You build quarterbacks from the neck up and then the neck down, Tennessee's new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach said Monday.

Erik Ainge can't wait to get started with his new mentor, David Cutcliffe.

"When you look at it from a quarterback's standpoint, can the man develop quarterbacks?'' Ainge said.

"I don't think there's any question in anybody's mind, coach Cutcliffe knows how to develop quarterbacks.''

Ainge and several other Vols expressed encouragement with the choice of Cutcliffe to restore the offense's pride.

The offensive players met briefly with Cutcliffe prior to his press conference.

"He was talking about putting up 30 points a game as a minimum,'' said receiver Jayson Swain. "That's a great goal and that's what we want to do.''

Tight end Chris Brown was in middle school when Cutcliffe left UT in 1998, but his first impression was a good one.

"He came in there and talked to us with a lot of confidence,'' Brown said.

"He said we're going to practice harder than we've ever practiced and play harder than we've ever played and that we're going to put points on the board and get this thing back on the road.

"We needed somebody with confidence.''

Ainge, coming off a disappointing sophomore season, said an endorsement from both Peyton and Eli Manning was all he needed to hear about Cutcliffe.

"Peyton brought up how intense he's going to make it for us, how a game is going to feel easier than practice,'' said Ainge.

"Coach said Peyton just ate it up when he did that, so I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to eat it up, too.

"Hopefully, it almost gets annoying how much I'm in his office trying to pick his brain and get on his good football side.''

Foster Surgery: Tailback Arian Foster said he'll have surgery Wednesday to clean up the meniscus in his left knee.

Foster said he will seek a second opinion on whether he needs surgery on his shoulder.