By Adam Bache
Tennessee is 2-0, and coming off a 45-24 road win at Georgia Tech that pushed the Volunteers into the top 15, but you wouldn’t know it from how coaches and players sounded.
It was very clear that the message across Tennessee’s program this week wasn’t one of celebration; it was one of correction.
Running backs coach De’Rail Sims, cornerbacks coach Derek Jones, linebacker Amare Campbell, and defensive lineman Jordan Norman all had the same message ahead of Saturday’s game at home against Kennesaw State: good enough right now isn’t good enough for where this team wants to go.
No one was harder on their group than Jones, whose cornerbacks helped hold Georgia Tech to 17 offensive points; the Yellow Jackets’ other touchdown came off a blocked punt, despite missing four tackles.
“I told those guys coming out of the game, I think we were probably at a C-plus,” said Jones. “And the reason I say that is because I’ve been trying to harp on where we have to get to be as good as we can be.”
Campbell echoed that same standard from the linebacker room. The Tennessee defense scored a touchdown and flew around the ball in Atlanta on Saturday. Campbell made clear the group holds itself to its own internal standard, regardless of what last week’s opponent showed on tape.
“I feel like we’re never satisfied. We’re always trying to build a better product, build a better defense. There’s always room for improvement,” Campbell said.
On the other side of the ball, the identity Sims is building in the running back room has nothing to do with splash plays. DeSean Bishop posted a career night against Georgia Tech, but Sims’ message to his backs all week has been about approach, not outcome.
“Playing together as a whole entire unit. I think they’re doing a really good job of pressing the line of scrimmage, though, and trusting their guys,” Sims said. “Now, there was a couple holes that we missed on Saturday night, but they’re doing a really good job being there to press the line of scrimmage and attacking the defense, being decisive. There’s no hesitation right now with those guys.”
That patience is by design. Sims wants backs who are fine picking up short gains on early downs, and understand that it will pay off later in the game.
“There’s nothing wrong with a four- to five-yard game. And then you see, as the game goes along, they get tired of tackling us,” Sims said. “So now here’s the big plays that’s getting ready to happen.”
Not every message was self-critical, though. Jordan Norman struck a different tone, showing genuine confidence in what Tennessee’s defense is becoming under new coordinator Jim Knowles.
“I feel like this is like one of the best defenses I’ve ever like been a part of, and I feel like we’re going to show you all that this year,” Norman said.
Norman was also careful to note that the standard set in the locker room doesn’t get relaxed just because the next opponent isn’t an SEC team.
“I feel like our preparation with them would be like with any other team. You know, we can’t take them lightly knowing like just because they’re not in the SEC or anything like that,” said Norman. “So, I feel like we still have the same focus as if we were about to play [anybody else on the schedule].”
That mentality of treating every opponent with the same urgency is what’s gotten Tennessee to where they are now. Two weeks into the season, Tennessee has outscored opponents 101-33 and looked dominant on all fronts.
By any outside measure, the Volunteers are rolling. But inside every position room, the answer to “how good are you right now” keeps coming back the same way: not good enough yet. That collective desire to keep improving is exactly what Tennessee hopes it carries past Kennesaw State and into the meat of the SEC schedule.