MEMPHIS - The extra days between last Tuesday's nationally televised 37-20 Conference USA loss to UAB and Saturday's non-conference game at Tennessee will give Memphis time to heal its wounded pride.

As for its wounds, Memphis may need months.

A team that has battled through an injury-plagued season has been struggling to piece together a defensive front, one damaged by the losses of Rubio Phillips (in the season-opener) and Van Houston (in the preseason). Phillips tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in the 10-6 loss to Ole Miss, and Houston has been out since being diagnosed with a knee infection in the preseason.

Starting defensive end Marcus West suffered a knee injury in the team's Oct. 22 win over East Carolina and was not at 100 percent in the loss to UAB. Reserve nose guard Ryan Williams, who started the Central Florida game, didn't play against UAB because of a shoulder injury he suffered last month and aggravated in practice.

As a result, the Tigers were extremely limited - and somewhat defenseless - when the Blazers decided to open the second half by daring the Tigers to stop the run.

The Blazers opened the half by handing the ball to running back Corey White six consecutive times, moving from their 26 to the Memphis 40. The sixth carry came on fourth-and-1 from the Tigers' 43. White gained 3 yards and a first down, extending a drive that eventually reached the end zone and gave UAB a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

"It was the same play over and over and over," said Memphis defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn said. "For some reason we just didn't get in position to tackle the guy.

"We were all around him, but we just couldn't get him down. Running for 172 yards in a half is a pretty good night's work. He didn't have but about 25 at halftime. You always know you're having a bad night when your secondary is making all the tackles."

White finished with a career-high 200 yards, resurrecting UAB's bowl hopes and severely damaging Memphis'. The Tigers are 4-4 with games left at Tennessee and Southern Miss and a home game against Marshall.

If the Tigers are to recover and go to a third consecutive bowl, stopping the run - regardless of their injury situation - will be a must.

Memphis is 1-3 when an opposing team rushes for 150 or more yards. Ole Miss, held to 55 rushing yards, owns the only victory, but had to survive a last-second Memphis drive that stalled inside the Rebels' 10 with an interception.

Memphis coach Tommy West understands the limitations his defense faces as the season's final weeks approach; what he can't stomach is his team's inability to play fundamentally sound.

"I'm just disappointed we didn't tackle better than we tackled," West said. "I hate to say something and make it sound like an excuse, but we basically had four defensive linemen who could play in the (UAB) game.

"We're limited a little bit right now. We're handcuffed. But we've got to tackle better. That's no excuse for not tackling well."

Without enough defensive linemen healthy, the Tigers have had to resort to a two-man front, at times, to cope. West refuses to use that as an excuse for UAB's success running the ball.

"Sometimes that can be to your advantage, if your linebacker has mobility and he'll get off the block," West said. "Now you can't stick on 'em like Velcro."

The additional time before the Tennessee game should help Marcus West as he recovers from his knee injury. Williams' shoulder may need more time.

"I'd like to have all of our defensive linemen well," coachWest said. "If you're going to run power plays and counter plays at us, a four-man front is what we'd probably be in. But we don't have enough linemen to be in a four-man front right now."