Taylor talks about fumbles

That's why last Saturday's 6-3 loss at Alabama was worse than a bad dream for Taylor, Tennessee's running backs coach and assistant head coach for player development.

It started early when starting tailback Gerald Riggs lost a fumble at Alabama's 9-yard line that was recovered by the Crimson Tide.

It ended when fullback Cory Anderson caught a pass and appeared to be headed for the end zone, was hit by safety Roman Harper, and fumbled.

In between, there was a fumble by UT punt returner Lucas Taylor that was recovered by the Tide and a fumble by UT tailback Arian Foster that was recovered by the Vols.

It was enough to drive Taylor crazy.

"Turnovers, period," Taylor said Tuesday. "Fumbles obviously in my room are a big disappointment because I think it's just a lack of concentration. It's something that we harp on, and I've got to do a better job of harping on it, especially down in the orange area, what you guys call the red zone (inside the 20-yard line). There should be two hands on that football all the time, short yardage and inside that orange area."

Taylor studies the fumbles. He has taken a close look at all the fumbles against Alabama.

Anderson's was magnified because it happened so late in the game, at a time when the Vols appeared to be driving for a potential winning touchdown or at least a field goal.

The Vols were at Alabama's 15. Rick Clausen threw a short pass to Anderson, who went barreling toward the end zone.

Harper made a classic hit. The ball popped loose. It rolled through the end zone for a touchback. Alabama took over and drove for the winning field goal.

"The guy (Harper) made a great play," Taylor said. "He put his hat right on the ball. I went to look at the tape to make sure (Anderson) had it in his outside arm, which he did. He had it away from the defense, and it looked like he was getting ready to take (Harper) on, which we call a dip and rip, that we use.

"The guy got his hat right on the ball. I think (Anderson) was a little surprised that the guy could get all the way across to the ball from the angle he was coming on."

Taylor said it wasn't a case of Anderson being blind-sided by Harper.

"(Anderson) saw him," Taylor said, "and he was trying to take him on, and he was going to try to plow his way into the end zone. The guy made a great play. Tip your hat to the guy. Cory was hurt as bad as anybody, obviously frustrated about that, and obviously everybody knows he didn't intentionally put that ball on the ground. It was just a great play."

Taylor emphasizes that UT's player carry the football high and tight to the body.

He said Riggs was carrying the ball properly when he spun off a tackle and was stripped of the ball.

"He had it high and tight, and that's something that we emphasize," Taylor said. "What happened to him was when he was trying to spin out of it, the safety that was not blocked pulled it completely out of his arms. It's still his responsibility to hand the ball to the official after every play, and that's something that we really try to harp on."