New Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike DeBord already has helped the Vols make a few noticeable changes in his first weeks on the job.

New Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike DeBord

Head coach Butch Jones said Tennessee did “some different things in the structure of practice” Tuesday afternoon at Haslam Field during its first spring practice under DeBord, while starting quarterback Joshua Dobbs said he has improved his mechanics with DeBord’s help.

“It was great to have Coach DeBord out there,” Jones said after the Vols’ approximately two-hour practice. “He was interacting with all of the position groups, so it was great to see him out there.

“I thought our players, again, did a great job, just with some new stuff thrown at them, some different things in the structure of practice that we haven’t done in the past. We’re also doing our ‘Tennes-speed' groups — which our players are competing in 20-yard dashes, and we’re charting that. Winners move up, and (losers) move down.

“So I thought our players handled some of the new situations and structure of practice.”

Dobbs said DeBord and former UT offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian “have different styles,” although the Vols aren’t changing their offense under DeBord.

“Every coach has their own style,” Dobbs said. “But, overall, Coach DeBord, our offense stays the same —Â same lingo and everything —Â and our goal is to move fast and just pump it down the defense’s throat through the air and on the ground. We definitely have the same mindset as we had the past few years. We’re just trying to pick up the tempo.”

DeBord also is helping Dobbs tweak his mechanics.

“We just worked on little things —Â in the pocket, just not getting too wide of a base, staying narrow; staying compact, as he likes to say —Â and just staying compact in the pocket and quicker movements in the pocket,” Dobbs said. “That’s something he came in and talked to me (about) from Day One. That’s something he corrected Day One.

Vols redshirt freshman DT Charles Mosley

“As we go, obviously, more things will come up. But Coach DeBord, me and him have a great relationship, and it’s definitely growing.”

Mosley makes debut

Redshirt freshman lineman Charles Mosley made his official practice debut with the Vols on Tuesday after sitting out last season with a broken leg suffered in a car accident nearly nine months ago.

Jones admitted Mosley still “is not 100-percent healthy.” The Brighton, Tenn., native worked as a defensive tackle, but Jones said Mosley still could end up moving to the offensive line —Â perhaps even before the end of the spring.

“If we have a person who can play both sides of the ball, we’re going to start on the defensive front,” Jones said. “But Charles is not 100-percent healthy. Really, the timeframe for his injury is really a full year of recovery, so he’s working through some things. But he’s very, very explosive. He has very, very quick hands.

“What we’re trying to do is make a determination, first and foremost: Can he help us on defense? Can he make an impact? If not, then, in three or four more practices, we may move him back over to the offensive line.

“But we want to start right now with the defensive front.”

Thomas shows versatility

Tennessee rising sophomore offensive lineman Coleman Thomas said he recently has spent more time working at center, but he also has continued to work some at right tackle, the position he played last season as a true freshman.

Jones said the Vols are moving around some of their linemen — including Thomas, who played center in high school —Â in an effort to find their most effective lineup.

“We’re trying to find out the best five —Â the best five individuals up front —Â so we’re going to move some players around,” Jones said. “Coleman obviously gained valuable repetitions on the edge of our offensive line at tackle. His natural position has been center. And, again, you can never have enough centers. They touch the ball on every single snap.

“Again, we’ll move him around, and those repetitions will be valuable for him.”

High on Sutton

Jones offered high praise for rising junior cornerback Cameron Sutton, comparing him to rising junior linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin as one of the Vols’ emerging leaders on defense and someone UT’s players and coaches “trust.”

“I tell you, I’d put Cam Sutton into that Jalen Reeves-Maybin category,” Jones said. “Cam is very consistent. He’s very competitive. We have great dialogue. We talk all the time.

“And you know what you’re getting in Cam Sutton every day. You’re getting an individual who’s driven to be the best every time he steps on the football field, and he’s reliable. Our players trust him. Our coaches trust him.

“He wants to be one of the premier corners in our conference, and he’s working exceptionally hard at that.”

Surprising season

Rising sophomore offensive guard Jashon Robertson admitted he “surprised myself a bit” with just how well he played last season as a true freshman.

Robertson started off at defensive tackle before moving to the offensive line during the first week of preseason camp. He went on to start all 13 of the Vols’ games last season at right guard and earn Freshman All-SEC honors.

“I surprised myself a bit,” said Robertson, a former three-star prospect from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tenn. “I didn’t know exactly how my transition was going to go, going into college. I just wanted to contribute any way I could, as far as whether it’s on punt shield, field goal, field-goal block. It didn’t matter. I just wanted to contribute and do the best that I could.”