Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt
- When: Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007, 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee Stat Book
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.
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Barbara Dooley and Pat Summitt Go Red…
Tyler Summitt through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 33
bluetickhound writes:
I must admit, though not as flashy as earlier in the season, it sure is fun to see Arian and Montario just take over the game. Can we at least get a little vintage play-action-throw-the-bomb a la Peerless Price this week?? That's only happened once (Miss St.) this year if I remember correctly.
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
tngeoff,
Who is Eric?
rockytopjeff writes:
Eric AINGE dummy!! Just Kidding man, but Please don't ask dumb questions
RangerForSix writes:
Fortunately, 'none' of us knuckleheads who post here make a difference. None of the media matters, to the players or coaches period!!
BUT...
Just say 'Meachem', 'Swain' and 'Smith' and you'll understand why the 'passing game' has become ultra-conservative this season; still at 65% though.
Ainge is headed for the NFL just like the other CUT QB's...
Let's see: amazing 'SUNDAY throws' and a comeback win against 'Florida' in 2004(3TD's). Three clutch scores in the forth QTR.
He's 3-0 -v- South Carolina. I wonder what Spurrier and Holtz think about Ainge?
He's 3-0 against Georgia and 'Coach Richt', with two great wins "Between the Hedges." I wonder what Richt thinks of Ainge!?
He's 2-1 -v- Alabama. (W's 2004, 2006) L 2007
He's 2-0 -v- Kentucky 2005 and 2006. I know that Brooks and Sanders love Ainge's game
He's 1-0 -v- AT Vanderbilt 2006
He's 1-0 -v- Arkansas 2007
He's 1-0 -v- CUT when Cut was AT Old Miss.!! 2004
He's 1-0 -v- AT Starkville 2007
Bottom line is without Ainge on this team, we're not going to a bowl game!
CUT and PF love the way Ainge has matured as a football player, as an honorable man and as a leader by example for this team.
Ainge knows he'll 'play well' on Sundays eventually, he just wants 'this crew' to win right now!!!
PF and CUT must really 'TRUST' Ainge as they plan a game to "Run", "Run again", and then "force Ainge to stick the ball into a knothole to keep the chains moving." That's incredible confidence!!
It's been working, but we better be more unpredictable, as teams now see what kind of offense we've evolved into.
Time to 'throw more' on first down, and run it on 3rd and short, novel idea!
"We may" win more games with 'tough' mediocre receivers this year, than we won with 'big, veteran' receivers last year...
THAT'S TEAM OVER SELF LEADERSHIP!
THAT'S COACHING TOO!
Go VOLS!
LargeOrange writes:
I would like to see the offense be a little more unpredictable as well. I hate it when it is short yardage 3 yds or less and we pack it in with 2 TE and everyone with in 5 yds of the ball and then we hand off between the tackles, that means we have put all 11 defenders in the "box" as well. I think it works sometimes to just play that smash mouth football most of the time, but I would love to see EriK fake the hand off and run the naked boot leg in a key point in a game (say against KY or LSU) like Peyton did a few times, it has a good chance to work because we don't show that often. I also would like to see the spread formation with 4 wide outs on short yardage and fake the 5 yd curls and hand off on a delayed draw to Montario. Give him six.
vegasvol writes:
thanks for flying the flag boys. nice touch considering the anti-war movie mark cuban just came out with. pompous jerk.
spudvol writes:
I get tired of hearing about the "predictable" offense. UT wins when it runs first. Always have and probably always will. Even when Manning was here, we ran to set up the pass. I would like to see more play action and throw when we are running well, but complaining is senseless. If you can average 3-4 yards a pop, you can run every play and keep getting first downs!
POUND THE ROCK....until they stop you.
redneckerson writes:
you tell 'em spud - POUND THE ROCK!!!
LargeOrange writes:
Spud don't misunderstand me, I agree with you, when we can run the ball well, I love it and that is the surest way to win. What I mean by predictable, is the sets we use especially in short yardage. We need to show pass and run it, or show the run set and throw or bootleg it. Not all the time mind you, but on key plays where we need to make a break happen.
snafu14u#241639 writes:
Throw a couple of bombs just for practice. Need to do it.Talk about a play they won't be waiting for.Maybe they are saving it for LSU. Go Big Orange.bonzaivol
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I'll get around to worrying about the defense when I'm sure we have a SEC-caliber defense! Our guys try, but are SLOOOW! Cbs are quick and learning but Lbs and D-line are frozen in time! Just have to accept that and pray more! I wouldn't look worried either if I made over $150.00 per game minutes! Hell, I'd even wave a white towel (did that mean surrender once) and give a 3" high jump! But, I'd stop saying "we're going to work harder to get better" by the sixth game. Lord, let us beat Vandy and stumble on toward the Cats! Given our recent outings in the Ga Dome, the prospects of playing LSU, whew! Ky will do everthing to derail that if we don't stump our toe against Peabody1 Go Vols!
DennisVols writes:
The only stat that really matters is wins. 6-1 going down the strecth and the Vols are in control of who goes to ATL to play for a championship.
GoVOLS!!!!!
MemphVol writes:
Go Erik!! Please prove my theory that QBs from the west coast lack the intensity, passion & dynamics necessary to win SEC championships wrong. Please prove me wrong that guys from the far west can do more than just merely 'manage the game'. All of the more negative posters on this site whine routinely that "since '98......(fill in the blanks)". Well almost no one has noted that also "since 98" UT has gone to the western QBs, and the results thus far haven't been great. Again, what do I know? Go Erik, prove me wrong. Go Vols!!!!!
webbofconfusion writes:
Let's not mention stumbling any more... Let's march into the battle and march on to the next one. Burn everything on our way to ATL.
Go Vols!
DSaVol writes:
Just stay healthy Erik! Don't let these fools cost you a payday that you've more than earned with the phooey you've put up with the last 4 years. By the way, will somebody please explain what is so great about this season???? Even if this team gets to Atlanta and wins - so what? This is the weakest SEC in years. Some want to call it parity but fact is there are about 11 very average or below average teams in this league this year. The Vols great season and likely Eastern title will have come with victories against teams that are a combined 37-34 as of now with 2 left against teams that will be lucky to be .500. That Cal loss that everybody was justifying as being against one of the best teams in the country - well Cal is now 6-4 and unranked. Next excuse please. Florida and Bama are not great teams yet both blew us out. But I guess to some any win is a good win and continued coaching "success" means beating the weak sisters of the poor. As such, a sad era continues on Rocky Top.
orangebloodgmc writes:
DSa, you wrote "2 left against teams that will be lucky to be .500." Have you actually watched any SEC games this year?
Ask Spurrier what Vandy can do (or ask him about Arkansas). Ask LSU what KY can do. But they only play one game at a time.
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
You are managing the game well and not making mistakes for 2 big SEC wins. Need 2 more to be east champs just manage the game. You did not get any delay of game calls last couple which is good since you audible often. You have an arm and can fool some defenses with a play action for a quick score. Rolling out is not your strength but Coach Cut knows something I don't. Maybe is to keep defensive line guessing some on pass rushes. Not going to second guess wins so its all good. GO VOLS!
BOASoldier writes:
Every body point at jwraymond1 and laugh he's trying to copy his boyfriend CR again. HA HA!!
GO VOLS!!!
thevol writes:
HAHAHA! That is pretty lame JW, even for you. It wasn't funny the first 100 times that CR said it either.
DSA- If we beat #1 LSU and win the SEC, so what? Get over yourself. You would just be upset because you would be wrong AGAIN. Keep drinking the Kool-aid Touchdown. It sure taste better than sour grapes. Go Big Orange!
webbofconfusion writes:
jw... Volcr made the yawn...now you are just ....Yawn.....
webbofconfusion writes:
DSA...You failed to mention the the majority of the teams in the country are sub 500... so does that make other divisions weaker than the SEC?
A championship is a championship now matter what color you paint it.
Go Vols.
thesavageorange writes:
Wow!The SEC average?If at the end of the year you took the post season top 12 , and made a conference out of those teams, half would be .500 or less.Three or four would have 3 or 4 losses, and won or two would have 1-2 losses.Would that conference be average for beating the hell out of each other.Look I'm not saying we are a great team right now , however if we win out I can say with confidence by the end of the year we became a very good team.Hence it would give us hope for the future , and keep TouchdownTn on the kool-aid.
thesavageorange writes:
By the way , I'm not saying we have the top 12 teams.Simply saying when you have alot of good teams playing each other this is what you get.
RockyTopRooks writes:
I cant wait till a new QB is taking snaps for the Vols. Im so tired of watching this sissy play QB. He's scared to take a sack. he NEVER will tuck it and run if no one is open, he'd rather throw it away and go back to the sideline. Does anyone remeber this dumby throwing the ball away on a fourth down earlier this year??. So when i here Ainge's name and Peyton's in the same sentence it makes me want to throw up.
orangebloodgmc writes:
We aren't taking enough sacks. Shame on us. We probably lead the nation in dodging sacks that we should be taking.
thesavageorange writes:
Rooks:Read an article this morning in the tennessean where Lucas Taylor admitted that the receivers have been having some trouble getting open.Ainge has been told not to take off.Remember the South Carolina game last year.He got hurt , we lose two huge games in his absence.
fullbackless writes:
Ainge is the best QB we have had since Peyton. If you give Ainge the receivers Casey Clausen had then he would be a Heisman candidate.
gohawks1 writes:
DSaVol, you might want to think about this before declaring the SEC a weak conference: The combined record of SEC teams when competing with non-conference teams so far this year is 36-5. Those 5 losses were either against top 10 teams or were in the top 10 at one time this year.
The SEC rules, dude.
gohawks1 writes:
Correction: 4 of 5 non-con losses were against top 10 teams or teams ranked in the top 10 at one time this year. Florida State was the other SEC non-conference loss.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
At least Cooter has a record Manning can't touch! Riding the pines! Should lead SEC all-time! Go Vols, beat the Dores!
LargeOrange writes:
TouchDownTN - Keep the faith, the kool-aid was working, don't let the dark side pull you back in. you are responding so well to the therapy. :-) GO BIG ORANGE!!
doegem writes:
I'll be happy to see Ainge go. If Lincoln or the defense hadn't bailed him out a few times there would be no excitement about a chance to make Atlanta. The only thing you can count on him to do in the 4th qtr is miss his receivers.
hueypilot writes:
DSa is in a blue funk. He was sure Fulmer was gonna be axed, but now, with the Vols in contention for the championship, he's really bummed out. For all the many times I and others have accused some UT "fans" for wanting the team to lose so they can get the head coach fired, I offer in evidence the aforementioned DSaVol.
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