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Tennessee Stat Book
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — When Tennessee defended the red zone on Saturday, it seemed to turn a shade darker.
Crimson, perhaps.
On a bad day, UT’s defense was at its worst with its back to the goal line in a 41-17 loss at Alabama.
On five trips inside UT’s 20-yard line, ’Bama scored four touchdowns and a field goal.
And it wasn’t just Tide execution that rang up the scoreboard. Second chances by the Vols made it much easier for their hated rivals.
Defensive tackle Dan Williams was called for a personal foul when officials said he roughed Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson on third down early in the first quarter. Given another chance, Wilson threw a touchdown pass to Terry Grant two plays later.
That series never might have happened had the Vols not been called for offsides just three plays earlier on a fourth-and-1.
On Alabama’s next trip to the red zone, safeties Jonathan Hefney and Eric Berry look confused as DJ Hall caught a touchdown pass between them.
That wouldn’t be the last time Berry would struggle in the shadow of his own goalpost. The freshman was called for pass interference on third-and-3. On the next play, Wilson found Hall for another touchdown.
“It’s kind of one of those games where you look back and asked what happened,” senior linebacker Ryan Karl said.
The Vols didn’t limit their struggles to the “Crimson” zone. UT’s secondary struggled early and often, regularly playing soft coverage against the Tide.
“We just got beat, wasn’t too much we can do about it,” Hefney said. “We went out there and played as hard as we could, but the game didn’t fall the way we wanted it to.”
At the same time, it seemed all of Wilson’s passes were falling exactly the way he wanted — into his receiver’s hands.
Wilson threw for 301 yards in the first three quarters to seal the game. The junior ended with 363 yards and three touchdowns, completing 32 of 46 passes.
“His numbers speak for themselves,” UT defensive coordinator John Chavis said. “The kid had a great day.”
Head coach Phillip Fulmer didn’t seem surprised that the Crimson Tide went after UT’s secondary, which starts two freshmen.
“That just makes sense, doesn’t it?” Fulmer said. “You’ve got two freshmen out there.”
The key was keeping potential eligible receivers in to pass block for Wilson, much like Cal did for Nate Longshore in UT’s season-opening loss.
Much like the Cal game, UT couldn’t pressure the passer, especially without blitzing. Against ’Bama, the Vols only had one sack and one QB hurry.
“We didn’t get enough pressure to help our secondary,” defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell said. “It’s obvious to see that. When we did, it seemed like the quarterback was able to pick up some yards on us.”
Wilson’s ground game was certainly a factor, as he rushed for 28 yards, often in key situations. With tailback Terry Grant’s 106 yards leading the way for ’Bama, the Crimson Tide rushed for 147 yards.
Much of those yards should be credited to Wilson’s career passing day.
“He got in a rhythm,” Hefney said. “Whatever we sent at him, he countered.”
Playing soft zone and not blitzing certainly seemed to play in Wilson’s favor as he led the Tide on three drives of nine plays or more in the first half, encompassing 14 minutes, 37 seconds.
In the end, ’Bama dominated the time of possession: 37:38 to 22:22.
“I think we were expecting them to run a little more,” Karl said. “They came out and surprised us with the passing.”
In a game where so much went wrong for UT, Mayo felt the need to take the blame as the Vols were outgained by ’Bama 510 yards to 362.
“The defense takes this loss on our shoulders,” Mayo said, “and we just have to get better for next week.”
And quick, as South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier also has been known to test a defense or two.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 39
TommyJack writes:
pathetic
Ironcity writes:
Steve Caldwell please get your resume ready. These ends havn't made a play all year.
gillblog writes:
Brutal.
Brutal that these coaches with their nice comfortable extended contracts would pass the blame onto the players when it was so very obvious they themselves were responsible. Brutal and ugly. Who do these coaches think they are? Even Bill Belichek makes a point of taking the blame if the Patriots loose. Of course, they don't loose very often in large part because he is that kind of coach.
wyomingvol writes:
Our D SUX and has for a long time. O wasn't much better. In the 3rd after Foster picks up all but 2 yards on 2 runs after a penalty, @ the 50, then throw it, then kick it, game over. Lack of balls or forsight, as everyone could see that our D wasn't going to stop anything.
Could maybe the 2nd or 3rd team be put in on 3rd down? Or start all freshmen in the secondary, cuz 'Hef is playing worse than one.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
If it "makes sense" that Alabama would go after 2 true freshman in the secondary, then why wouldn't you expect it and plan for it? If the coaching stuff believed that, then why didn't they incorporate that into their game plan?
One cannot look at that game today and tell me that the UT coaches believed/expected 'Bama to throw at our weak spots. If we did factor than into game-prep, then we just didn't execute.
Either way, it all comes down to coaching.
arkyvol writes:
compared to chavis, randy sanders was a model of efficiency. if fulmer can accept such incompetence, he should go as well.
madcow26#524674 writes:
worst secondary in the sec and has been for several years...but dont worry...we will be better next year...
objk1#231846 writes:
1. Uninspired
2. Once again for the last five years our best player is a punter
3. 31 showed up on a lot of replays today
4. How does 3 get the ball on third and one
5. 4 looked just as ready for primetime as 21, 81 or any other we ran out there the first five games besides 12
6. Thanks for '98
7. New blood?
MrBamSeydu writes:
Enough excuses, if we really want to be taken seriously in the SEC and National picture.... it's time to clean house. I don't see many 4 and 5 star recruits playing for Kentucky, South Florida, South Carolina, Vandy, etc etc. We are constantly in the Top 5-10 in recruiting but can't even stay in the top 25 on the football field. That doesn't add up. It comes down to coaches that do more with less, or coaches that do less with more. I believe we have the latter. Either upgrade Cutcliffe to head coach (he did more with less at Ole Miss, for example) and keep Trooper and maybe even Roper. But as much as I used to love Chavis, he's got to go. The past 3 seasons have been very lackluster defensively and this year is by far the worst defense I've seen UT play since I can remember. Noone should score 40+ points on us PERIOD! Not Florida, not anybody. But we've let it happen 3 times out of 6 games, all losses. The UGA game was apparently a fluke. We made a freshman at Miss. State look like a senior. We made Ark State look like West Virginia. Southern Miss even torched us early and often.
As a die-hard UT fan, it's hard for me to get up for each game every week knowing we're at the mercy of this coaching staff and their inability to do more with less. We don't have any 1st rounders this year. Ainge will be 2nd or 3rd and after him Hefney would be enormously lucky to be drafted at all. Without NFL players at every position, we can't win. That's how it's always been. Even when we were 5-6 in 2005 we had 5 players drafted. I guarantee USF didn't have more than 1, if any. They do more with less. That's what a real coaching staff does.
ETownVol writes:
“We just got beat, wasn’t too much we can do about it,” Hefney said. “We went out there and played as hard as we could, but the game didn’t fall the way we wanted it to.”
Sorry Jonathan, but you can do something about it... you and the rest of the defense can play better and with some heart. You DIDN'T play as hard as you could have or you wouldn't have been EMBARRASSED the way you were. If that's as hard as you can play, let the underclassmen in there to get some experience. They will need it next year. And, no, the game didn't fall your way because the majority of this team and it's coaches lack HEART. I saw more heart and desire to perform well this morning at a 5-6 year-old soccer game. One more thing... PLEASE find a replacement for Ryan Karl. Surely to God there has to be at least ONE person on our team that can play as good or better than him at LB. Please, guys, stop embarrassing yourselves and play with some DESIRE, GUTS, and HEART. Pretend you're playing Georgia every week and stop making excuses for sub par efforts.
lkilgore#237303 writes:
John Gruden
5 million per year
skinalive#242458 writes:
Why does Fulmer keep pointing out freshman as a weakness?
The FRESHMAN corner for 'Bama played great!
Oh, I forgot, EVERY OTHER TEAM IN THE COUNTRY GETS THEIR FRESHMAN READY TO PLAY!
This season is almost over thanks to what was not taken care of 6 months ago.
Pullingguard writes:
Vol coaching staff showed no emotion on sideline, stood around like oak posts, especially Chavis. This coaching staff is so far removed for giving a cuss about anything except covering their own rumps by laying blame on all the players. Why does UT start 2 true freshmen in the backfield, because, they have not developed the players who have been there for three or more years. It's disgusting.
chrisw2967 writes:
Inside the 20 outside the 20 any place between the end zones the defense didnt make a play , I guess he forgot the field was 100 yds long.
we were only 3 plays away from winning this darn game(sarcasim)were going to get back to basics and work like heck to get better. we can fix this problem as soon as someone passes the doughnuts
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
This season is ridiculous. It's cold, lukewarm, extremely cold, lukewarm, FANTASTIC, decent, and extremely cold. There's no consistency. That goes back to coaching.
You can recruit great players all day long, but if you can put them in places to make great plays, and if you can't make them consistent, then you're not doing your job as a coach.
You can donate all the money in the world, but I don't think that should buy you a contract extension. It's time for a change on the Hill.
We have the money, boosters, and resources to get us a SUPERB football coach. A football team that touts the third largest football stadium in the country shouldn't be led by a coach that would make that team a middle of the pack kind of football team.
You're top 5 all the time. Sure, it's unrealistic to think you will win all of your games everytime you play, but when you start losing HUGE to your big time rivals, or losing to them consistently no matter the margin, there is definitely an issue.
Losing to that horrible football team was an embarassment, and those kids on that football team don't deserve this sort of bad coaching anymore. The defense has failed horribly against 2 of our 3 biggest rivals this year, and when they did step up against the other rival, it just proved the inconsistencies that are glaringly obvious.
It's definitely time for a change. Maybe I'm just ticked off right now, but I don't know if my mind will change. I hate looking at Florida and thinking, "why don't we have a great coach?" I shouldn't have to do that. I nominate Bruce Pearl as interim head coach until we find a great replacement.
snafu14u#241639 writes:
Where is John Chavis? Has he been kidnapped by aliens, cause this defense does'nt look like a Big Orange defense.bonzaivol
asleep#212036 writes:
Our D should be an absolute embarrassment to every UT fan, player, and coach. I have to say I had high hopes for this game which makes tonight that much worse. They may have to add a third number for the scoreboard at Kentucky! Scary part? If we don't turn this around immediately, then all the 4 and 5 star recruits go away as well - not that they are being coached anyway! I think Fulmer will quit at the end of the year with a nice compensation package and I hope Hamilton at least looks outside the "UT family" for his replacement. Cutcliffe is the safe choice but I'll bet there are some bigger names out there willing to work with the talent we still have in K-ville. By the way, in 4 of our 7 games, the opposing QB has had a career day, including Mr. JP WIlson earlier today. What do you want to bet Mr. Smelley is next? Go Vols!!!!
chucker6 writes:
UT’s secondary struggled early and often, regularly playing soft coverage against the Tide.
“We just got beat, wasn’t too much we can do about it,” Hefney said. “We went out there and played as hard as we could, but the game didn’t fall the way we wanted it to.”
Because we refuse to adjust the $#@%$ game plan! Oh, in some games at half-time, maybe, but Chavis reluctance to deviate from a set plan is a huge part of our problems and completely inexplicable.
TDTNVOLS writes:
JUST RUN THE BALL!!! Cutcliffe made Chavis, the defense and Fulmer look incompetent. All you had to do was run the ball. Everyone already knew our defense was weak; so run the ball and keep our defense off the field. Foster was getting 7 or 8 yards per carry. Alabama had 8 in the box and they COULD NOT stop the run. I almost always favor a balanced attack, but clearly today was an exception. ALL WE NEEDED TO DO WAS RUN THE BALL. THEY COULD NOT STOP US. This was how be beat Georgia. But Cutcliffe has Ainge, and he just can't stand not throwing the ball. I love Ainge too, but Cutcliff and Fulmer let Ainge hand the game over to Alabama today, and we could not stop them. WHAT A SHAME. WHO IS IN CHARGE ANYWAY???
JDvols writes:
Fulmer is a good coach but the game has passed him by. His game is old and predictable. He lacks innovation and appears unable to meet the challenges posed by the coaches who are changing the way the game is played. He has become complacent and the team has suffered. Fulmer's teams talented though they may be are simply being outplayed because they are not prepared. It is as if the vols are prepared for a game of flag football, but not for tackle football and Fulmer, et.al. do not recognize the difference. Said another way, the vols continually bring a knife to a gun fight. It doesn't matter how good they are with a knife, they are overmatched by the guns.
ncvol17 writes:
Hefney seems real broken up by the loss doesn't he? Maybe he just wanted to get back to the strip in Knoxville to enjoy a Saturday night. He should apply for a bouncer job.. the NFL won't want talent and attitude like he is showing this year.
DSaVol writes:
Everybody keeps talking about us having all this talent - well, sorry folks, but talent shows up on most Saturdays! This team has nowhere near the talent that everybody wants to believe they do. Doesn't matter what Rivals or Scout rate em. IF there was so much talent on this team, then freshmen and even sophomores would have to be near All-Americans to even get on the field. What we DO have is a bunch of heralded high school guys that have been under coached, under disciplined, and under developed to be able to compete in a truly elite program. Who's fault is that? The coaching staff's of course. They still believe (and have led the players to believe) that there is still some great intimidation factor for opponents because "we are Tennessee." News flash: "TENNESSEE" might still be on the front of the shirt but nobody cares anymore! And they won't care again until a new staff puts some pride and heart back into the equation.
OldNumber7 writes:
The REASON Alabama got to our red-zone is another story....
BuckFama writes:
I love the Vols and support the players. But if I owned a bar, I wouldn't hire Hefney as a bouncer. You can't throw a drunk out of a bar if you can't stay within 5 yards of him.
DSaVol writes:
It MUST be Sunday morning! Another stupid comment by my good friend BuckFama - that great supporter of players who disses them in the next breath! Hopefully, you're still behind your big buddy Phil too cause he NEEDS more support like yours! I know you have trouble dealing with FACTS Buckeroo but here's one for ya - while Hef didn't have a good game, it becomes very difficult for a safety to cover when 2 or 3 guys are coming open from all directions in the middle of the field! Chalk that up where the blame REALLY rests - COACHING DECISIONS!! No blitzes means no pressure. No pressure means more time. More time means open receivers ESPECIALLY when coaches insist on playing zone and giving up 8-10 yard cushions ALL DAY!!!!! Those are the FACTS but being the expert you are I wouldn't expect you to understand.
vol4good#206163 writes:
Please DONT make excuses Fulmer. Alabama had two freshman DB's starting and lost thier backups before the game started. They didnt have much trouble intercepting our all world QB. Admit you have failed as the coach and get the HELL out! That should have been the shortest press conf. you have ever given. "thanks ladies and gentlemen. I quit, thank you".
yeavols#228407 writes:
I just want to know one thing- Where has our outstanding talent been for the last 9 years that we have recruited? By now we should have done something. I knew it wasn't going to be good yesterday. You can tell by the way the players carry themselves on the field and on the sidelines. They looked somewhat worried and the coaches showed no emoition. It was CAL all over again and I it's like a bad dream you can't wake up from.
BY_HIS_WOUNDS_WE_ARE_HEALED writes:
OUR YOUNG SECONDARY MADE JOHN PARKER WILSON LOOK LIKE HE BELONGED IN THE SEC. IF CHAVIS HAD BLITZED MORE AND HAD MORE PRESSURE FROM OUR FRONT FOUR, THE SECONDARY MIGHT NOT HAVE LOOKED SO BAD. THE GLORY DAYS ARE OVER AND SO ARE OUR OUT-DATED COACHES. WE SHOULD KEEP TROOPER TAYLOR AND GET RID OF THE OTHERS.
TommyJack writes:
Mike Hamilton: Grow a set.
objk1#231846 writes:
'jtoijglbishr;iuy4ot8itogh;rvihapriutpeoitng;lijdfgl;ijsdrg;lij
BamafaNga writes:
Heres what I dont get....Why did TN abandon the run when Foster was doing so well? Dont get me wrong, Im glad they did because our D-front is our biggest weakness right now. I was worried that Foster was just one step away from breaking it big on several runs. TN should've taken note to other SEC backs running all over us...i.e. Knowshon Mareno (Georgia), Darren McFadden (ARK).
To be honest, I dont think Fulmer is the sole source of the problem. I think right now TN is feeling the effects of poor recruiting in the absence of Cutcliff. He was the reason TN did so well back in the 90's. Peyton Manning, Tee Martin, John Henderson, Jamal Lewis etc...This is the kind of talent you got from a great recruiter like Cutcliff. Give em a couple of years for him to get recruits of this caliper again, and TN will be right back in the mix of things....BELIEVE ME!! ALL BAMA FANS KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW. But if we never fell, we'd never appreciate the ability to stand up...Roll Tide!!
NCCOLTSFAN writes:
Said it all year and been cussed for it.
Ainge is over rated but it's all about money.
And way to go Fullmure.
Feed next years QB to the lions and destroy his confidence.
Then,next year you can say."well,Jonathan is gonna be a heck of a QB in this league.He wil get better each week."
This program sucks!
Now I have to avoid the stinking tar hell fans.
And where are the ones who called us fair weather fans and demanded we eat crow????????
Yeah, I am from Crompton's home town.
What about it???
Ainge is a baby.
Won't ever start in NFL!
Thanks Doughboy!
See yall next year!
yeavols#228407 writes:
If Crompton is going to be good, he better start practicing because I haven't seen anything yet. Of course, he hasn't had any playing time. It's going to take a coach who can develop Crompton and we don't have one right now. That freshman kid looks pretty good though..but i am sure that will be squandered. Back to staying the course I guess.
VolunteerTroy_24 writes:
The time for change is upon UTK. The bigger question is who on the Hill is man enough to make it happen.
SFOrange writes:
Did anyone watch (while drowning your sorrows) the LSU-Auburn game? what I saw was what I want for UT--innovative, risk taking, aggressive play on both sides of the ball....even in a loss AU was fun to watch. For UT, the fun is gone.
ehorne1308 writes:
FULLMORE IS AT UT TILL THEY CARRY HIM OUT IN A GOLD BOX NO ONE AT UT CAN GET HIM OUT HE KNOW WHERE ALL THE BODY ARE BURIED AND HE WILLING TO TAKE THE WHOLE PROGRAM DOWN IF HE LET GO.
scvols writes:
The DB's are young, Hefney is average, and DL and DE's are below average. I think the DB’s will get better, but I do not see any improvement in the future for our DL and DE’s. Our D starts up front and for the past 5 years, we have not been dominating up front.
invisiblekid writes:
Eldee, good luck with those explanations, Fulmer seems more interested in lamenting the poor officiating(which it was). "We’ve been one of the least-penalized teams in the league this season and we helped them a lot today. I’ll be anxious to see the tape. The SEC officials are pretty good, so I’ll be interested to see the tape." His first comment on his show this morning mentioned the officiating as well. Guess that was the reason they lost the game, not the 510 yards of total offense given up or the shutout of our offense in the second half. The 62 yard kickoff return by Arenas apparently didn't matter either, it was the officiating. It had nothing to do with the fact that the head coach didn't even realize his second leading rusher didn't get a snap yesterday, it was the officiating. You get the idea.
wisonsinvol writes:
The kid had a great day??? He missed wide open receivers so many times it's hard to count. He got 400 yards because he couldn't miss them all day long. We made Wilson look like a Heisman candidate that he is not. Is what we are trying to do so complext and so difficult that good freshmen athletes can't figure it out? I'm sick and tired of watching other schools have great freshman contributors and we can't.... I'm tire of Tennessee football. Time to move on....
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