UT's Rogers is emerging as trustworthy

Tennessee’s football coaches have said speedy receiver Austin Rogers can be a formidable deep threat. During Saturday night’s scrimmage, the sophomore showed his possession-receiver side.

Rogers was UT’s leading receiver at Neyland Stadium, catching four passes for 56 yards from senior quarterback Erik Ainge. Does that mean there is a chemistry brewing between the two?

“I think a lot of it is that we’ve played together and I think a lot of it is I know how talented he is,” Ainge said.

After playing in nine games as a freshman out of David Lipscomb in 2005, Rogers started one game last season, then redshirted following battles with a shoulder injury and mononucleosis. So despite two years in the program, there’s still an unknown.

“We still need to know what all he can do,” Ainge said. “Is he going to go up over a guy and make a one-handed catch? Is he going to go over the middle?”

This much is known, Rogers is one of the receivers UT’s coaches have the most trust in. A projected starter, Rogers has held off the young talented receivers UT signed in 2007 to put himself in position to excel.

“With two more weeks of work,” Ainge said, “I think he could be special for us.”

The only blemish on Rogers’ performance came late in the scrimmage when he couldn’t catch an Ainge pass thrown slightly behind him. Although it would have been a tough reception, Rogers didn’t make any excuses.

“We never want any drops,” he said. “We count every drop we have and wind up running for it. We never want drops.”

Cut Cuts: Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe wasn’t pleased with his tight ends, who dropped three passes.

“I was a little disappointed tonight in their ability to make the plays we thought they’d make,” Cutcliffe said. “I don’t see them making some of the plays I expect them to make.”

In the two scrimmages open to the media, UT’s tight ends haven’t lived up to their coaches’ preseason billing. Cutcliffe said that’s not been the norm during closed practices.

Cutcliffe also wasn’t pleased with UT’s two-minute drill.

“Not executing in the two-minute drill is disappointing,” he said. “It’s something I thought we would do.”

On another note, Cutcliffe said he was pleased with UT’s pass protection, especially with the first team offense against the first team defense.

“I don’t think they came close (to the quarterback) much with the ones,” Cutcliffe said. “That was good. Pass protection was one of the pluses with the ones.”

Part of the protection can be attributed to junior Ramon Foster, who has excelled since being moved from right guard to right tackle last week.

“I’m really pleased with Ramon Foster at this point,” Cutcliffe said. “He could play guard or tackle and he could play right side or left side. He’s really become a big, important part.”

Kurt’s Kids: Running backs coach Kurt Roper said he’s pleased with freshmen tailbacks Lennon Creer and Daryl Vereen. Creer led the Vols with 57 yards on 11 carries. Vereen had the most carries, 13 times for 47 yards.

“They’re what we thought they were going to be in recruiting,” Roper said. “They’re tough and they’re physical.”

Although junior Arian Foster and sophomore Montario Hardesty are firmly entrenched as the first-string backs, Roper said the freshmen are ready to play, when it comes to running the football.

“I would be comfortable with them going into a football game and knowing what to do, and doing it hard and being physical and having no fear,” Roper said.

Still, there are blemishes in their games.

Creer dropped a screen pass and pass protection wasn’t what coaches expect from Foster or Hardesty.

“But it’s not lack of effort and it’s not lack of ability,” Roper said.

Gunslinger: Ainge had no time to cock and reload as he rolled right near the goal line during Saturday’s scrimmage. Therefore, he threw a sidearm, pseudo-shuffle pass into the end zone. The pass was caught by senior tight end Chris Brown.

What did Cutcliffe, who preaches fundamentals, have to say about the improvisation?

“If it’s a touchdown, he’s always more happy,” Ainge said. “That’s down around the end zone. He knows I’m not going to run the football there.”

Drew Edwards contributed to this report.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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