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Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge celebrates a touchdown in the second quarter Saturday at Kentucky.
Tennessee Stat Book
Sometimes the difference between hot and cold depends on the calendar or the clock.
In California's Death Valley, the difference between fry-an-egg and freeze-your-tail is all a matter of timing.
For Tennessee's offense, timing has been everything.
This season the 14th-ranked Vols have averaged 234 yards in the first half of their 12 games and just 161 after they leave the locker room for the second half.
In Saturday's SEC championship game against No. 5 LSU (TV: WVLT, 4 p.m.), Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cuutcliffe wants his Vols to be hot all day long against Louisiana's residents of Death Valley.
"We've been hot at times, but we need to be hot in this one for four quarters if we can," Cutcliffe said.
Tennessee has been less than blazing in the second half this season.
Only once all year have the Vols gained more yards after halftime than they did in the first two quarters.
While yards aren't everything, they sure help eat the clock - or mount a comeback.
And with the exception of Tennessee's runaway homecoming victory over Louisiana-Lafayette, and a 124-yard-fourth quarter against Vanderbilt, the Vols haven't been chewing up the turf after halftime.
It's not coasting and it's not taking a foot off the gas pedal.
But it's not exactly pouring it on, either.
"Sometimes a complete game means finishing it without a mistake, keeping the other team off the field," Cutcliffe said. "Have we hit on all cylinders for four quarters where you're scoring like a scoring machine? Probably not. I think we're capable of getting hot. There's times you have to go back and look, 'Am I pulling the reins too early?' "
That's one possibility.
Quarterback Erik Ainge has another.
"I don't know," Ainge said. "I don't know if it's the fact that we have those few special plays you can call against their defense. We get out there and we're aggressive early and we call them and we hit them.
"Those are scheme touchdowns, not a great throw and catch. Those kind of plays for a big, cheap chunk of yards."
Tennessee hit a few of those plays Saturday against Kentucky, rolling up 307 yards of total offense and a 24-7 halftime lead against the Wildcats.
But those 307 yards represent 72 percent of UT's output in regulation.
And as the production dropped - and UT's receivers dropped a few key passes - Kentucky erased a 17-point deficit and sent the game to overtime.
It was nearly the same story against South Carolina, when the Gamecocks rallied from a 21-0 halftime deficit to take a fourth-quarter lead.
The yards aren't nearly as troubling as the points for Cutcliffe.
"There's really only one statistic that concerns me. It concerned me that we lost the lead 31-14 (at Kentucky)," Cutcliffe said. "Look at that, and there wasn't anything schematically anything that happened in that one."
Tailback Arian Foster wants to see UT's execution improve against the Tigers.
"When we have drive-stoppers like turnovers and penalties, those are things we can control," he said. "I feel like if we go out and control what we can control and execute, we should give ourselves a great chance."
Despite the numbers, though, the Vols have been able to fire up the engine when they need to.
Against South Carolina, UT came up with a two-minute drill that sent the game to overtime.
Against Kentucky, the Vols made the plays they needed to win in four overtimes.
And against Vanderbilt, a game UT trailed by 15 points entering the fourth quarter, the Vols made the plays they needed to win.
"I don't think there's any theme involved with any of it," Cutcliffe said. "I think each game is kind of is its own animal. What I look at is execution and intensity and effort."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 33
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
My guess is our second-half offensive production is less than our first-half production for one, simple reason: opposing defenses make the correct adjustments at halftime while our offense doesn't.
I'm no coach but common sense, it would seem to me, that you plan a different attack for the second half. Do what they don't expect you to do.
Make the right adjustments at halftime. Come out of the tunnel with a different scheme, something they're not prepared for.
LSU's defense will walk into their locker room at halftime with one question: "How do we stop what they're doing on offense?"
They'll then spend a few minutes planning on how to stop the offense they saw in the first half -- coaching against what's already happened.
If we come out and do something different, something unexpected, it stands to reason they won't be prepared for it.
For example, when will we go with the five-wide set? First half or second half? I don't believe we could use that the entire game.
Or am I stupid? Again, I'm not a coach...just another fan.
alfrizzle097 writes:
Part of the problem is that when the other team is as good or better than you personnel-wise, there are only so many things you can do better than them. It can be hard to come up with one game plan, much less two. Kentucky came out with an offensive game plan that put them at odds with our strength, run defence. Bad coaching. They started doing what they had done all year and it worked.
We just need to stick to our strengths while mixing in a couple of misdirection plays and we will be fine.
RangerForSix writes:
It's time for Cut to give our 'senior QB' much more rope...
Guaranteed Ainge would continue to try to score and score and score some more; ala Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and Bret Farve.
The OC calls the plays. If Ainge audibles to a good play it's a 'good job' from upstairs. If he audibles into a play that doesn't work, he 'gets chewed and you screwed me'.
If we want our 'Senior QB' to continue this hot streak, take off the reins, let 'the kid' go 'finish off the game' the second half, like he played the first.
Guaranteed he wants too, guaranteed the receiving corps want to, but Ainge is being a good soldier in protecting a man he 'really loves' and 'respects' and knows a hell of a lot of football!!
But he's not on the field; the QB is in the middle of it all and sees things, hears things, smells things, senses things that can't be observed from the press box, no way!!
Cut tells Ainge to 'see the defense and make the play', then chews him out if it doesn't work. How many plays has Cut called, that had 'no business being called'? Does Ainge get to chew him out? "No way he would, even if he could!"
'Respect' and 'trust' must be mutual through! It can not be 'the kid' protecting 'the mentor', a one way street... Can a 21 year old QB be more emotionally stable during a game than a veteran coach? I've seen it this season, especially 'during our hot streak'!
Cut is an excellent OC, but he gets 'to predictable' and 'conservative' as his coaches must have taught him in football theory classes.
The game has changed though, 'you must continue to score' in the 2nd half, not work to shorten the game, until it's REALLY over; PERIOD...That is usually later in the "4th qtr."
Obviously Ainge is 'thick skinned', but let him go out now and 'pick up the tempo', 'dissect the defense' and lead us to 30-40 points -v- LSU and win 'an SEC Title once again'!!!
Go VOLS
seaplane#216536 writes:
How bout we start with the 2 minute drill and stay with it the whole game. It works better then the conservative approach that's been used to no avail. To beat LSU, pull out all the stops, on-side kicks, fake punts, trick plays. Anything to keep them off balance. Remember we weren't suppose to be at the SEC Championship anyway.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Go Cut, get it done. You've saved us this year. At least you and Trooper are earning your salary! Hope you get the GA Tech job. You deserve it. Go Vols!
Volchaz writes:
What does LSU have to play for? A coach that leaving? A NATl.Championship? A divided and distracted LSU team won't be focused for this game. I'm thinking we will come out, play our game (whatever that is), and with an ounce of luck, we are SugarBowl bound. What a crazy year.
MrBamSeydu writes:
LSU 34 UT 13
I just don't see us doing much offensively and our secondary (especially Hefney) is very suspect against big, fast WR's like LSU's.
I hope we pull it out though. You never know, we're a good underdog team (which is part of the reason I picked the above score).
JHite7 writes:
It's easy to stay hot with pass patterns that are 3 yard outs. Hopefully we can get some more wrong routes for touchdowns in the second half (i.e. Hancock)...that's the only way we will throw the ball up the field with Cutcliffe calling plays.
mark.goodson#641124 writes:
One Thing Coach Cut can't control is when a reciever drops passes that (oops!) hits them right in the hands. I do agree he should continue being agressive. But what about Chavis????? The entire first half he sent at least one extra pass rusher from somwhere. Then the second half????? what was that, and why can't Coach Fulmer override chavis?
orangebloodgmc writes:
LSU does have big receivers ... and a qb that sometimes has a 47% completion rate, as vs. ARK. We'll see what shows up this Saturday.
I'm not bashing our coaches, but could not help notice difference in Missouri coach's approach, when they had a successful running play, and announcers quoted their coach as saying they never run same thing twice in a row. We still get too predictable sometimes with handoff to single back between the tackles, but we have done better lately with mixing it up.
hoskinsfive#468391 writes:
HEY COACH CUT. Why pull the reigns at all?
PureOrange writes:
Maybe we could plan a few more passes past the line of scrimmage. The hardest thing to take is on 3rd down and 3,4, or 5 or so, we throw behind the line and do not have a chance of getting a first down. Of course, the other play we have is to throw it 30 yrds downfield near the sideline so that we have about a 10% chance of completing.
Let's be aggressive. Put the pressure on their defense with short passes across the middle.
Playing to keep from losing instead of playing to win usually brings bad results.
Singaporehillbilly writes:
Tennessee 35 - lsu 17
The only reason lsu is ranked this high is because of the media hype during the off season and at the begining of the year. Their defense gets all the hype, but look at their stats. Tennessee will control the ball and clock. The 17 points will be off fluke plays and at the end of the game.
See ya at the Sugar Bowl. Go Vols.
memphisvolman writes:
All they are thinking about at LSU is getting back to the BSC title game. No one is giving The Vols a chance and that's when we play the best!
Matt Flynn is hurt so the backup will play and that worries me some but We will pull it out in Atlanta!
TN 28- LSU 21 -
hoskinsfive#468391 writes:
The 2001 game was the start of the great decline. I think if we win Saturday It will start us back in the right direction.
Ohiovol16 writes:
Coach Cut, whatever halftime speach you are using please throw it away, our offense has been horrible in the second half all season long. 24-7 last week the only sniff of the endzone you get is off a fumble recovery at the UK 30, not real impressive!! Heck even let them just go get a hotdog or something.
Second, please MAKE Ainge throw the ball down the field, if for no other reason at least LSU has to think about it once in a while. Easy to crowd the box when there is no vertical passing game. I think I could complete 70% of my passes if I dumped it off to Foster on every third and long play.
Third, and maybe this is the most important, PLEASE convert at least once on third down to keep the drive going. Our D needs some help and longer than 45 second breaks. I know there young and maybe not that good but if you put them back out there after every three and out possession by our offense they will give up some points eventually. Give them some time to rest and regroup, three plays and a punt does not allow that to happen.
KCSD writes:
Cutcliffe wants: Tell him to want in one hand and phooey in the other and see which gets full the fastest.
JohnyLobo34 writes:
I've been more than disappointed with Cuticliff's play calling. The game plan against Arkansas we great. We could've run all over Vandy, but killed any momentum we had by throwing the ball. Luckily Vandy Choked! He panicked against Alabama and, like most years, it took UT a full season to get creative with the play calling. Tennessee is too predictable. Thank God Quentin Hancock ran the wrong route!!!! Though I will say the play calling in the Kentucky game was pretty good. Don't know what he's going to do to keep Ainge from throwing off his back foot. Every time I see him throw a pass falling away I want to cover my eyes. Cut: DON'T HOLD ANYTHING BACK!!!!
GreerVol22 writes:
Nothing new guys, Tennessee football is and has always been about pour it on in the first half, protect the lead in the second by playing prevent defense and winning the kicking game. 30+ years as a fan has taught me that. The difference this year has been that the kicking game has been lost in the second half of most games, by spotting opponents the 35-40 yardline as starting field position. Not to mention, and God love 'em, some Frosh DBs. Just look at the Georgia game...textbook. We gave up a couple cheap ones at the end but it was really over at the half.
I think to win this one, Chavis needs to put Mayo and or Berry on Hester and play shadow depending on where he lines up. Hester is their back breaker as he always gets the tough yards to extend drives. Do that for 4 qtrs and limit his production and we will get gravy with our biscuits Sunday mornin' !!
1974Vol writes:
I can't totally explain 2nd half offensive woes, but I don't see it as poor play calling or lack of aggressiveness. So many times it just appears to be execution. Sjt18 has highlighted dropped passes in 2nd half of KY game, but in all of the games it seems the offense has plays there to make but just can’t get it done. It was even more pronounced with Sander’s as OC. But many times in the past Chief’s D just stoned people until the offense could get it going again. This D is just not there yet, so the offensive mistakes that are drive killers just really put UT in a bind. But hey, both O & D seem to have a knack for making just one more play than the opposition. Hopefully that trend will continue Saturday.
wyomingvol writes:
We killed ourselves with drops in the second half of KY.
At least 6, with 3 that would of been big drive continuing 3rd downs...
Catch the ball, run the ball, keep the other team off the field = WIN THE GAME.
invisiblekid writes:
Edwards touched on it in the article but I think a major contributor to the drop in offensive production in the second half is the simple fact that we haven't had the ball as much. I know I am a stats geek, lack a high football IQ, supposedly never played organized athletic etc. , but I think a look at those stats tell the story. I threw out the non-conference schedule excluding Cal and only twice all year have the Vols won TOP in the second half. Those two games were MSST and GA. Against Cal, the numbers were around 15 minutes each but against FL, the Gators had the ball 23 minutes. The rest of the games were weighted in favor of the opponent at roughly 18 minutes to 12 for the Vols.
I agree that execution has hurt the Vols and that second half adjustments are sometimes slow to come as well, but it's tough for a team to score if they don't have the ball. Defense on third down has been a recurring sore spot for the Vols the past few years and I think that affects the offense. Sometimes, the offense compounds the problem by going conservative in trying to run time off the clock and sometimes it works, many times it hasn't this year. Just offerring up my non-football coach opinion though.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Interesting, invisible. Begs the question of how Chavis & Co. have or have not made second-half adjustments.
Going into this game, our defense worries me more than anything -- especially our scheme coming out of the tunnel after halftime.
navyvolinva writes:
This game reminds me of the 2001 Championship game because Rohan Davy got hurt and his backup came in just lit us up. I think if we keep the pressure up the middle steady(Dan Williams and Bolden) we can contain him. But how good is his arm anyway?
navyvolinva writes:
I agree with you on that mbumburu. Especially that prevent defense. A good blitz will mask a subpar secondary.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Navyvolinva, are you talking about containing and arm of starting qb flynn, or backup Perriloux? Flynn can run better than Ainge, but not as good as he thinks he can, seems to me like he has a chip on his shoulder and wants to prove he can run like Perriloux (which he can't). Both have strong arms, but flynn has been erratic with mis-throws lately, maybe due to shoulder bothering him. Perriloux has thrown several tds, but mostly vs the lesser opposition. Still, he scares me, and like marc_ash, I'd rather see the starter against us than the backup. If P comes in, he will do qb draws, options where he is glad to keep it, and maybe that tebow fake draw shoulder dip pass. Not gospel, but what I think I've seen.
DingoVol writes:
I agree with an earlier post. Cut calls plays, but Ainge seems to look to dump the ball off rather than go deep or even 20 yards down field. You don't even have to complete the pass, just throw one over everybody so the DB's will stay honest. I have not seen 1 throw over 40 yards this season. Tebow is heaving it up once every other series. The DB can't jump every route if he thinks he might get burned deep. We take that concern out of the equation by refusing to run the post. PLEASE show the arm just once. Ainge is auditioning for the NFL, but they aren't getting alot to go on with the arm strength.
Hunter writes:
Anyone who follows my posts here can attest that I am certainly no "Vols homer." I have been very critical at times of sub-par work from our coaches, players, etc.
However, I live in Louisiana and have watched this LSU team all year. I HONESTLY think we are the better team. If we do what we do well and keep our foot on the gas for 60 minutes we win this game. No gimmicks, no tricks, no smoke-and-mirrors, just football. Get it done boys!
chrisw2967 writes:
mbumburu :My guess is our second-half offensive production is less than our first-half production for one, simple reason: opposing defenses make the correct adjustments at halftime while our offense doesn't
I totally agree with you.
We have played 4 qts of off. in 1 game and that was Ga.
If we play 4 qts of off against LSU then Tenn will win as long as the def. plays like they did against Ark and Ga.
RangerForSix writes:
UT 35 LSU 29
Ainge 'throws strikes indoors', and 'our receivers' "show up" and catch the football this week "consistently"! The chains then keep moving, and we can then run the football too! We'll score 5 TD's!
Colquitt and Lincoln put on a 'kicking clinic' on how to kick the football. 'Special teams' gets 'very good' returns on "O" and "covers" and "tackles" fundamentally on "D"
Our Defense is maturing! That's all gifted freshman athletes can do when given P.T.; get better!!
We're pressuring the QB much better each week. We have been 'tackling' and 'getting rid of blockers' much better...
"11 hats are flying to the football, yet disciplined!"
This defense will create "at least" two T.O.'s.
Our offense "doesn't turn it over once" this Saturday. An amazing accomplishment!
This team continues to "show up" to "WIN", I see that continuing...They 'believe in each other' and they are 'athletic'!!!
Like I said:
UT 35 LSU 29
Go VOLS!!
just one mans opinion who's 'been right' a lot this season. I really believed this team would PLAY 14 GAMES; and they have. (go back and check the early entries) 14 games was the theme...
You can't win the SEC Title or get a great bowl game, without "playing 14 games". This team pulled off that great goal!! 14 flippin' games!! How Fun...
Now go 'win both' of them!
11-3 sounds real good!!!
RobLCTN writes:
This game will be though but if we get too emotional the chances to lose will be higher.
If the Vols could stay hot all 4 quarters, catch the ball and keep completing as many first downs as possible all the way to the touch down line we should win.
The defense should create a wall against LSU and do whatever it takes to stop LSU from running the ball and get the ball back and bring our QB back to the game.
I know is easy to say it, but if Arkansas and UK beat LSU, the chance for the Vols to win this game against LSU is on the table and we can not let it go to waste. We can not get too emotional during the game and think negative and play against the clock. We can win this game no matter what other people say. If we think LSU is going to win, guess what? They are going to win so lets get that out of our heads and start thinking positive. Lets make complete passes, complete first downs, run the ball, and this will pull the rope against LSU. I do believe LSU is a tough talented team, but it does not mean they’re more or less than the vols.
The team with the best attitude and players will win the game.
The way the Vols handled the UK game during overtime it was hard to believe because the pressure was harder on us; it was their territory.
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
injunvol writes:
as for me i just dont know yet i want the vols to win this one more than anything but that hester really has me worried - i know mcfadden has got all the yards and hype this year but i have watched lsu a lot this year and that hester gives 110% on every single play to be honest i havent seen anyone like him in along time he is kinda like a throwback player and he is extremely fast through the hole
RobLCTN writes:
Jocob Haster 6' 228lbs
"Against Arizona last week, he ran eight times for 43 yards and a touchdown and also caught a touchdown pass." (realfootball365.com)
he will sure put pressure on the Vols but if the Vols could take him down real good the pressure will go back against LSU from the Vols.
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!
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