Wide Receiver U. isn't garnering a passing grade.

This was supposed to be the season when Tennessee reclaimed that old familiar moniker, the one that accurately described electric, playmaking wide receivers.

Not so far.

"I don't think we've produced at wide receiver like everybody thought we would," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said.

UT ranks 10th in the SEC and 101st in the nation in passing efficiency, a far cry from a preseason full of offensive expectations that revolved around a group of wide receivers that was thought to have great talent.

The main difference, said sophomore wide receiver Robert Meachem, is UT's inability to adequately overcome press coverage.

"To be honest," Meachem said. "We really didn't think teams would press us because that's disrespectful to a receiver."

The receivers will again be in the spotlight when the No. 8 Vols (3-1, 2-1 SEC) play No. 5 Georgia (4-0, 2-0) on Saturday at Neyland Stadium (TV: WVLT, 3:30 p.m.).

UT's wide receivers have shown plenty of other inconsistencies this season. Dropped passes, the inability to overcome press coverage and undisciplined routes have stymied UT's production.

"We've certainly critiqued them really hard," Fulmer said. "The second half of the LSU game is more the way we want to be. We'll continue to work at it."

Fulmer added that several minor injuries have hindered UT's development at wide receiver.

"They're kind of like thoroughbred race horses," Fulmer said. "You get a little knick and all the sudden you don't run as fast.

"They're playing hard and they're blocking hard, and I believe that the big plays will come because the talent level is there."

The talent level has never been in question. Players like Meachem, Bret Smith, Jayson Swain and Chris Hannon appear to have NFL talent. However, the foursome has accounted for 447 yards this season or 111.75 per game.

C.J. Fayton is UT's leading wide receiver. The steady senior has 16 receptions for 190 yards, mostly on underneath routes.

"We're really behind where we thought we would be," said Meachem, who has nine catches for 127 yards. "We thought we would be one of the top groups."

UT's wide receiver coach Pat Washington seems as frustrated as anyone.

"There has just been some plays out there we left on the field that if we made, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation," Washington said. "We'd be talking about something else we're not doing."

Meachem disagrees with fans who criticize Washington, who has coached at UT since 1995.

"It's not his fault," Meachem said. "He's putting us out there to make the big plays. Somebody has to be picked on; he's going to be the one who gets blamed for it.

"We hate for him to take the blame for it because we know it's our fault."

Meachem said UT's struggles at receiver haven't been because of UT's two-quarterback system, which the Vols abandoned in the middle of the LSU game.

However, it's hard to ignore the differences between senior Rick Clausen and sophomore Erik Ainge, who split first-team practice snaps throughout July, August and much of September.

Clausen is a left-handed touch passer who relies on timing. Ainge is a strong-armed right-hander who is still mastering the finer points of the game.

"We do have one quarterback so it should be a little bit easier," Meachem said. "Because he is a lefty, we can adjust to him."

Despite the inconsistency, UT's receivers accounted for 672 yards on 60 receptions, which accounts for 50.8 percent of UT's 1,323 total offensive yards this season.

The Vols might need more from that group if they hope to keep senior tailback Gerald Riggs Jr. fresh throughout the year. On the other hand, that number could drop if UT decides to control the ball and rely on a strong defense.

Nevertheless, it's hard to argue that UT's receivers have met their potential. Fulmer says brighter days are ahead.

"I think we've turned the corner as an offensive team to come closer to finding our personality," Fulmer said.

The wide receivers' statistics support Fulmer's contention that UT is improving offensively.

Since the second half of the LSU game, UT's wide receivers have caught 31 passes for 315 yards through six quarters, which would equate to 210 yards per game.

Before halftime of the LSU game, UT's wide receivers caught 29 passes for 346 yards. Over ten quarters, that would equate to 138.4 yards per game.

UT's wide receiver shortcomings were most evident in the Vols' second game against Florida's smallish cornerbacks. The Gators challenged UT's wide receivers to make plays against man press coverage.

UT's receivers couldn't consistently beat Florida's cornerbacks and missed several deep pass opportunities. They accounted for 101 yards on nine receptions. Other teams have followed Florida's man press lead.

"It's not happening," Meachem said when asked if UT's wide receivers were beating press coverage. "It's not showing up on film and I know other teams are seeing that."

Meachem said UT must overcome such press coverage if they hope to open up the offense.

Meachem added that he expects UT's future opponents, including Georgia on Saturday, to continue to play man press coverage against the Vols.

Washington said he expects a breakout game soon -- just like he has all season.

"We just have to make some plays that we haven't made," he said. "There are plays out there to be made.

They feel like they aren't helping the team like they should help the team. Nobody has to tell them that."