KNOXVILLE - Butch Jones was still catching his breath when he walked to the side of Tennessee's primary practice field to talk to reporters Friday after his team's 10th preseason practice.
The fifth-year Volunteers coach had just spent several minutes running around the field while vigorously imploring his defensive line through a conditioning drill.
There are just three weeks remaining before the Vols open the season against Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the intensity is picking up accordingly.
"The next few days, I think, are going to tell us a lot about the makeup of our football team," Jones said.
Summer classes concluded Friday, freeing players from academic obligations until a new semester begins Aug. 23. The team will spend the next week in a local hotel, commuting to campus for practices as part of an effort to create "a training camp-type environment," Jones said.
"It's a way for them to get away, be together as a team, be able to have team meetings and do different things that teams go through in training camp," he added. "There's so much that goes through the evolution of a football team, and this part of it is very, very important."
Tennessee enters the new phase of preseason practice with its defense ahead of its offense, Jones said, as injuries on the offensive line have hindered the group's overall cohesion.
The defense held the offense out of the end zone on four out of five two-point plays during 11-on-11 competition in the portion of Friday's practice open to media. The offense's only conversion came on its first attempt with a Quinten Dormady pass to Brandon Johnson in the right corner of the end zone.
"We have zero continuity on offense," Jones said. "We have to step it up there, and I trust that we will. But it's not to our expectations."
Freshman offensive guard Trey Smith, sophomore tackle Marcus Tatum and senior tackle Brett Kendrick were back at practice Friday after nursing minor injuries. But the offensive line's collective nicks and bruises are still a factor in the staff's looming decision of whether to continue with an originally scheduled scrimmage today at Neyland Stadium.
"We need to get everyone back and start that continuity," Jones said. "The only way you do that is you practice all 11 at one time."
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Guarantano was absent from Friday's practice due to a death in his family, Jones said.
Jones, who coached previously at Central Michigan and Cincinati, expressed he prefers a preseason camp that takes the team entirely away from campus, similar to how former coach Derek Dooley took the Vols to Milligan College in Johnson City for a week of preseason camp in 2012. Southeastern Conference rules prohibit such a trip now, Jones said.
"At Cincinnati we had an unbelievable training camp experience because we actually went away," Jones said. "It's a camp called Higher Ground. Two full fields, you're in the woods of Indiana, no cellphones, no clutter and distraction."
One advantage to staying close by, however, is the use of Neyland Stadium. Even if the staff decides against scrimmaging today, the Vols will still practice on their game field for the first time since preseason practices began late last month.
It's a sign the season is near.
"When we go in there," Jones said, "the players have to understand the intensity, honor and privilege it is to play in that great venue."
Black stripes off
Freshman tight end Latrell Bumphus and freshman safety Theo Jackson had the black stripes removed from their helmets Friday, Jones said.
Newcomers to the program wear the stripes until veterans in their position groups deem they are deserving to have them removed, and Bumphus and Jackson were the first of this year's new players to receive the honor.
Other players from the 2017 signing class entered with more hype than Bumphus and Jackson, but the two have repeatedly received praise from the coaching staff.
"You never know," Jones said. "You're always kind of interested to see who will have them removed first. Very deserving. They come and work hard every day. It's all about earning the respect of your peers, and they have that, as evidenced today."
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com.