It's risky. It's rewarding. For Tennessee, it's almost forbidden. UT's passing offense has all but forsaken the middle of the field in UT's first two games this season. The Vols have attempted 12 passes around and in between the hash marks. UT has attempted 61 passes towards the sidelines.

Coaches, UT and others, have long said that the middle of the field is one of the most-dangerous places to attempt a pass.

Typically there are more defensive players in the area, which means a greater chance for interceptions.

With two quarterbacks having limited experience, is the risk too great for the Vols?

Not so says Randy Sanders.

UT's offensive coordinator said the risk factor isn't the reason why his offense has largely ignored such fertile median real estate. Sanders said UT's reputation often proceeds them.

Sanders said he has talked to opposing defensive coordinators about how they have defended the No. 10 Vols (1-1). The coaches who did not have to play the Vols in the future were surprisingly frank.

"They feel like they really had to stop the crossing routes and digs," Sanders said. "We throw a lot of those and have had a lot of success on them for a number of years."

"If they're not going to defend those things, then we'll throw them."

Sanders said he has seen two different defensive philosophies in UT's first two games this season.

He said Alabama-Birmingham tried to defend the perimeter more that the inside. The Vols completed two of five passes attempted to the middle of the field.

Sanders said Florida was intent on securing the middle of the field last Saturday. That, in turn, enabled the Gators to dedicate more defenders to stopping the run.

"When you line up and they've got nine guys in the middle of the field and two guys outside, there's a whole lot of room out there," Sanders said. "They're putting those guys on islands. You can throw to the middle but you've got to clear nine out of the way.

"I know we had the reputation several years ago of not throwing to the middle. Now everybody we play does everything they can to defend the middle of the field."

UT completed six of seven passes attempted in the middle of the field against Florida. Four of the passes were thrown for five yards or less. All were thrown less than 20 yards downfield. UT attempted 35 passes.

"It was tough to do stuff deep down the middle because they were playing man-to-man and had a free safety hanging out just reading eyes," quarterback Erik Ainge said.

Sanders, who has been UT's offensive coordinator since 1998, said UT started seeing defenses focus on the middle of the field in 2000.

Sanders said defenses were determined to stop tailback Travis Henry, who rushed for 1,314 yards that season, and make freshman quarterback Casey Clausen beat them on the sidelines downfield.

That was a good match for the Vols. After growing comfortable early in the season, Clausen excelled at throwing the deep outside pass and the Vols won six of their last seven games.

Sanders said opposing defenses focused more on defending the flanks in 2003 and 2004, which opened up the middle of the field and the running game.

"If they're defending the flanks, you throw to the middle because that's where the soft spots are," Sanders said. "If they're defending the middle, you throw to the flanks because that's where the soft spots are."

Completing the deep, outside passes could be key for UT against LSU on Monday (TV: ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.), if the Tigers take a Gator-like defensive approach.

By connecting on the deep vertical routes, the Vols will force defenders to slide outside. That would open up the passing game in the middle of the field and, subsequently, the running game.

Sanders said he disagrees with those that say that UT is scared to throw in the middle of the field because it's just too risky.

"I don't think that's been accurate for a couple of years," he said. "There's not anything more difficult about throwing in the middle (than to the outside).

"You have to be able to see. Any quarterback we have can pretty much see what's going on."

Dave Hooker covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6327.