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 Stat Book
Rodney Dangerfield and Austin Rogers don't have a lot in common.
But mention the Arkansas defense - and its tendency to play in-your-face man coverage against opposing wide receivers - and Rogers starts adjusting his collar.
"They're showing us no respect," says Rogers, a Tennessee wide receiver who has 35 catches for 428 yards and a touchdown. "They're saying, I can guard you one-on-one. If you can't get by us, we've got more guys for the run game."
The Razorbacks were effective using tight man-to-man coverage against the Vols last year.
That, combined with plenty of pressure on UT quarterback Jonathan Crompton, made life difficult for the Vols' passing game.
Tennessee had 174 passing yards against Arkansas last year on 16 of 34 passing.
With that in mind, UT has spent plenty of time on the practice field working against press coverage for Saturday's game at Neyland Stadium.
"We've put some routes in that are good for man-to-man coverage," Rogers said. "We know they're going to try and challenge us.
"They got away with some man-to-man coverage last year. We didn't capitalize on some opportunities where we did beat them. We have to go out there and do it this week."
Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe knows that won't be easily, especially against a Reggie Herring-coached defense.
"He's been a top-notch defensive coordinator for a long time," Cutcliffe said. "They play a ton of man coverage, a ton of press coverage. They bring pressure a lot. They're not a big believer in zone blitz. They're a believer in pressure man defense."
But with the risk comes the potential for reward.
"The big plays come when they're pressing up and they get us man across the board," Rogers said. "You break one tackle or you get away from your man and no one else is around."
O'Neal Improving: Junior college transfer Kenny O'Neal is showing improvement, Cutcliffe said.
The wide receiver has played sparingly. He caught his second pass of the season last week against Louisiana-Lafayette, a 49-yard touchdown from Crompton in the fourth quarter.
Part of the delay in O'Neal's development, Cutcliffe said, is the sheer number of playbooks thrown O'Neal's way.
"He was at Florida State, had to learn their system, then he goes out to (junior college) and has to learn their system and play defense in junior college," Cutcliffe said. "Kenny's had a lot thrown at him in a short period of time."
Rogers, Lincoln Honored: Rogers and freshman kicker Daniel Lincoln have been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV team, UT announced.
Rogers, UT's second-leading receiver, has a 3.35 GPA in finance. Lincoln, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, has a 3.53 GPA in business.
Both players are eligible to be named Academic All-Americans.
McKenzie at Practice: Former Austin-East High School and UT standout Reggie McKenzie attended Thursday's practice.
McKenzie is the Green Bay Packers' director of pro personnel.
Climbing the Charts: With 89 yards against Arkansas, Arian Foster will move into 10th place on UT's career rushing list.
Foster has 2,001 career yards and is 12th all-time, behind Aaron Hayden (2,061 yards) and Charlie Garner (2,089 yard).
Foster's 21 touchdowns, however, are only one shy of Hayden and Garner's combined total.
Johnson Undergoes Surgery: Doctors successfully repaired a partially torn meniscus in defensive back Marsalous Johnson’s right knee Thursday.
“It was a repair,” head athletic trainer Jason McVeigh said in a statement released by UT. “Hopefully, he will make a full recovery to be ready for the start of spring practice.”
Surgery was performed Dr. Greg Mathien and Dr. Matt Rappe of the Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic.
Roasting for a Cause: The Tennessee AIAS chapter will hold a pig roast to benefit Architecture for Humanity before Saturday's game.
Cost of the barbecue meal is $10 a plate, which includes a sandwich, chips, cookie and drink.
The barbecue will be held at the grounds behind the UT School of Architecture building on Volunteer Boulevard.
All proceeds go to reconstruction efforts in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 45
tigervol9802 writes:
When's the last time we effectively threw the ball against a team who played press man coverage? Doesn't sounds like a lack of respect, just common sense.
Southland writes:
why would any good team and running team show the Vols respect this year?
zbbb10#212690 writes:
go earn it dadgimmit. it is sh*t or get off the pot saturday at 1230. kill kill kill ut defense. calling all rico's. mccoy has 2 b everywhere. I AM GEEKED.
ncvol17 writes:
if we can't pass, we can't win. Youngsters, start your engines
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Man, I have absolutely HAD IT with these kids in college sports programs talking about RESPECT or a supposed lack thereof. I'm sick of it.
And it makes my blood boil whenever I hear a University of Tennessee football player talking about it before an important game.
Son, respect in an athletic contest must be earned. It is not given. You and your teammates are supposed to prove to the other team that they should and must respect you.
Do you honestly think our football team should be feared and respected by any team this year? Do you think Arkansas will run into Neyland afraid?
Do you think the Arkansas DB across from you will line up in a prevent because he's afraid of getting burned over the top?
Do you think he's not going to be ready for that slant across the mdidle you've done (very well) all season long?
No, to all these questions. That DB is going to line up in your face and challenge you to beat him.
Playing man coverage, in your face, is a direct challenge to you. HAVE A CLUE: they have absolutely no reason to respect you until you beat them.
Respect comes AFTER the play, AFTER you beat them, AFTER the game, AFTER you win.
Your job is to prove to the man covering you that playing man is a costly mistake. Your job is to make them pay.
Please don't judge other secondaries or coverages by the way Tennessee's secondary or defense is playing this year. We can't or won't play in-your-face man coverage because we can't. We know we'll get beaten.
THAT is respect for the other team even before the first snap. THAT is a so-called "bend but don't break" defense. That is a "prevent" defense (that oddly doesn't prevent very often).
Make 'em pay, Austin, and they'll respect you.
And until you've beaten the guy across from you again and again and again and your team has won the game -- please shut the heck up about "respect."
Southland writes:
catch the ball get open beat your man so far little has been done by our receivers so why should they respect us and what pray tell has our defense done to deserve anything worst defenese since the Johnny Majors era when he put all the talent he could on the offense
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
zbbb10: Did you put a little happy juice in your kool aid buddy or are you just typing in tongues?
ThurmondEppy writes:
EARN their respect by freakin beating them!!! How sweet would this win be? Go Vols! Kick some pig sooeee!!
BigOrangeVol29 writes:
Austin, it's great to hear talk about wanting respect, but as has been said here, you must earn it. Last year, Arkansas played man coverage on our WR and absolutely shut them down by playing physical. They will continue to do that until our guys prove they can get off the line and make them pay. A 5-yd. route won't get it done. Beat the press and take them deep and then they might respect you. I'm a big fan of Rogers, but talk is cheap let's roast some hawg on Saturday.
vol4jesus writes:
___CR.....yawn again to answer your sour diatribe as usual. GO VOLS!!!
mbradshaw1#655539 writes:
Enough talk. Go out and earn the respect that you think you deserve! Catch everything thrown at you and make plays! Don't Wait on the ball attack it like you own it!
imnotwithphil writes:
So Austin "Danger" Rogers is upset that the Vols don't get respect... well bubba... you don't get respect after you've been blown out three times. My advice to you and your teammates is to shut the hell up, and earn respect on the field. Seems like you boys ran your mouth before the first game of the season - until Cal (and then Florida and Bama) hit you right in the mute button. I understand that you don't get this kind of tough love from your Stay Puff Marshmellow Man of a head coach... so perhaps you can learn something from reading the message boards.
GeecheVol writes:
I like the last part about the BBQ. Smoke those Pigs!
agentorange writes:
why would any homo on here who trolls tail under vick and bills post anything but negative phooey? we lead the east and play a team with a pig mascot. GO BIG ORANGE
amorton12#256091 writes:
win the game and will it matter what they say? Form over fashion.
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
They punked out Meachem and company last year why in god's green earth would the fear the horizontal passing wonder that is the Vols offense? More so why would they fear Rogers and company?
Play the game. Go Vols.
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
I want to know who Rogers is refering to as "they"? It sounds like he is trying to start something here. Would you respect a team whose head coach is 7-17 against the top 25 the past 6 years? What a joke. But he has the highest winning % in the nation? If you want respect, you have to beat the best. And I don't mean the best of the Big Sky Conference.
agentorange writes:
the hogs really punked crompton. FMP, meet up with crvol and jayramond (which shames tampa) and teach each other tuck techniques.
chefjorge writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
chefjorge,
Said so eloquently.
chefjorge writes:
"tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day, to the last syllable of recorded time." I think Shakespeare said that. "Beat the eff out of Arkansas." I said that.
thevol writes:
Thanks Chef from a fellow chef. My sentiments exactly. Shut the f$#@ up people and root for YOUR team. We have heard the female doging and moaning all year. All the posters say the same thing over and over, the only difference is CR's pathetic name change. Go Big Orange!
burpee_von_rotweiler_IV writes:
mbumburu: You get my vote for best post of the day. Well said!
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
"Showing us no respect" Are they more worried about respect or winning? In recent years, what has TN done to earn respect? Besides beating up on the likes of LA-Monroe, La-Laf, Ark-St----NOTHING!!!
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
mbumburu--Could the "no respect" be a sign of our pathetic coaches inabilities to keep our players focused on what they need to accomplish? Could this be a hint of what might be expected on Saturday--another embarrassment for UT?
Mr_Brownstone writes:
Do as Al Davis says, but doesn't do.
"Just win baby!"
Also ... Let's go Cowboys. Witten - u r da man!
phi0129 writes:
thevol: Why don't you shut up? You and your cronies say the same thing over and over again too. And at least what we say is logical and makes sense. Sorry some of the people are realists on this board and some are dreamers. All I know is I'm not going to live my life blindly following someone who has failed over and over again. You do realize that it has come to the point where we probably won't beat ARKANSAS when we used to wax them up and down the field. I'm going to root my heart out at the game tomorrow, but I still expect to go home crushed and heart broken AGAIN
KSMC9107 writes:
ALL THE MORE REASON TO ESTABLISH THE RUN SO THE DBs WILL HAVE TO BITE ON THE PLAY ACTION!!! ONCE THEY DO BITE, BUST THEM IN THE MOUTH!! THEY'LL HAVE TO BACK OFF IF WE ARE RUNNING THE BALL DOWN THEIR THROATS! GO VOLS! LOCK IT UP THIS WEEKEND! (go gamecocks and tigers/plainsmen to help us lock up the east this weekend)
mloaks#222092 writes:
Witten is right about Phil.
But #^@$ the Cowboys, all day long...
tennisvol writes:
You have to earn respect, and UT is not doing that. When you get drilled about three times and have shown very little improvement, no respect is due. Win out and UT may get some respect.
iowavol writes:
No comparison from last year to this year. This o-line is better. Crompton had little time to throw last year. He played a heck of a game considering. Still, if Ainge brings his A game, we should move the ball against these pigs. Running game produced next to nothing. I expect to see a different result. But most important, go for every 4th down. If we make 50%, that will give us a chance.
waterskier3#226480 writes:
our receivers sux..... and that will show up sat night... if last years receivers couldn't get open why can these clowns think they can......
jlange#632002 writes:
ole cr is just dying for the Vols to lose. If they win, he disappears and cries. If they lose, he's happier than Juicy Locke. Wouldn't you love having cr as a teammate?
CoverOrange writes:
The point SJT, is that the talk of respect from boxers, et al, is to psych themselves up. We, as stupid respondents posting here, are providing a service to our respective WRs to aid their psyches by questioning there indignation.
scvols writes:
mloaks - That is GOD bless the VOLS and COWBOYS.
GrandCanyonVol writes:
Every time I hear a player talk about respect, I realize that they do not get the picture. You have to earn respect. That is just the way it is. So, go earn some and then you will get some. Pretty simple, huh?
volguy#211935 writes:
sjt18, you hit the nail on the head. Arkansas is a real powerhouse, right? Oops, maybe their overall record is 6-3 (just like a team in Orange) and maybe their SEC record is 2-3 (even a game worse than the team in Orange).
Yes, McFadden and Jones are, collectively, the real deal, but this Arkansas team ain't a juggernaut, folks! South Carolina put up 36 against them in four quarters. Let's see, the Vols gave up 24 to SC in OT!
I may be wrong and it may be a game like Florida and ala-stinkin'-bama, but I just don't think that will happen.
I pray for a UGA-like performance from the Vols, but I realize that may be a stretch.
Bottom line is that there seems to be a whole lot of Big Orange fans who are almost wishing for a whipping by Arkansas. That is sad.
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
The bend don't break defense is a joke. Must challenge their receivers one on one or we will lose. My theory is if you give up maybe 2 or 3 touchdowns because you got burned one on one is a reasonable tradeoff because you weren't out there 40 minutes watching McFadden popping 7-8 yards a carry. We can not stop a great rushing team without Berry used to stop the rush in my opinion. Berry is a great athlete and a sure tackler. Rico McCoy is also a sure tackler but past those two the defense sometimes is not so good. I am with you VOLS win or lose but it sure would be nice to win. It could be done but defense must gamble and pop and force a few turnovers. GO VOLS!!!!!!
99gator writes:
a word of caution... while you should not cower in fear of arkansas... they are not a pushover by any means.
they could have/should have beaten kentucky and alabama. you all may know about the bama game more so i will remind you of their game with kentucky.
they were up 20-7, going for another score in kentucky territory (i believe in field goal range) before the end of the first half. arkansas fumbled and ky ran it back for a score. instead of 27-7 or 23-7 at the half, it was 20-14 and completely changed that game.
so, i see some on this board paying too much respect for arkansas. some of you are not giving them enough respect either.
BloneyBoy writes:
I agree with Doug. I have never liked the "bend, don't break" since it seems like the bending happens for 79yds and 4 min off the clock before we get the ball back. Other than the usual physical talent, this game is all about attitude. Cal showed attitued in the first game this year but have apparently lost it. We showed attitude against Ga and in the first half against USCe. We have the players. What we need is the ATTITUDE. Play smart, play fast, have fun! GO VOLS!
asleep#212036 writes:
There is a fine line between confidant and cocky. Maybe Rogers crossed it a bit ( and prematurely) but at least I'm glad to hear one of our players talking up his team's chances. Maybe AR will shut him down, run all over us, and win 38-10. Maybe we slow down McFadden and Jones, Ainge goes career, and we win 38-10. In the SEC, it's a fine line, gentelmen (and ladies). Some games we have been on the winning side of that line, some games we haven't been. Point is, someone up there on the hill better believe we can play with AR or I guarantee that we will end up where we have been before, out of the game by the start of the 4th. Let the kid talk, maybe some of his teammates (and coaches) are listening. Go Vols!!!
west_tn_volfan writes:
I think UT and Ar are pretty evenly matched this year. The thing that concerns me most is that when we have a bad break, we seem to let it snowball into a blowout. Arkansas has lost some games but they were competitive to the end. Maybe with the exception of Ky. They will make some plays against us tomorrow and the key will be how we respond. As for respect, who cares how they feel before the game. Go out and put a beat down on them and you will have all the respect you need.
Go Vols
asleep#212036 writes:
99gator,
I live in Alabama and AR absolutely should have beaten the Tide. They threw the ball on 3rd down and AL down to one timeout with about 1:30 to go in the game. Clock stopped, Alabama gets the ball WITH a timeout and we know the rest. They could've, and probably should've beaten Auburn as well. Even with the KY loss, that would make them, yes, 8-1, ranked in the Top 10, and boy, would we be underdogs then. With Marcus Monk back, they may be better than all but LSU. I would still like to see if (QB) Dick could win a game for them - he hasn't so far. We'll see on Saturday.
burpee_von_rotweiler_IV writes:
Okay. You beat Arkansas. They should respect you now. Is everyone happy?
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