Tennessee offensive line coach Glen Elarbee balancing veterans and competition
Tennessee offensive line coach Glen Elarbee has a few holes to fill up front during fall camp, but he’s also got a decent amount of experience to work with among a group of veterans who have been through the grinder in the SEC wars.
Things are a bit unsettled at both tackle spots (more below), but there’s competition there among multiple players with starting experience.
There’s some question about left guard, but again, fifth year senior Ollie Lane, who has started at multiple spots along the offensive line, is in the battle to win that job as is Texas transfer Andre Karic, who made five starts over three years with the Longhorns and redshirt freshman Addison Nichols.
So while things aren’t settled everywhere, it’s not as though Elarbee is having to worry about throwing a freshman into the fire somewhere along the front. He’s got options and experienced options at that.
One spot where there are absolutely zero worries up front is at center where Cooper Mays is back as one of the most experienced players on the roster.
The senior will be a three year starter when he takes the field against Virginia in Nashville later this month and Elarbee is quick to acknowledge that having such an experienced, heady player as the anchor of the O-line is a luxury.
“It makes it a lot easier (to me). In this offense, as fast as it goes, being able to make those calls and not having to double-call stuff (is huge),” Elarbee said of Mays. “The way he sees the game, he sees all 11 and he understands it. He provides leadership and he knows the technical aspects too, he can coach young guys.
“He’s the complete package. That guy is awesome. He just gets it on every single level from football, to the media room, to leadership, all sides of it.”
SPEAKING OF VETERANS
Mays isn’t the only reliable veteran up front that Elarbee knows he can rely on.
Right guard Javontez Spraggins has started 25 games over the past two seasons and really took a step forward in his development last fall.
Spraggins was charged with allowing only two sacks last fall in 891 snaps and was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after the Vols’ win over Florida.
Elarbee pretty clearly expects Spraggins to be better in 2023. In fact, talking about Spraggins was probably the most excited Elarbee got during his 10+ minute media session following Monday morning’s practice.
“Of anybody who will have the biggest jump in their tape (this year) I’m hoping it’s going to be Sprags, because he’s been just unbelievable; spring, summer, fall,” Elarbee said. “From his protection, to his knowledge of the game, to his leadership, there’s just been such growth out of him. And the energy…that guy is non-stop everyday. He gets it going.”
Elarbee added that Spraggins’ energy is contagious, and not at all fake.
“There’s not a more energetic, ‘juicy’ guy on the field and I think guys thrive off of that. It’s energy, but also when he goes on the field he backs it up with physicality,” the coach said.
“It’s not a fake ‘rah rah’ energy. He’s out there competing and he wants to be the best. I couldn’t be prouder of the way the’s playing, the leadership that he’s showing and demanding from his teammates is awesome.”
WHEN DO YOU SETTLE ON FIVE?
Every year about this time in fall camps all over the country offensive line coaches are getting a variation of the same question:
How do you balance getting as much work for everyone with trying to identify your starting five as quickly as possible so that they can start practicing as a unit, working to develop cohesion and chemistry?
Elarbee is ostensibly looking at three position battles. Campbell—for now—seems to the guy at left tackle, but Gerald Mincey is over there working as well. At left guard it looks like it’s between Lane, Nichols and Karic. Two experienced upperclassmen are battling at right tackle in Jeremiah Crawford and Dayne Davis with Crawford the favorite to win that job.
Tennessee is going to have a new look offensive line this fall, but experience shouldn’t be a problem.
The question facing Elarbee is how long to keep the competition going vs. how long to start giving five starters all the first-team reps to try to start forging that connectivity any good offensive front needs?
“I think you always have to get through the first scrimmage and then it starts to solidify itself,” Elarbee said on the topic. “We’re rotating and everything is scripted and whatever the combination (on the field) ends up being, they’re getting a portion—whether it’s a half or a third or three-quarters—practice next to the guy they’ll end up being the starter with just because of the way it all rotates through.
“You try to get as much of that core unity as you can, but if you don’t have competition you don’t give guys a chance to go and earn a spot you get stale real fast.”
CAMPBELL SETTLING IN
When Tennessee landed John Campbell from Miami out of the transfer portal the hope from the Vols’ side was that they had found a plug-and-play option at left tackle.
Campbell, a sixth year senior, started 12 games at left tackle for the Hurricanes last season. He also started five games in 2020 as a redshirt sophomore but missed the entire 2021 season while recovering from leg surgery to repair a torn ACL suffered before the start of the season.
Now two years removed from the injury, Elarbee feels like Campbell is even better then the Vols thought he was when they initially pursued him in the transfer portal last winter.
“With John I think he’s a little bit healthier now. He played all year last year after having the injury (in 2021),” Elarbee said.
“I think he’s moving better, but also for sure he’s in shape. Then it’s just the confidence of knowing the offense a little better (than in the spring). The more you know what you’re doing and have confidence in it the faster you’re going to play as well.
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