Film Study: Vols' Josh Malone has prerequisite skills for complete domination

To whom much is given, much will be required.

As it pertains to University of Tennessee sophomore receiver Josh Malone, attempting to walk in the shoes of his predecessors proved to be a monumental task as his initial season in Knoxville was widely panned by fans and media alike.

After all, when you arrive at UT — better known as Wide Receiver University in these parts — with a 5-star rating in tow (from the well-respected Rivals site), you have to all but walk The Green Mile to live up to those before you.

Think about it; when you’ve trotted out such notable players like Joey Kent, Marcus Nash, Peerless Price, Donte’ Stallworth, Kelley Washington, Robert Meachem, Lucas Taylor, Denarius Moore, Da’Rick Rogers, Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson, you know you’re working with some serious talent.

And that’s glossing over talented players who may have had more prominent roles elsewhere: Bret Smith, Jayson Swain, Gerald Jones etc.

So when the 6’3″, 198-pound Malone only turned in 23 catches for 231 yards, and had everything from his skill set to his work ethic questioned, it seems as though the shine has left him quicker than Meguiar’s Tire Gel in the rain (weather resistant my butt!).

However, doubting a player who possesses his type of skill set will prove to be a mistake — as soon as this season.

This kid is just that talented.

Scheme-Specific Fit?

Head coach Butch Jones has brought his multi-pronged, spread-to-fire approach over to the Southeastern Conference after pretty decent success in both the Big East (University of Cincinnati) and Mid-American Conference (Central Michigan University).

And being that his scheme was/is deeply rooted in “10,” “11” and “00 personnel,” receivers are required to be versed at all positions.

The quick game is usually in full effect: slants, hitches, curls, shallow-crossers, smokes, tunnels and stabs, and outside receivers need to be adept at 9’s, skinny posts, deep digs, flags, comebacks and outs.

Usually those routes are a part of concepts that can be mirrored on each side of the formation — especially in a 2×2 set.

This type of scheme is right out of the playbook of a West Coast offense. Meaning, a rhythm-and-timing based outfit predicated on receivers being in the right spot at the right time on each play.

It’s all about precision.

Precise route-running must be combined with the ability to gain yards after the catch; Malone has the ability to excel in all of these aspects of West Coast football.

Route-Runner Extraordinaire

When most people think about excellent route-runners they like to somehow equate it to speed and/or quickness — and rightfully so. Anytime you have the ability to beat the opposition on sheer athleticism alone, it’s always a plus.

But as a former defensive back, I’m here to tell you: Receivers who can vary their pace are the hardest to defend. Some guys come out of the bottom of their route at 100 miles per hour, others seem like they are on a Sunday stroll.

The guy who can take elements from both always keeps you on your heels. Malone does a fantastic job at this as he’s naturally a smoother-paced receiver with unique change-of-direction skills and body control.

However, he varies it and runs with a ton power in the quick game as well.

Here’s a play that has been etched in my mind ever since I witnessed it: going against fellow 5-star freshman corner Tony Brown of the University of  Alabama, Malone made mincemeat out of him on this back-shoulder fade.

Being as though Brown is in off-man coverage, which makes it harder to gain the necessary spacing on a timing pattern like this, I completely expected a pass-deflection from the highly touted corner.

If Brown were in press-man, Malone would’ve gotten the benefit of using Brown’s own momentum against himself to gain separation. Instead, it was more about having the strength to power through the late jam at what one of my coaches used to refer to as the “moment of truth,” and he did so with enough control to whip around to make the tough catch.

This is why football is deemed a game of inches. On the same exact route, this time going against teammate Malik Foreman in the Orange & White Game, Malone once agains did everything right — bent him inside, cooked him back out, whipped his head to locate and high-pointed the pass — yet was unable to haul the ball in as the corner stayed with the play.

Here’s a fantastic example of Malone’s willingness to make the tough catch in traffic against the University of Mississippi on a post-route.  You have to possess nerves of steel (Phil Steele?) to leave the ground in the middle of the field. (We called that feasting territory when I played).

Malone’s ability to work the quick game with his route-running prowess, combined with his ability to flat-out go get a pass in the air, makes him a scheme-specific fit in a Coach Jones offense.

And so does this next aspect.

Ability To Go Vertical When Necessary

A point of emphasis I noticed during the Orange & White game was the offense consistently attempting to go vertical by way of streaks and clear-out routes.

One way to lessen the impact a defense can have on a rushing attack is to force it to defend the entire field. In return, a defense that has to play on its heels is not apt to pack the box and concentrate on the run game.

I’ve never thought of a Jones offense as one that will consistently force the defense to defend vertically, but maybe that’s the influence new coordinator Mike DeBord will have on the team (click here to read how DeBord has helped QB Josh Dobbs this spring).

Jones loves to spread defenses out, horizontally, and take shots downfield on occasion. There’s a ton of high-percentage throws in his playbook, which is a necessity when you’re looking to play with a ton of tempo.

It’s hard to name anyone on Tennessee’s roster who is a true vertical threat, but we may be able to add Malone to the list of candidates.

This play showed how great route-running can come into play even on a simple 9-route: Malone pushed the corner inside to allow for room toward the sideline for an over-the-outside-shoulder catch.

Additionally, he stacked the corner to the point that pass interference would’ve been his only course of action if the throw was perfect, and then he showed what being a bigger-bodied receiver can get you in the vert game.

Malone is simply a scheme-specific fit for what Jones and DeBord are trying to convey on offense as he can work the quick and vertical game behind some very polished route-running. He can also go get the ball with the best of them and has shown fearlessness in doing so.

His practice habits will continue to improve and, hopefully, he has a relatively injury-free season. The Tennessee faithful should be salivating at the thought of Malone reaching his full potential and combining with North and incoming monster Preston Williams to form a basketball-like receiving corps.

Sky’s the limit for Tennessee.