Maybe the minds of some players were wandering to Cancun beaches.

Whatever it was, Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer wasn't happy with his offense after Thursday's three-hour practice and scrimmage.

Just like Tuesday, the offense struggled to find its rhythm.

"Today's scrimmage was pretty much dominated again by the defense," Fulmer said just after letting his team go for spring break.

"We haven't found that niche just yet to finish drives. We take the first drive the length of the field, stop ourselves and miss a field goal."

Fulmer won't be heading into the 11-day spring break with a warm, fuzzy feeling about his team's progress.

"Our defense is doing all right," he said. "But I don't think anybody should be real thrilled right now."

Consistency was again the word of the day. Fulmer said he hasn't seen it from his offense yet.

"It's almost like we take a step forward and then one back," he said. "I want to make sure we stop that."

Versatile sophomore Lucas Taylor was one of the bright spots offensively, catching a 60-yard touchdown pass.

"That's the kind of thing you're looking for with a little bit more consistency," Fulmer said.

The Vols are trying to get Taylor as many looks at as many different positions as possible. He even lined up some at tailback Thursday.

At quarterback, freshman Jonathan Crompton took all of the second-team snaps as Bo Hardegree nursed a sore arm.

Silence Broken: Senior receiver Bret Smith has finally spoken.

The receiver, who has been silent with the media since arriving on the UT campus, agreed to talk on Thursday. He even got an introduction from Fulmer.

"I just felt like it was time for me to start talking to the media," he said. "It was kind of childish of me not to do it in the past."

Smith said his biggest concern is "coming out to work" and focusing on running the correct routes with no drops.

Speaking Of Drops: Receivers coach Trooper Taylor said the Vols had only five dropped balls during the scrimmage -- compared to 33 the first day of spring drills -- but two of them were for potential touchdowns.

"If you walk in Food City and see me spraying down fruit," Taylor joked, "you know we had too many touchdowns dropped."

Mayo Gets First Work: Offensive lineman Cameron Mayo was cleared to take part the scrimmage and got his first work since a knee injury sidelined him last season.

"I was really glad to see that," Fulmer said. "We had some guys out because of midterms, and in his first practice we have a scrimmage. That was pretty tough duty."

Rogers Shaken Up: Receiver Austin Rogers had to leave the scrimmage and be evaluated after a head-to-head collision.

Rogers suffered a sprained neck, but had returned to Haslam Field by the end of practice.

Basketball Updates: Tennessee's practice just happened to coincide exactly with the men's basketball appearance in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

That doesn't mean the players and staff didn't know what was going on in Greensboro.

"A couple of trainers had ear pieces in listening," safety Antwan Stewart said.

Meachem wasn't worried.

"Honestly, I knew they were going to win this game," he said. "I just thought they were going to win by more."