Ask Griff: UT kick returns lackluster

Kick coverage has also been less than adequate, and I think that's because of the lack of depth at linebacker. Often times, extra LBs are the best special teams players.

Special teams is an area UT must improve on if it's to compete for championships.

Q: I know it is a little early for anyone to start waving flags for one QB vs. the other, but just maybe Erik's field of vision and arm utilize the team's talent better than Brent's style of play. Brent is a great looking athlete and exciting to watch play. But just maybe the game is a little too much him and not enough team when he is quarterbacking. The receivers may feel they are more in the game with Erik. What's your take.
rpdunn@pacbell.net

GRIFF: I'd agree Erik is the sharper passer at this point and possesses a tremendous arm. But Schaeffer throws a pretty accurate and catchable pass, too. On the one hand, Ainge's arm strength and ability to see the whole field would seem to better utilize the receivers. On the other hand, Schaeffer's ability to run means defenses must assign a "spy" defender to account for him. That means one less defender in pass coverage, and one less potential double team on a UT receiver.

My take is that the Vols need to keep playing both quarterbacks systematically, unless one develops a hot hand like Brent did against UNLV, or Erik did against Florida.

Q: Reading between the lines of your comments about C.J. Leak, I get the feeling you think he may have been mistreated by the coaching staff. Do you think he was given a fair shot to be the starting quarterback?
timothy.newland@lanxess.com

GRIFF: I do not think C.J. Leak was mistreated by the coaching staff. I do believe he was given a fair chance to win the starting job. I do believe he has handled the situation with class. I also believe his brother, Chris, showed a great deal of maturity and poise in how he handled the Gators' loss to Tennessee.

Q: I'm a huge Vol fan living in Jacksonville, Fla., right in the middle of Gator Country. It's great to hear Gator fans say that the Refs GAVE US THE GAME for the personal foul call on (Dallas) Baker. My reply is at least they didn't give us a touchdown we didn't earn when they called Gaffney's catch a touchdown in 2000.

I don't hear people complaining about play-calling or Fulmer doesn't play the freshmen argument: "Why can't we get a Maurice Claurett like Ohio State" they would say.

Guess what, Griff, Fulmer has done better than Maurice Claurett. He got a freshman quarterback who threw three touchdowns against Florida, the hated Gators.

I think that's a little better than rushing for four touchdowns against the Mighty Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Griff, I guess it's easier to develop players when players have talent. Ainge, Schaffer, Heffney, and the freshmen coming off the bench are awesome. This could be one (heck) of a recruiting class ranking up there with the ‘94 class that had Payton (Manning) — and our biggest prize of the class is at Fork Union (Demonte Bolden).

Good job coach Fulmer and good job coach Sanders and coach Chavis' defense only allowed one touchdown in the second half with that very young secondary. Griff, I think Georgia saw that game and knows we are not to be taken lightly and I know we can score 13 points on Georgia.
abkslk@comcast.net

GRIFF: Actually, Florida's beef is over an incorrect call concerning the play clock. Following the dead ball personal foul penalty on Baker — which is a judgment call — the officials failed to start the clock after the ball was placed. Because the play that occurred before the dead ball penalty was a run that didn't go out of bounds, the clock should have been started when the ball was placed. The officials' mistake cost Florida an opportunity to run "22 or 23" seconds off the clock before snapping to the punter, according to Gators' coach Ron Zook.

James Wilhoit's field goal took flight with 13 seconds left. One play prior, there were 23 seconds remaining and the field goal would have been from 57 yards. It appeared Wilhoit's kick would have been good from that distance, making the time argument void in my mind.

The Jabar Gaffney catch/drop was a judgment call. At the time, I felt Florida would have scored on its next play, anyway. Just as I feel UT would have found its way into field goal range even if more time had been run off the clock. That's my opinion.

Q: Thank you so much for your prayers and for the information you sent me. I was able to get in touch with Coach Fulmer's office and he did call my uncle yesterday afternoon. The nurses said that Coach Fulmer's call did more for Randy than three units of blood!

I want to tell you that I have always thought highly of Coach Fulmer, but now I know that he is truly a man of integrity putting people first. With all he has going on, he did something for Randy that most fans only dream about.

We are so grateful to Coach Fulmer and are more proud than ever to be Vol Fans — even though it can get pretty violent here in Bulldog country! If it wasn't for you guys, we'd be stuck with only Bulldog stuff all the time! I am very impressed with the spark in the running backs this season. The new coach has made a difference. I also like Schaeffer's ability to scramble and run the ball. I'm glad we are rotating the QBs to take advantage of each one's strengths.
conniecarney@cox.net

GRIFF: People can and will say what they want about Fulmer as a coach, but as a person he shows a lot of class. Most all of the head coaches I have covered in the SEC do — there's a reason these men have been elevated to positions of power. Fulmer has always shown a willingness to use his position to help those less fortunate, and on most occasions I'm aware of he has represented the state of Tennessee with class. It's good to hear you followed up with his administration and helped your ailing relative. That was your initiative at work, and we should all be so fortunate to have a caring person in our lives should we ever fall ill.

Q: Why doesn't Fulmer/Sanders go ahead and move Jabari Davis to fullback? Look at Shawn Bryson! He was moved to FB and was a vital key in winning the national championship!

My only reservation would be, can he block well for a fullback? I would think that would be a smart move, though, with his power running ability.
OwnbyOJ@usnbgtmo.navy.mil

GRIFF: Jabari Davis has worked some at fullback. I'm not sure he's better than current UT fullbacks Cory Anderson or David Holbert. There was a time when he could have developed into that kind of back, but that appears to have passed.