Vol Report
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Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. South Carolina
- When: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007, 7:45 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Turnover.
To the offense, it's a dirty word. To a defense, it's the magic word.
Sack.
See above.
Turnovers and sacks are the great disrupters in college football. And both weigh heavily on the minds of Tennessee and South Carolina heading into what amounts to an SEC East death match Saturday at Neyland Stadium. (TV: ESPN, 7:45 p.m.).
The 15th-ranked Gamecocks (6-2, 3-2 SEC) have suffered too many turnovers and way too many sacks for coach Steve Spurrier's liking.
The Vols (4-3, 2-2) have different issues. Their defense can't get off the field.
"If you're going to be good on defense,'' said UT defensive coordinator John Chavis, "you've got to create turnovers, and we're not doing that right now.''
The Vols have forced only nine turnovers, and an equal number of sacks. Neither total is acceptable.
"We work on it and talk about it every week,'' said UT coach Phillip Fulmer.
"Believe me, we're conscious of it.''
When it comes to sacks, the Vols and Gamecocks couldn't be more opposite.
Tennessee leads the nation in protecting its quarterbacks. Erik Ainge hasn't been sacked since the opening series of the season at California.
Jonathan Crompton was sacked in mop-up time against Southern Miss on Sept. 8.
Since then - nothing.
"A sack, in my opinion,'' said Ainge, "is one of most underrated things that can hurt a football team.
"If I didn't throw an interception but had five sacks, that's probably five drives that were ended because I took a sack.''
Tell Spurrier about it.
The Gamecocks have allowed 26 sacks, which ranks 107th in the nation. That's 3.25 per game. Last week, Vanderbilt sacked Carolina seven times in a 17-6 upset.
But can the Vols' defense keep the sack party going Saturday?
"I'd like to say 'yeah' but we've struggled rushing the passer,'' said Chavis. "So it'll be a heckuva match-up to see if we can rush the passer and they can protect.''
Six of UT's sacks came against Southern Miss and Arkansas State. They've notched one in each of their past three SEC games.
Chavis insists the pass rush has improved, even in the 41-17 loss to Alabama.
"We're working on it,'' said Fulmer. "You can fix things in the short term and also work to fix it in the long term.
"Long term being recruiting, and short term being the guys we've got working like heck to get better.''
That goes for turnovers, too. If sacks frequently stop drives, turnovers always do.
South Carolina, the nation's leading pass defense, has intercepted 11 passes.
The Gamecocks have also recovered five fumbles. Defensive end Eric Norwood returned two of them for touchdowns - one resulting from a sack - in a win over Kentucky.
The Vols have produced only one turnover in their past three games, a late interception against Georgia on Oct. 6.
"We've got guys trying to strip the ball and guys getting their hands on balls,'' Chavis said.
"We need to start catching some of the balls and getting more balls on the ground.''
Flipping over to the offense, Tennessee has of late done a better-than-average job taking care of the football.
The Vols have lost 10 turnovers, three of which were returned for touchdowns - including Ainge's only sack at Cal.
Ainge has been intercepted only four times in 256 throws, but three of them came at inopportune times.
The interception returned for a touchdown by Arkansas State was less damaging than drive-killing picks at Florida in the first quarter and at Alabama in the third.
As for fumbles, Tennessee has been sticky-fingered since Arian Foster's touchdown-producing fumble at Florida on Sept. 15.
The Vols haven't lost a fumble in the five games since.
The Gamecocks, meanwhile, appear ripe for the picking. They've given up 12 interceptions and six fumbles.
Four turnovers doomed Carolina last week against Vandy.
"If we can get them to agree to give us four turnovers,'' said Chavis, "I can tell you it would be a good outcome.''
But Chavis knows better than anyone, with this Tennessee defense there are no guarantees.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
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Comments » 41
RemembertheAlamo writes:
they work on it every week..........is this another one of those "15 minutes" working on things?
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
LMAO -- there's our "working like heck" for this week...
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Offensive line, be proud of yourselves for outstanding pass protection.
Now blow some butts off the line and make some holes for the backs...
TommyJack writes:
Easy y'all...Daggone it, they're working on it.
CrankE writes:
UT's defensive plan against Alabama was this: They committed that they would not repeat the big play blowouts that they gave up to Cal and UF. Instead, they played what might best be described as 60 minutes of "heck". (Wish that they'd dish that out to the other team instead of to Tennessee fans though.) I've never seen a team play a prevent defense for 60 minutes until Saturday.
The problem with that game plan is that they allowed Alabama to chew them up all day with 10-15 yard passes. The end result was the same, 500 yards of offense, 41 points. I can't help but wonder if they wouldn't have been better off to be more aggressive, go after the ball, go after the QB, miss a few plays, give up a few big plays-maybe make a few and get the "heck" off the field. At least that would have given our offense some more time with the ball. (Not that this would have mattered with the way UT gave up on the one thing which was working-running the football.)
It's time for Fulmer to get the "heck" outta here!!
agentorange writes:
parys was not a sack machine. little, chuck smith, chris mims and anthony sessions were, though.
yeavols#228407 writes:
stay the course
chrisw2967 writes:
If we get a sack you can catch it ESPNs top game changing performance.maybe even make the top 10 plays
DennisVols writes:
Wilson, Henderson, Thompson, Delong to name a few.
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Presented to the defensive player of the year as selected by the Football Writers Association of America in conjuction with the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The first selection was made in 1993.
1998—Al Wilson (Finalist)
2000—John Henderson (Finalist)
Butkus Award
Presented to the nation’s top linebacker by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Fla. First selection was in 1985.
1988—Keith DeLong (Finalist)
1998—Al Wilson (Semifinalist)
1999—Raynoch Thompson (Finalist)
2000—Eric Westmoreland (Semifinalist)
2004—Kevin Burnett (Semifinalist)
Jim Thorpe Award
Presented annually to the nation’s best defensive back by the Jim Thorpe Association, Oklahoma City, Okla. First selection was in 1986.
1999—Deon Grant (Finalist)
1999—Dwayne Goodrich (Semifinalist)
2000—Andre Lott (Semifinalist)
2004—Jason Allen (Semifinalist)
For years UT's defense was respected and feared. Now a weakness on a team struggling to find themselves.
This too is a symptom of the big picture at UT.
Here's my new blog: Why did it happen?
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Denn...
wyomingvol writes:
run the ball please.....
VolHooch14 writes:
Hmmmm....
I wonder if the special pass / protection "schemes" they've drawn up for South Carolina will include getting Montario Hardesty into the game this week?
GreerVol22 writes:
Look west defense and play with the heart of a Commodore!
but I doubt it....Our D gives up 30 against USC, but somehow our O scores 31...
pdhuff#552644 writes:
We couldn't sack at free-groceries day at the senior citizens center!
bigbluevol writes:
I wonder what VT fans are saying about their coaches today after they consistently started dropping 8 and only rushing 3 on the two drives that resulted in td's. After all, they had been in Ryan's face all night with blitzes and a four man rush. However, they changed it up, played it safe and lost. When you credit VT for showing us "how it used to be" you'd better realize that every fan base can gripe and question the coaches and that fans will always think they could do better.
Bigger_Al writes:
Let' pull together and kick Spurrier's butt!
Go Vols!
orangebloodgmc writes:
CrankE and Bigbluevol are putting the spotlight on it -- gotta bring some heat to disrupt opposing offense. Maybe this week ...
MemphisVolFan writes:
"We're working on it,'' said Fulmer. "You can fix things in the short term and also work to fix it in the long term.
"Long term being recruiting, and short term being the guys we've got working like heck to get better.''
Has anyone thought to find out if the Phil Fulmer standing on the sideline is actually Phil Fulmer or is it an android with pre-recorded messages?
jdcdjc#246285 writes:
Sounds to me like Chavis is going into this game defeated already. He's had the defense ready to play only one game so far this year. A team that can play as well as they did against Georgia shows me it's in the coaching and not the players.
scttmcdonald#551862 writes:
You nailed it jdcdjc. With a quote like this:
""If we can get them to agree to give us four turnovers,'' said Chavis, "I can tell you it would be a good outcome.""
it sounds as if Chavis is full of 'hope'.
Whats that old saying about hope?
Oh yeah, it's:
"Hope is the last thing someone does before they are defeated."
NCCOLTSFAN writes:
Send Smokey in with the plays!
And the charts!
Problem solved!
SC-31 TN-28
DennisVols writes:
Why did it happen?
How did UT go from National Champion in '98 to middle tier.
To find out why go to:
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Denn...
firetst#220411 writes:
The VOLS are last or close to last in all Defensive categories in the SEC. This 3 man rush is not producing pressure or sacks. The QBs are having time to find receivers all over the field. The VOLS "O" is #3 in Total Offense. The fear is giving up the big play which they are doing anyway. Go after the QB and if the big play comes so what they are getting them anyway. Let our "O" come on the field and try to match scores. That would be far better than what is going on now. Who knows maybe a little QB pressure may result in a fumble or interception. I just don't understand our defensive strategies at all.
DennisVols writes:
The long term fix is to regain the discipline on this program. It started back at the turn of the century when there were so many issues involving off field activities. Arrests for durgs, assualt, noise violations. Increased number of players being supended, dismissed or other wise leaving the team. All this off field distractions boiled over onto the field and the rest of the team. Football is a game of concentration, commitment, and discipline.
If the players do not have discipline, and the coaching staff does not teach and enforce it then what you see on the field is what you saw off of it.
Missed tackles=Discipline
Dropped Passes=Discipline
Blown Coverage=Discipline
These players know what to do, they just do not have or are using the discipline to accomplish it.
Why did it happen?;
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Denn...
bigbluevol writes:
tngeoff- I'm not necessarily a Fulmer apologist. My point is that second guessing will always go on. We could resurrect Vince Lombardi and still wonder what he's doing on certain plays. I have seen some people say that VT's d-coordinator might be good for us. Well, when push came to shove last night, what did he do? The same thing people rip on Chavis for (rightly so). You can't drop 8, only rush 3 and expect to cover receivers for 5 seconds plus. The grass is always greener. I think that our d needs to be revamped and we'll probably see some assistants fired or the entire d staff. Regardless, people will have problems no matter what happens. That was my point. I'm sorry you can't understand that; you're probably too busy dreaming about your Majors expose.
asleep#212036 writes:
I"ll say it again. In my opinion, Chavis' defensive prowess is a fraud. We have never been able to stop a wide open passing offense (Check the 90's score sfrom Spurrier vs. Chavis) and have run a prevent defense in the 4th quarter since Chief took over. The only time our D was strong was when we had half an NFL team in the game. Now, with only 1 or 2 potential NFL guys back there, we suck. That is the essence of coaching: take a player, at whatever talent level he possesses, and make him better. Chavis just can't do it. I think Cutcliffe can. Game day execution is one thing but making better players is the heart of the matter. Cutcliffe has it, Chavis does not. He's got to go. Go Vols!!!
webbofconfusion writes:
JW. I think Fulmer is referencing his recruiting strategy. This year I think from past years we are undersized at linebacker... Which has an effect on the blitz.. so long term... recruiting more size would not hurt. Short term like Dl says... Discipline. (but we are small) so an uphill battle.
Aren't we? I could be wrong?
asleep#212036 writes:
webbofconfusion,
You are not wrong. I live in north Alabama and am familiar with the high school exploits of Renaldo McClain, the Tide's freshman middle linebacker. He was recruited heavily by Saban after Shula left and I can see why. He is 6'4" and 256 pounds. Like him or hate him, nobody would argue that Saban is a defensive genius and once he gets his folks in place, Alabama's D will be scary. McClain is the future prototype linebacker to combat the spread. Tall to disrupt passing lanes in a zone, big to inflict punishment on running QB's, and fast enough to cover a TE or back when necessary. Our starting linebackers average 6'1" and 225 pounds. Looking down the roster, we don't have anyone listed at LB anywhere near McClain's size. In fact, our 4 regular DE's are, on average, 6'3" and 256 pounds. Give him credit, even Phil sees that his recruiting efforts (or maybe those on Chavis, the LB coach) have put us behind the 8 ball at LB for the foreseeable future. Go Vols!!!
invisiblekid writes:
"I'd like to say 'yeah' but we've struggled rushing the passer,'' said Chavis. "So it'll be a heckuva match-up to see if we can rush the passer and they can protect.'' Variations of the word hell seems to be the theme of the year for these coaches. I wonder if they have a chart for it?....heck...heckuva....hades....inferno...purgatory...underworld etc..
Another way to describe the matchup between the Vols defensive line and the Gamecocks offensive line would be the resistable object meets the moveable force. It looks to be an epic battle of bad versus worse.
Whether the powers that be admit it or not, this season is just about shot and it's a matter of pride at this point. We'll find out if the Vols have any Saturday.
asleep#212036 writes:
"resistable object meets moveable force"? AWESOME!!! Go Vols!!!
bigbluevol writes:
tngeoff- I definitely don't miss your clamoring for the Majors story. Glad that we agree about Va Tech, though. Go Vols!
west_tn_volfan writes:
Chavis has had some good defenses but as others have said, its only been when we had lots of nfl caliber players that could make bad schemes work anyway. As far as linebackers, every time we get a big linebacker, they try to convert him to a defensive end instead of letting him play his natural position. It seems strange that often times our defensive backs are better in their first few years than when they're seniors. I guess it takes Slade longer to screw some people up.
asleep#212036 writes:
I think the reason most of us are angry is because we have seen our preseason fears realized and subsequently met with apathy and inactivity from our coaching staff. All of us knew the secondary would struggle when Morley, Fellows, and Johnson weren't going to be available. Say what you will but any coach will tell you the secondary is the absolute worst place for young players, let alone true freshmen. We knew the receivers had no experience. We knew the D line had been in a state of steady decline for the past 4 years. We thought the coaches knew it too and would fix it. Alas, the grim reality. Either they didn't know, which is ignorance, or they couldn't figure out how to mitigate the damages, which is incompetent. Either way, the coaching staff has yet to figure out how to help our guys win games with less than ideal personnel on the field. That's why I'm mad and that's why I feel betrayed by the coaching staff. If there was a problem in my area at work, and I either didn't know it or couldn't fix it, they would get someone else to do my job. Why should the "business" of UT football be any different? Go Vols!!!
Volunatic writes:
GO VOLS!!! Beat the Gamecocks!
Colliervol writes:
If we lose this one, the fans may have a "sack party" next week, i.e. wearing them. And if we lose many more, there could be a "sack party" at the end of the season. As in the pink slip kind.
TommyJack writes:
Geoffrey: I'm cool with more on the expose'. :)
madcow26#524674 writes:
worst tenn defense in a very , very , very , long time... line, linebackers, secondary are all lost...
govolsfan#214750 writes:
Oh dear lord, this idiot played at Florida. Explains a lot doesnt it. Enjoy!
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/73...
asleep#212036 writes:
I think Fulmer and Chavis recruited to what they thought the defensive needs were. All the LB's we have were highly recruited. Unfortunately, the spread offense that has become so prevalent in the SEC has made some of these guys obsolete. Don't think Fulmer was the only one fooled. Anyone watch the NC game last year? Tressel's 5 star LB's couldn't handle it either. Difference is, Tressel can still win his conference with his D - we can't. I have no doubt Fulmer can change recruiting strategy and get the right folks with the right number of "stars". But successful people (and businesses) are proactive, not reactive. It will take 3 years to get the right players to their Jr. seasons, when they usually start contributing to the cause. Yikes!! Go Vols!!!
TommyJack writes:
Asleep: Recruiting is one thing...coaching them up or down is quite another...
asleep#212036 writes:
AMEN tommyjack. We both know which way our kids are apparently coached, huh? Go Vols!!!
TommyJack writes:
indeed, doc
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