KNOXVILLE - With the coaching staff still constructing the plan for a game more than two weeks away, Tennessee spent most of this week of bowl practices focusing on Tennessee.
And that meant a handful of younger players got more repetitions than they normally would.
The Volunteers turned their focus more toward Northwestern later in the week before breaking for a couple of days following today's practice, but the coaches seemed satisfied with how some of the younger reserves took advantage of some extra chances to develop.
"We just finished, last night, the actual game plan, so the first couple of practices we really just practiced against our defense, because we didn't have the plan done," offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said Thursday.
"I think it was practice three we started in on Northwestern and preparing for them. We've done it kind of like game week, but we've stretched it out, so that's been the thing we've done."
DeBord is pleased with how his offense has approached preparations this month, and he singled out Tennessee's young offensive linemen - the Vols have six freshmen on the line - and freshman quarterbacks Quinten Dormady and Sheriron Jones for what they've done this week.
During one team period Tuesday, Dormady took reps with the first-team offense and Jones, who is redshirting, handled the second-team reps as starter Josh Dobbs looked on.
That, DeBord said, was by design.
"We talk about that there's a purpose for those, and it's for them," he added. "And they've taken advantage of them. They have, so I like where those young guys are progressing right now."
Redshirting freshman offensive tackle Drew Richmond, a former five-star recruit, had his black helmet stripe removed during Friday's practice, and he's perhaps a player who could benefit most from the extra bowl practice.
During the grind of a season, players who are outside the rotation or who are redshirting often wind up on the scout team, and their routine during game prep is different than it is this time of year or in spring practice and training camp.
Thus there's more time for development, and that's key with some of the younger players along both lines of scrimmage - such as Richmond, Jack Jones, Venzell Boulware and Charles Mosley on offense and Darrell Taylor on defense - with many of those moving toward having expanded roles.
"These are the kind of practices where you can try new things with your set, with your hands, with your footwork and see if it works for you," senior left tackle Kyler Kerbyson said. "Everybody's different in the way they play. You can't copy someone else, so you have to find what makes you comfortable and what you're good at.
"This is a perfect example and a perfect time to be able to test those things out and figure out what you are good at and what you need to work on. With me, I'm trying to give every nugget of gold I can to all those guys while I'm still here and be able to pass down anything that I can so that UT can be better in the future."
DeBord is pleased with the development of both of his young quarterbacks.
He praised Dormady, who played in four games this season, for building upon his knowledge of the offense he gained in the spring and "staying focused and being ready all the time" and added that Jones has had some "good sessions" this month.
Dobbs was impressed by Jones on Monday.
"He's been doing well," he said of the freshman. "He came out today and made some plays, had a really good throw to end practice. He threw a touchdown on a deep ball. You're definitely excited to see that. He's happy to get some more reps and continue to improve, just like we all are.
"You see the young guys really stepping up and embracing it, so it's definitely great to see."
Defensive coordinator John Jancek singled out Taylor, a lanky defensive end, and freshman defensive tackle Quay Picou as two players who have gotten extra work and taken advantage of it.
Tennessee's coaches seem especially excited about Taylor, the former four-star recruit out of Virginia who needed a season of adding strength and bulk to his 6-foot-4 frame.
"Right now he's getting a tremendous amount of reps," defensive line coach Steve Stripling said. "Through a lot of the year as you get into the hustle of the season, he's just performing on the scout team, but right now he's getting coached and he's taking reps against the offense.
"That's what makes a bowl game so valuable, is the opportunity for those younger players to improve."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com