UT Notebook: Reserves to play bulk of scrimmage

"I think we've gotten better each time we've gone out," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Friday. "I hope (today) is better on both sides and we get a chance to improve. It'll be a good test for us."

Just don't expect an extended amount of work from the starters.

"Guys who have played a lot of football around here might not get a whole bunch (today)," Fulmer said. "But we need to play and get in some kind of game shape.

"The only way you get better playing football is playing football. They (first team) will get some, the second and thirds will get a lot, and we'll take some looks at our kicking game."

It'll be a key day in the development of a reshuffled secondary.

"It's important for everybody, particularly for the secondary," Fulmer said. "It's important, but it's important for all of us. A lot of times the secondary is affected by how the pass rush is and how the linebackers drop.

"If you're with our first defensive front, you've probably got a pretty good pass rush. If you're a secondary guy behind some of that second or third group, you may be hung out there forever. It all goes together."

Senior cornerback Jason Allen probably won't scrimmage tonight at safety.

"Not right now," Fulmer said. "I think he may get some at nickel, which is about the same thing. Jason could go back there and play most of our safety spots (without extra work there)."

The ongoing battle for starting quarterback, center depth and tailback depth are some other areas to watch.

Meachem On Watch List: Sophomore receiver Robert Meachem joined elite company as one of 31 preseason candidates for the Fred Biletnikoff Award.

Meachem had 25 catches for 459 yards and four TDs last season.

Auburn's Courtney Taylor, and Florida's Andre Caldwell and Chad Jackson also are on the list.

Early Practice: The Vols had an early afternoon practice on Friday in preparation for a 12:30 p.m. kickoff against UAB on Sept. 3.

"We wanted to get out and practice at the time of day that we would be playing two weeks from (today)," Fulmer said. "We had the punt catchers catch and receivers throw and catch, a little two-minute work, and corrections for (today's) scrimmage from Thursday's scrimmage.

Fulmer said the reason for night scrimmages tonight and on Tuesday were to prepare for night games against Florida and most likely LSU.

Kickers Stay Late: UT's kickers and punters, James Wilhoit, Britton Colquitt and Ryan Fusco, had to stay late doing 50-yard rollovers and up-downs.

Fulmer didn't comment on what instigated the punishment drills.

"That's an internal matter," he said.