Sack party for Vols? ... They wish

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.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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