It was the very worst of a terrible season for Erik Ainge.

Tennessee's junior quarterback completed as many passes to the Memphis Tigers as he did to the Vols last year. Then a sophomore, Ainge was 1-of-3 for 6 yards and an interception. He was benched in favor of senior Rick Clausen, who led UT to a comeback win.

"I was asked earlier if I felt like I had to get back at them," Ainge said. "I don't feel like that at all. That's not where I am. It's not on a personal basis with me."

Ainge's businesslike approach has worked for UT this season. UT is the 13th-best passing team in the country with 280 yards per game. Ainge's pass efficiency rating (165.9) is 10th best in the NCAA.

The new Ainge took a look at the old Ainge on tape this week, as part of UT's routine study of upcoming opponents.

"That's stuff that doesn't happen to us now," Ainge said, referring to his misfires. "I look back on it and, man, we're so much further along right now than we were last year."

"I think I'm a different player with all the help from coach (David) Cutcliffe. I think the reason that I'm a different player is because guys are making so many plays for me."

Ailing Arian: Tailback Arian Foster said his left ankle still isn't 100 percent healthy.

"It's close, it's getting there but it's obviously not 100 percent," the sophomore said Wednesday.

Foster suffeed an injury to his left ankle against Air Force and has carried the ball twice since -- both against Florida.

Foster's status for Saturday's game at Memphis is uncertain, but he said he would likely play only in an emergency.

"I'm not sure what the coaches' idea is, but that's my idea," he said. "We've got two pretty healthy backs and I'm getting healthy. We'll just have to see."

Foster did say he's anxious to return to action.

"Very anxious," he said. "Reenergizing my hunger. I think I'm going to come back better than I ever have."

Redshirt freshman LaMarcus Coker will start Saturday, UT's third starting tailback this season.

Montario Hardesty, another redshirt freshman, started against Florida and Marshall.

Inside Men: Defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks said he believes Walter Fisher can work his way into UT's defensive tackle rotation. The junior college star was moved from end to tackle this week.

"He's got great effort and he's willing," Brooks said.

The move not only gives UT another player at a depleted position. It also, Brooks said, should act as motivation to the UT's young defensive tackles.

Brooks said former end Chase Nelson has been "really impressive" lately. Nelson is a freshman from Tulsa, Okla.

Up Front: Offensive line coach Greg Adkins said he's pleased with junior right tackle Eric Young's progress this season.

"He's playing a lot faster, with a lot more confidence," Adkins said.

Adkins also praised Vladimir Richard. The redshirt freshman was moved from defensive tackle to left offensive guard during preseason camp.

"For a guy that's never played offensive line, he's a good, good prospect," Adkins said. "He just doesn't understand everything that can happen up there."

Richard said he recently received a letter from linebacker/defensive tackle Gerald Williams, the fellow South Florida prospect who was denied admission by the NCAA Clearinghouse for the second year in a row.

Williams is enrolled at Hargrave Military Academy.

"He said it's like jail," Richard said. "He's just keeping his head high. He's going to do what he has to do for the time that he's there."

Richard said Williams plans to transfer to UT in January.

Defensive Scouting Report: Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe knows the common characteristics of a defense coached by Tommy West.

"They will be very sound," Cutcliffe said of Memphis' head coach. "They will be very aggressive. They know what they're doing. They mix up coverage and they've got a good pressure package."

West is expected to run his defense this week after firing former defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn earlier this month. Dunn is known for an untraditional style. West is more straightforward.

"They can go back and revert to what they have done, which is a lot of pressure, at any given time so we've got a lot to prepare for," Cutcliffe said.

Preparing for the two schemes would be a tough test for most any offensive lineman, even senior Arron Sears.

"It's kind of tough because usually you watch a team's last game and check them out and be like, 'OK, we know where they're going to be,'" the preseason All-SEC tackle said. "But going with Memphis and with them having the changes on the defensive side it might be a little change that we'll have to go on later on in the first quarter of the game."

Offensive Scouting Report: Ryan Karl said he will expect the unexpected when it comes to defending Memphis' offense.

"Some of the biggest stuff they do is a whole bunch of trick plays," the junior linebacker said. "Their talent on their skill positions really helps them out with that.

"We're going to be so focused on some of their skilled guys that they'll do a whole bunch of throwbacks to the quarterback and a whole bunch of double reverses and try to hurt our defensive scheme."

Practice Report: UT coach Phillip Fulmer said he was pleased with Wednesday's practice, just a day after a disappointing effort on Tuesday.

"They've got to be more consistent and tough minded," Fulmer said.

Fulmer pointed out that UT has 43 underclassmen (freshmen or sophomores) out of 84 scholarship players. That, he said, is contributing to UT's inconsistent practice focus.

"It's a sign of maturity," Fulmer said. "That's definitely what it is."

Take Deep Breaths: Redshirt freshman Josh McNeil said Michael Frogg told him to be a calming force in his first college start.

"It's your huddle; you're the center; you're the leader of the offense," McNeil said, recalling the advice. "You go take control and let the guys trust you and play your game."

McNeil will replace Frogg this week after the senior started the first four games of the season.