Vol Report
WVLT video
Audio
- Dave Hooker interviews offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe
- Dave Hooker interviews OG Jacques McClendon
- Dave Hooker interviews LB Nevin McKenzie about his punt block
- Dave Hooker interviews C Josh McNeil
- QB Erik Ainge talks to the media about the ULL game
- LB Ryan Karl talks to the media about UT’s defense
Tennessee Stat Book
Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. Arkansas
- When: Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee's 59-7 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette was about all the Vols could have asked for.
And that certainly includes the Vols' reshuffled offensive line.
In their first game without left tackle Eric Young, the Vols' offensive line didn't give up a sack and paved the way for No. 22 UT's 276 yards rushing and 7 yards-per-carry average.
UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Sunday that sophomore Chris Scott "did fine" in his first start at left tackle since moving from right guard. Scott had played some at left tackle last season and in spring practice.
But Saturday's start was an easier way to reacquaint himself with the ins and outs of guarding quarterback Erik Ainge's blind side than it would be when Arkansas comes to Neyland Stadium for a 12:30 p.m. kickoff (TV: WVLT).
"It has to help," Fulmer said. "He played there a year ago a lot. Just getting him back used to it should be a plus. He did OK, but we'll play a lot better players than we played Saturday."
Saturday's win wasn't just a bonus for Scott.
Sophomore Cody Sullins got work backing up Josh McNeil at center. Senior Michael Frogg injured his back Friday and did not dress out against the Ragin' Cajuns.
Ramone Johnson also got some extended playing time at tackle.
Getting Johnson a lot of snaps was a point of emphasis entering the game.
"It was great," offensive line coach Greg Adkins said. "The whole plan today was to get Ramone some quality work, and to make sure that Chris Scott is tightened down on the left side.
"I think (Johnson) gave up a pressure. He was a little confused on a pass protection early. When things settled down, it looked like the better he played."
All that playing time - and the film study that comes with it - will pay off down the stretch, said Adkins.
"I think we gained some confidence," Adkins said. "You study it and grow from it. Where were our problems and how do we fix them, those sort of things. That's what we'll do. We have a three-game stretch, and Arkansas is next."
Running Razorbacks: Arkansas' 541 yards rushing Saturday against South Carolina took Fulmer by surprise, especially given that the Gamecocks' defense held UT to just 101 the week before.
"That's unbelievable," Fulmer said. "(South Carolina) didn't look like the same defensive football team that played against us.
"I think that goes back to (Arkansas) doing all the misdirection stuff, something you don't see every day. It's hard to simulate it in practice."
Arkansas' 541 yards is the highest single-game total for an SEC team in conference play.
That total ranks sixth all-time in single-game rushing by an SEC team.
The most recent of those marks was set by Auburn in 1985, against Southwestern Louisiana.
Hardesty Healthy: Montario Hardesty said his right ankle felt fine after rushing for 45 yards on nine carries.
Hardesty also said he's put his disappointment with not seeing the field three weeks ago at Alabama behind him.
"Just as far as not wanting to talk to reporters after the Alabama game was over, I should have handled that better," Hardesty said. "That situation is behind us. I just want to come out and play football."
Injury Update: Reserve defensive tackle Chase Nelson is expected to miss 10 weeks after undergoing surgery Sunday after dislocating his wrist.
The sophomore played in his fourth game Saturday and had three tackles this season.
Receiver Austin Rogers suffered a bruised shoulder and will be limited at practice early this week.
Fulmer said he expects Rogers will be ready Saturday.
Bolden Back: Defensive tackle Demonte' Bolden returned from suspension and practiced with the first-team defense during Sunday night's practice inside the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center.
Bolden did not dress for Saturday's game and practiced with the scout team after his suspension was announced Wednesday.
Top Flight: Arkansas ranks atop the SEC in seven statistical categories: total offense (473 yards per game), turnovers caused (22), interceptions (15, tied with Alabama and Vanderbilt), pass efficiency defense, rushing offense (315.8 yards per game), scoring offense (41.1 points per game) and tackles for loss (7 per game).
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 19
mparker writes:
mCfADDEN TO GET 600 YARDS AGAINST ut????
I am NOT looking forward to these next three games. McFadden, Woodson, and a pissed-off, quality Vandy team.
Say what you want, the SEC is one tough monkey this year. Just think if Andre' woodson was playing down at LSU (no diss to Matt Flynn, but he's a steaky passer at best). As it is, everyone except OLE MISS can knock you out. I don't EVER remember such a year.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Who knows which Arkansas team and Tennessee team will show up saturday. Georgia looked unstoppable running the ball the week before we played them and we shut them down and they went on to crush the gators a couple of weeks later. I fear passing teams more than rushing teams this year, it should be another fun SEC matchup, I wouldn't be suprised to see it as tight as the SC game. Good news is that Tennessee has played well at home this season, so lets hope that holds true and we come away with a win. If we beat Arkansas, we are going to be in real nice shape with the kentucky matchup being the hardest remaining game.....Vandy can be tough, but they dont look like the same Vandy team from the past two seasons. GO VOLS!!!
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
The Arkansas game will be the defining moment in John Chavis's career at UT -- fair or not. His immediate future will be determined by how the defense plays.
why36knot#656113 writes:
Touchdowntn... I see you are still squeaking and squawking and putting the VOLS down. Why don't you go read a book or something. It will broaden your horizons and remove some of the negative phooey you are constantly spewing. Which book?....
ANY BOOK!
jweaver3#395614 writes:
I agree why36, I wish these Ala. fans would quit reading our website and go back to their Satan(Saban) worship for the two years in in T-town.
GO VOLS!!!
BEAT THE PIGS
TXVOLSFAN
marc_ash#231781 writes:
andy, UT played well at home this year? I don't think the South Carolina game would constitute playing well at home. We showed up big against GA, I will agree with that. But other than that I don't take blow outs of La Layfayette into account when I gauge playing well at home.
The key is stopping the run. Something many teams have attempted to do. Arkansas has no qualms about letting folks know what they will do. I'm somewhat glad Arkansas won Saturday, I didn't want them coming into Neyland pissed off on Sat.
Still surprised its a 12:30 game though.
oldbasshead writes:
Each team that has beaten Arkansas (Alabama, Kentucky, Auburn) this season has held McFadden to under 200 yards. Two of those teams, Alabama & Kentucky, scored over 40 points. So it would seem that the Vols will need to score big while holding McFadden to under 200 yards, but then there's Jones. That's a tall order for the Vols defense. The Vols will need to play their most complete game of the season to have a chance. Arkansas didn't pass much against USC, so maybe we play man and crowd the line and play a disciplined, option type defense. The Vols haven't fared well in that situation before, but we can be hopeful. Chavis prefers to have his players to be aggressive, but they will have to play lanes, be disciplined and swarm to the football. Watch the Auburn/Arkansas game and do whatever Auburn did. They held McFadden to 45 yards and beat Arkansas 9-7. GoVols.
kjneel#238751 writes:
best chance is to stack the box ALL day and play one on one at the corners. You have to risk getting burned by Casey Richard which is not likely.
wmfroberts#648322 writes:
When I wasa kid growing up on a farm in Blount Co., November was always hog killing month. Hopefully, the same will hold true Saturday.
TurboFan writes:
You do have to worry about McF throwing the ball too. Last year, we could neither stop McF by himself nor McF to Monk.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
Oldb@sshead,
Good post. I think holding MFad to under 200 yards is somewhat realistic. But, as you point out holding Jones to similar numbers puts the D giving up almost 400 yards on the ground. And we all know what that recipie results in.
The Vols D hasn't played well against fast QB's this season. Their most success has been against drop back QB's like Stafford and Mitchell. Ark's "Hog" package is used a LOT and has MFad running QB and that should be a big concern for the Vols.
I think Chavis does prefer his team to play aggressive, but not always smart. All the speed in the world isn't going to stop Ark if they don't stay in their lanes and if they blow assignments.
UT's best success was when they blitzed. Just make sure there is a speedy safety in the secondary...if McF gets past the first line of D, it could be a long day.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
hahah, I tried to type oldb@ssheads name in and got a warning message that I couldn't use words like O_________d. Guess they thought I was typing the word @ss.
Good job website!!!! lol.
GrandCanyonVol writes:
Ark 56 Tenn 32 We will see on Saturday. I hope that I don't know what I am talking about. What a season this has been in c. football.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Hey, there's Andy112382; I wondered where ya been, kid. Kjneel, I agree with you, we gotta dare to be different on defense to have a chance to slow down their runnin game. We'll see. I was thinking McF is best SEC rb since Herschel Walker. Bo Jackson would quit on ya if you did anything to make him look bad; he would claim he was injured, like that Memphis rb a couple yrs ago.
doegem writes:
"Arkansas' 541 yards rushing Saturday against South Carolina took Fulmer by surprise..."
Truer words were never written. EVERYTHING takes Fulmer by surprise.
fryed004#518992 writes:
How in the world did Ark lose 3 games? I believe they will kill Tennessee...I hope not, but the Vols haven't shown the propensity to stop even ordinary offenses this year. Let's hope for the best!!
Go Vols
asleep#212036 writes:
I agree with mbumburu. Everyone knows what AR intends to do to win the game. We've played these two RB's before and it's the 10th game of the season. Fair or not, if Chavis cannot either scheme or motivate his players to a reasonable performance, I think he will "retire" at the end of the season. What is reasonable? Slowing their running game to the point that we have a chance to win. I don't have a number in mind but Auburn's 45 yard shutout isn't attainable by our guys, and the 500+ yards SC gave up isn't acceptable. I'm thinking total running yards of 300 or less should do it. Remember, they have given up lots of points to SEC teams that can throw the ball. We should qualify on that point. I think it's up to Ainge and Co. to keep the ball so the D can throw their hearts into every defensive series. Go Vols!!!
asleep#212036 writes:
ilove,
I guess the tackling part would exclude Mr. Hefney?
RocketVol writes:
Tennessee plays renegade sell-out defense. Misdirection and power combined kills Tennessee every time. Not sometimes, everytime. See Penn State, Nebraska, Florida, Clemson, Maryland, on and on. Arkansas will likely prevail based on history. I am thrilled WVU is NOT on our schedule.
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