.”
On what he’s seen from freshmen Christian Charles and DeShawn Rucker…
“Christian, obviously, was a new player in January – midyear player – and somebody that really probably didn’t play a lot of defense, played more offense in high school. He was a work in progress and just to see him learn through the summer and now in camp, obviously it’s a lot quicker for him as far as knowing what to do. He’s a really athletic kid, plays with a lot of energy, has got a lot of skill set. Really pleased in his development there from spring until now.
“Ruck (DeShawn Rucker) has been a guy that’s in his first year here, wasn’t here at midyear, and for him to come in during the summertime, being able to line up… again, I know I’m saying the same thing over and over, (but) I really like all those guys. Those guys are locked in individuals and have been very productive, especially this last scrimmage here. Christian didn’t play that many reps, but Ruck had a really good scrimmage, his best practice of camp.”
On the more experienced guys like Alontae Taylor and Warren Burrell…
“Warren was our best defensive back, and most consistent, along with Theo (Jackson) in the springtime. They were here the entire spring, obviously summer, and he’s just really added to that in camp. Warren has been very consistent.”
“Alontae missed some practice in spring, he didn’t have as many practices (and) was a little rusty at the end of spring and then the summertime kicked it into gear. Obviously, his experience, being somebody that has a lot of reps in the league, it’s showing in some of the adjustments he makes. But really pleased with both of those guys. You can see the leadership there. You throw Theo in there (too). Theo has been very consistent. So again, that group is probably the most experienced, most mature group and I think that’s why the young guys and new guys have really been connecting well with the group.”
On if the safety positions are interchangeable…
“Yes. We obviously train them in practice to be left and right. You have to do that, especially with tempo teams, you’re not going to be able to line up as far as chasing around guys if you’re going to be a free safety or a strong safety and you’re playing it by formations. So, they’re all trained that way, all the DBs are, to be honest with you. They got to be able to play left and right, whether that’s our STAR and nickel position, got to be able to play on the weak side, and our sub packages just to be able to get lined up and play fast.”
On the individuals playing safety this season…
“We’ll start off with (Trevon) Flowers. Flowers has had a really good camp, very consistent, making a lot of plays. He’s been the guy that’s really been the most consistent here in all the practices. Again, taking today, the same thing. Tank (Jaylen McCollough) has been solid. He’s got to clean up some stuff. We talked about Christian (Charles) a little while ago. T-Mac (Tamarion McDonald) has had a really good camp compared to spring. You can see the confidence there, making a lot more plays. He had a pick in one of our practices last week for a touchdown and it was good to see. You can see the confidence coming. He feels very comfortable in our package now. You’ve got Cheyenne Labruzza, who’s been getting a lot of reps. It’s great to see Cheyenne back healthy and running around. He really runs really well and to be able to get in the rotation there (has been good). Those have been the main guys.”
On the STAR and nickel position and the overall confidence level of the group…
“At the STAR position we are really using a lot of guys and it starts with Theo (Jackson) and Doneiko Slaughter. Brandon Turnage has taken reps there. Jaylen McCollough, I mean we are really rotating the whole back end. We want everybody to learn and the great thing about it is we have enough guys that have some experience that can do it and be confident. As a group, I said it earlier, having Theo and Alontae (Taylor), having Kenneth George Jr., Trevon Flowers, there’s an experienced group there and they’ve done a really good job of tying the new guys in and staying connected. It’s been really good competition. I think the confidence level is really high, they’ve been able to be consistent in their execution and everyone has been able to push guys. Who cares if you’re running with the first group? We’re really interchangeable, we’re moving guys in and out, figuring out who can do what.”
On the front and backend of the defense playing together…
“For us to have success on defense it’s about 11 guys and that’s never going to change. I can’t stress enough now with all these great offenses, the spread offenses and the tempo, you’re going to have to play more than 11 guys in games. I think everyone understands that. That includes the secondary, you can’t play with just five or six guys, not when you’re trying to defend 80 to 100 plays a game. It is what it is, we need to have more depth, we do lack it from a standpoint of numbers. It depends on all 11 guys to be honest with you. Whether you are playing man coverage or zone coverage, it’s always going to start up front. It’s going to start on the line of scrimmage, you’ve got to be able to dominate the line of scrimmage and when it gets to the second level, the linebackers and the safeties, they’ve got to do their part of it. Obviously, the corners have to do a good job in coverage. Everybody’s got to be on the same page to have success. I mean you can see it out there in practice, we will be on a roll there for six plays, seven plays in a row and – bam – it pops, whether it’s an explosive run or a pass play. We’ve got to continue to minimize that and win the game of not allowing the explosive plays, obviously the offense is trying to get as many. But it’s minimizing it to a (point) where we can be more successful on defense, and we have been able to do that at times. We’ve just got to keep working, but we need 11 guys on the same page, playing the same call, playing really fast, playing with an attitude and having a snap and clear mentality every play. It’s happening so fast.”
“That’s the great thing, I’ve been a lot of places, this group, even in the springtime, they did a really great job of getting lined up. Eyes in the right spots, not perfect, but it wasn’t like some places where I’ve been where it’s, ‘dude, this is going to go really fast’ and all the sudden you have to wait two or three practices for them to figure it out. It happened right from the get-go, and you can see the confidence. They’re confident, they feel like they can get lined up fast enough now and actually get the calls in and get their eyes on the guy who is the playmaker, the formations, the sets, trying to ID to be able to make a good play.”
On why players here are already able to make those identifications…
“From my standpoint, from the secondary standpoint, it’s experience. I think having good leadership in the room and I think if it’s not player-driven, you’ve got no shot. I think they are doing a good job of that as a collective group on the backend. I think the whole defense is. It’s not perfect, but you can see guys – at first it wasn’t like that, guys not getting on guys, you know what I mean? It was more of a ‘who is going to help me?’ Now, it’s more of a ‘help yourself, dude, you know your job,’ get it done, so to speak.”
On the challenges of being two weeks out from the opener…
“All the fundamentals that we teach every day. I mean, it’s never going to change. You’ve got to be able to tackle on defense, you’ve got to be able to play with great leverage, you’ve got to be in the right spot, you’ve got to do your job. If everyone does their job, and does it to the best of their ability, and understand our defense and scheme, and you play fast and strained on plays, that gives you a chance if you do it on a consistent basis against fast-tempo offenses, or offenses in general in this league, or whoever you play.
“You’ve got to play together, I said it before, 11 guys have to be on it on every play. Years ago, I’d sit there and let guys celebrate that when they get pass breakups on first or second down, you can’t do that, you can’t even do it on third down now. The big thing is, you’re only celebrating if you get a turnover. Obviously, that’s going to be a turning point for us on defense, to get the turnovers to change the momentum of games and that’s been stressed day in and day out. Other than that, snap and clear, get back to your home spot man and get ready for the next play. Even if it’s a good tackle or a good pass breakup, it goes so fast. They are very mature, good leadership, got to keep doing that and hopefully in two weeks we’ll be in midseason form, not playing the first game to improve on the second game. That’s the goal.”
Senior LB Juwan Mitchell
On his focus during preseason camp…
“Right now, camp is just about building a bond with my teammates. That’s all I’ve wanted to worry about, building a bond with my teammates and showing that they can count on me. Flying around the field, running to the ball as hard as I can and learning everybody else’s role in the defense so I can get them lined up. I’ll worry about myself later.”
On stepping into a leadership role despite being a newcomer…
“I just come in, sit back and just work. I try to break up everything. June was about getting my body right. July was about getting in football shape, so I would do extra field work and things like that. I just sit back and let everybody see the work for itself before I say anything, because that’s just how I rock.”
On the defense’s potential for improvement this season…
“Definitely. We’re loaded. We’ve got a lot of veterans on the back end. We talk a lot, communicate. As far as the mentality, the mentality’s there.”
R-Senior LB Solon Page III
On what will make the defense better this year…
“At practice, we have been flying around more. It’s been a different feel at practice. Guys are really holding each other accountable. Guys are actually taking ownership, not only getting the playbook, but making sure their group gets the playbook. Not only in their position, but a unit as a whole.”
On how the lack of depth at linebacker in the spring helped his game…
“It was huge. Like I said, I can’t control what I can’t control, but coach (Brian Jean-Mary) has really instilled confidence in me and has shown me I can do it. Taking that one-on-one time with Coach Jean in the film room, I feel like I’ve gotten a better hold of the defense.”
On the adjustment to a new position coach…
“It’s always a transition with a new linebacker coach or a new defensive coordinator as well. But what I have always been told, that’s what the great guys do. In the NFL, guys are going to have different position coaches, different coordinators, so that is just something you have to roll with if you want to be one of those great players.”
Junior LB Roman Harrison
On the opportunity to show his skills to the new coaching staff after missing spring camp…
“Trying to rehab and get back into the game, you’re always pretty edgy to get back. Seeing everybody have fun with the new coaching staff and everything, I did want to show my talents. That’s all there is to it.”
On the capabilities of Tennessee’s pass rushers…
“I really do have faith in us. We’re out there working hard every day. Of course it’s a hard sport, but we’re hard men, so we’re going to do that.”
On the leadership voices in the locker room…
“I would say there’s a collective bunch of leaders. We’re all pretty vocal, and we all want each other to be better. Whatever needs to be said, it will be.”
On what he has seen from Juwan Mitchell…
“He’s a dog, straight dog. I love the way he plays. Plays fast, plays aggressive and plays smart as well. It’s going to be really fun to see him on Saturdays. You can just tell from the demeanor as he walks around the building what kind of guy he is.
-UT Athletics
