Tennessee has outscored just three teams in the second half during its eight games this season.

In the SEC, the Vols have been outscored 79-36 in the final 30 minutes. For the season, UT has been outscored 106-85 in the final two quarters.

"I haven't studied it that way," offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said. "Obviously we're not playing good enough long enough if that's the numbers. Nothing happens different schematically."

There's no arguing the results of Tennessee's offense in the second half nearly all season long.

The last two weeks have been particularly bad for the Vols after halftime.

After building a 21-0 lead against South Carolina, Tennessee went without a point until Daniel Lincoln's game-tying field goal with five seconds left in regulation.

In that game, Tennessee went three-and-out on five of its first six second-half possessions.

The week before against Alabama, the Vols went scoreless after cutting their deficit to a touchdown on the last play of the first half.

Wide receiver Josh Briscoe chalks it up to a lack of execution.

"We can't have three-and-outs the way we did in this last game and Alabama, from what I remember," says Briscoe, who missed the second half against Alabama with a concussion. "We can't have three and outs. We have to keep their defense on the field and ours off the field as much as we can.

"We just got to continue to try to have five-, six-minute drives at a time."

According to quarterback Erik Ainge, it's not a change in play calling.

"He calls the same plays, we do the same things," Ainge said. "It's just for whatever reason, we're not getting it done on those first few drives coming out of the second half."

Part of it has been UT's offense, which mustered fewer than 100 yards after halftime against South Carolina and only 145 in the second half at Alabama.

In the last two weeks, Ainge has thrown for just 178 yards after halftime.

In four games where the Vols led at the half, their opponent has outscored them twice (Georgia, South Carolina).

The Vols have won all four of those games, but Ainge wouldn't mind seeing a wider margin.

"We come out in the second half, and the mindset's different," Ainge said. "Whether you want it to be or not, it is. Their mentality's different.

"We need to have that killer instinct, where we come out third quarter and score a touchdown and make it 28-0 instead of 21-7."

Rogan Ready: Fulmer said Thursday that former Fulton standout Dennis Rogan had a good week of practice.

Fulmer said Tuesday that Rogan will return punts against Lafayette on Saturday.

"He's a talented young man," Fulmer said. "He's very conscientious. This is the right time to get him in the mix, and he'll add some real dynamics and excitement to our punt return team.

"I don't expect him to conquer the world. I don't think that's fair, but I think he can be a real plus for us."

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.