Ready to Wade right in and test Cal's spread

Beginning at around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Tennessee's senior cornerback has to keep an eye on a California Heisman hopeful in tailback Marshawn Lynch.

He has to try and shut down receivers like DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan.

He has to wonder what Cal's offense will look like with the new spread-option influence of first-year offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar.

"They make it work," Wade said Thursday of No. 9-ranked Cal. "They have an outstanding running back in Marshawn Lynch who makes a lot of plays in the ground attack, along with No. 20 (Justin Forsett), their other running back.

"They hit you when you're not looking, and even when you are expecting a pass, they'll go over your head with it. They have a lot of speed and a lot of playmakers who go get the ball."

Wade's job is stop all that with a little help from his friends.

He's a senior and he knows this is his final chance to go out on a high note.

"I'm very fired up and the entire team is fired up," he said. "It's the beginning of the end for the 2006 seniors and hopefully we can make a change from last year.

"We're going to go out there and give it everything we can on every single play."

Wade said working against an improved UT receiver corps has helped him prepare. Senior receiver Jayson Swain said the same thing about UT's secondary.

"It's personal this year," Swain said. "We have fun with those guys off the field, but on the field it's personal every time we go against J. Wade and Inky (Johnson) and all those guys.

"That has really helped us so far and it's going to help us Saturday."

Healthy Vols: UT coach Phillip Fulmer said the Vols are as healthy as can be expected despite a physical spring, offseason and fall.

"I wish Jerod Mayo's ankle wasn't sore at all, but you know it is," he said. "I'd love to have Walter Fisher (defensive end, shoulder) out there, but we're pretty healthy."

Mayo has been limited in practice this week, but he's still expected to get a start at linebacker. How much he plays remains to be seen.

"We'll have to play it by ear and see how he does," Fulmer said. "Rico (McCoy) and Ellix (Wilson) will both play for sure."

Williams Not Dressing: Another injury is to backup running back Ja'Kouri Williams.

An injured ankle kept the sophomore off of Tennessee's first dress roster of the season.

"Ja'Kouri just hasn't been able to overcome that just yet," Fulmer said. "They did an MRI and they're just going to wait a couple days into next week to see if anything changes."

There will be a No. 6 on the sideline, but it's redshirt freshman defensive back Derrick Furlow.

Pocket Blocks: Tailback Arian Foster could play a key role in pass protection Saturday. Cal has a history of blitzing from rover-type positions outside the tackles.

"It makes my reads a little more difficult," the sophomore said.

With a surgically repaired shoulder, Foster said he is better than ever at pass blocking. That wasn't always the case.

"I wasn't. I ain't going to lie," Foster said. "It just wasn't a big deal (in high school). The offense we had, I rarely pass blocked. I was always out on a route. They didn't emphasis it as much as they do here."

O-Line Rotation: Fulmer said he would love to play a lot of young offensive linemen, but the rotation will likely be limited to six, seven or eight players.

"It makes everything better," Fulmer said. "It makes practices go better. It makes school better. The girls like them more. Everything's good when they get to play.

"I'd like to play as many people in the game as we can, but we're not going to put somebody out there who is going to get somebody else hurt or who isn't ready.

Fulmer Getting Antsy: Fulmer opened his post practice comments Thursday with a clear indication he's ready to see what this Tennessee football can accomplish.

"It literally seemed like it never would get here and finally we are really close to game time," he said. "I am as excited as can be for this football team to see where we are.

"I want to see if we're ready to meet the challenges of a really fine Cal football team. There are so many of our phases out there that have improved."

Stadium Makeover: Fulmer's had a chance to tour the renovated areas of Neyland Stadium and thinks the fans are going to be excited by the updates.

"It's beautiful," he said. "It's wonderful foresight on (athletic director) Mike (Hamilton's) part to help fund the renovations of the stadium over a long period of time.

"It's 85 years old and a lot of things were needed, not just from a cosmetic standpoint, but some significant changes needed to be made from a functional standpoint."

Orange Bits: Bob Griese and Paul McGuire of ESPN's coverage team took in practice. ... Fulmer reiterated Austin Rogers would be UT's starting punt returner and Demetrice Morley and Lucas Taylor the deep men on kickoff returns.