KNOXVILLE - Tennessee's offense is hoping the old adage that practice makes perfect remains true.
The Volunteers have made improving their passing game a focal point during spring practice the past month, and though they certainly will be a run-first offense again in 2016, they know the other dimension must be more effective and more reliable than it was last season.
"It's getting better," offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said Thursday. "It's not where we want to be yet, but it's getting better. We're going to continue to work it today and Saturday and the rest of the spring."
Today's practice at Neyland Stadium starts the final week of spring practice for Tennessee, which is now just a week away from its annual Orange and White Game.
In the previous two scrimmages Tennessee's passing game was mostly hit and miss. The Vols got going after a slow start in the first scrimmage thanks to Josh Smith and Preston Williams making some key catches, and tight end Ethan Wolf was a big reason for Tennessee's success in last weekend's scrimmage.
The running back tandem of Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara will remain fixtures in that part of the offense, too.
"It's a little bit of everything," DeBord said. "The deep ball we want to get better at. I think Saturday the wind had a little bit to do with that. We have to see today again how much better we throw it. The deep ball, obviously, the deeper routes like the dig route on the move, we've got to get better at completing those - just overall picking up the accuracy a little bit."
Completing downfield passes continues to be the missing piece the Vols are chasing.
The wind conditions last weekend meant the big catches eluded Williams and Jauan Jennings.
Improving the arc and placement on his downfield throws are steps the Vols hope starting quarterback Josh Dobbs can take this offseason.
His talents as a runner are undeniable, and he's typically been his most effective throwing passes down the middle of the field or seam routes.
When it came to completions of 20 or more yards, Tennessee was rather pedestrian last season, however, and adding that dimension to the offense will only make the backfield trio of Dobbs, Hurd and Kamara more dangerous in the running game.
"We've got to throw it and we've got to throw it and we've got to throw it and we've got to throw it," receivers coach Zach Azzanni said. "It's us and the quarterbacks being on the same page. If we're running right past a guy, that ball's got to be thrown out in front of us and on top of our head. For the quarterback, we've got to be able to beat press coverage all the time.
"I think we have guys that can do that now. We've just got to get on the same page. Quinten (Dormady) is different than Josh, and they have different skill sets and they throw the ball different. We've got to learn that with these new receivers out there and get on the same page. I think we are.
"We've made a point of emphasis on it this spring. We've got some big-play capabilities out there. Those guys, they're as good as you'll find running (down) the deep ball. We've just got to keep throwing it and catching it and working on it. Coach (Butch) Jones has made a point of emphasis this spring to do it."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.