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Tennessee Stat Book
Getting ahead.
That’s what today is all about for Tennessee’s football team.
When Arkansas visits Neyland Stadium for a 12:30 p.m. kickoff (TV: WVLT), the 22nd-ranked Vols have their SEC fate in their hands.
If the Vols win, nothing else around the league matters.
If they lose, they’ll be scoreboard watching again, hoping that Auburn helps out with an upset of Georgia later in the afternoon.
They’ll need South Carolina to work some late night magic against Florida, too.
And all that just to get back to where they were when they woke up this morning.
But a victory today means the Vols remain ahead in the SEC East’s race to Atlanta for the conference championship game.
A win means nothing else matters, either.
Not the rumblings about coach Phillip Fulmer that have come and gone this season.
Not the national pundits who have written the Vols off for dead.
Nothing matters except taking care of business against the Razorbacks.
“That’s just fuel to feed the fire,” defensive end Xavier Mitchell said recently. “We’re going to continue to move forward, try and get our butts to Atlanta and get us a championship.”
To do that — and get ahead of the pack heading into their final two games of the season — the Vols need to get ahead against Arkansas.
Quick.
In its last three home games – wins over Georgia, South Carolina and Louisana-Lafayette — Tennessee (6-3, 3-2 SEC) hasn’t surrendered a first-half point.
Only South Carolina made it close, albeit after the Vols blew a 21-0 lead and struggled to the move the ball after halftime.
Arkansas, meanwhile, has been tough to stop once it gets rolling out of the gates.
The Razorbacks (6-3, 3-2) average nearly 110 rushing yards in the first quarter of their wins and only 30 in their losses.
How Arkansas starts today’s game will largely be determined by tailbacks Darren McFadden, last year’s Heisman Trophy runner up, and Felix Jones.
Last week, the two combined for nearly 200 first-quarter yards. Arkansas finished with 541, the highest total for an SEC team against a conference opponent.
McFadden tied the SEC single-game record with 321 yards of his own.
“Both those guys are great running backs. As a team running for 500 yards on South Carolina, you don’t hear of that,” linebacker Ryan Karl said. “They’re great. They’re big-play guys. When you’re busting 70-, 80-yard runs back to back, you’re going to put up those kind of numbers.”
If those two break many runs like that, it will be a long day for Tennessee’s defense.
Perhaps as long as it was in The Swamp when Florida hung 59 points on the Vols or as long as the trip to Alabama last month, when the Crimson Tide scored 41 points on the Vols’ defense.
In Arkansas’ last loss, Auburn held the SEC’s highest scoring offense to just six points and held McFadden to just 43 yards.
McFadden was slowed by sore ribs in that game, the only time except for a runaway win over Florida International two weeks ago that the junior has failed to top the 100-yard mark in a game.
But those 541 rushing yards last week against South Carolina and McFadden’s record-setting day make the Auburn game seem a lot longer than just a month ago.
“Arkansas just mauled ‘em,” Fulmer said of the Razorbacks’ win over South Carolina. “That many rushing yards is not an easy feat by any stretch of the imagination. It gets back to big plays, when you give up big chunks of yards and big plays, that’s a problem.”
Wide receiver Marcus Monk, back from a knee injury, compounds that problem for the Vols.
In last year’s game, the 6-foot-6 Monk caught eight passes for 137 yards and two of Arkansas’ first three touchdowns.
For Tennessee’s offense, it’s less about huge chunks of yards than it is about points and time of possession.
Every offensive snap for the Volunteers is one that McFadden, Jones and the Razorbacks’ offense isn’t on the field.
Every point is a step closer to Atlanta and the Vols’ eventual goal.
“Our team knows every week is a challenge,” Fulmer said. “We’re certainly capable of meeting the challenge, but we’ve got to keep ourselves centered.”
If the Vols can do it again, they’ll be ahead of the game.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 26
Volchaz writes:
I'm sure we'll start off fast, but come the fourth quarter, and DMC is getting his legs under him, watch out. Our defense, though speedy, is in for a long game. But, UGA thought they were going to come in and manhandle us, and hows that working out for them.
BloneyBoy writes:
Talk about playing not to lose. Forget that stuff, go out there and hit somebody in the mouth. The best way to slow down Mac/Jones is to slobberknock 'em a couple of times and they will be looking before they make a cut. Defense is a matter of attitude and desire. We need to punish their runners and pop their QB at every handoff. In other words, get some penetration in the line and mess things up, turn them in, and punish with gang tackling. Sounds good and it can be done. Crowd noise helps the D not only in disrupting the enemy's O, but in energy for our boys. A loud stadium can create a lot of energy. GO VOLS!
callen825#321558 writes:
BloneyBoy is right on the money with his entry
Sheepscape writes:
Need get put points up quick, keep their offense on the sidelines. Hopefully get up by 14-21 and force them to throw to get back into the game.
Long shot.
kkebean#233101 writes:
Great to see the Positive Comments on here!!!! may just be a heck of a weekend to be in K,Town!!! I sure wish i was!!!!!!!
Ironcity writes:
IF we don't make plays in the backfield it will be a long day. McFadden will break some we just have to put Ark in passing situations. I am not confident but I am optimistic.
SavDawg writes:
ilove_football, Ark. better than Ga? That's insane. If that were to be the case then they would be going to Atl and not LSU. I give Tenn. a lot of credit, y'all came to play a whipped Ga. but our O has improved exponentially since our game, D is still suspect but that's a different story. We have a challenge Sat., there's no denying that but I think we can do it. Aub's D is strong but our O is stronger now. If you guys can beat Ark. you can beat the reamining sched. If we beat Auburn hopefully we can do the same which leaves us out of Atl. but it's deserved b/c you guys beat us. Either way, I hope you lose and we win just like you guys wish on us. Been a good year, makes any football fan respect the SEC., if they don't they should. GO Dawgs.
mj54 writes:
Yeah for the positive posts!!! Now UT will win for sure!
GreerVol22 writes:
Mitchell, I know a certain pig that has some ribs that need tenderizing on Saturday!
ThurmondEppy writes:
Gad, the game was today??? (kidding; couldn't resist)
GerryOP writes:
Ahhh, SavDawg -- we speak English here and occasionally write in full sentences! Good to have you here and visit again soon! Didn't we kind of whoop up on your guys butts -- rather badly? Go Vols!
thesavageorange writes:
sphs:I don't know, but we will find out when we are invited.If we lose.
DennisVols writes:
The keys to winning this game for UT are:
1) Establish the running game. Ball control is very important. AK does not have a strong pass defense. If UT can develop the running game this will cause bigger opportunities for the passing game. Keeping UT offense on the field is the best defense against AK running attack.
2) Limit the mistakes: In the Bama game it was mental mistakes causing penalties that gave them extra opportunities on offense. In the Cal and Florida games it was fundamental mistakes like missed tackles, fumbles,& being out of position on kick returns that cost UT the opportunity to win. The excuse of youth is past now, we are 9 games into a 12 game season.
3) Force AK to play catch-up. AK has a very suspect passing attack with Monk out or limited at receiver. If UT takes the lead early and can keep the pressure on with their offense then AK will be forced to go to their passing game which is plan B or C for them not plan A which is to run down hill with McFadden and Jones.
UT has the ability, the talent and the weapons to win this game as they have had throughout this year. Can they put together a complete game as they did against GA with a swarming defense and balanced offense that kept their opponent off guard the entire game? Or do we see the team that in their 3 loses left a lot of opportunities on the field.
UT controls their destiny but destiny is a prophecy that is yet unfulfilled. It all comes down to passion, desire and execution on the field that will be the final judgment of whether this team deserves a shot at the SEC championship in Atlanta.
DennisVols writes:
alkhall
I live in Atlanta also. We should get together and cheer for our Vols to win.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Hope springs eternal in some Vol fans chests!
OldNumber7 writes:
More cowbell.
yeavols#228407 writes:
slow night
murrayvol writes:
We can always hope that DMac and Jones are worn out after banging the chicken sticks for 500 plus. Or maybe Stoerner will show up on the Hog sideline. Or maybe Hell will freeze over. Vols: 34 and the Hogs: Something short of that.
agentorange writes:
i got a fever and the only prescription is more cow bell.
i put on my pants like everybody else. but after i put on my pants, i make gold records.
GO BIG ORANGE
OldNumber7 writes:
Fulmer needs to explore the space.
Titan writes:
Come on VolCR - that's the same post you had on another article. Where's your originality? Maybe even you are getting tired of your game.
huntcoby#254556 writes:
Well another big game is upon us, and being a native of Knoxville until 2001 and now living in the trailer parks, meth infested state of Arkansas we have our work cut out for us with these RazorPIGS! Coach Nutt is in the same position as Fulmer. McFadden & Felix Jones
where 100% healthty last week for the first time this year and you saw what they did to a better defense than ours, and WR Monk can only run straight patterns because of his hurt knee. All this game comes down to is CHAVIS! Get aggressive Johnny, put 8 men in the box and man on man coverage on the wide-out. Personally I think our defense won't stop them, they can't pass but they can run,and games against Cal( after having the whole summer to prepare for there running attack) killed us, Fla killed us, Bama killed us! We can't score after the 1st half and I don't understand what they tell our kids at half time (To Keep it close)! I think it all comes down to not coaching, since neither one of us have it, but athletes, who has the horses, we- don't >
Ark 38 Tenn 24
Prove me wrong, I have had a tough year here with us losing last year!
volsfaninBoca writes:
Arkansas can and will be defeated today. Final score of 38-33. Tenn cannot stop Arkansas but we can outscore them. Make it happen Ainge--open up the game with a combination of run it down their throats and short passes keeping them off balanced. Neither team has a defense but our offense is better..........if we execute. GO VOLS!!!
DennisVols writes:
Looks like this UT squad came ready to play today. All you gloom and doom folks that predicted McFad and company running all day, his longest run has been back to the bench ½ through the 3 qtr. Foster is the running back of the day.
Go Vols!!!!!!
jweaver3#395614 writes:
VOLCR,TOUCHDOWNTN,JWRAY AND THE REST OF YOU IDIOTS!!! I love your predictions about all the yards and the victory of Ark., because you were 100% WRONG!!! The Vols win an win convincingly and the defense looked great!!!
You guys can go back to Bama and worship the Tide who are getting beat by Miss St.
GREAT COACHING JOB COACH FULMER AND THE REST OF THE STAFF!!!
NOW LET'S SLAM THE DORES!!!
GO VOLS!!!
TXVOLSFAN
Colliervol writes:
Doesn't really matter what you think. If we win the next two, the standings say we'll be the East champ and that's all that counts. If we do make it, I'll wave to you from the stands in the Georgia Dome. With your late season swoon, you might be going to Shreveport.
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