Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
- When: Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007, time TBA
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee Stat Book
Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess
Buy this photo »
Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge talks with coaches in the press box Saturday during the Vols game against South Carolina at Neyland Stadium.
Trooper Taylor wasn't the first person in the film room Sunday morning. He wasn't surprised by that, either.
When Tennessee's wide receivers coach arrived at the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center shortly after 8 o'clock, quarterback Erik Ainge was already in the film room.
"He was probably halfway through the game by then," Taylor said.
And that's precisely why Taylor isn't worried about Ainge's struggles in an overtime victory against South Carolina following the senior into Saturday's homecoming 4 p.m. game against Louisiana-Lafayette.
"Everybody knows it's the trigger man," Taylor said. "You either sink or swim with the trigger man, and he's our guy."
The Vols managed to swim on Saturday, even though Ainge was simply treading water.
His numbers against the Gamecocks - 26 completions on 44 attempts for 216 yards with an interception and a touchdown - weren't disastrous.
But they did raise some eyebrows.
His 59-percent completion rate was the lowest since he completed 57 percent of his passes in a narrow victory over Kentucky last November.
Those 216 yards are his third lowest total since the beginning of the 2006 season.
The most troubling thing - for Ainge and offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe - was the way the ball looked coming out of Ainge's right hand at times against the Gamecocks.
"It just didn't come out accurately," Cutcliffe said. "It happens. You see Tom Glavine get knocked out in the first inning. Why? I don't know if Tom Glavine knows, but the ball doesn't move that day for him. It happens to Roger Clemens and all of them."
Ainge isn't a Hall of Fame pitcher, but he is an elite college quarterback.
A UT record 67 percent completion rate last year, more than 7,000 career passing yards and a 22-9 record as a starter back that up.
Even with a broken pinky finger on his throwing hand all season and slight shoulder injury recently, Ainge has completed 65 percent of his throws for 2,013 yards with 14 touchdowns to just five interceptions this season.
But Saturday was just one of those head-scratching days.
"It's just like anything in any sport ever. Sometimes the ball comes out great, sometimes it doesn't," Ainge said. "For whatever reason, it wasn't coming out great. That was really the first time all year that it wasn't coming out of my hand great.
"What you do when that happens is you go back practice and say, 'All right, I'm going to have better fundamentals.' "
In fact, Cutcliffe has trained Ainge to feel when his mechanics might be a little off kilter.
Sometimes the athleticism Ainge showed off as a three-sport standout at Glencoe High School in Oregon works against him. The ability to throw while moving or throw across his body is usually a good thing, but it can also get in the way of the fundamentals, Ainge says.
Cutcliffe says it a different way.
"Coach Cut says it all the time, 'I bet you shot a basketball a thousand different ways,' because of the way I play," Ainge said.
When asked about the way he played Saturday, Ainge said it was his worst game since Cutcliffe returned to UT last season.
He saw that much on film Sunday.
"There were a couple times the receivers - you could see it on film - kind of looking back, like, 'I was open, why didn't you hit me?' " Ainge said.
But there wasn't any concern from Taylor on Sunday morning, just like there's not any heading into Saturday's game.
When Taylor coached wide receivers at Tulane before coming to UT, he worked with future pro quarterbacks Patrick Ramsey and J.P. Losman.
"I know he throws the ball better than those guys, and both of those were first-round picks," Taylor said. "I have no concerns whatsoever.
"There's nobody out there that's going to outwork Erik Ainge. He'll be ready. He's not going to go out and have back-to-back bad games."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
UT's new $45 million football…
Images from Larry Murphy's book on…
Smokey undergoes physical therapy at UT
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 69
Oenoboy writes:
Les Misérables
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Erik is, and will be, fine. He's an outstanding QB and we're extremely fortunate to have him leading our team. Imagine where we would be without him.
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
mbumburu
He's been a good QB for us. As far as him "leading" this team in anything else than passing yards and completions, eh, not so much.
SmokeDog72 writes:
"Ainge looking for flaws"
That's too easy!!!!
Seriously, I do like Ainge and hope he gets things straightened out for his sake and the sake of the season. For the most part (with a couple exceptions), he has been a lone bright spot this year.
gmccown007#392764 writes:
test test
CrankE writes:
So many mixed analogies, he's the trigger man...treading water....it's like being a pitcher.
"Well, you know, we've just got to play 'em one pitch at a time, come out firing, not treading water, and throwing strikes."
Maybe it'd be simpler just to try being a quarterback instead of all those things. Lots fewer blocks on the chart too. Just me.
At least they recognize there's a problem. Honesty is a great first step. I predict that this week against ULL, they'll do well, check their blocks on the chart and Fulmer will tell us everything's fixed and it's okay....Not that they were performing poorly or anything.
Get the "heck" out of here.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Without Ainge, Neyland would have 75,000 Staurday. Its doubtful if we wold have won 3 games. He and the o-line and Lincoln are the story! The rest (except Berry) are not SEC caliber. Best back Hardesty is either hurt or in Philapottmus's doghouse. Coker can't get in the game , so we have Fumblin' Foster! Maybe SEC would allow us to play with 14 on defense ao sheer numbers would cause some stumbling! Aaah, the agony of slow feet! LBs are screwed into the ground by sweeps! If you watch this muddle on defense, you are a Vol fan! Smite the Ragin' Cajuns. Orange!
ClassicVol writes:
I just cannot like Ainge. I still remember the mental mistakes and believe the only reason he hasn't cracked again is because of the protection the O-Line gives him. He's a pampered mental case in my opinion. I'll be glad to see him go.
vlawson#255184 writes:
I have been a Huge fan of Ainge's....we truly are seeing someone special who will also be a very good if not great NFL Q'b......
GreerVol22 writes:
Ainge just had one of those nights when very few stars were in line. Under no pressure, and on at least 6 occasions, the ball was thrown at the feet of Chris Brown on that soft underneath pass that has been money all season. Be it finger, shoulder, or playing against the #1 pass defense in the country...Ainge just went head on into the perfect storm and when the house stopped spinning he was in the Land of Lincoln! Thankfully!
Hopefully Crompton will get some much need reps and Ainge will get some much needed rest this weekend vs Louisiana Monroe-Lafayette-Tech.
GreerVol22 writes:
and somewhere inbetween Archer58 and vlawson is the real Ainge...
drgovols1 writes:
I think Ainge is a great player as well.
If you have the game TiVo'ed, go back and watch it.
He's backpeddling on almost every throw.
He never stepped up into the pocket to deliver a throw.
It looks as if he's afraid to take a hit even after a throw.
He's got to be a man and step up into the pocket a throw the ball moving forward - and occasionally take a lick - especially if he wants to play at the next level.
vlawson#255184 writes:
duly noted GreerVol22
hueypilot writes:
Touchdown TN and tengeoff, how can I put this? Let's see.............. Bull@#$t! Most times in this life, you get what you deserve. That's exactly what happened Saturday night in Knoxville. South Carolina made some late noises but they deserved exactly what they got which was a loss. They turned the ball over four times, looked like the keystone cops on the first play of overtime and finally, missed a straight on field goal to extend the game. Looked like our game against Spurrier in 98 for you deja vu fans. Tennessee scored more points and made the plays when they had to. Lost in all this seems to be the fact that South Carolina was among the leaders, if not the leader in the NCAA in pass defense so it's not like Ainge was going against chopped liver. The sad thing about many on this site is that they can't enjoy a win, even one as dramatic and exciting, and important, as the one on Saturday. I know most of you are waiting for the loss to Arkansas and/or Vanderbilt and/or Kentucky so you can be validated in your judgement and use another derogatory name for Phil. Call me crazy, but I'd like us to win, copping the division and a chance to vindicate 2001 against LSU in Atlanta, but that's just me.
My criticism of Ainge is that he forgets where the sticks are. Often times he throws it to a receiver short of the mark on a pattern where he has no shot to make a first down. On Saturday night, on a crucial possession late in the fourth quarter, he threw a 20 yard fade on fourth down when we needed three to keep the ball. You'd think a senior wouldn't make mistakes like that, but again, he's a kid.
VOLinDAWGland writes:
Good grief folks...these are young barely men playing in extremely stressful conditions having to juggle increbible pressure, physical stress and school responsibilities. The season is long and competition is incredible. They WILL slump every now and then. They will get mentally and physically fatigued. A bunch of you who post on this site are beyond rediculous. GET A LIFE!!!
VOLinDAWGland writes:
Ainge is easily the best QB we've had here since Manning and T. Until the SC game I was very comfortable in 3rd and long situations. No reason to doubt that I'll be comfortable again. He has talent, great work ethic and great character. Now he just needs to take a shot down the field every now and then. He'll be just fine.
One post remarked about his toughness...do you remember the lick he took in the Cal game? Brutal!!! He did not miss a beat after that. Anyone ever play golf and one day you just can't figure out why you can't hit the ball crisply the way you know you can? Well you go to the driving range, correct it, and knock the phooey out of it the next round. That's what we'll see here.
Also, I doubt Hardesty is in the doghouse, he just can't seem to stay healthy. When he is, he seems to bring a spark. Don't know what's wrong with Coker other than he probably lost too much time in fall camp and has never been able catch up. That is his fault not Fulmer's. Hopefully the clue light will switch back on soon.
volgrog#210164 writes:
I think Ainge's problem lies between his ears right now. He's trying to do too much in crunch time. We've folded like a cheap tent offensively in every loss and it's partly due to Ainge trying to force things when we get down; throw a little harder; put it in a tighter spot.
I think the same thing happened here, but with a different outcome. Last year it worked for him just thinking he needed to get the ball to the big play receivers. This year, he thinks he has to make the big play. He needs to be more patient and relaxed, especially when we are losing and need consistency.
RemembertheAlamo writes:
archer58....You have got to be kidding...I guess you wish we still had Brent Schaeffer, who is now the 2nd Team quarter back at 2-7 Mississippi...I think the play call sucks sometimes, but I still think Ainge is one of the bright spots on our team and without him we would not win out......Go vols
rnorwood#343792 writes:
I agree with most that Ainge is one of the bright spots for this football team.
Volfan1 writes:
TouchdownTN,
You broke your word. You said you were gone from here and going to basketball. Shoulda known that wouldn't last & we wouldn't be that lucky.
And as for being lucky against South Carolina/Spurrier, it makes up for Florida/Spurrier being lucky in 2000 with Gaffney's TD "catch".
inquiry writes:
Ainge throws a wobble ball about every throw, which is on the money, but harder to catch.. reminds me of how Dewey Warren threw it.. he told me in the 60's, it was his hands being smaller than average.. Ainge is probably a grip issue too
imnotwithphil writes:
Well, let's see. South Carolina ranks #6 in the nation against the pass... and La Laffitup ranks 90th against the pass (just 3 spots behind the Vols own pass D) according to http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/stats/b...
I bet that coach "Clueless" and Eric Ain't both find and fix their flaws this weekend...
But here's the bad news for all of you Fulmorons and other Big Orange fans that are lighting a candle and hoping we somehow back our way into an SEC East Championship... Arkansas ranks 9th against the pass... Vandy ranks 13 and Kentucky 21...
Ouch.
linebam writes:
"Lucky" win? Hmmm... I recall another "lucky" win during the NC season: Arkansas. I don't remember anybody complaining about that one. Come to think of it, there was at least one other "lucky" win during that season, too; lest we forget the season opener at Syracuse (last minute drive and field goal saved us on that one, if I recall correctly). Bottom line... almost every year some team needs a "lucky" win to salvage a season, or turn a merely good season into a great one. Let's all get behind the Vols and hope this one salvages an SEC championship season. As I've said before, I'll take an ugly ("lucky") win over a beautiful loss anytime. go Vols!
hueypilot writes:
Agreed tngeoff. Still "backstabber" means your version of what happened back then and mine differ. Wish the criteria for the ring of honor was such that JM could be included. His is the second name (after RRN) in Tennessee football but I wasn't sorry to see him go. Phil took what he had built and won the big one in 98, (Reportedly the luckiest turn of events in the history of mankind according to some on this thread) Someone else pointed out that Jabar Gaffney's dribble and Alama Matthews call took a long time to be reconciled but maybe that was what happened Saturday night. The ball bounces funny.
Of all the things wrong with this team, QB is one of the lesser problems. Still Ainge's decisions on third down to throw short of the mark, or his throwing a 20 yard fade on fourth and 3 late make me scratch my head. Sometimes I think he feels like he has to do it all himself, and for the most part this year, he's had scant little help.
SavDawg writes:
You guys are out, and the Dawgs are in...Vandy is strong, Kentucky is too unpredictable and the Hogs will be a challenge as well, I can see them screwing up someone's season just because they can...On the other hand, we have the Tigers of the east which scares the hell out of me every year. Go Dawgs!
webbofconfusion writes:
Ainge's biggest flaw in the game was simply this... Cooler temperatures, broken finger, Stiff hands. I can see that he lost his touch for the ball. Phil and Cut need to get him outdoors in the mornings to throw a few. Work out the mechanics of playing in cooler weather.
sjt... Dead on... Professional.
Go Vols.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Complete load of phooey by you guys.
Casey was a damn good college QB. He won a lot of clutch, tough games. The only time I didn't like what he did was when he backed off his UGA comment (he coulda beat them with one arm), as he probably could have, as UT dominated except they had NO QB.
Erik is a serviceable college QB; nothing more or less. I don't think he throws a great deep ball, but he mostly manages a game well. Most importantly, he improves constantly with different parts of his game.
Erik will most likely be a pro qb, probably a backup. At some point in his mid-20's, he might start, as he matures.
threehundredbowler writes:
all wins are pretty and all loses are ugly.
Volnavychief writes:
I agree with what was said earlier that he was throwing flat footed. He threw behind several open receivers that would have resulted in completions. He still hasn't shown he can throw the ball more than 25-30 yards down the field. He needs to throw it even if he just thows it over everybodys head just to put the thought in the defense minds that we "can throw it". You wait and see... TN will keep this weekend's game close and we won't get young guys playing time which I say is BS. With the SEC East on the line over the next 3-4 weeks. I say play your young guys and give your starters the weekend off!
tnbanker_govols writes:
I agree with sjt18....Ainge has been pretty solid all year long. He's not the best that Tennessee has ever had but he's the best we have right now. The past couple of games have been a struggle for Ainge but it is encouraging to see that he is not making excuses, he's not pouting or whining.....and he's not celebrating a fortunate win against South Carolina. Instead, he's in the film room studying on how to make things better. I look for Ainge to bounce back strong and play well enough to get us 3 solid SEC wins to end the season. By the way, did any of the defensive team join Ainge in the film room????
dlobh writes:
SavDawg, can you say 35-14?
tnbanker_govols writes:
No, savdawg probably quit watching about midway through the 3rd quarter. 35-14 probably doesn't mean a whole lot to him!!
DennisVols writes:
Ainge has studied Manning. They talk on regular basis. Back in Mannings days as UT's qb coach Cut made the comment once that he had to stay up at night reviewing films because Peyton would be and he would have questions in the Sunday meeting that would need answered. Coach Cut has never been known for throwing high risk passes in his offensive system. So if you go back to the Peyton era you will see very few down the middle passes, most are sideline and over the outside shoulder making them very hard to defened or intercept. Don't fault Ainge for the types of passes he completes he is just a part of this system not the inventor.
Hearing that he has the dedication to be in reviewing films before anyone else shows his leadership qualities. Peytin to this day does not focus on the passes he completes, only on the ones he did not. Ainge has that same mentality. He game Saturday would have been considered good to most QB standards, we have just gotten use to more. Even Barry Bonds strickes out ever so often.
DennisVols writes:
SavDawg
That UK team you refer to is the same one that will give GA their 3 or 4th SEC loss this year. Not to mention the Auburn game.
jobrando#216494 writes:
He crumbles under the slightest amount of pressure. He has not been one of the VOLS better QB's.
bowerst#242774 writes:
People who don't like Ainge b/c of his sophomore season might consider that he came in and had to play as a freshman with no time to put on muscle in the weight room. Then he broke his collarbone, which ended his freshman year. Recuperating that summer, Ainge still couldn't bulk up due to the injury. It is not hard to understand him being gun-shy that next year b/c he still had a high school frame and he's being hit by 280 pound linemen. Heck, I would have thrown the ball away too if I was in his shoes. So I think in addition to Cutcliffe, his getting to bulk up before his junior year was key to his success.
I'm glad we got him and don't want to think about where we would be if Schaefer was our QB.
CrankE writes:
Maybe it's just me, but the constant "checking" of plays from the sidelines could work against UT. Ainge steps to the line, then looks to the side. Presumably, this allows them to see the defense that's coming and adjust. However, defenses can adjust too. I can't help but wonder if defensive coordinators-sensing UT's indecision aren't changing their defenses after UT checks the play, thus negating the "advantage" UT expects to get.
One trick play that could conceivably work is a direct snap to Foster while Ainge gets out from under center and looks towards the sidelines for the call.
But, as predictable as our offense seems to be, changing the play really isn't of much value anyway. Do I throw the 2 yard pass or let the runner go into the back of his tackle for 1 yard? Decisions, decisions.
RemembertheAlamo writes:
so grvol and jcvet is the same person....because dash727 only insulted crvol on this story, but jcvet responded....i wonder how many others have double identities.......
twin942 writes:
Ainge is a very good QB, and I am damn happy to have him. The comparison between him and Clausen is interesting. For me, Clausen had more toughness and seemed to singlehandedly win several games. He played like a champ in those monster OT games against 'Bama and Arkansas. He led several game winning drives, and I agree with mparker that he would have beat Georgia the year Banks played QB. And he stretched defenses (don't know what's up there with Ainge).
On the other hand, Ainge is more acccurate and seems to be able to deliver that 10 yard pass when necessary in our surprisingly frequent third & long situations. I love his work ethic, he's mastered the offense, he (now) makes very good decisions and I give the guy HUGE credit for overcoming that horrible soph season.
Clausen or Ainge? I go with the guy from Oregon. Clausen had better defenses and receivers, and let's not forget that Clausen could not play in the rain at all. He always claimed he could not grip the ball, but he took the team down big time during those games (anyone remember Zook's first game against us?)
xd9x19 writes:
I think the men are the ones on the field and the kids are the armchair quarterbacks who expect the guys to play at a level that they could NEVER play themselves....'cause they couldn't make the team to begin with
twin942 writes:
QBs part 2 - I do think we haven't really even seen the best of Ainge this season. I think those injuries are more disruptive than we understand.
Also, on Schaeffer, I think he'd have done well under Cutcliffe. He suffers from poor coaching. Ole Miss may have seemed a good choice, but they can't coach QBs (Seth Adams currently the 10th rated SEC passer).
Voldemort writes:
It must be Halloween. I agree with Greer. Oh no!
west_tn_volfan writes:
I am not worried about Ainge, he is a good QB that had an off night. I do think he could help himself some by throwing deep a little more often to loosen up the defense but over all I think he's done a good job this season. He hasn't had alot of help with a very inconsistent running game and alot of dropped passes but he hasn't complained and he hasn't quit working hard. It can also be problematic when you feel like you have to score every time you get the ball because the defense can't make a play.
RemembertheAlamo writes:
jcvet....i guess you statement is the pot calling the kettle black..because your last two post had nothing to do with football....
As for quarterback I hope our 2nd string gets snaps Saturday because he will need them to help prepare for next year...
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
sjt18;
great post. True, Casey was on much more talented teams. I've never thought about switching them in time; maybe Casey would thrive in these games, maybe Erik would've been all-world.
Thing is, Casey came damn close to getting us an NC. The second-half against LSU comes down to the one dropped interception by Battle...one in which he'd have easily had a TD.
My stress is on 'college' qb. Look at Tee, who got us an NC; he's no Peyton, but in college he had a little extra that Peyton didn't: he could run. Now, in the Pros...Peyton is something else. He, Tom Brady, John Elway, Brett F...man those guys are something.
Volunatic writes:
If you hold the "lucky" win last week against Fulmer, I guess you probably don't hold the "unlucky" loss to Bama in '05 against him. I mean, that would be inconsistent, right?
As for Ainge-- he's darn good. I'm glad he's a Vol, and I'm glad that he now has an offensive coordinator who can build an offense around a darn good QB.
Randy Sanders is a good position coach (he coached RB's in '97-98, and receivers before that), but he was over his head when he was OC and QB coach at the same time.
RemembertheAlamo writes:
sjt18.....I agree with you that Cut is a great coach of quarterbacks, but I don't know if every quarterback he coached made a NFL roster...What roster did Ethan Flat or Todd Helton make, and Andy Kelly is a great quarterback in the arena, but was he ever on an NFL roster? His 3 best ones were Peyton, Eli, and Heath. And Heath would have been good in the NFL if he had had a good coach and team there...
backwoodsvol writes:
Ainge is no better than Casey Clausen and he isn't sniffing the NFL. So who ever thinks he is a future high draft pick is crazy in my opinion. I have the most admiration for the guy since he suits up in the orange and white, but his stint at UT has been filled equally with highs and lows.
MOOREVOLS writes:
There's no way Tee Martin was a better college QB than Peyton. Tee could run, sure, but he had big time running backs to hand the ball to, very good offensive lines and he had great defenses to bail him out in '98 and '99. Peyton never played with a good defense, with the possible exception of '94 and he had an average at best offensive line most every year. Jay Graham was a better than average running back, but Peyton never had a stable of backs behind him like Jamal Lewis and the Travis'. Shoot, the coaches couldn't even figure out that Jamal could run the ball until after the Florida game in '97. Jamal would have made a huge difference in that game if he'd been given 15 or 20 carries. No disrespect to Tee, he was a good college QB, but in no possible way was he better than Peyton Manning at any time.
CoverOrange writes:
Clausen: tough, strong arm, rubbery legs, smart QB.
Ainge: tough, strong arm, rubbery legs, but smart? not sure. Casey checked off a lot at the line, sometimes to the chagrin of RS, I can't tell if Erik ever does after getting the signals from the sideline. My perception, may not be accurate. But definitely, Erik is not accurate passing downfield this year. Had he hit that WR in stride on that 4th down play, would have been the play of the game and a great call instead it's "stupid to go for 20 when you need 3". Peyton was deadly, thus why he threw the fade so often. Casey wasn't as consistently accurate but he was fearless, often threading needles.
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.