Tennessee quarterback Rick Clausen got defensive about the Vols' offense Tuesday.

The Vols are ranked 90th nationally and eighth in the SEC in total offense (330.8 yards per game).

"I think we're making strides," Clausen said. "I know that a lot of fans and probably the media isn't too excited about our offense right now, but we're making strides.

"We played extremely well in the second half of the LSU game and I thought we played pretty well against Ole Miss, but apparently that's not good enough for some of the people around here.

"But you know, we're just going to go ahead and win football games, and if our offense produces 100 yards and we get a win, then that's good. If we produce 500 yards and lose, that still doesn't mean anything."

Tennessee is 93rd nationally and 10th in the SEC in scoring offense (20.2 points per game) after Saturday's 27-10 victory over Ole Miss at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols have scored five rushing touchdowns and four passing touchdowns this season. Their longest offensive play for a touchdown this season went for 12 yards.

Clausen was asked Tuesday if he was tired of hearing about the Vols' lack of big plays.

"That's fine. People can say whatever they want," Clausen said. "You know, as long as we win football games. I look at it this way: We're not making the big plays and we're still winning football games, so if we do start making big plays, you never know what can happen.

"Big plays will come, and what we need to do now is keep plugging along, keep executing, doing what we know how to do. You know, if the fans get restless and the media gets restless, they need to deal with that, not us."

In other national rankings, the Vols are ranked 67th in passing offense (219.2 yards per game) and 87th in rushing offense (111.5).

They are seventh in the SEC in passing offense and eighth in rushing offense.

Of course, the Vols have played two teams that have been ranked in the top five this season, Florida (now 13th) and LSU (now 11th).

Up next: No. 5 Georgia at Neyland Stadium on Saturday.

"We need to win football games whether our offense is doing good or bad," Clausen said. "But we just need to execute and keep plugging along."