Looking ahead? Not Vols

"We want to go 1-0,'' senior linebacker Kevin Burnett said. "It's the same goal every week: Just win one more, and then one more and one more every game is a must win.''

If the Vols look ahead, they might be concerned about that when the first Bowl Championship Series rankings of the season are released today. UT appears to be on the outside looking in on the national title chase. According to ESPN.com, the Vols are projected to be ninth in the BCS standings.

But 11th-ranked Tennessee (5-1, 3-1 SEC) has said it's content letting the numbers take care of themselves. The players are carrying a quiet confidence knowing they remain in control of the SEC East with the 21-17 victory at Ole Miss late Saturday.

"Our seniors and juniors have really made a point of not looking ahead,'' UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "I hear them talking about it all the time, following up with things we say as coaches. That's the only way we'll be able to get this done as far as getting the Eastern Division championship, is to take it one at a time.

"There's plenty left to do here. Number one, get some people as healthy as we can as we turn our attention to a really fine 5-2 Alabama football team.''

Tennessee will play host to Alabama on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (TV: WVLT).

Alabama's quarterback struggles have been well documented since preseason All-SEC quarterback candidate Brodie Croyle was lost for the season with a knee injury.

But through it all, the Crimson Tide (5-2, 3-2) has shown a penchant for being able to line up and play smash-mouth football. That could spell trouble for the Vols in light of the sprained knee ligament defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona suffered in the first quarter against Ole Miss.

"After the game, Jesse was telling me he'd be ready for the Alabama game,'' Fulmer said. "I don't know if that will be the case or not. He has a sprained MCL.''

If Mahelona - the SEC's leader in tackles for loss - is available, he'll likely be limited.

"There's no question we're going to have to play tough this week,'' UT defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "Alabama is going to line up and run the ball. That's what they do, and they do it well.''

Alabama leads the SEC and ranks ninth in the nation in rushing, averaging 243.29 yards a game.

"With our depth where it is, it's (Mahelona's injury) critical,'' Chavis said. "Turk McBride, Tony McDaniel and LaRon Harris have to step up and play big now. Justin Harrell needs to keep playing well.''

Chavis was pleased with the effort and intensity against Ole Miss, though he said UT gave up a few more big plays than necessary.

"We were just a little out of position at times, but our guys are still maturing,'' Chavis said. "We can't be satisfied with where we are. We still have some young folks that have to understand the discipline of the individual techniques.''

Offensively, Fulmer points to execution and offensive line play as the keys to improving.

The line struggled at times against Ole Miss with Arron Sears battling a foot and ankle injury, Michael Munoz nursing a bruised knee and thigh, Jason Respert playing on a sore ankle and Cody Douglas expected to be out at least one more week with the foot injury he suffered against Georgia.

"We need some second-teammers to step up and put themselves in a position to help us,'' Fulmer said, adding that Richie Gandy is in position to do that, while Eric Young must polish up on his assignments.

Fulmer indicated he expects Alabama will see the success Ole Miss had against UT when stacking the line with extra defenders.

"They played a lot of people close to the line, and we took several shots (passes) down the field,'' Fulmer said. "I'd like to have connected on one or two or three of those we did that later, and that affected them.

"We need to make people pay a bigger price when they do that.''

Schaeffer's Deal: Fulmer knows freshman quarterback Brent Schaeffer was disappointed to only play two series against Ole Miss.

"I'm sure his confidence is not what it was,'' Fulmer said. "The times he's been in the game some unfortunate things have happened. He needs to keep his head up and keep practicing hard and be a competitor.''

Schaeffer went three-and-out on both series he played in the second half with little protection from the offensive line.

Fulmer said if Schaeffer has success moving the ball, he could see the extended playing time he desires.

The Line: UT is favored by 8 points over Alabama.