Phillip Fulmer has some advice for his offensive players when they begin practicing under newly hired offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe.

"They better strap it on," Tennessee's head football coach said Tuesday, "because it will be intense and it will be different from the standpoint of the meticulous expectations of perfect practice."

Many say UT's offensive practices haven't been quite like they used to be, since 1998 when Cutcliffe left UT. Fulmer said he expects Cutcliffe to bring back his style of accountability and intensity.

"We've tried to ratchet it up at different times all year long," Fulmer said looking back over the 2005 season. "It's almost like putting your fingers in the dike holes."

UT's offensive intensity in practice was just one issue cited as a reason why the Vols lost six games this year. Fulmer obviously thought his wide receivers and offensive line coaches also were partly to blame. He fired them Saturday.

Assistant offensive line and tight end coach Greg Adkins is a strong candidate to replace Stephens. Cutcliffe had his eye on Adkins before he returned to UT.

"I've watched him coach," Cutcliffe said. "I think he's a heckuva coach. He's got a lot of energy, a lot of knowledge."

Most UT fans associate Adkins with recruiting. As UT's recruiting coordinator, he helped assemble one of the nation's best classes of 2005.

"He's a guy that has obtained a lot of knowledge overall," Cutcliffe said. "He understands the big picture. I really believe that's extremely important to have in a coach that's coaching people up front because they help the offensive linemen understand what we're doing, not just 'I've got to block this guy.' I'm a big believer in that.

"I think Greg's very talented."

Former Vol lineman Cody Douglas said Adkins would be a natural fit.

"I think that would be a good hire," Douglas said after concluding his UT career last Saturday. "I think that's what the returning offensive linemen would want. He worked with us a lot. They're very familiar with him."

UT also is exploring the possibility of hiring Sweetwater native Kippy Brown, who may have a tenuous employment with the struggling Houston Texans. The Texans are 1-10 and rumored to be considering coaching changes.

Brown coached UT's wide receivers 1983-1989. Cutcliffe said UT fans shouldn't get too excited about Brown's potential return just yet, especially considering that Brown likely makes more than $200,000 a year.

"I don't know at this stage," Cutcliffe said. "He's got a contract. Kippy and I talk all the time and we're friends. I think he's one of the best football coaches that I've ever been around. There is no doubt about that.

"Whether that would work out or not, who knows? There are still a lot of issues involved with a lot of people."

UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said he hasn't yet been asked to pay a position coach $200,000 in his conversations with Fulmer.

"That really is dependent on who the candidates are, what their experience is and what the market is," Hamilton said. "I don't want us to shoot from the hip because we've had a 5-6 season. I want us to make wise decisions."

Hamilton said it was safe to assume that defensive coordinator John Chavis also would be in line for a compensation increase given the defense's play last season and Cutcliffe's $300,000 salary.

"I think John Chavis is one of the best coordinators in the country," Hamilton said.

Fulmer hopes more than just staff changes will improve his program. He's also learned a lesson in media management.

Fulmer admitted Monday that his preseason "pep talk" didn't have its intended effect. Instead of motivating his team, Fulmer said talk of a national championship might have put added pressure on the Vols.

"You'll never hear that again," Fulmer said adamantly. "I learned a great lesson. I'm usually very cautious. I don't know if I added pressure to them or not, or allowed them to think they were better than they were."

Fulmer also said he has given a long look at UT's most public in-season problem: the 2005 quarterback controversy between senior Rick Clausen and sophomore Erik Ainge.

"You think, 'What would I have done differently,' " Fulmer said. "Was it a distraction? Probably."

As for the offseason, Fulmer said he didn't believe there was a connection between UT's off-field disciplinary issues and its struggles on the field.

"I'm not pointing the finger back to last April and think that caused our problems in September," Fulmer said. "I don't think that because I think that if I had managed ourselves a little better and corrected things on the front end ... we would have been a better football team."

Fulmer said, however, he'd have less patience with disciplinary issues in the future.

"I don't want any fools," he said, "to act a fool."