Vols show some power with running game

  • Email
  • Discuss
  • Share »
  • Print
  • A
  • A
  • A

Gameday

Links

Articles

Vol Audio

Tennessee Stat Book

Tennessee found the final piece of its offensive puzzle against Georgia - a power running game.

The Vols pounded Georgia 35-14 on Saturday thanks in part to 190 yards rushing.

"I just felt like our players had an edge about them," offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said when asked why he relied more on the run than anytime this season. "That brings confidence."

The newfound power running attack didn't affect Erik Ainge's efficiency. The senior quarterback completed 17 of 22 passes for 165 yards.

"When they came in and tried to stop the run," receivers coach Trooper Taylor said, "we were able to throw it and catch it and move the chains."

Coming into the game, UT had a run-pass ratio of 42 to 58 percent. In the first half against the Bulldogs, UT ran the ball 63 percent of the time en route to a 28-0 lead.

"We studied ourselves and felt like we could run the ball and throw out of some run sets," Cutcliffe said. "We think there's more there."

Arian Foster was the primary recipient of the new dedication to running the football. The junior tailback rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns.

"All the credit in the world to the offensive line," Foster said. "Those guys were moving people around."

To signify the strong rushing attack, UT's tailbacks tapped their wrist just as they scored, as if they were wearing a watch.

"Punch the clock," said sophomore tailback Montario Hardesty, who ran for 70 yards and a touchdown. "Get ready to play. Lock in. Get focused. And play."

The Vols also relied more on a traditional I-formation attack than they had previously this season. Cutcliffe said matchups predicated that game plan on Saturday.

He added that UT would have relied on the formation more this season, had it not been for David Holbert's season-ending knee injury suffered in the preseason. In his place, was tight end Chris Brown, with his hand on the ground in the backfield for the first time this season.

"It's weird coming out and doing those things," Brown said. "I have to do whatever I can to help the team win and that's what I'm going to do."

Offensive line coach Greg Adkins said the running game was inspiring.

"We put some runs back to back to back together and that got everybody excited," he said. "We haven't had much success with that all year long.

The Vols also converted a key fourth down in the second quarter on the ground that helped set up a score.

"Bottom line is you make that decision, probably, on how effective you've run the ball that day," Adkins said.

Sophomore offensive lineman Chris Scott said he and his fellow linemen had heard plenty about how UT couldn't run the ball on short-yardage downs.

"We figured we needed to take that on our shoulders and get the job done," he said.

Said Cutcliffe, "Anytime you get better up front, good things start happening for you."

The good things started happening thanks to Cutcliffe's bad attitude in practice last week.

"They might like me now, but they didn't last week," Cutcliffe said. "When you don't like what you're getting, you've got to change what you're doing."

Cutcliffe said he was most pleased with UT's ground attack when Georgia knew it was coming. That included a scoring drive in the third quarter that answered Georgia's first score.

Get Copyright Permissions © 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!

  • Email
  • Discuss
  • Share »
  • Print

Also in Football

Comments » 20

copan07#220906 writes:

I think the running game would have been even better if Coker had more carries. He seems to be our only running back to ever break any long runs.

Pullingguard writes:

Coker is a good back, but he does not have the power of either Foster or Hardesty and that takes nothing away from his talent...

Urbiewerecomingtogetyou writes:

Posted by CRVol on Oct.2 2007 at 2:26 p.m.
I'll lay whatever price you want to name that we will not beat UGA by 21 points as you tend to believe.
Posted by jwraymond1 on October 2, 2007 at 3:01 p.m. aj-your prediction of us winning by 21pts is a joke. Who is going to score 5 TD's for us?
The good:Coach Fulmer The Bad:CRVol The ugly:his cronies- You know who you are.

snafu14u#241639 writes:

It all starts with the play of the line, both sides of the ball.Simple.bonzaivol

nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:

66cheVolet: You are a disgusting man to have spent who knows how much stinking time to go back and search for those posts!!

Thanks for doing it though!!!

tnvolfan1 writes:

Hey CRVol, are you glad you didnt lay down a price?
Vol's beat UGA by 21 point's.

rayp#231048 writes:

Here is what I wrote on Oct. 4th in response to the article about the performance of Phillip Fulmer and all of talk about Phillip's replacement.

"Phillip is a class act and has run a very solid program with 05 being the exception rather than the rule. Everyone wants to see UT win championships and be a winner and with Phillip we have person who has the experience,leadership and integrity to get us there.

A win over Georgia and a smack down by LSU over Florida and all of a sudden we are in the driver's sear in East, admittedly with a lot of work left to be done. For all of Phillip's critics, take a breath and let's see how our young team performs the rest of the season. I'll expect to have you all having a big plate of crow at Thanksgiving as we head to beat Kentucky in November and on to the SEC Championship Game. Even more crow for New Year's if we are 12-2 and Sugar Bowl champs!"

We are in the driver's seat in the east as predicted and this is going to be a great year for the Vols!

Hunter writes:

I disagree that Coker doesn't have the "power" necessary to be an "every down" back. Did anyone see the run where he hit the line, spun, hit, the line, spun, hit the line and bulled ahead for 3 yards when he should have lost 2?????

kevinlimbo#326134 writes:

Right, indecision in the backfield required running for five yards to make three.

Like the other poster stated, it doesn't take away from Coker's talent, but he's not an every down back. Perhaps they can figure away to have Coker and Hardesty on the field at the same time. Like the 2006, and I stress the 2006, Saints did with Reggie and Deuce.

yabadabadoo1026 writes:

really happy to see Hardesty running so hard---last year it seemed like he was like dancing into the line softly but today he hit it hard and fast and lowered his shoulders to deliver shots while often breaking tackles too--I liked the camera shot of Fullmer getting jacked up over one of his runs-good to see some excitement out of him for a change--think that running brought him make memoriest of Tenn poundem running----Montarios running was very encouraging and if he can maintain that kind of will and determination I think he can can have a solid career here

objk1#231846 writes:

Move Hardesty to LB.
Even though we scored, I think Foster and Coker were in a groove when they brought in Hardesty.
Two RB's are plenty(one speed, one power).

FWBVol writes:

It is almost 2:30 p.m. EDT, and no sign of raymond or CRVol. Hello McFly, are you there?

aj_vol#248433 writes:

Where's CRVol? Where's jwraymond?

Maybe y'all decided to become Southern Cal fans so you can lead the movement to fire Pete Carroll after last night's loss to Stanford.

5 TDs jwraymond. 21 points CRVol. Comments? Anyone? Anyone?

Have y'all been busy pouting all day today?

Go Vols! Beat Miss. State!

aj_vol#248433 writes:

Just like last year would have meant that we would have played our best game vs Cal and went down from there.

This team has shown significant improvement since the Cal & Florida games.

Also realize the Vols will not face any opponent as good as Cal or Florida the rest of this season.

Not saying we will win out, but it is a possibility.

wisonsinvol writes:

Just got a chance to catchup on all the articles. I understand why people are calling out jwray and crv, but really, they are insignificant people with irrelevant opinions. Ignoring them would be the best course of action. Now, regarding this performance, WOW. I'm not sure I agree with previous posts about Coker's lack of power and moving Hardesty to LB. Coker may not be able to run over people, but he is hard to bring down. That 2 yard gain mentioned by another post was awesome. Foster's first TD was a beauty, was it one spin move or two? The hand down and keeping his balance was awesome - however the ball was always high and tight during some of his better moves. Hardesty looked real comfortable. For the most part, both Hardesty and Foster were falling forward and Coker always seems to be. I would have liked to seen Crompton in earlier with a full offensive package to run. Going to safe mode at the start of Q4 was too early. Great win, great team effort and exuction and good game plan. Now, let's focus on MS. Go Vols.

invisiblekid writes:

I believe Hardesty ran with more authority than at any point in his short career with the Vols IMO. Hopefully, that injury bug will stop biting him and we can see more days like yesterday from him. Running a football is pretty simple if you remember two things, "high and tight" and "north and south". It's easier to lower your shoulder and deliver a blow if you are going straight ahead. I hope yesterday gave him a taste of what it feels like to lower the boom on some LB's instead of having his feet cut out from under him going side to side.

jawjavol writes:

I am a little confused here. In a related article Chavis said in a post-game interview that players will not respond to negativity. Here Cut is saying he used negative reinforcement in practice last week. What gives?

Lets see what happens against the other Bulldogs next week. I want to think we will finally be "in" every ballgame the rest of the waybut the UT/AF game last year and even the UF/Aub game this year show what can happen in letdown games after an emotional romp.

UT has won three of the last four against the Dawgs and UGA now has a losing streak against all 5 SEC East teams. Go Vols.

asleep#212036 writes:

Before we blast crv and jwray too badly, how many of the rest of us, the more optimistic fans, really thought we could win by 21 over Georgia? And it should have been worse. What ref throws a pass interference flag in that spot, a no-call at best and probably offensive interference. Anyway, two thoughts: we will be favored against every other team on our schedule so there is hope, and two, who is looking forward to next year even more? And I happen to like all 3 running backs because at the end of the game, especially if we run like we did Saturday, the D-line is just a little slow and all of our backs would still be fresh. Great game plan and great execution. That first half was the best I have seen from our boys since 2001. Hope springs eternal! Go Vols!!

volsrus writes:

I didn't think we had much of a chance of winning over Georgia, especially by 21 points. This is the old Vols I remember. I am not too worried about Mississippi State but they have greatly improved this year overall. I am more concerned about the upcoming game against Alabama that is away. Let's hope the Vols can play their remaining games with the same intensity they had during the Georgia game. If we can get past Alabama with a win then I think we have fairly smooth sailing. But I don't remember whether Kentucky is on the schedule but I think they are. They have pulled some surprises also. And if we play South Carolina, that is another team that is improving and will be tough. But I am positive we can still make something of this season after yesterday. Hopefully someone else can manage to beat Florida also. Then we won't have to worry about them. Go Vols.

Displaced_Vol_Fan writes:

Hey volsrus, do you have any idea about SEC football? Kentucky and SC are in the East, they are always on the schedule. UT plays every team in the East every year and Alabama is on the schedule every year from the west. The other teams in the west are rotated every two years. Each year there are two teams (besides alabama) on the schedule. They play a home and away series. So each year one team rotates off and a new one rotates on. That way there is a new team from the west each year. Just wanted to help you out so you don't sound so ignorant next time (I don't mean ignorant as an insult).

Share your thoughts

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.

Features