Nose bloodied. Pride wounded.

Like a perennial heavyweight contender, the Tennessee football team is trying to bounce back from its first TKO in years.

The 2005 season was a knee-wobbling knockout as UT -- after opening the No. 3-ranked team in the country -- finished 5-6, thanks in large part to offensive inconsistency, untimely turnovers and costly injuries.

Heads rolled with staff changes.

"Unacceptable" was the clear message sent out by head coach Phillip Fulmer.

It's time to see if the Vols can get back on their feet.

Spring practice finally has arrived. Questions have to be answered:

1. New staff, new ideas, what's the impact?

All eyes will be on the return of offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe, back on UT's staff for the first time since a 1998 national championship season.

His mission appears daunting. Sometime between now and a Sept. 2 season opener against California, Cutcliffe has to retool an offense that finished No. 90 in the nation with 326 yards per game.

He'll get help from new assistants Kurt Roper (running backs) and Matt Luke (tight ends). Greg Adkins has moved to offensive line coach and Trooper Taylor takes over as receivers coach.

2. Quarterback dilemma?

Cutcliffe has shown his prowess at developing UT quarterbacks like Heath Shuler, Peyton Manning and Tee Martin ... and later Eli Manning during Cutliffe's stay at Ole Miss.

Working the same kind of magic on Erik Ainge and freshman Jonathan Crompton is this year's chore.

Cutcliffe has promised a return-to-the-basics approach with Ainge, who suffered through a serious sophomore slump in 2005.

Ainge has the experience and the tools to be the starter, but coaches have promised Crompton a chance to compete as he comes off of shoulder surgery.

Success at this position needs to begin now with a strong spring out of Ainge.

3. Chemistry?

It was the missing ingredient on offense last season. Something just never clicked.

The Vols averaged 18.6 points a game, good for 101st in the NCAA rankings.

Loyalties appeared to be split among Ainge supporters and Rick Clausen supporters at QB.

When the Vols needed a big play, it rarely developed.

Players have been working overtime during offseason conditioning to get on the same page and develop a unified front.

4. Linebacker and defensive line losses?

Gone are Kevin Simon, Omar Gaither and Jason Mitchell at linebacker.

Gone are Jesse Mahelona at tackle and Parys Haralson and Jason Hall at defensive end.

The only starter returning from a dominating front seven is Justin Harrell.

Defensive coordinator John Chavis, as usual, doesn't expect much drop off in production despite the mass exodus.

Xavier Mitchell (out this spring with a shoulder injury) and Antonio Reynolds are expected to step in at end. Turk McBride climbs into a starting role at tackle.

Linebacker competition could get interesting. Jerod Mayo, Marvin Mitchell, Rico McCoy and Ryan Karl are the heir apparents, but Mayo and McCoy are coming back from injuries.

5. Who shapes up and slims down on new-look offensive line?

Tackle Arron Sears bypassed an early look at the NFL and makes up the only returning starter on the line.

Coaches know it was huge getting Sears back on campus because of his experience, knowledge and leadership.

Cutcliffe wants a faster, more-athletic front, and a focus this offseason has been trimming down the big belly brigade.

Eric Young, David Ligon, Chris Scott, Anthony Parker, Ramon Foster, Michael Frogg and Steven Jones will all be in the rotation mix. So will Josh McNeil if fully recovered from a shoulder injury.

6. Leadership: Who will step up?

This is a major question considering the futility of 2005.

Jason Allen and Kevin Simon were natural-born leaders on defense last season.

They've been tearing it up at the NFL combine in Indianapolis this past week, but that doesn't help the Vols.

All indications are Ainge has done his best since December to assume the role of offensive leader.

He has worked out hard, studied Cutcliffe's offense just as hard and wants to prove to the Vol nation last season was an "aberration" as Fulmer likes to say.

7. Who supplies consistency, especially at receiver?

Fulmer has called the receiver play in 2005 one of the most-disappointing and lackluster performances he has seen in his coaching career.

There were dropped balls, botched routes and a virtual absence of big-play production.

Robert Meachem, Jayson Swain and Bret Smith return with something to prove.

Talented young players Lucas Taylor, Josh Briscoe and Austin Rogers will push the veterans under Taylor's coaching.

8. Running back void in spring?

This will be a tough position for UT coaches to get a read on in the next month.

Last year's star freshman Arian Foster is out of action until August recovering from shoulder surgery. Montario Hardesty and LaMarcus Coker are also on the shelf rehabbing from injuries.

That leaves Ja'Kouri Williams, senior walk-on David Yancey and receiver transplant Ricardo Kemp to fill the tailback role.

Cory Anderson and David Holbert need to have strong springs at fullback.

9. Who wants to work?

Still to be determined. There's no question Fulmer has made it a priority to emphasize open warfare on any and all positions.

Players who show the fight and determination to remove 2005 from their memories will be rewarded.

10. Who wants to win?

Everyone.

Fulmer has averaged 10 wins a season for the past 10 years and had never sat out a bowl season as a head coach until last year.

He accepts the blame for 2005 and still emphasizes a total of 17 points were the difference in four Vols' losses.

Changes were made and a renewed intensity preached.

It's time to see if the message was received.