UT Notebook: December 18

• Scrimmage Snaps: Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said the Vols’ 70-play scrimmage on Saturday was broken into two parts. The first 35-play segment was designed to implement the game plan for Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1 in Dallas. UT held starters out of the second 35-play segment to evaluate young players.

Fulmer said UT’s coaches have finished implementing the game plan for the Aggies. Fulmer said the highlight of the scrimmage was an interception by freshman cornerback Roshaun Fellows.

"He made a really nice interception today," Fulmer said. "He got perfect position on one of our better receivers and high pointed it. It looked like a million dollars."

Fulmer said it did not appear that Fellows is limited by the foot sprain he suffered earlier this season. Fulmer said the entire secondary showed significant improvement Saturday. Fulmer said coaches have tried to help UT’s defensive backs regain their shaken confidence.

"It should have been shaken. Fulmer said. "They’ve gotten waxed the past couple of games. If you’re going to play the game, play it well."

• Secondary Consistent: Fulmer said UT’s secondary had their most consistent practice of the week Saturday.

"We were a lot more consistent," defensive back coach Larry Slade concurred. "We did a better job tackling."

Corey Campbell and Robert Boulware were UT’s two first-team safeties with junior Jason Allen still sidelined with a triceps injury.

Slade said he is happy with freshman Sinclair Cannon after UT coaches asked him to focus solely on defensive back earlier this week. Cannon was also a scout team wide receiver before this week.

"He’s got a chance," Slade said. "He has shown a couple of signs. He’s starting to play a little quicker. We’ll know a lot more in the spring."

• Injury Report: Add sophomore defensive tackle Turk McBride to the list of players that will not practice until UT arrives in Dallas. Both of McBride’s wrists are injured. The right one is the stronger concern because of recently diagnosed torn ligaments.

Fulmer said there were no injuries as a result of UT’s "live" scrimmage. UT limited green non-contact jerseys to quarterbacks only.

• Big Toe: Junior offensive tackle Albert Toeaina said he first felt fully comfortable in the Kentucky game on Nov. 27. Toeaina was thrust into the starting lineup for the second time on Nov. 20 when Michael Munoz was injured.

"It was kind of late," Toeaina said of his emergence. "I was pretty frustrated but you have to have faith."

• The Plan: Fulmer said UT will hold a walkthrough practice indoors today. Then, UT will have one last light practice before being dismissed for Christmas break. Fulmer said UT’s remaining focus will be on conditioning.

UT coaches and players had a pizza and bowling party scheduled for Saturday evening.