Ainge not worried that his statistics have dipped a bit

Despite what statistics say, Erik Ainge says he's never been better.

"I feel as accurate - if not more accurate - than ever," Tennessee's senior quarterback said Wednesday.

That's a bit surprising considering his recent stat line. For the first time all season, Ainge's completion percentage has dipped below 60 percent - twice in the past three games.

In UT's last two SEC games, Ainge completed 59.1 percent of his passes against South Carolina and 48 percent against Arkansas.

There are plenty of theories as to why Ainge hasn't seemed quite his early season, laser-guided self. Maybe he is readjusting to his healing pinky and not throwing with his little finger and ring finger taped together to brace the fracture.

Nope, replied Ainge. He said removing the brace was a relief to his release.

Perhaps UT is seeing more press coverage, a good matchup against the Vols undersized receivers.

Still, Ainge doesn't seem worried.

"A lot of it depends on the guys you have," said Ainge, who doesn't expect Vanderbilt to come out jamming UT's receivers on the line Saturday.

"That's not what they've done all year. It would be new to them. It would be like if we came out and ran the option with me."

Perhaps Ainge is just beat up and that's why his completion percentage has slipped.

"I feel great," Ainge exclaimed. "I have a couple of things that, week in and week out, bother me a little bit. All of that stuff's getting better. I'm feeling great right now."

Then, maybe Ainge and his receivers are a bit out of rhythm because UT is depending on running the ball much more than they did in the first half of the season.

Ainge said offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe has told his quarterback that he may need to throw more on the sideline to stay loose with the Vols dedicated to their ground game. Ainge said UT's offense must be sharp when passing even when it's not the mainstay.

"That's definitely easier said than done," he said.

But Ainge will take the tradeoff: a more balanced attack for a tad less efficient passing game.

"The way we played those first four games and the way we played the last four games are completely different," Ainge said. "We're two completely different offenses, which I think is good because nobody knows what we're going to do."

Man-Up Mayo: Middle linebacker Jerod Mayo said simplifying UT's defense doesn't mean blitzing less.

"Not at all," the junior said.

Mayo said simplifying the defense, as UT has done recently, means making fewer adjustments and coverage variations for the young secondary.

"Those guys are great athletes," Mayo said. "You don't want to slow those guys down."

Flying High: UT has raised an American flag used in Iraq on a tower above its practice field. It was donated by former UT player Greg Johnson (1993-96), who has served extensively in the Marines in the Middle East.

"I thought that was really neat, very patriotic," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said.

For Kicks: Fulmer said there are at least a couple of freshmen that could return kicks and punts as well as freshman Dennis Rogan, who has been a spark for UT's special teams with a 35.2-yard average on kick returns.

"Dennis could play offense and corner and is awful good as a kick returner," Fulmer said.

Notebook: Fulmer said Ja'Kouri Williams and LaMarcus Thompson have recovered from concussions suffered last week. ... Former UT receiver Willie Gault will make a public appearance at the AT&T store on Kingston Pike from 5-7 p.m. Friday to sign autographs. ... UT isn't expecting any official visitors this weekend.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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