Art of keeping Ainge's suit clean

Tennessee's Erik Ainge stands in some elite company among quarterbacks nationwide, and it has little to do with the senior's right arm.

Through four games this season, Ainge has been sacked only once, something no other quarterback in the country can boast.

And for Ainge to be effective Saturday against No. 12 Georgia (TV: WVLT, 3:30 p.m.), he needs to be standing upright.

So far at least, that's been the case.

As a team UT's two sacks allowed are tied with four other teams for the fewest allowed nationally, and its 0.5 sacks allowed per game are tied for second.

It's not just sacks, either. Through four games, UT's opponents have recorded just five quarterback hurries.

Like most things in football, it's a team effort. And it starts up front.

"We're not just big, heavy guys," junior offensive guard Anthony Parker said. "We can move pretty good, and that's actually helping us in the passing game."

The Vols allowed the third fewest sacks per game in the SEC and just 19 total in 2006, the same number they yielded in 2005.

This year, they're on an even better pace.

Offensive line coach Greg Adkins credits a variety of factors for Tennessee's ability to keep opposing defenses away from Ainge, starting with the play calling of offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe.

"Coach Cut does a great job of mixing our protections up," Adkins said. "We're not always in a drop-back mode. We're moving the pocket, throwing in some perimeter games and Erik's doing a good job getting the ball out.

"When all those things occur - and we're running good routes and getting open - all those things have to come together for pass protection to be good."

The last two weeks, it's been great.

Cal linebacker Zack Follett got the best shot on Ainge of the entire season, coming free off the weakside on UT's first offensive possession of the season and knocking the ball loose.

But a late sack of backup quarterback Jonathan Crompton against Southern Miss is the last time a UT quarterback dropped back to pass and wound up dropped for a loss.

That's not lost on Ainge, who enters Saturday's game having thrown 160 consecutive passes without being sacked.

"From the play-calling to the tight ends and running backs blocking to me getting them blocking the right guys and knowing who's coming free and getting it out quick, there's a lot that goes into not giving up sacks," Ainge said. "But it all starts with the five up front, and they've been doing such a good job."

Ainge has done plenty to help himself, too.

Adkins said UT's quarterback deserves a pat on the back for making the right protection calls at the line of scrimmage, which comes from knowing the weak spots in a particular protection and how to get it fixed before the snap.

"If we're all on the same page of what he's seeing and what he's called up front, it's a matter of just executing the protection from that standpoint," Adkins said. "He does a great job just getting the ball out of his hand. That's a huge plus."

The test gets tougher this week.

Even though the Bulldogs don't have accomplished pass rushers like Charles Johnson or Quentin Moses from a year ago, they've recorded nine sacks. Middle linebacker Marcus Washington leads the way with two.

And as the Vols progress through their SEC schedule with a run game that has yet to be productive on a consistent basis, pass protection will continue to be key.

"You've got to keep the quarterback clean," Adkins said. "If you keep him clean, he's got a chance to see things as they develop. It's always a sense of pride in keeping your quarterback clean and not getting him hit.

"For the most past, we've done pretty well with it."

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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