Cutcliffe: 'Absolutely 100% happy where I am'

"I guess it's a distraction for other people," Cutcliffe said at UT's weekly media session, "but it's not for me."

Cutcliffe will likely be a candidate for several jobs as they open. North Carolina this week that it had fired head coach John Bunting. Speculation could also begin to swirl around Kentucky head coach Rich Brooks if the Wildcats can't finish off the 2006 season after a promising 3-4 start.

"You never worry about the job you don't have," Cutcliffe said. "You take care of the one you do have. All I can tell you is I am absolutely, 100-percent happy right where I am."

This isn't the first time Cutcliffe has been a hot head coaching candidate. It also happened in 1998 when he left UT to become the head coach at Ole Miss, where he coached for five years.

"I just don't let it affect me," Cutcliffe said. "Maybe when I was younger (it did), when you're just so hungry and eager."

Cutcliffe declined to comment on his personal feelings about being a head coach again. He has said in the past that was a goal for him. For now, he's not

"I don't have a spare minute in the week," Cutcliffe said. "I've got my week planned out from 5 o'clock in the morning to 11 o'clock at night.

"You just don't have time for that."

Unhappy Trooper: UT wide receiver coach Trooper Taylor didn't mince words when asked about his wide receivers' play against Alabama.

"I was very disappointed in the way we played," Taylor said.

For the first time this season, explosiveness and big-play production was the issue. The longest reception by a wide receiver was Bret Smith's 39-yarder. Taylor said the sub-par performance should serve as motivation.

"Anytime they've been challenged," he said, "they've responded."

Taylor said he began to see shortcomings in practice last week when UT's players returned from the off week.

"They were almost like it was old hat to them," Taylor said.

The Vols are preparing to play without senior Jayson Swain, who is trying to overcome a sore left ankle that was injured against Georgia on Oct. 7. Swain is UT's second-leading receiver and widely considered one of the team's best leaders. Sophomores Lucas Taylor and Josh Briscoe are tabbed to fill the void.

After struggling with run blocking, injuries provided Briscoe a chance to play last week. Briscoe caught three passes for 22 yards but also dropped a pass and fumbled.

"His window of opportunity closes fast if he goes out there and makes mistakes," Taylor said. "He probably runs as precise a routes as anyone we have."

Taylor said he has been pleased recently with Briscoe's blocking. The 6-foot-3, 183-pounder had two "physical blocks" against Alabama.

"He's got to work in the weight room and get bigger and stronger," Taylor said.

Taylor second guessed himself on Tuesday when it came to playing Swain, an Alabama native, against the Crimson Tide. After missing so much practice time, Swain wasn't as prepared as Taylor would have liked.

"I let the father figure in me probably override my better judgment," Taylor said.

If UT needs more help during Swain's absence, walk-on junior Casey Woods could be an option.

"He's got great hands," Taylor said. "He's not going to run away from anybody but he will get open and make plays."

D-End Duo: Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell cited big plays when asked how Antonio Reynolds has improved.

Caldwell said the junior played his best two games over the last two games, against Georgia and Alabama. Reynolds has had three tackles for loss in those games, including a key sack on the Crimson Tide's final drive.

"Prior to those last two weeks, he had been playing well, he just hadn't been making things happen," Caldwell said.

Reynolds' improved playmaking ability can only help UT's defense, directly and indirectly.

"Anytime you get a guy that can be dominant, it helps free up other people," Caldwell said.

The most likely benefactor could be fellow end Xavier Mitchell.

"Xavier's been playing very well," Caldwell said. "Now that we've got them both. If they can continue to get better each ball game, it's going to make them both end up making more plays."

Ready to Roll: Running backs coach Kurt Roper said he didn't necessarily agree with Arian Foster's assertion that the sophomore tailback had gotten a bit rusty. Foster missed three games after suffering an ankle injury against Air Force on Sept. 9.

"I don't see any rust on him as far as knowing what to do, competing hard and playing with great effort," Roper said.

That's good news for the Vols. Foster is once again UT's starting tailback after LaMarcus Coker suffered a left knee injury last week against Alabama. Coker is out for three to six weeks.

Not Forgotten Freshman: Taylor said Quintin Hancock has been slowed by a sore hamstring. The freshman receiver also has struggled with assignments since being the talk of preseason camp.

"You can't get defenses to stay in the same defense the whole time," Taylor quipped.

Taylor doesn't consider this a wasted season for Hancock, despite the fact he has played very little yet can't redshirt.

"Just him traveling as a freshman is going to give him some experience and some help for next year when he's going to be called on," Taylor said.

Roll Call: Swain (knee) did not practice on Tuesday. Sophomore offensive guard Anthony Parker returned to practice after attending his grandmother's funeral proceedings in Toronto, Ont., Canada.