UT Notebook: October 18

Injuries: Junior tight end Justin Reed appears close to returning to the lineup. Reed, walking without a limp, practiced Monday on a limited basis. Reed, who has a sprained knee, said he believes he will be available for the Alabama game. Reed has been injured since the Auburn game. Freshman Chris Brown started in his place last week.

Wide receiver coach Pat Washington said senior Tony Brown is the only receiver that could handle missing as much practice as he has. Washington said Brown has only practiced on Thursdays for the past two weeks. Brown is expected to practice more this week as he overcomes a strained calf.

UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona is optimistic that he will be able to practice and play this week. Fulmer and staff are not so sure. Mahelona injured the play against Ole Miss.

"Jesse says he is going to play," Fulmer said. "He feels a lot better today. We’ll have to prepare like he’s not going to play."

Fulmer said Mahelona's injury did not require an MRI.

Lucky Meachem: Freshman wide receiver Robert Meachem said his improved production, three receptions for 82 yards against Ole Miss, came down to luck.

Meachem said he didn’t play any more snaps against Ole Miss as compared to previous games. Meachem said he has struggled to get open on his primary routes, which are crossing routes.

Meachem said teams have made a strong effort to jam UT receivers on such routes. Meachem said UT limited the number of crossing routes called against Ole Miss.

Meachem said he is aware that fans and media have suggested he should be more involved with UT’s offense. Meachem said he doesn’t mind a reduced role as long as UT is winning.

"I’m a rookie so I’m going to wait my chance," Meachem said. "I never felt left out or forgotten?some of the routes were called to me but the defense changed its coverage.

Meachem said he was not out of bounds on the fourth quarter pass that was called back. Replays showed that the play should have been a touchdown, as Meachem did not step out of bounds.

"I knew I wasn’t out of bounds," Meachem said. "Referees are just like us. They make mistakes. I didn’t really get mad at the referee. I knew we were going to go down and score because we wanted it so bad."

Awarded: UT defensive end Parys Haralson was named SEC defensive player of the week for his ten-tackle performance against Ole Miss. The Flora, Miss., native recorded five tackles for loss including two sacks against his home state team.

"It was a good feeling but I play hard every week," Haralson said. "I didn’t give it any extra effort. I always give it 100-percent."

Haralson’s 3.5 tackles are tied for fourth in the SEC.

Growing: Safety Jason Allen said he has made vast strides since being moved to safety from cornerback in early September.

"I was like a newborn almost," Allen said. "I was like a toddler six weeks ago. Now, I'm walking, talking, and chewing my food by myself. I'm going to continue to grow and get better.Asked where Allen is now, he said, "I'm in preschool."

No surprise: Meachem said he wasn’t surprised UT’s offense struggled against Ole Miss in the second and third quarter. Meachem said UT and Ole Miss’s offenses have several similarities because former Vol offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe is now the Rebels’ head coach.

"Their (Ole Miss) defense sees the same offense everyday," Meachem said. "They’ve seen our signals. It wasn’t surprising they stopped us?When we had that screen pass to Chris Hannon, it was like they almost knew."

The screen pass to Hannon was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

"It’s like they almost knew?Like everybody else, they watch signals. I guess they saw the signals?I honestly think they gambled. We send dummy signals?They just happened to get out there quick enough."

Too physical: Meachem said improved technique will be extremely important if UT’s receivers continue to see press coverage.

"Sometime we try to be too physical," Meachem said. "Sometimes you have a guy in your face and you put a move on him. If he doesn’t go the way you want him to, then we’re taught to try to throw him out of the way."

Alabama Allen: Junior safety Jason Allen said he has plenty of friends that play for the Tide. One called Allen to get an early start on trash talking.

" I just got off the phone with Kenneth Darby," Allen said. "He is from my hometown and a good friend of mine?he was talking about how he had 197 yards last week rushing against Southern Mississippi?He told me he likes contact. I told him I’m coming down hill. We are real close friends. It’s all in competition."

Allen said he is better suited to play the run than he was against Auburn when he got ran over on two plays near the goal line.

"I feel like I’m tackling better," Allen said. "I’ve got to make the contact. I can’t let them make contact on me. I have to give the blow. If you don’t give the blow, you’re going to take the blow."

Even though Allen learned from the experience, he wasn’t keen on much further discussion of the subject.

"Let’s not even talk about that any more," Allen said jokingly.