Ainge on time with his delivery

  • By Dave Hooker
  • Posted November 21, 2007 at 12:09 a.m., updated November 21, 2007 at 12:09 a.m.

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Tennessee Stat Book

Every time Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge throws a pass away, don't think of the lost opportunity.

Think of it as a dodged disaster.

That's been the mantra preached to the one-time gunslinger by head coach Phillip Fulmer and offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe.

"We did a pretty extensive study and sacks are one of the things that impact the game the most," Fulmer said.

Said Cutcliffe: "We think that's one of the things you have to avoid to be a winning football team. We try to do as good a job of that as anybody."

So don't go to UT's coaches expecting any complaints, or even an admission, that Ainge is getting rid of the ball too quick.

"He's getting the ball out of there on time, which I like," Cutcliffe said. "I'm not ever going to complain about that."

No one was complaining during Ainge's freshman season, when his success came in a far different manner. In 2004, the Oregonian was more gunslinger than soldier.

Ainge said that's changed - for the better - under Cutcliffe.

"He doesn't want to coach the football player out of you," Ainge said. "He knows that I have a tendency to just want to go around and throw the ball all over the place.

"He understands what my weaknesses are as a quarterback and what I need to get better at. So he coaches that twice as hard."

Cutcliffe said getting rid of the ball quickly, or on-time, is about film study and pre-snap reads.

"If you're really good at what you're doing," Cutcliffe said, "you're not sitting there holding the ball trying to figure out what to do with it."

But isn't there a fine line, between being well-coached and robotic?

"Probably," Cutcliffe said, "but they're going to do it my way. You think back about Erik's past. When he held it too long, a lot of really bad things happened to him.

"We're not going to go there."

While some wonder about Ainge's play, Cutcliffe is a true believer that his senior is still playing at a high level despite some sagging statistics over the past month.

Ainge's play, Cutcliffe said, is even a bit reminiscent of his star pupil, Peyton Manning.

"He probably throws the ball in better rhythm and better tempo than anybody in the National Football League," Cutcliffe said of Manning. "I think Erik right now is doing that better than anybody in college football."

Wide Open: Coach Trooper Taylor said he was pleased with his receivers when the Vols debuted a five-wide package against Vanderbilt.

"They were where they were supposed to be," Taylor said. "Their spacing was good. And I think Erik (Ainge) was comfortable with it."

The Vols also ran a four-wide package extensively in the second half.

"I enjoyed it," Taylor said. "I'd like to go seven wides if they'd let us."

Well Taylor-ed: The Vols' approach of limiting junior receiver Lucas Taylor's practice participation seems to be having a positive effect on his turf toe condition.

"He's much better right now," Cutcliffe said. "He's getting back where he can go and, I think, stretch the field a little bit better."

Motivation: Receiver Austin Rogers doesn't buy the notion that Kentucky has as much to play for on Saturday as the Vols.

"I think we have a lot more at stake than Kentucky does," the sophomore said. "They're probably trying to get themselves to a better bowl, but we're playing for an SEC Championship here.

"We're trying to win the East to get to Atlanta to play LSU. I think we have a lot more on the line."

Ainge said UT's upperclassmen are more than willing to remind the underclassmen to put in the extra effort this week despite the Thanksgiving holiday.

"I don't think it will be a problem," Ainge said.

No Shave November: Several receivers are holding a contest to see how long they can grow their beards during November.

"(Josh) Briscoe will probably win it because he's stayed in it the longest," said a bearded Rogers.

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Comments » 13

mloaks#222092 writes:

I laud his efforts and ability, but my lasting impression of Erik will be the funk he went into his soph season, and that pick6 against LSU.
Kids grow up to be men, and he has, but scoreboard is scoreboard. I hope Crompton does as well, and Erik goes NFL.

volhalla writes:

We're really racking up some winners in the comment department for Tennessee football here lately. And this is just another one. Hey, I've got an idea. I'm no multimillion dollar coach but if we would commit to the running game a little more some of those "avoided disasters" may just turn out to be 4 or 5 yard carries. But this season has been about letting Ainge sling the ball from Knoxville to Maryville to "avoid disaster." That's the most ridiculous statement I've heard in a long time. I don't expect perfection. However, we're in a season where we've abandoned our tradition of running the ball to let him fire off 2 and 5 yard passes, or to sling them into the 6th row. I think I would have kept this article under wraps and denied these comments were ever made. Those comments rank right up there with Chavis saying that he wouldn't trade this LB corps for Al, Raynoch and EMo. And he didn't think there was much of a difference. Do what? If John Chavis can't tell the difference between Al, Raynoch and EMo and the crew he's got now then he must have rib grease in his eyes. That's like saying you can't tell the difference between The Beatles and the Statler Brothers. Ok, build your guys up, that's fine. But don't get caught in comparisons. You'll never win. Especially when the comparisons are just ludicrous. Just keep your mouth closed.

finn writes:

I like Ainge and it was great to see him get back on track last year and the majority of this year. I think he is generally a very good QB. However, he has been off the past few games and it baffles me why the coaches/media can't just admit that. Instead, there have been about 4 articles on just how great he has been playing in the past 1.5 weeks. Is this NFL draft propaganda? Why all the spin????

gohawks1 writes:

OK, so I understand now that Ainge is being coached to throw the ball away to avoid disasterous results, but I still think 1-2 more seconds could open up bigger plays for us and would be worth the risk. And that doesn't explain why Ainge threw one away on a fourth down attempt in an earlier game. It was fourth down! Throw the ball deep. Even if it is intercepted, that is still better than throwing it away - it would be like punting, except the receiver would have a chance to make a play.

DennisVols writes:

This team has matured a lot this season. Still has room to go.
Who are these guys?
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Denn...

GerryOP writes:

Interesting article by Higgins yesterday on ESPN.com.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/st...

Woodson and Ainge are both Sanders proteges. Comments by Ainge and Woodson are interesting.

james#216392 writes:

What's Cutliffe been smoking? The best throwing QB in college. May not be the best in the State of TN and certainly not the best in the SEC or in college football. Does Cutcliffe not watch other games?

Ainge, good luck in Kentucky. Beat KY and then LSU. GO Vols!!

invisiblekid writes:

"What many people don't understand is it doesn't take gaudy numbers to be a winner. Ainge has been doing what he needs to do to win. If you remember, he had some very good numbers against Cal and FL (both losses)."

Good points marc_ash. Just to add a little to it, I don't think there is any argument that the two best games this year by the Vols were GA and AR. Ainge's stats in the GA game: 17-22 165 yards, 0 TD's, in the AR game: 12-25 128 yards, 2 TD's. Another thing to consider is the WR's Ainge is working with, the point has been made on here before but, with all due respect, this group won't rank among the all-time great receiving corps that the Vols have put on the field.

invisiblekid writes:

Just to jump on the volhalla bandwagon for a minute, there are some valid points. Masters of the Obvious Cutcliffe and Fulmer must have worked hard on these two gems:

"We did a pretty extensive study and sacks are one of the things that impact the game the most," Fulmer said.

Said Cutcliffe: "We think that's one of the things you have to avoid to be a winning football team. We try to do as good a job of that as anybody."

It took an extensive study to figure out sacks are bad?

GerryOP writes:

Yup, i-kid, just like the detailed, indepth analysis PAF did of the entire program after the '05 season. It took all of 24 hours ... and ... he hired Cutcliffe! And now, the answer is, sacks are bad!!!

tenndave writes:

Stats are board fodder only. Beat KY and I could care less if Ainge threw for 0 yds and completions. A WIN is A WIN IS A WIN! Unless of course you are a Vol Hater (Coach Hater) like some of our posters. OUr coaches have forgotten more about football than any of us on this board have ever known or will. Find something postive. Just keep your mouth closed! (to quote some of you)

Kentucky Scares me with us playing in Commonwealth. If we don't find that pass rush, listed in one of the articles we could give up a ton of points. I think we can score on them alot but I don't want to get in a shootout.

GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!

DennisVols writes:

SCORING OFFENSE G TD XP 2XP DXP FG Saf Pts Avg
4. Kentucky............ 11 50 43 1 0 15 0 390 35.5
5. Tennessee........... 11 44 42 0 0 20 1 368 33.5
SCORING DEFENSE G TD XP 2XP DXP FG Saf Pts Avg
10.Tennessee........... 11 35 34 1 0 16 0 294 26.7
11.Kentucky............ 11 39 36 0 0 11 1 305 27.7
PASS OFFENSE G Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds Avg TD Yds/G
1. Kentucky............ 11 416 260 9 62.5 2955 7.1 30 268.6
4. Tennessee........... 11 406 260 7 64.0 2664 6.6 22 242.2
PASS DEFENSE G Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds Avg TD Yds/G
3. Kentucky............ 11 336 186 12 55.4 2006 6.0 16 182.4
11.Tennessee........... 11 371 217 12 58.5 2504 6.7 17 227.6
RUSHING OFFENSE G Att Yds Avg TD Yds/G
6. Kentucky............ 11 401 1744 4.3 18 158.5
9. Tennessee........... 11 367 1663 4.5 18 151.2
RUSHING DEFENSE G Rushes Yards Avg. TD Yds/G
9. Tennessee........... 11 409 1767 4.3 13 160.6
10.Kentucky............ 11 473 2157 4.6 18 196.1
TOTAL OFFENSE G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Yds/G
4. Kentucky............ 11 1744 2955 817 4699 5.8 48 427.2
5. Tennessee........... 11 1663 2664 773 4327 5.6 40 393.4
TOTAL DEFENSE G Rush Pass Plys Yards Avg TD Yds/G
10.Kentucky............ 11 2157 2006 809 4163 5.1 34 378.5
11.Tennessee........... 11 1767 2504 780 4271 5.5 30 388.3
RED ZONE OFFENSE G RedZone Percent TDs R/P FG-AT Fumb/Int/Downs/Other
1. Tennessee........... 11 46-49 93.9 32 15/17 14-15 0/ 1/ 1/ 0
8. Kentucky............ 11 42-50 84.0 32 16/16 10-13 0/ 2/ 3/ 0
SACKS AGAINST G Sacks Yards
---------------------------------------
1. Tennessee........... 11 3 24
11.Kentucky............ 11 29 221
-------------------------------|--Gained--||---Lost---|
TURNOVER MARGIN G Fum Int Tot Fum Int Tot Mar Per/G
3. Tennessee........... 11 6 12 18 5 7 12 +6 0.55
6.Kentucky............ 11 10 12 22 12 9 21 +1 0.09
Most of these stats would suggest a very tight ball game.
Two of the big differences are under the RED Zone offense,and Turnover stats. This game could very well come down to the team that makes most of the opportunties they have and keeping the ball.
If UT can pressure the QB, not done a good job all year, they can fource Woodson into making some mistakes.
Go Vols!!!!

pdhuff#552644 writes:

One thing you can count on about Eric, it would take a mole in intercept some of those throws! He's saved us by not having negative yardage plays! Well, maybe one against VU. He's been a bright spot this season. Shudder to think we're we'd be without him. Light up the Cats and, if you happen to see him, give Hardesty the ball once or twice. Go Vols, continue this stumble on toward Atl! Let's eat turkey!

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