• Baby Steps: Tennessee freshman quarterback Brent Schaeffer took a significant step Wednesday to return to the active roster. Schaeffer (broken collarbone) threw 40 to 50 passes as part of an individual workout on the sideline as UT practiced. Depending on soreness from the workout, he may continue to throw this weekend or take some time off in hopes of being able to practice next week.

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Schaeffer is scheduled to have an X-ray on Monday. The injury is on his right non-throwing shoulder.

"He looked good," said UT coach Phillip Fulmer.

UT is hoping Schaeffer will be available for the SEC championship game Dec. 4 against Auburn.

• Tickets Available: Tickets for Saturday's game against Kentucky will be available Friday at the Thompson-Boling Arena ticket office and on game day at Neyland Stadium's Gate 21. Tickets are $45.

• SEC Sold Out: Tennessee has sold its allotment of 15,900 tickets for the SEC championship game in Atlanta.

• Inverted: Kentucky will primarily run a 3-4 defensive alignment as opposed to a more traditional 4-3. A 3-4 utilizes three down lineman and four linebackers. Offensive lineman Rob Smith said the Vols have seen that type of alignment only once this season, against UNLV on Sept. 9.

"The problem is what they do with their linebackers," said the sophomore. "When the quarterback makes the call, they (the linebackers) can shift and it can totally change you're blocking assignment. When you go against a three-man front, you have to be ready for so many different looks."

• Quick Release: UT junior quarterback Rick Clausen said getting the ball to his receivers as quickly as possible is one of his goals.

"I like to get the ball to athletes where they have something to do with the ball," he said. "My job is to get the receivers the ball and let them have fun with it.

"There's no point in throwing a 20-yard pass and just getting 20 yards. Why not throw it a little earlier and get a 20-yard pass and at 10-yard run after the catch."

• Side-to-Side: Fulmer said UT might have spent too much time last week preparing for Vanderbilt's option game. He said that caused the Vols to play too laterally against Vanderbilt when they gave up 33 points to the Commodores.

"When you defend the option, that's assignment football for a defense," said UT defensive tackle Jason Hall. "You definitely think to yourself not to get up field and not to gain too much depth into the offensive backfield. Once you do that, the offense gets past you and they're off to the races.

"It makes you slow down and read your keys a little more instead of wreaking havoc and getting up field like you would do against a traditional offense."