TAMPA, Fla. -- Had David Cutcliffe had his way, the Outback Bowl would have been played on Dec. 23.

"The last three practices in Knoxville were our best three practices of the season," Tennessee's offensive coordinator said Wednesday. "I was to the point where I wished we'd played that Saturday before we left because we were ready to play. Now the challenge is to get it back after a few days off."

The results have been mixed following UT's week off for Christmas. Cutcliffe said his players' energy has been good. The execution, however, hasn't reached the heights of last week.

"I thought we were a little rusty throwing and catching the ball," Cutcliffe said.

Quarterback Erik Ainge didn't seem concerned about regaining UT's offensive timing even though the Vols will have gone 37 days in between their regular-season finale against Kentucky and Monday's game against Penn State.

"I don't think something like timing would be off just because -- even though we haven't been playing games -- we've been practicing," the junior said. "We practiced eight times before we left and we'll practice six times here. Our timing will be fine."

UT's coaches are trying to make practice as game-like as possible by instituting full pads and contact during the first two days of bowl preparation. The Vols even scheduled a 20-play scrimmage for Wednesday. Will that be enough?

"A scrimmage," Ainge said, "still isn't a game."

Sore Shoulder: Defensive lineman Walter Fisher is expected to play Monday despite an injured right shoulder and has been able to practice all week despite persistent pain.

"Every time he makes a good solid contact on it, it either pops back out or (there's) pain," defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell said. "He's going as much as he can ... What you see is him trying to avoid contact with it, so it's going to hurt him some."

The former Hillsboro High School star is scheduled to have an MRI when the Vols return to Knoxville. The sophomore is expected to require surgery.

If Fisher undergoes surgery he will miss spring practice. Fisher was limited last spring before finally succumbing to pain in his left shoulder, which required surgery.

The surgery limited Fisher's development as he was barely recovered in time for fall camp. The former junior college star was moved to defensive tackle from defensive end in midseason. Fisher played in eight games this season and registered eight tackles.

Moving On: Senior receiver Stanley Asumnu isn't sure what path he'll follow after the Outback Bowl. Professional basketball is a possibility. So is coaching. The former UT basketball player said he'll visit with UT basketball coach Bruce Pearl and UT's football coaches to assess his opportunities.

"I'll be in school," said Asumnu, who took up football this year for the first time since middle school. "I graduated this fall but I'll be in school taking a couple of classes and training while I'm here. Hopefully, we'll see what happens."

Despite earning a scholarship before the season began, Asumnu has played in one game and hasn't caught a pass.

Austin Limit: Receiver Austin Rogers was already on his way to a redshirt after missing time with a shoulder injury and mononucleosis this season.

On Tuesday, the sophomore's luck got a little worse.

Rogers, who played in UT's first three games, suffered a broken left thumb during practice.

Rogers practiced Wednesday, albeit with a heavily padded left hand.

Fine Tuned: James Wilhoit has a pretty good idea why the Vols have been so good inside their opponents' 20-yard line.

"We've been very efficient," the senior kicker said. "We know we need to go out there and score anytime we have that opportunity."

The Vols have scored on 39-of-43 red zone opportunities, including 27 touchdowns.