Tennessee fourth-year defensive coordinator Tim Banks made such a powerful statement earlier this week that it instantly started a countdown clock for the reaction from fourth-year defensive line coach Rodney Garner.
Speaking in a news conference following Tuesday's second spring practice for the Volunteers, Banks said, "We should really have the best defensive line in the country."
Garner was made available to the media Saturday afternoon, with that remark by Banks serving as the first question.
"I didn't know he did that," Garner said. "Obviously I would love to be able to ordain these guys to be that, but unfortunately that's not the way it works. For us to be that, we've got to come out and put in work every day. We've got to continue to grow, and there are a lot of areas we've got to improve in.
"They see that on the film, and I tell them that every day we go on the field we're chasing greatness. Either we're getting better or we're getting worse, and I don't think we can afford taking a day off."
Saturday marked Tennessee's fourth of 15 spring practices. The Vols will hold their fifth workout Monday.
Tennessee's defensive line returns the proven likes of Dominic Bailey, Bryson Eason, Omarr Norman-Lott, Elijah Simmons, Omari Thomas and Tyre West, along with the edge-rushing talents of Joshua Josephs and James Pearce Jr. Pearce is receiving preseason All-America accolades after capping his sophomore year with a forced fumble and a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown during the 35-0 bashing of Iowa in the Citrus Bowl, but Garner is throwing water on that fire as well.
"No one man is bigger than the program, never ever," Garner said. "James had a really good season, but when he looks at that film, there were a lot of areas that he needs to improve on, and I think he can see it.
"For what he wants to achieve and where he wants to go, there are some things he needs to get better at to make him that commodity so you don't have any red flags or negatives about you."
Garner has long been the definition of old school and continues to be the Southeastern Conference's longest-serving assistant coach. A team captain of Auburn's SEC championship team as a senior in 1988, he returned to his alma mater in 1990 and has worked in the league ever since, which consists of two stints at Auburn, one at Georgia and now two at Tennessee.
The 57-year-old cousin of Charles Barkley confessed Saturday that he's already had a "come to Jesus moment" this spring with Norman-Lott, yet he did provide immediate praise for Jaxson Moi, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound junior who began his college career at Stanford before transferring.
"He brings exactly what that room needs," Garner said. "He's a team-first guy. He's going to be a tremendous addition."
Garner wants a rotation of 10 to 12 up front to where his players are every bit as strong in the fourth quarter as the opening moments of the game. Although he would never be expected to agree with the way Banks phrased things, Garner did hint at times Saturday that this could be a special collection.
"We're going into year four in the system, so guys should be more comfortable in the system," he said. "We ought to be able to move guys around in different positions, but the bottom line is that we've got to be able to execute at a high level. The most rewarding thing for me has been watching these guys push each other.
"I do like my room. There are some really good men in that room."
Garner's players are sensing that a special season could be attainable as well.
"Everybody is going to hold everybody accountable," West said. "We have a real brotherhood. We're getting tighter and tighter by the day."
Said Simmons: "I feel like we've elevated a lot since we've been here."
Odds and ends
Tennessee will hold its annual pro day on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 27, which will follow a closed scrimmage that morning. ... Freshman cornerback Kaleb Beasley of Lipscomb Academy, who enrolled at the university Monday, fractured his fibula during Thursday's third workout and will miss the rest of spring. ... Tyree Weathersby, who had his freshman season scratched by an undisclosed injury last August, is on pace to be ready for preseason camp, according to Garner.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.