Former University of Tennessee fullback Troy Fleming said the current Vols need to take a good look at themselves in the mirror.

"At any level of football, the coaches can only do so much,'' said Fleming, who visited the Knoxville boys and girls clubs Thursday as part of the Tennessee Titans caravan. "It comes to a point where it's up to the players to make plays.''

Fleming, who enjoyed a 37-14 record as a Vol from 2000 through 2003, said if fans look at UT's history under Phillip Fulmer, they'd see strategy isn't lacking.

"There's nothing wrong with the scheme,'' Fleming said. "Look at the guys who came through that system, Peerless Price, Peyton Manning, Tee Martin and Jamal Lewis ... it's not the scheme.''

Fleming said that when he was in Knoxville, there was plenty of discipline.

"It wasn't loose when I was there, and it's really not loose now,'' Fleming said. "The guys probably won't like me saying this, but I think the guys here now are a bit more immature than the guys when I was here.

"It's part of growing up and learning to be a man.''

Fleming said it did "burn'' him to see the Vols fall to a 5-6 record and lose to Vanderbilt last season.

"I caught grief over that (Vandy loss) this season,'' said Fleming, a Nashville native who was recruited by the Commodores. "Things like that happen, but I know when I was here they never did happen.''

Fleming said it's up to the current Tennessee Vols to make sure it doesn't happen again under their watch.

"Cycles come and go, and you have your highs and lows, but I think Tennessee will bounce back,'' Fleming said. "The players need to look within themselves and realize they need to make it the Tennessee everyone knows it should be.''

As for his career with the Titans, Fleming said he's anxious to contribute as much as possible.

Fleming has 29 receptions for 233 yards and a touchdown in 29 games for two seasons.

"I had a pretty good rookie year, and then I got hurt in the preseason last season and it kind of slowed me,'' said Fleming, who recently had ligaments in his left wrist surgically repaired. "I'm waiting on my time to have a chance to do more, and I'll do it.''

Fleming said he'll gladly continue to play his role as a fullback and special teams player.

"I come to practice and whatever my job is to do, I do it,'' Fleming said. "The NFL is all a business."