On second look, Tennessee's quarterbacks weren't as bad as it first appeared in their last scrimmage.

"After watching the film, they did all right Saturday," head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "We just didn't make some great throws. We got pressured too much."

Fulmer said he was pleased with Jonathan Crompton's performance. The sophomore was 15-of-30 for 141 yards with an interception. Redshirt freshman Nick Stephens was 14-of-27 for 114 yards with three picks.

Both quarterbacks are handling an increased workload with senior starter Erik Ainge sidelined following knee surgery.

"Jon's there," Fulmer said. "I don't have any question about Jon. Nick is a long way from doing that."

Crompton wasn't as ready to revise recent history.

"I wasn't too happy," he said of Saturday's practice. "That's just me being the hardest critic on myself that I could possibly be. I don't think I was as fundamentally sound as I could be. I think I lost focus, which is not like me at all.

"... Sometimes you just have those days. It really gets under your skin. You have to have a short-term memory."

And thick skin. The message from coach David Cutcliffe was clear.

"You can't get lazy; you can't stop focusing," Crompton said, recalling the edict from UT's offensive coordinator.

After Tuesday's practice, Cutcliffe said his offense's lack of consistency is his biggest concern. Effort wasn't the issue, as it first seemed following Saturday's practice.

"I was hoping some guys would step up and look a little more SEC-ready than what we saw, and we didn't see that," Cutcliffe said.

Cutcliffe said he was displeased with Stephens' mental errors and his lack of ball security. Fulmer said Stephens has been hampered by a sore throwing shoulder.

"It's just decision-making right now," Stephens said.

Get Moving: Cutcliffe said the Vols participating in spring practice don't have long to make their mark. The team has two practices remaining.

"To make decisions on guys that are going to have a chance to play and guys that are going to get left behind when we come back (for fall practice)," Cutcliffe said of his remaining spring-practice goal. "We've just got to prove we can make plays and we're not making very many of them."

Cutcliffe said he's pleased with UT's tight ends and running backs.

"Outside of that, I think it's every other position (is up for competition)," he said. "We're still grasping for people that look like they are ready to play in the SEC."

Fulmer hinted that receiver could be one of the positions that gets a shakeup this fall.

"We won't know what we're going to be like at receiver until we get all of those other guys in here," he said, referring to UT's incoming players.

Fulmer even said there was a possibility the Vols could play three running backs on the field if the receivers don't improve.

"We may end up with (LaMarcus) Coker, (Montario) Hardesty and (Arian) Foster in the game at the same time, playing receiver and other places," he said. "The best players are going to be on the field."

While it was likely made in jest, the challenge was made.

More Mayo: UT didn't get nearly as much as it had hoped from Jerod Mayo this spring. The junior linebacker hasn't been able to participate because of a sore knee.

Mayo was slated to move from weakside linebacker, where he played last year, to middle linebacker this year in order to make room for Rico McCoy.

"He's going to really have to compete to get his position," Fulmer said. "I think he's a heckuva player but he hasn't played. ... I certainly expect him to take the position back but it's not a given."

UT's coaches have praised junior Ellix Wilson, who has manned the middle in Mayo's absence.

Fortunately Physical: The Vols have avoided injuries often associated with physical practices. Still, they have reaped benefits.

"Our defensive tackles have improved; some of our offensive linemen have improved because we made it a physical spring," said Fulmer, who cited sophomore offensive lineman Chris Scott as a much improved player.

The mid-spring announcement that UT's coaches were considering a switch to a three-man defensive front because its defensive tackles had struggled also acted as motivation.

"That may have gotten their attention a little bit," Fulmer said. "Saturday was by far the best day those guys have had."

Fulmer said he was still looking for depth on UT's defensive line.

UT's coaches kept their offensive linemen for some extra drills on Tuesday. The Vols have done so several times this spring.

For Kicks: Fulmer said a pre-spring break practice by redshirt freshman kicker Daniel Lincoln earned him some extra conditioning.

"He kicked about five or six kicks and he ran the rest of practice," Fulmer said. "I didn't let him kick anymore. I don't think he was really mentally into that practice."

Fulmer said that one day has been the exception to Lincoln's strong spring performance. However, Fulmer said junior Britton Colquitt still holds the lead in placekicking, kickoff and, of course, punting.

"But Daniel has closed the gap," Fulmer said.

Marketing Man: Fulmer offered UT's marketing department two sponsorship opportunities on Tuesday.

"This is 'National Twos Get Better Week'," he said. "Last week was 'National Get Tennessee Better Week.' "

No word on whether the names will stick.

Game Time: Fulmer said Crompton and Stephens each will head up a team in Saturday's Orange and White game to be played at 2 p.m. in Neyland Stadium. They will wear green, non-contact jerseys. Fan Day will begin at 11:45 a.m.