Here’s Vol Head Coach Derek Dooley following the Florida loss – about all I could muster for Monday following the weekend. Attempting to look ahead and not focus on the loss.
Posts Tagged ‘Coach Derek Dooley’
Matt Simms and Derek Dooley on the UT Martin win
Posted 07 Sep 2010 — by Volunteer
Category Football
Category Football
A few of quarterback Matt Simms’ and Derek Dooleys’ comments after Saturday’s 50-0 victory over UT Martin.
Game Week Rundown
Posted 02 Sep 2010 — by Volunteer
Category Football
Category Football
There have been numerous media opportunities this week as Tennessee prepares to host UT-Martin in their season opener. Inside Tennessee, as well as a host of other media outlets got a chance to sit down with coaches and players this week including starting left tackle Dallas Thomas (above), who will be tasked with protecting quarterback Matt Simms’ blind side this season.
Coach Derek Dooley game week presser, Part 1: Click Here
Coach Derek Dooley game week presser, Part 2: Click Here
Vol Defensive End Chris Walker meets with reporters: Click Here
An exceptional feature by UTSports.com on head strength and conditioning coach Bennie Wylie: Click Here
First Week Observations
Posted 10 Aug 2010 — by Volunteer
Category Football
Category Football
Following a week that saw just as much talk concerning NCAA letters of inquiry and Achilles tears, the Vols actually got in a weeks worth of practice. Here are a few of my observations after the first week:
- It seems Matt Simms continues to be the more consistent of the two quarterbacks (him and Tyler Bray), and we all know how much Chaney looks at consistency when choosing a starter. Still, I want to say that Bray’s talent and evolving maturity will eventually win out.
- Tauren Poole continues to be the guy driving the bus in the backfield as Dooley noted that they were still waiting on someone to step up to his level. Rajion Neal is taking steps, though who knows how big those steps are.
- If there are leaders on offense, they’re Luke Stocker and Gerald Jones. Not much has been said in the direction of Stocker and one would have to believe it’s because Dooley knows what he has in the senior tight end. Jones, meanwhile, has been vocal and is always a cool customer when it comes to the media. The same goes for the field where he just “looks” the part according to Dooley and does everything a senior wideout should. Though the hype on the offensive side has centered around freshmen Da’Rick Rogers and Justin Hunter, Jones is no doubt consistent and as good a mentor as the young Vol receivers have.
- On defense, the injury news about Ben Martin and Marlon Walls was sobering, but a window of opportunity for the likes of Willie Bohannon, Steven Fowlkes, Rae Sykes, Jacques Smith, Corey Miller, etc has now opened even wider.
- In the secondary, the move of Marsalis Teague to cornerback is an exciting one. The battle to start beside Janzen Jackson is also an intriguing matchup to keep an eye on. I see Prentiss Wagner, Rod Wilks, and Brent Brewer going toe-to-toe until September.
Dooley Presser 8/3: Roster Changes, etc
Posted 04 Aug 2010 — by Volunteer
Category Football
Category Football
Tuesday was a rather newsy day on the Vol’s front. Not only was Dooley scheduled to give his pre-fall practice press conference, Tennessee got some good news on the recruiting front, as well as a possible transfer.
Though it’s still in the works, one-time LSU commit Elliot Porter, an offensive/defenisive line prospect, is considering Tennessee after being told he would have to greyshirt if he stayed at LSU. According to Rivals, he is 14th best prospect in the state of Louisiana for 2010.
As for the current roster, Dooley noted that Greg King and Marlon Walls had been reinstated after being suspended for their activities surrounding the Bar Knoxville brawl last month. Signee Dave Clark would not be eligible this fall, though they were still waiting on whether John Brown, Eddrick Loften and Marcques Dixon would qualify… And, Marsalis Teague and Ted Meline had been moved to the defensive backfield – a move, especially on the Teague front, the could provide some much needed help in the secondary.
What that also says to me is that Dooley must be pretty happy with what he has in Da’Rick Rogers, Justin Hunter and Matt Milton, to go along with lettermen Gerald Jones, Denarious Moore and Zach Rogers at the wide receiver position. Because as of right now, that’s it, and Luke Stocker as far as pass catchers go. Should make for an interesting August.
Darren Myles, we hardly knew ya
Posted 09 Jul 2010 — by Volunteer
Category Football
Category Football
Last night’s Bar Knoxville brawl produced it’s first casualty as Head Coach Derek Dooley acted swiftly in dismissing Darren Myles from the Tennessee Vol football team permanently this afternoon.
From my count, that makes two of the five defensive backs from the ’09 recruiting class that are now classified as former Vols. That doesn’t bode too well for Janzen Jackson – who’s already on pretty thin ice, Eric Gordon and Nyshier Oliver. Man, that last coach sure could recruit ‘em.
Dooley also indefinitely suspended Marlon Walls and Greg King. Their role is unknown. Guess King’s recent injuries are all healed up though.
As for Myles’ cellmate, Da’Rick Rogers, looks like he could be getting off. It’s just a shame he has a permanent mugshot and an asterisk already going into his freshman season. Hopefully there isn’t much more to come.
Peyton Manning Discusses Coach Derek Dooley and the Vols
Posted 29 Jun 2010 — by Volunteer
Category Football
Category Football
With the Tennessee Tour in full swing at golf courses across the state, it was a good time to catch up with former Vol great Peyton Manning this past week. Manning presented his annual scholarship to an upcoming UT student before hitting the links with the likes of Phillip Fulmer, Bruce Pearl, Jason Witten and even PGA Pro Corey Pavin this week.
Manning was especially complementary of Dooley after meeting with him and discussed his time a young Volunteer in this video here.
Meanwhile, back on campus Dooley has been entertaining recruits from around the south each week according to numerous local media outlets. This is especially important as July marks the height of the summer camp circuit and UT coaches will look to do a final evaluation of prospects up close before deciding who to extend some of their final offers to.
Also, here’s quick read from Bleacher Report on the Vol’s five biggest summer challenges that I found pretty interesting – Challenges facing the Vols.
Dooley on Twitter
Posted 24 Jun 2010 — by Volunteer
Category Football
Category Football
Derek Dooley’s most recent Twitter update featured this picture, with a caption that read: “Another great visit with an ultimate Vol for Life”……… And we know how much Dooley loves Tight Ends.
Meet Rajion Neal, a running back from Georgia
Posted 23 Jun 2010 — by Volunteer
Category Football
Category Football
Sandy Creek High School running back Rajion Neal was one of those late surprises that committed to the Vols shortly after Derek Dooley was hired earlier this year. With his signature, the bruising Georgia back became the third Peach state runner in the Volunteers’ backfield, joining running mates Tauren Poole and Toney Williams.
Looking at a few of his highlight tapes, here and here, Neal doesn’t seem like the type of back to wait his turn. I believe we could see Neal get involved early this year with the youth movement going on in the Vol’s backfield. Especially since Poole has seen limited work over the past couple years and his durability is an unknown, and David Oku wasn’t exactly an every down back last year. Meanwhile, Williams is coming back from an ACL tear and no one knows what type of shape he’ll be in.
Still, Neal was a recruiting momentum builder and a great get in the middle of the Dooley transition after being a long time Mississippi State commitment. For Neal, the grass really was greener in Knoxville.
What Al Wilson Says Goes… Period
Posted 21 Jun 2010 — by Volunteer
Category Football
Category Football
It’s always good to see Al Wilson back in the color orange, no matter the setting. Here’s a quick video from govolsxtra featuring the former Vol great on new head coach Derek Dooley. Wilson recently retired from football in 2008 after an All-Pro career with the Denver Broncos.
While at Tennessee, Wilson was known for his leadership during the Volunteers’ 1998 National Championship season, his fiery disposition on the field, and a much talked about halftime speech during the 1997 SEC Championship game in which the Vols took down the Auburn Tigers in Atlanta.
