Derrick Tinsley has given the Vols return team a lift, but he was lost for the season against Notre Dame and UT will need to find a replacement.

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer isn't normally one to publicly rip his team, so it came as a bit of a surprise when he took a poke at the Vols on his coaching show Sunday morning.

"We might be the worst kickoff-return team in the country,'' Fulmer said while watching Corey Larkins struggle to break loose against Notre Dame.

Fulmer was exaggerating, but not by much: UT ranks 96th in the nation in the kick-return department.

"I was frustrated,'' Fulmer said, when asked about his comment. "But it's not something I don't tell the players every week. They know I feel it's very important.''

Special-teams coach Steve Caldwell said the Vols will take a look at freshmen Jonathan Hefney and Inquoris "Inky'' Johnson on kick returns this week.

"We're looking to get somebody that will make good decisions, as far as fielding the ball and not doing things he shouldn't,'' Caldwell said. "When it comes to those kind of things, Corey is more mature and has done a better job than the past couple of years. We also have to do a better job of blocking.''

Fulmer said the concern with Hefney and Johnson is that they are defensive players who aren't accustomed to having the ball in their hands.

"Securing the ball is the first thing you look at on kick return,'' he said.

Kick return isn't the only area of special teams that will get extra attention this week.

The Vols typically use their bye weeks to sharpen all facets of special-teams play.

UT spent extra time on punt return and extra-point and field goal teams Tuesday.

Wednesday, there was time for kickoff coverage and kickoff return.

One of the more important loose ends being tied up this week is finding replacements for special-teams ace Derrick Tinsley, a senior who suffered a college career-ending leg injury in the 17-13 loss to the Fighting Irish.

"That's a big-time loss for us,'' Caldwell said. "Derrick has been special ever since he's been here, and he's contributed since his freshman year on all the special teams.

"Every year, we show one of the hits he had against Vanderbilt when he practically knocked a guy out.''

Tinsley helped lift the Vols over Alabama this season when he returned a punt 45 yards to set up the offense's only touchdown in a 17-13 win.

Last year, against Miami, it was Tinsley who sealed the game by falling on Sean Taylor's fumbled punt. Tinsley scored the game-winning touchdown earlier in the game on an end around.

Caldwell said Hefney will replace Tinsley on punt returns, while Robert Boulware is in line to replace Tinsley on the kick-return team and Johnson is the back-up on the kickoff team. Tinsley's back-up on the punt team, Ellix Wilson, suffered a pulled hamstring that pressed C.J. Fayton into action.

"When you start getting injuries, it becomes a factor,'' Caldwell said. "We talked earlier in the year about how we're short at linebacker, with three guys out, and that's where you usually get a lot of good special-teams personnel.''

While many have focused on the Vols' lack of production on the kick-return team, Caldwell said other special-teams units have shown steady improvement throughout the season.

UT is third in the nation in average punt-return yardage, and 41st in kickoff coverage.

"Everyone thinks Dustin's not doing as well as far as numbers, but he's putting the ball in the air in different places,'' Caldwell said. "It's the least amount of return yardage we've allowed.''

Colquitt has been named a Ray Guy Award semifinalist for the third consecutive year despite ranking sixth in the SEC with a 42-yard average. Colquitt was bothered by a groin injury against Notre Dame, but it didn't seem to affect his kicks too much.

Kicker James Wilhoit seems to be regaining the form that made him a Freshman All-American last season. Since missing three field-goal attempts at Georgia - from 40, 49 and 51 yards - Wilhoit has hit three in a row from 30, 33 and 40 yards.

Fulmer said he thought long and hard about allowing Wilhoit to try a 52-yarder against Notre Dame on Saturday, but he decided against it because of the Irish's vaunted field-goal block team. Wilhoit hit a 52-yarder to beat Florida with six seconds left in September.

"There have been some bright spots this season,'' Caldwell said. "But it just hasn't been as consistent as we'd like.''

Caldwell pointed out that Larkins has yet to turn the ball over running kicks back, and his 33-yard return against Georgia gave the Vols' critical field position.

Even if UT does opt for a kick-returner switch, Caldwell said the Vols will need to block better for it to make a difference.

"Blocking on kick return is tougher than any other kind of blocking because you have guys getting a running start at you,'' he said. "It makes you adjust and get set in the open field. It's harder than making an open-field tackle because you can't just wrap your arms around the guy you want to block.

"You've seen some of our best athletes miss tackles in the open field against good backs. This is the same thing. I can tell you our guys are working their butts off.''

The head coach will be watching.

"Having a great will to get it done is where it starts,'' Fulmer said. "We talk about it every day.''