Quarterbacks wear relatively small shoulder pads. They are taking hits from defensive players who are bigger than ever. Sophisticated blitzes make it harder for offensive linemen to protect.

Those are some of the factors that can put today's quarterbacks at increased risk of injury, Tennessee's Phillip Fulmer and three other SEC coaches said Sunday afternoon.

Lest we get too analytical, there's one more factor to remember: Plain bad luck.

With Tennessee rookies Erik Ainge (separated shoulder) and Brent Schaeffer (broken collarbone) being knocked out of action in the past two games, there are several theories about what, if anything, can be done to cut the risk of such injuries.

Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said quarterbacks aren't as protected or prepared for contact as their teammates.

"Sometimes we go back and look at the different shoulder pads they are wearing,'' Tuberville said.

"I don't know what they are wearing at Tennessee, but I know our guys wear a little bit lighter shoulder pads, and a little less protective than what the running backs wear.

"Quarterbacks do wear different shoulder pads than everybody else because they are trying to be a little bit more free with arm motion," Tuberville said. "If you fall on it a certain way, you might have problems. But those things are going to happen.

"Quarterbacks don't get hit in the spring or fall in practice, so they aren't as physically prepared for those licks as running backs and other players are."

Both Ainge and Schaeffer were injured when large defensive players drove them into the turf as a hit was being made. Alabama coach Mike Shula said that's how a lot of injuries occur.

"Those guys are bigger now and I think a lot of injuries happen, not from the initial hit, but when they land on top of the quarterbacks,'' said Shula, who lost starting quarterback Brodie Croyle to a knee injury early this season.

"There are a lot of guys who are over 300 pounds now. When you have that much force going down on top of you, if you land in an awkward position, something is going to be hurt."

On Sunday, Fulmer said that Ainge will have an MRI exam and be evaluated at two weeks and again at four weeks. The team is proceeding as if he will not return before the bowl season.

Georgia coach Mark Richt said his quarterback, David Greene, has been fortunate.

"All it takes is one time'' said Richt, who was a backup quarterback to Jim Kelly at the University of Miami.

"Guys who are rushing are bigger, stronger and faster. I've always wanted (quarterbacks) to hit the weight room really, really hard. You have to be strong to play quarterback. And you have to be fortunate not to land in those awkward positions."

Before being hired as Georgia's head coach, Richt was Florida State's offensive coordinator. He can remember the days when his quarterbacks took hits in practice just like players at any other position.

"For years, we were going with live scrimmages at Florida State, and the quarterback was live whether it was spring ball or fall camp,'' Richt said. "After Dan Kendra (1996-97) got injured, I never had a quarterback play ball again in a scrimmage."

Fulmer said quarterbacks today are as vulnerable as they have ever been.

"The passing offenses certainly put the guy in the pocket at risk more than they used to be,'' Fulmer said.

"Everybody has gotten creative with their protections and blitz reads. People are left unblocked and the quarterback (on some blitz reads) has to be willing to take the hit. We don't do much of that, but if you protect with seven they are going to bring 8. If you protect with six they are going to bring 7 and so on.

"Defenses are definitely trying to get after quarterbacks."

Yet, it's also worth remembering that injuries are nothing new.

Shula, a former Alabama quarterback, noted that he broke his leg in spring practice one year. He said he also hyper-extended his knee on another play.

Doug Ainge, Erik's father, got it right when he told his son in the locker room Saturday night that injuries happen to every quarterback, from Brett Favre to Dan Marino.

They haven't invented a shoulder pad yet that can fully protect a quarterback who goes down shoulder-first with a 300-pound lineman, or maybe two, landing on top of him.

Gary Lundy may be reached at 865-342-6274.