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The first few possessions of any football game have a lot in common with the first few hands of a poker game - or a rather timid swimmer dipping his toe in the water.
But that's not exactly how David Cutcliffe does things.
Tennessee's offensive coordinator believes in matchups, not schemes. And it takes a lot less time to exploit a shaky cornerback or a linebacker lined up on a wide receiver than it does to sniff out a schematic flaw.
"I don't script plays, like a lot of people do," he says. "You're testing the game plan, who you think you might could attack, where your best matchups are. There's no reason to wait on those things."
The Vols sure haven't waited long to score, either.
Entering Saturday's 12:30 p.m. kickoff at Alabama (TV: WVLT), 20th-ranked Tennessee has scored on its opening drive in all four of its victories this season.
If there's a better way to seize momentum, the Vols haven't found one.
"I've always been taught by my coach in high school that the first five minutes pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the game," offensive lineman Anthony Parker said. "That could be very well true. Us going out on the first drive and scoring has been pretty big for us."
Those drives haven't been cheapies, either.
The shortest trip to the end zone was 64 yards against Arkansas State, the longest 81 yards against Georgia.
On average, UT's opening drive in its four wins has gone 73 yards and lasted nearly 3 1/2 minutes.
Preparation helps, says quarterback Erik Ainge. So does execution, especially on third downs.
"Knowing what they've been doing, what they've been coming out in and knowing there's nothing they can do that you haven't seen before at some point in time," Ainge said. "We've just made some plays. More than anything I think we've just been making plays."
Tennessee won't be the only team in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday that has made some early plays.
Alabama enters having outscored its opponents 71-10 in the first quarter in five wins this season.
Tennessee only holds a 41-27 margin after the first quarter in its wins.
Cal and Florida outscored UT 28-17 in the opening quarter.
But for the Vols, it's less about the scoreboard and more about gaining momentum and confidence to last longer than the opening series.
"When you go out on the first drive and score, that makes a statement," says offensive lineman Vladimir Richard. "You're just saying, 'We're here and we're not going away.'"
Says center Josh McNeil: "You get out there first drive, drive it down the field and punch it in, that's huge motivation. It really turns the tide as far as momentum goes. That just gives confidence - we can do this all day, we're going be able to score. I think that really hypes the defense up."
Against Georgia, it was the defense that fired up the offense.
To start that game, UT sent the Bulldogs' offense back off the field with a three-and-out.
Five minutes and 81 yards later, Arian Foster scored from 9 yards out.
That's best start that linebacker Rico McCoy could hope for, at least the best one that doesn't involve a monster hit or a turnover.
"It's to go out there that first series wide open," he said. "You can call it wide open, laying everything on the line. From then on, you can dictate the game."
Most of the time, anyway.
The quick starts for Tennessee - and Alabama - haven't been flawless.
Tennessee stopped Florida on its first two drives in Gainesville, but the Gators still went on to score 45 offensive points.
And for all Alabama's quick starts, the Crimson Tide has allowed 45 fourth-quarter points in those five wins.
Ainge loves the quick starts, but he'd love a quick finish even more.
"It's easy to get cranked up before the game and all that sort of fun stuff," he said. "The hard part is to sustain that through halftime, into the third quarter and fourth quarter.
"The more impressive stat would be if we were 7-for-7 to start the fourth quarters. I think our attitude allows us to come out and be effective, but we need to work on sustaining that."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 21
FatherVol writes:
The numbers don't jive. Tennessee cannot hold a 41-27 edge in the first quarter if Cal and the Gators outscored the Vols 28-17. But, then, I flunked Calculus on The Hill.
thevol writes:
Sorry to be a smart ass Father, but how did you do in reading comprehension? It says "41-27 in the fourth quarter after it's wins".
I've been saying this all year. We will know how the game is going to go after the first five minutes. Which team shows up?
alfrizzle097 writes:
Sorry to be a smart ass thevol, but how did you do in reading comprehension? It says "41-27 in the FIRST quarter of its wins.
GreerVol22 writes:
I'm not sorry to be a smart ass...Who give a F&%$! Just execute, act like you want to win, and don't give up if BAMA goes up by 3 or a touch. Your performance these next two games will define you as a team as you could be playing from behind.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Even in the game at Cal we had beginnings of a drive started after taking opening kickoff, having 2 pass completions and 2 running plays and a penalty, for 2 first downs, crossing into Cal terr, when we let Ainge get speared in the back, fumbled and they scored instead of us.
thevol writes:
Thanks Al-I didn't do well in typing apparently. Just jokes touchdowntn, kind of like your life.
mtnvol writes:
Cal's over. UF is over. This week is Ala-freakin-Bama! For those of us older than 35, this is the biggest rivalry in our history. A good number of Bama faithful put the Vols above Auburn as their biggest rivalry as well.
Knock the snot out of 'em! Then help 'em up off the turf so we can knock the snot out of 'em again!!!!
Go Vols! Beat Bama and Bear the Ghost!
DennisVols writes:
The year: 1901
Place: Birmingham
Game: The 1st meeting between UT & Bama
Results: 6-6 tie after the game was stopped in the 2nd half because fans from both schools stormed the field after a questionable call and got into a brawl.
There have been times in UT history that if you did not beat Bama you were not going to coach at UT. Battle had his problems with Bama and it cost him his job. Even Majors struggled with Bama and while it was deeper than that it too was a factor in costing him his job.
The UT-Bama game will always be big to those of us who have been fans since before there was division play. The winner of this game always had the inside shot at winning the SEC and this year with the way things are shaping up the winner will at least have a share of their division lead. Ranked, unranked it doesn't matter. Like Phil or hate him that does not matter. We are talking tradition here not about individuals. We are talking about one of the most historic games in college football.
In 1901 we first faced off with Bama. Here are the results
at Knoxville: 20-20-1
at Tuscaloosa: 4-3
at Birmingham: 14-21-6
Biggest Win: 27 points (41-14; 1969 and 1995, both in Birmingham)
Biggest Loss: 51 points (51-0; 1906 in Birmingham)
Longest Winning Streak: 7 games (1995-2001)
Longest Losing Streak: 11 games (1971-81)
UT has won 10 of the last 12 meeting going back to ’95 when UT stopped a 9 year stretch in which Bama won 8 with a tie in ’93.
The game time will not detract from this historic rivirly nor will it make a difference in how true fans of the game approach it.
As the first game ended in a brawl between fan this is still true to loyal fans from both universities.
"Beat Bama" still rings out on the campus in Knoxville.
So if you have memories of UT-Bama, be it in '82 to end a losing streak of 11 games or just sitting in the stands during a rain soaked game in Oct., you know just how important this game will always be.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Dlskaggs, thanks for the Vol/Bama info. I was at the '82 game that we won to break their streak and after the game we went to the 82 World's Fair to continue the party there. And I also remember a Sports Illustrated cover in mid-60s of this game, back when one team did not have to wear white ... I was fascinated by the orange shirts vs the crimson; it looked like half of a Rook game!
orangebloodgmc writes:
Y'all, scroll down to comments at bottom of attached link article and see what grumbling Bama fans are saying. Several seem to think its one of their worst defenses in a long time and O line disappointing also. Interesting.
http://blog.al.com/tidecorner/2007/10...
orangebloodgmc writes:
Some of it got cut off?
... port_card_results_ole_miss.html
TStantan writes:
For those who don't believe that this game is important to Coach Fulmer check his record against Alabama 11-3-1
(How about that tide)!
mtnvol writes:
TouchdownTN, 11-3-1 over the past 15 years looks like surrender to me.
I talked to folks in Tuscaloosa several years ago, and the Bama folk talked about respect between the two programs. Unlike the Fla rivalry where there is no respect either way, the Bama game is one of those old fashioned games that made the South the greatest football territory in the nation. I want UT to beat their brains out, but I respect their program's history and what Bear did for football in the South.
TStantan writes:
TouchdownTN: Nice change in your argument. I guess your attempt a seeming intelligent is to take shots at a one of the best Coaches in TN history. My nephew who is four can be more creative than you. You’re the joke.
Your point was that Alabama has a chance (Well that going out on a limb). Coach Fulmer's record is 11-3-1 understand that.
The talent issue could be used among any team and underperforming issues. See Texas, USC, Florida State, Georgia and Florida. With the exception of a split title gained by USC. No team has one two National Championships since 1997. But I guess your knowledge of football's recent history, you knew that. You’re not the only one spoiled and acting like a cry baby on site like this. Go look at Georgia post, Florida State post, Texas post, USC post and many others.
Colliervol writes:
TN, you have noticed that Phil has lost like 50 lbs, haven't you? So I'm guessing that means he isn't eating like you always like to talk about. Of course, personal hatred will blind you when it comes to little things like that. The only people I know that call him Phats anymore are Bama or Memphis fans. Pretty prevalent among those dim bulbs but I would think folks around here would at least be paying better attention.
DadwasaVol writes:
Well, 11-3-1, is that not good enough? Go Vols, beat Bama again.
OrangeTint writes:
A house divided against itself cannot stand. Lets go Tennessee fans! Let us pull together, negative stuff we don't need, and the players don't need hear of it either. For those who will be watching them on Lincoln Financial. Here's a list of the networks across the southeast. Go Vols Beat Bama!!!
http://www.lfsports.com/index.php?s=&...
TennesseeFan18 writes:
TouchdownTN, why are you even a vol fan if all you can do is disrespect the staff that has brought great success to this great Tennessee program. People like you are an embarrassment, and I question that you are a true fan of Tennessee football.
volfaninky writes:
Since some of you hate the program so much, ie. TDTN, JWRAYMOND, CRVOL, etc. would you mind selling your tickets to someone who wants to go to the games, IE. me. I would like to bring my 6yo and 3yo to a game and am looking for some tickets. I realize real fans of UT will use theirs, so I was hoping one the perpetual complainers on here might want to back up all their big mean typing and actually not go to a game so that someone who wants to, could.
DennisVols writes:
1939
UT was Unbeaten, Un-tied and Not scored on the whole season.
Since so many want to dwell on the past to justify what they feel should happen in the future why do we not fire any coach that can not reach this level of play?
1974Vol writes:
I don't care what happened in 1939, 1998, 2005, at the OB bowl, or September 2007. I only care about what happens Saturday between 12:30 and 4:30 Eastern. I hope "Phat Foolmer" and the boys feel the same way, because what happens at Bryant Denny for those four hours is all they can do anything about. Go Vols beat Bama!
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