Coach - 

After a successful tenure as the Co-Defensive Coordinator at Washington, William Inge has moved on to Tennessee as the Vols Linebacker Coach.  We take a look at how he develops linebackers today, but first let’s look at the 2024 outlook for UT.

Season Preview Capsule

Coach Josh Heupel enters his fourth season at Tennessee with a mix of rebuilding and high expectations. Despite the "rebuilding" label due to replacing key players, the 27 wins in his first three seasons is the best since Phil Fulmer's era. The bar is set high for Tennessee, with a College Football Playoff appearance a reasonable expectation based on the success of the 2022 team.

While the 2023 Vols were still good, questions remain for 2024. There's a lot of young talent to fill the gaps left by departing players, but consistency, particularly on offense, will be crucial. The high-powered offense is expected to return, with a new quarterback leading the charge.

The defense, which was overshadowed by the offense in 2022, will need to maintain its level of play while a new secondary gels. Penalties, a major issue in ‘22 and ‘23, need to be cleaned up for Tennessee to reach its full potential.

Tennessee Strengths:

Offense

• Explosive Passing Game: High-tempo offense with a talented receiving corps and a strong new quarterback.
• Experienced Offensive Line: Solid returning core with a potentially special addition at tackle.
• Depth at Running Back: Despite losing Jaylen Wright, Dylan Sampson leads a group of young, capable rushers.

Defense

• Fearsome Pass Rush: James Pearce Jr. anchors a unit that finished 4th nationally in tackles for loss and 8th in sacks.
• Dominant Interior Line: Large, disruptive players like Omari Thomas and Bryson Eason clog up running lanes.
• Key Linebacker Returns: Keenan Pili is back to lead the tackling charge after missing 2023 due to injury.

Clinic: Developing Fundamentals - Drill Work for ILB

The core of any defense regardless of structure and dependence is guided by the play of the linebackers. Priority may be placed around DL and DB’s and there is plenty of merit to that depending on the various schemes that you are facing but, at the end of the day having a captain and an eraser in the middle level that has an impact on the game will always make you better. 

From communication to actual game impact the better you are here the better you will be. In the SEC you don’t have to look far as Alabama is known to crank out various linebackers and not only to their credit but, there has been consistency in the level at which these individuals and the entire defense has played. 

Coach William Inge is looking to develop this position to that top tier. With the knowledge and training ability of collegiate coaches and all the time that they possess to work with these individuals there is so much capability to develop skills and elevate the play of these athletes. Here is just a few examples from an entire clinic of items he believes in and that contribute to elevating the level of these athletes play. 

Video: Dominance Starts with Drills

Developing a strategy and emphasis around the items and drills that will be taking place is the first course of action. If you need mobile backers that are influencing the pass zones and have the ability to be more of a hybrid, footwork and items like that may be more in the scheme that you need while block destruction and those items may be less important. 

Deciphering the needs and what you expect to show up on the field will always remain the top priority. But, in a lot of schemes and leagues there is divided attention between pass and run and these guys have to be elite taking on a man in space and in the box, so working destruction fits are always in play. 

Video: Front Fit

In the front fit drill, the idea of eyes, hand placement and those items is significant. You want to train the LB’s to become comfortable in an engaged position. For this the emphasis on extension and tight elbows that are not facing out is extremely important. The more you can reinforce the idea of that space regardless of body type, the strength of the individual and athleticism should be able to put the player in the best position to make a play. 

Video: Door Tackle

From the idea of a fit you can then progress and develop into the idea of tackling/tracing work. The door tackle is a great example of this because it brings the eyes into the process. In many cases the idea of peripheral vision has to be at play for the LB as they will have inbound blockers and still need to be aware of ball carrier movement. 

This drill can be broken down many ways such as blocked vision by another body to the ball carrier simulating the difficulty or blocked vision around a line of scrimmage. Then a moving blocker can be added in, with a moving running back that involves tracking to the hip. You can even have a bag being pulled by the “ball carrier” so that the athlete in the drill can rep movement, engaging a block, tracing, and then something to the nature of a roll tackle. 

Regardless of how you cut it, the ability to train LB’s is prevalent and there are plenty of resources to aid you in training your athletes should you dive into the our clinics now in the CoachTube library. Understand and find drills that fit your scheme and skills that need developed to properly defeat the offenses that you are facing.

-Coach Grabowski, Coach Kauffman and the CoachesClinic Team

Other Clinics from the Tennessee Staff:

Tempo Run Game & Counter - Glen Elarbee 

Why Inside Footwork with Tempo & Spreading the Field - Glen Elarbee 

Resources for the 2024 season:

2024 Defensive Coordinator School Bundle 

2024 Prep for Camp - Edges Edition

2024 Prep for Camp - Linebacker Edition

2024 Prep for Camp - DL Edition