Entering game week preparations for Saturday’s season-opener at No. 12 California, Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer feels better about his 15th-ranked team’s depth than when Fall practice began nearly a month ago.
“I like the way this team has responded to what we’ve asked them to do,” Fulmer said before Monday’s practice. “We’re not totally there yet, by any stretch of the imagination, with everybody that can help us but there’s enough guys on both sides of the ball, I think, two deep that are fighters and tough guys and competitors.”
That depth has shown up on the offensive line, as well.
Fulmer said there are eight players he feels comfortable — a number he set as a goal for the Vols at the beginning of Fall camp.
In addition to Tennessee’s five starters, he said Jacques McClendon will compete for playing time at guard and that reserve guard Vladimir Richard is game-ready, as is backup center Michael Frogg.
When asked about the right side of UT’s offensive line, which was a concern when camp began, Fulmer said tackle Ramon Foster and guard Chris Scott have become more consistent.
“We’re in pretty good shape with those guys right now,” Fulmer said. “Ramon’s played well at guard and tackle. Chris has been very consistent and will continue to get better. That’s the good thing about it — there’s so much upside to them. And Jacques McClendon’s still competing for playing time. I think We’ve got a chance, I think, to have a pretty good little rotation.”
Colquitt Update: Fulmer reiterated that he expects All-SEC punter Britton Colquitt (quadriceps pull) to be fine for Saturday’s game. However the junior did not kick Monday in order to prevent further injury to his kicking leg.
“We think he’s going to be fine,” Fulmer said. “He could probably kick today if I wanted to go out and risk pulling his quad again. But I don’t think I want to do that.”
Return Game: If the right situation presents itself Saturday, Fulmer said he would like to try different combinations at the return spots.
Barring any last-minute changes, Arian Foster and Denarius Moore will handle kickoff returns, while Jonathan Hefney will return punts.
Dennis Rogan, who is Hefney’s back up as a punt returner, could be among those to get some return work Saturday.
Practice Report: The Vols spent Monday’s practice outdoors on Haslam Field working their gameplan against Cal. Fulmer, who spoke before practice, said the Vols would do a little 9-on-8 work “to make sure we stay physically sharp.”
Injury Update: Freshman wide receiver Gerald Jones (hamstring) returned to the practice field.
As expected, reserve middle linebacker Ellix Wilson (knee) practiced, although he was somewhat limited in lateral movement.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 29
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
all these comments by coaches, players about how well they like this or that work out...means nothing
kick the darn ball and let the play begin...
IT'S GREAT TO BE A TENNESSEE VOL
OldNumber7 writes:
As said on ESPN Radio yesterday: which Tennessee team will show up? That's the worst part about being a UT fan - the anticipation leading up until about the end of the 1st quarter when you figure out if UT the champion is playing or UT the bumbling oaf. A tradition of inconsistency.
GreerVol22 writes:
Rocket, agreed. To most folks, if you tell them 9-3 as a projection, they would be ok with it. But "what if" the 3 L's were Cal, Fla, and UGA? I think if we do that this season then Fulmer has failed. However, I think we beat Cal, and Florida, struggle with Georgia and either USC or KY will slip up on us. 10-2 and a puzzled look from pollsters at the end of the season.
ElizabethtonvolnNC writes:
Great he sounds so positively about the offensive line. Not so great I felt an 05' chill....him just talkiing about it.....Let's Just show up and play! GO VOLS!
cgbtn writes:
When talking about the O line, I worry alot more about the coaching than I do about the players.
BOASoldier writes:
It's all over and done except for the playing ... the speculation, hoping, writhing, and nashing of teeth will all be silent for about 3 or 4 seconds when that first kick sails through the air. Then we can all begin to coach from our couch and talk about what they should do on the next play. Then if we win we'll pick apart what could have been done better ... if we lose we'll point out what should have been done and cry "off with his head" that is just how us SEC fans are... so now it's time to wait and see ... GO VOLS!!!
FatherVol writes:
Gee, where are all the basketball comments? LOL It's football time in Tennessee and it's Tennessee time in California!
BuckFama writes:
Nicely said, soldier. You really seem to get it.
Nothing is ever good enough to some fans. No one likes a loss, but it's so funny to read someone say that a 9-3 season would be OK, but then start picking apart the "what if" scenarios if we lose to the wrong teams. Is it better to lose to South Carolina than to Georgia? Better to lose to Kentucky than to Florida? I realize that losing inside the SEC makes an SEC championship more difficult to attain, but a loss is a loss.
What it boils down to is that some folks can't stand our coach and nothing he does will satisfy them. You see the type in the stands all the time. They know everything and the coach knows nothing.
waterskier3#226480 writes:
Until they prove it on the field that they are a tougher team I don't care what the coaches say. I know coach cut will score some points on any team we play but can we stop the run and will phil go conserative on the big games if he gets a lead? then our D gets tired and we lose in the 4th qtr? questions upon questions but I'm ready and hopefully I don't have to hide my head in big 12 country this year.... 9-3 is not good losing to the big three.. I say anything short of the sec championship game is a bad year period.
BOASoldier writes:
You shouldn't have to hide your head in Big 12 Country anyways ... they'd be taken down by Kentucky ... all of them. I've heard more than one analyst say that even Kentucky would dominate in the Big 12 cause the SEC is so stacked. Win or Lose my blood will always run orange, my heart will beat to rocky top, and my voice will always scream GO VOLS!!!!!! Where are you vols4Jesus back me up here bro.
DSaVol writes:
Foolmer feeling good means either he's eaten in the last hour or there's bad news on the horizon. Can we get some more basketball stories please!
BOASoldier writes:
Basketball ... Heck I've waited through all of the phooey sports all year just to watch football don't wish it away now
thevol writes:
Dsa is back and your gonna be in trouble. Stick to b-ball. How did your boy Mike Dunbar work out at Cal? Go Big Orange!
BOASoldier writes:
I agree with you about Phil's feeling about the team, marc. At the same time the 05' team was individual based and not team based. I remember watching the "highlight reel" at the first game before they came out against UAB and thinking how cocky they seemed about nothing. I could tell then and especially by the end of that first game that the members of that team wanted to be one man highlight reels and not team players. I think this team is markedly supperior in their work ethic and team mentality. of course this is just my opinion
thevol writes:
For all you guys that don't know DSA is the all time Vol football antagonist from the paysite. He was so happy to see the 5-6 season. Luckily he has stayed away from football postings for the most part the last 2 years. He is a master of twisted stats and never admitting when he is wrong. The worst kind. Oh well, nothing can bring me down from my high of the first game week of the season. Go Big Orange!
Carlitovol writes:
Regarding the negative comments about Fulmer, I think what it boils down to is that some people can tolerate mediocrity and others can't. You can call those who want a change "pessimists", but is there really anything wrong with wanting something better for a program?
Case in point: Kentucky Basketball. Tubby Smith won a national championship in 1998 at a powerhouse program with tons of tradition and history (just like UT football). Tubby won a lot of games and they were fairly competitive in the SEC and NCAA tourneys in the years following the NC. However, recently UK has lost its luster and began to slip noticeably behind other up-and-coming SEC programs like FLA and UT. All this with the limitless resources, boosters, finances and support made available at a premier school.. Hhhhmm this sounds a lot like Knoxville to me.
The UK AD (and fans), rather than flounder through more years of mediocre seasons, took action because the program deserves better than average. Now look at how much excitement Billy Gillespie (sp?) has garnered. Granted, he hasn’t coached a game yet, but look at the blue chip recruits he’s already reeled in, and the enthusiasm alone will help get the program back on track. If nothing else, people are excited about it.. UK will be back on the big-time map in no time, guaranteed.
In my opinion, UT football and its fans deserves better than average as well.. We deserve more excitement and fewer 3-and-outs. I don’t hate Phil Fulmer and I think he’s a solid coach, but I do think we’re almost to the point where new blood is a “must”.
Regardless, I’ll bleed orange all the way, no matter who’s coaching.. GO VOLS!! BEAT THEM BEARS!!
thevol writes:
Perfectly put Carlito. No one on here is satisfied with the results of the last few seasons. It is fine to bring up things that need improving. Getting rid of Sanders is a great example of positive change for the program. It is the constant negativity and name calling that irate most posters. Give Fulmer 2 more years to right the ship. If then it doesn't look better you will see a lot of the "positive" fans calling for a change. But, Fulmer IS the coach and now is a new season and the time to support the team. Go Big Orange!
BuckFama writes:
I agree with you, marc. The point I was trying to get across is that some fans will never give Fulmer credit for any positives. Those fans will defend Richt by touting his overall record and gloss over the losses to the basement dwellers. But those same fans will crucify Fulmer for his one loss to Vandy ... 2 seasons ago.
This stuff gets old, though. The same fans write the same stuff day after day. I include myself in that statement. Listen to the radio and it's the same situation.
I can hardly wait for Saturday.
Sheepscape writes:
sjt18 is dead on in regards to now or never. UGA and Florida will be much more polished in 08, and its only a matter of time before Spurrier monkey-wrenches the SEC East by winning one of these close games with someone.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Spurrier is the kind of coach that picks Duke as one of top 25 teams in nation. Spurrier is kind of coach that loses 2 recruits to academics and then whines that the standard will need to be changed or he might just leave. Fulmer would never say that. Geaux Vawls!
Sheepscape writes:
orangeblood, exactly what sjt18 said. Recruits want a coach that will go to bat for you.
And Spurrier won at Duke sir, no mean feat. He has beaten us at three schools including Duke. He's an excellent college coach and its the Vols(not Vawls)misfortune that he's here to be a thorn in everyone's side.
Sheepscape writes:
Well sjt to be fair, Fulmer took over a machine that had has success in the past, and has been at the top---then let it slide on his watch. Pearl's had two years and while I don't deny it's a smaller vehicle than football, has resurrected something from that was dead, not merely underperforming but completely 100% flatlined.
Also sjt, if your analysis about comparing football-basketball is correct, and I am inclined to agree with you on most of those points, it makes Coach Fulmer's remarks at the SEC media days about Coach Summitt's Lady Vols even more puzzling.
Sheepscape writes:
It's also not really the same but good heavens, we have what 30-32 bowl games now? That's 64 bowl eligible teams. To say someone plays x number of bowl teams on their schedule no longer has the impact it once did.
jhenson#377512 writes:
Count me among those who would like to see Fulmer move on. No, sjt18, it has nothing at all to do with filling up the stat sheet as the only stat that really matters is the final score. I'm of the opinion though, as are many so-called "experts", that gone are the days of lining it up, trying to pound it out for four quarters, hoping the defense keeps you close and gives you a chance to win in the end. The game has changed, especially the SEC.
I love Fulmer as a person. I love the way he has represented Tennessee football over the years: as a player, an assistant, and as a head coach. He's a class act, he bleeds orange, and he brought us a National Championship. That gets a lot of mileage; however, all of us, in our respective professions are judged by our recent history. I'll leave it to all you fans out there to determine what constitutes recent history, but let me put it this way...
...I'm in sales and I'm good at what I do. So Let's say a few years back, I had a 3 or 4 year stretch of incredible record setting sales and was vaulted to being the poster child of my company. Things were good, but the industry changed, the technology, the way busines was conducted--and I didn't change with it, resulting in 3 or 4 years of less than impressive sales. I don't know what your company would do in that scenario, but mine would call me in and say "Jim we love ya' man, you were a superstar for us, which is why we gave you as much time as we did to turn it around, we wish you well, but see ya."
Unfortunately, that's where we are with Fulmer. If you don't believe that, then look at the last five years. The overall record, the bowl record, the record against Florida, Georgia, LSU, Auburn, the record against ranked opponents. The numbers don't paint a pretty picture, especially for a program who continues to trick itself into believing it's a national power. Oh don't waste your time sending winning percentage stats, etc. We're supposed to win against Vandy, Kentucky, Memphis, Ole Miss, Miss. State. If you want to be taken seriously as a coach or as a team, those aren't the games by which you're judged.
Some of you will call this a negative email...IT'S NOT. I'm just trying to inject a dose of reality into the conversation. Yes, I want Phil gone, but as long as he's here, I'm hoping and cheering for him to win 'em all!
Go VOLS!!
todd#529269 writes:
Ladies & Gentlemen, whereever you are..... it's that special time, "It's Football Time in TENNESSEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
invisiblekid writes:
Where's the duct tape? My head is about to explode after scanning through all of that. No offense to anyone, it just seems useless debating the merits or shortfalls of Fulmer less than a week before the opening kickoff of a new season. Fulmer isn't going anywhere barring unforeseen disaster and recently said he wants to coach another 6-8 years. The only game that matters is this first one and the only responses from the team that matters will come on the field Saturday night.
jhenson#377512 writes:
invisible..."useless debating the merits..."????
Well, of course it's useless--assuming anyone debates under the illusion that it might foster change!!! Our discussions won't impact the outcome of the game Saturday night nor affect the constitution of our coaching staff moving forward. However, that obvious fact hasn't discouraged any of us, including yourself, from participating in this forum. We all have different takes, and opinions, and agendas, but we are all united by one common thread---A love for the VOLS!!! Since we can't do it together over cold ones on Cumberland, we're doing the next best thing--coming together right here. So debate away! (and let's keep it friendly--after all, we're on the same team)
GO VOLS!!!
invisiblekid writes:
JHenson, based on your posts, you seem like one of the more level-headed folk on here and I have to say I agree with your stances for the most part. After the '05 season, like many fans, I felt like Fulmer and company had 2-3 years to "turn it around" and make a strong run for an SEC championship. This is year two and, based on the state of our primary competitors in the East, looks to be our best chance for a championship in the near future. My opinion comes primarily from falling in line with Fulmer's own expectations as well as comments from Mike Hamilton to the effect that a program like UT should be able to win at least a couple of championships per decade. Again, if that's the expectations of the head coach and AD, why shouldn't we fans expect the same thing? Anyway, I suppose where my frustration and comments yesterday came from were not so much the issue of the debate itself(which has been a common topic for most of the two years I have been posting) but the fact that in recent weeks it has devolved into nothing more than the proverbial pisssing contest. The other issue stemmed from the fact that we are now a little over 3 days from kickoff and I'd personally like to be talking x's and o's a little more. You're right though, sitting somewhere on Cumberland downing a few pints would be much more enjoyable but this will have to do until next weekend.
jhenson#377512 writes:
Invisible...100% agree. One of these days, we'll have to make that Cumberland thing happen.
Go Vols !
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