Mike Strange: Does bigger, stronger mean better for Vols?
Butch Jones sat down behind the microphone Monday. It took only 32 seconds before he mentioned Rock Gullickson.
It wouldn't be the last reference to Tennessee's new head strength and conditioning coach in Jones' visit with the media to preview spring practice.
A few highlights:
Gullickson and his staff "have done a remarkable job. They set the temperament for our football team.''
Gullickson "has a unique way of challenging our players in a very positive way, getting the results necessary to compete at a high level.''
Gullickson "has made a monumental difference in our football program, along with the entire staff down in the strength and conditioning room.''
A monumental difference? That's a lot.
Gullickson was hired in early January from the Los Angeles Rams to improve an area of UT's program that was not hitting on all cylinders last season.
Listening to Jones praise Gullickson's first two months and repeatedly hit on the need for the Vols to be a tougher, more physical team than they were in 2016, it begs the question:
Did South Carolina take away Tennessee's lunch money last fall?
Did Vanderbilt kick sand in Tennessee's face?
We can debate the reasons why 2016 didn't live up to the hype, why the Vols weren't in Atlanta on the first Saturday in December. All those turnovers at Texas A&M. Joshua Dobbs had an off night at South Carolina. The injury-depleted defense was a mess by Vanderbilt. Nick Saban.
But at the root of it, maybe Tennessee just wasn't strong enough or tough enough.
Lack of toughness wasn't why Jalen Reeves-Maybin went down for the year. And say this for Team 120, it fought back from several double-digit deficits. That resiliency reflects some degree of strength and toughness.
Still, a number of observers questioned Tennessee's basic strength level and physicality. Jones was obviously one of them. He hired Gullickson.
Teasing Tuesday's practice, Jones said, "You're going to see a much stronger, much bigger, much more explosive football team.''
The scenario in the weight room last season was curious. Dave Lawson, Jones' long-time strength coach, left the program last April. Philosophical differences were cited. Rather than finding a replacement, Jones named Mike Szerszen, a member of Lawson's staff, as interim head strength coach.
And that's where it stayed through the bowl game. In a season of the highest expectations in years, Tennessee was not at, well, full strength in the strength department.
Enter Gullickson, an esteemed 17-year NFL veteran. Szerszen, by the way, is still on the staff. Meanwhile, the Vols grow bigger and stronger.
Offensive lineman Jack Jones mentioned in a February interview he could no longer fasten the top button on his shirt. "So that's hats off to Rock right now,'' Jones added.
Presumably, a bigger, stronger Jack Jones will be a more effective blocker for an offense that must replace playmakers Dobbs, Alvin Kamara and Josh Malone. Indeed, translating weight room gains onto the field is the next phase.
"We've worked harder than we ever have in terms of explosive movements in the weight room,'' Butch Jones said.
More explosive movements as they relate to offense: maybe being able to rush for more than 127 yards against Appalachian State or score more than three points in the second half against Vanderbilt.
More explosive movements as they relate to defense: maybe getting off blocks and containing Missouri to less than 740 yards.
Before you know it, the Vols will be kicking off against Georgia Tech. As with any season, there will be a ton of unanswered questions. Will Tennessee be talented enough? Deep enough? Lucky enough?
Being stronger, more explosive and tougher than last year, at least it's a start.
Mike Strange may be reached at mike.strange@knoxnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at Strangemike44.