QUARTERBACK (C-)

Erik Ainge was steady most of the game, showing decent accuracy and good mobility. He handled Florida's rush most occasions, but there's a major downgrade for poor judgment in getting an intentional grounding penalty that took UT out of field position at the end of the game.

RUNNING BACKS (D)

Montario Hardesty ran hard, but there wasn't much to be had in the face of Florida's front. Hardesty did well to leap the pile for a 1-yard TD run. He finished with 14 yards on 17 carries. LaMarcus Coker had a 48-yard TD catch. Arian Foster wasn't a factor, and UT's fullbacks continued to be no-shows. No fumbles were a plus.

RECEIVERS (C+)

Jayson Swain stepped up with a six-catch, 77-yard performance, and Robert Meachem had four catches for 47 yards. Bonus points for Lucas Taylor, who had a 48-yard pass to Coker on a trick play. UT's tight ends were a non-factor. Bret Smith had a silly 15-yard personal foul penalty.

OFFENSIVE LINE (D-)

Florida got a consistent push, and running lanes were virtually non-existent. UT's minus-11 yards rushing were the worst of the Fulmer era. The only thing saving this unit from a failing grade was pass protection. Ainge was only sacked twice despite the Gators' various blitzes.

DEFENSIVE LINE (B-)

Harassed Chris Leak all night, sacking him three times and pressuring him numerous others. J.T. Mapu had pressure to force a sack, but Mapu also had a costly personal foul to wipe out an interception returned for a TD. Turk McBride had a sack that took Florida out of field goal range.

LINEBACKERS (B-)

Middle linebacker Marvin Mitchell was all over the field making 15 tackles. Jerod Mayo had 10 tackles and Ryan Karl added seven. UT's youth showed, though, as they often over-pursued, allowing DeShawn Wynn to gain 104 yards rushing. Giving up the 6-yard run at the end of the game was disappointing.

SECONDARY (C+)

Jonathan Wade made a key interception and return that turned the momentum in the Vols' favor early on. Demetrius Morley missed a few tackles, though he did have a key pass break-up. Florida's longest pass play was a modest 38-yarder, but Dallas Baker was able to get loose at the end of the game in the clutch.

SPECIAL TEAMS (B+)

James Wilhoit hit field goals of 36 and 51 yards and had three touchbacks. Britton Colquitt averaged 48.2 per punt and made a TD-saving tackle. UT's return game was modest, but not poor. Austin Rogers fair-caught a punt at the 6, and Brandon James broke a 35-yard punt return.

COACHING (D+)

David Cutcliffe devised a great plan to keep pressure off Ainge and called timely pass plays, but his inability to establish a rush was costly in the time of possession dept (Florida held a 35:04 to 24:56 edge). Defense didn't adjust to Tim Tebow's short-yardage package, and coverages were questionable late in the game.

OVERALL (C-)

UT played hard, but it didn't play well and faded in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. Big SEC games typically come down to fourth quarter execution and toughness, and Florida was superior in both respects.