victoryvol
August 8th, 2009, 10:51 AM
Late interceptions sour Stephens' solid day
By: Wes Rucker Chattanooga Times Free Press
(Contact)
KNOXVILLE -- Nick Stephens likes playing golf when he isn't busy with the responsibilities of playing quarterback for Tennessee.
Two interceptions late in practice Friday made Stephens feel like Tom Watson in this summer's British Open, or Jean van de Velde 10 years earlier.
Stephens clearly outperformed fellow hopeful starting quarterback Jonathan Crompton for most of Friday's three-hour practice, but Stephens left the field on a sour note after ill-advised throws picked off by young defensive backs Prentiss Waggner and Anthony Anderson.
"I was really happy with my day until those last couple of throws," Stephens said. "I would have liked to finish a lot stronger.
"What stinks is that I had a good day, but right now I don't feel like I did just because of those couple of throws. It's like a golf round. You play great for 17 holes, then (mess) one whole up and your score is done."
Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin agreed that Stephens was probably having his best day of the week until the late gaffes. And Crompton's start was even rougher. He threw several interceptions before rallying for a respectable finish.
"I would never expect (the passing game) to be up and down," Kiffin said. "You always want to shoot for the best, so we're not as consistent as we'd like to be. We have to continue to improve our decision-making."
Stephens, who has been rusty much of the week after missing nearly all of spring practice with a broken throwing wrist, said the hot start left him overconfident.
"One thing I have to do is change my mindset and realize that I don't always have to make the play downfield and make too much happen," said Stephens, who had similar problems last season. "Sometimes a check-down will get you 10 or 15 yards. You've just got to know when to take your chances, and you have to know the situation.
"If it's third-and-4, there's no reason for me to throw a couple of the balls I did."
Kiffin again credited the defensive backs for making plays.
Waggner, seen by many as unlikely to hold off proven junior Dennis Rogan for a starting spot alongside All-American Eric Berry, has continued to impress as a skinny redshirt freshman. Waggner intercepted Crompton earlier Friday, and he's caused several turnovers since spring practice. He also showed practice-field glimpses of greatness last season.
"He continues to come off of a great spring and carry it over to the fall," Kiffin said. "That's so neat to see as a coach, to see a guy that has success and then continues to work hard in the offseason and improve. That's really great to see that competition from a guy who maybe wasn't talked about before."
Hip hip, hoo-Rae
Former Alcoa High School star Rae Sykes has impressed coaches in practice this week at defensive tackle. Recent weight gains have helped the 272-pound sophomore's plans to crack the rotation at end or tackle.
"Rae had a very good practice," Kiffin said. "We'll continue to look at him at both spots."
Said Sykes: "I just want to get on the field somewhere. End, tackle, I don't care. I just want to play football and help put Tennessee back where we should be."
The defensive line received another boost this week when redshirt freshman end Willie Bohannon returned. Bohannon was carried off the field Tuesday with a serious-looking knee injury but hasn't missed a period since Wednesday.
Warren peace
Kiffin's hot-and-cold comments about Sykes' high school teammate, junior wide receiver Brandon Warren, were positive Friday.
The talented Warren, a converted tight end and Florida State transfer, has occasionally drawn Kiffin's ire for inconsistent, injury-filled practices. The coach responded to Warren limping earlier this week by saying, "It's always something with Brandon. We need to try to figure out a way with Brandon to make it through a practice. We're having a hard time getting through 30 minutes with him."
Friday was a different story.
"Brandon definitely has had two good practices in a row," Kiffin said. "Sometimes when you guys write articles about people that make them look like that, (they) respond to that, so thank you."
By: Wes Rucker Chattanooga Times Free Press
(Contact)
KNOXVILLE -- Nick Stephens likes playing golf when he isn't busy with the responsibilities of playing quarterback for Tennessee.
Two interceptions late in practice Friday made Stephens feel like Tom Watson in this summer's British Open, or Jean van de Velde 10 years earlier.
Stephens clearly outperformed fellow hopeful starting quarterback Jonathan Crompton for most of Friday's three-hour practice, but Stephens left the field on a sour note after ill-advised throws picked off by young defensive backs Prentiss Waggner and Anthony Anderson.
"I was really happy with my day until those last couple of throws," Stephens said. "I would have liked to finish a lot stronger.
"What stinks is that I had a good day, but right now I don't feel like I did just because of those couple of throws. It's like a golf round. You play great for 17 holes, then (mess) one whole up and your score is done."
Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin agreed that Stephens was probably having his best day of the week until the late gaffes. And Crompton's start was even rougher. He threw several interceptions before rallying for a respectable finish.
"I would never expect (the passing game) to be up and down," Kiffin said. "You always want to shoot for the best, so we're not as consistent as we'd like to be. We have to continue to improve our decision-making."
Stephens, who has been rusty much of the week after missing nearly all of spring practice with a broken throwing wrist, said the hot start left him overconfident.
"One thing I have to do is change my mindset and realize that I don't always have to make the play downfield and make too much happen," said Stephens, who had similar problems last season. "Sometimes a check-down will get you 10 or 15 yards. You've just got to know when to take your chances, and you have to know the situation.
"If it's third-and-4, there's no reason for me to throw a couple of the balls I did."
Kiffin again credited the defensive backs for making plays.
Waggner, seen by many as unlikely to hold off proven junior Dennis Rogan for a starting spot alongside All-American Eric Berry, has continued to impress as a skinny redshirt freshman. Waggner intercepted Crompton earlier Friday, and he's caused several turnovers since spring practice. He also showed practice-field glimpses of greatness last season.
"He continues to come off of a great spring and carry it over to the fall," Kiffin said. "That's so neat to see as a coach, to see a guy that has success and then continues to work hard in the offseason and improve. That's really great to see that competition from a guy who maybe wasn't talked about before."
Hip hip, hoo-Rae
Former Alcoa High School star Rae Sykes has impressed coaches in practice this week at defensive tackle. Recent weight gains have helped the 272-pound sophomore's plans to crack the rotation at end or tackle.
"Rae had a very good practice," Kiffin said. "We'll continue to look at him at both spots."
Said Sykes: "I just want to get on the field somewhere. End, tackle, I don't care. I just want to play football and help put Tennessee back where we should be."
The defensive line received another boost this week when redshirt freshman end Willie Bohannon returned. Bohannon was carried off the field Tuesday with a serious-looking knee injury but hasn't missed a period since Wednesday.
Warren peace
Kiffin's hot-and-cold comments about Sykes' high school teammate, junior wide receiver Brandon Warren, were positive Friday.
The talented Warren, a converted tight end and Florida State transfer, has occasionally drawn Kiffin's ire for inconsistent, injury-filled practices. The coach responded to Warren limping earlier this week by saying, "It's always something with Brandon. We need to try to figure out a way with Brandon to make it through a practice. We're having a hard time getting through 30 minutes with him."
Friday was a different story.
"Brandon definitely has had two good practices in a row," Kiffin said. "Sometimes when you guys write articles about people that make them look like that, (they) respond to that, so thank you."