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
Whether it's injuries, better defenses or both, Tennessee's top three receivers have hit hard times.
Through the first six games of 2006, Josh Briscoe, Austin Rogers and Lucas Taylor averaged 16 catches and 194.2 yards per game.
In UT's last two games, the trio has averaged 10 receptions for 122 yards against South Carolina and Alabama, which rank fourth and sixth in the SEC in points allowed.
Receivers coach Trooper Taylor didn't seem worried about the fall off as the Vols prepare for Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.
"We don't have any drops," Taylor said. "To me, that's productivity."
Injuries - minor and otherwise - have certainly been part of the equation. Taylor has had to monitor Lucas Taylor in pre-game warm-ups to determine if he could overcome a turf toe injury to participate.
Briscoe suffered a concussion against Alabama on Oct. 20 and Rogers has the expected accumulation of comparatively minor ailments.
Trooper Taylor said Lucas Taylor's toe injury has been most evident as he tried to fight through press coverage. With the injury almost fully healed, that's not expected to be an issue going forward.
If the three continue to struggle, freshmen Gerald Jones and Denarius Moore and junior college transfer Kenny O'Neal could figure into the mix, Trooper Taylor said.
UT's entire team seems more comfortable with playing the newcomers, starting with senior quarterback Erik Ainge.
"His confidence in those guys makes it easier for me to put them out there," Taylor said.
Sophomore Quintin Hancock may also be on the verge of receiving more playing time - if Rogers stumbles.
"To me it's a tribute to Austin Rogers," Taylor said of Hancock's presence on the bench. "If Austin Rogers is playing well, there's no need in putting Quintin in."
Ainge said UT's receivers shouldn't be any easier to defend just because opposing defenses have more game tape to study, as opposed to the beginning of the season when they were mostly unknowns. Ainge said execution is still the key.
"They're going to know what we like to do," Ainge said of the opposition. "Every team has tendencies. We just need to be able to get it done."
Slade Says: Don't count defensive backs coach Larry Slade among those who say it's time to give Eric Berry some plays on offense.
"No," Slade said flatly when asked if Berry was ready to see some practice time on offense. "He is still learning his trade as a safety."
Berry seems to be learning well. Against South Carolina last week, the freshman strong safety had 12 tackles, a fumble return and an interception. The turnovers, Slade said, have a ripple affect throughout the secondary.
"They do feed off of that type of thing," Slade said. "When it happens, it's like, 'Wow, we can do this.'"
Slade seems more confident in his young secondary, which has three first-year starters. That could soon mean the end of soft coverage.
"They're very capable of doing that," Slade said of playing press coverage. "You'll see more of it."
Scouting Report (Defense): Slade said UT's defense should benefit from practicing against its offense, which, like Louisiana-Lafayette, runs a no-huddle attack.
"It certainly has prepared us for those types of offenses," Slade said.
Looking forward, Slade addressed DeAngelo Willingham's size as a significant attribute, especially with 6-foot-6, 217-pound Arkansas receiver Marcus Monk set to visit Knoxville on Nov. 10.
"He's a big guy," Slade said of Willingham, who is 6-foot, 195 pounds. "He brings some of that to the table. It's always nice to have those big guys."
Willingham replaced injured sophomore Marsalous Johnson, who is 5-9, 180.
Scouting Report (Offense): Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said he expects plenty of defensive diversity with the Ragin' Cajuns, given their week off to prepare for the Vols.
"I expect to see a lot of different looks from them," Cutcliffe said.
Banged up Briscoe: Briscoe said he doesn't remember much of the Alabama game because of a concussion.
"I remember getting the concussion but I don't remember going back into the game," the junior said.
Briscoe said he was still foggy for two or three days after the head injury as UT prepared for South Carolina. Against the Gamecocks, Briscoe caught four passes for 48 yards.
More Morley?: Demetrice Morley is close to putting himself in strong position to rejoin his former teammates. The former starting safety was dismissed for academic shortcomings in January.
He has been taking classes at Pellissippi State in hopes of being re-admitted. Morley has also been checking in frequently with UT's coaches, who are monitoring his progress.
It's not clear if Morley will re-apply for the spring, summer or fall semester.
Recruiting: UT is expecting former minor league baseball player Vince Faison to enroll in January. Faison signed with Georgia under then Bulldogs assistant coach Greg Adkins, who is now UT's offensive line coach.
Faison, 26, is expected to play in the secondary.
UT's new $45 million football…
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 24
ThurmondEppy writes:
Props to Morley for working hard to get back in school. Let's hope he's turned his academic life around for good. I'd love to see him on the field next year again. That kid is a good football player.
CoverOrange writes:
Turf toe injuries don't heal easily or quickly. Maybe should rest Lucas for another week and get some experience for Hancock, Oneal, Jones or Moore.
You're not going to stop a 6-6 guy making the catch over a 6-0 guy. Best to make the tackle and stop him from turning up field. Most of Monk's catches last year were of the short out variety and he killed us with YACs.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
If all this is true about Morley, then I am extremely impressed. You have to admire him. I see heart. Desire. Determination. Maybe even a young man who's learned a lesson.
Really hope it works out for him because this guy can play. Will never forget how he won that UAB game for us in 2005 by breaking up a last-minute pass in the end zone.
Good luck to you, Demetrice!
VOLINSC writes:
Morely is just one of the four of five players UT should have in the secondary this year that are MIA. With all the attrition in the secondary, if PF acomplishes an East Div. Championship this season,it will be a sucessfull season.
I live out of state and coming back to knoxville for the game, I couldn't beleive the negativity in Knoxville. People act like UT is having a season like ND (1-7). I think the people in and around Knoxville need to take a broader look at the current college landscape. Compared to Miami, FSU, Nebraska (powers during the 90s) Tennessee under PF is doing pretty good. Yes, maybe we need some changes in the staff (similar to majors staff changes in the middle of the season to turn around the 88 season and lead to a great run in 89 through 91). But the benefits of keeping PF in place outweigh the significant chance of getting the wrong replacement. (see, for example, Nebraska, Colorado, ND). Simply put, the days when a few powers could dominate year in and year out are over.
newtonrail writes:
grvol, you are #@#@ to call a fellow poster out like that. He can have an opinion. When is the last game you attended?
Oenoboy writes:
What the hell grvol. Why don't you add something constructive every once in a while. The man is talking about a championship if you would learn how to read.
We all know you don't like the coaching staff. ANYONE IS NOT CLEAR THAT GRVOL ISN'T HAPPY WITH THE COACHING STAFFF, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS. Hmmm, no hands. grvol, we all know how you feel about Fulmer and the current state of affairs. Can you now move on to something different. Christ, you're eaten up like a stalker. It's ok, we will all survive a season that doesn't live up to the expectations Fulmer created.
txsvol#372416 writes:
VOLINSC, Agree with your first paragraph, and until we were dominated by our two biggest rivals, FL & AL this year, I agreed with your second. But getting beat 100-37 in the two games means that we were totally dominated! We are not competetive with the elite teams in our conference. Their athletes may or may not be better than ours, but their coaches are definitely better in game preparation and adjustments during the game. Look at how the Ol' Ball Coach overcame a 21 point deficit to take us to overtime and almost beat us last week! I want a pro-active coach (like Belechik with his linebackers on Sundays) and coaching staff who can scare the Meyers and Sabans of the conference, who can shove the ball down their throats for a change. If we win three more SEC games, and upset LSU in Atlanta, irony of all ironies, we'd be in a BCS bowl, even if we lose to ULALA this week!!! And then, to lose to a UConn or K-State? Or somebody like Hawaii? Or lose to LSU and wind up in the Liberty bowl losing to East Carolina? We can still be UT fans and be fed up with having to rally in November to salvage our season, and then, lose the bowl game! Others have previously posted the quote about insanity being doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result! I'm fed up with losing to the Gators and Tide, and anybody else, like the Dawgs did to us for so long. Go Vols! SAVol
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Wow, Slade says we've been playing a SOFT defensive backfield package! Such power should not be in the hands on one man! Wow! 12,000 yds passing given up only slowed by enemy receivers winded from running free. Necks hurt from watching rival wide-outs go by unfettered! Thank God the field is only 100 yds! A good runner would be to Crossville by now. We confuse QBs by giving them so many choices to throw to. Are we required to have corners, it would be simpler to let them stand (which they do) and eat a hot dog! I feel better now. Go Vols!
iowavol writes:
VolnSC, I've been thinking that all year. Coupled with a QB with a broken finger on his throwing hand, a defensive line full of issues, a new mike who is playing out of position - and then I read all this buzz kill from folks like GR and CR vol (who really are the same person). I just shake my head and wonder if $2.2 million is enough. And then I think (thankfully) our coaches don't and shouldn't care a big whoop about folks posting on this board. They care about the young men that are affected by this BS and we should too.
As for the blowouts against us, it's time to move on. There are myriad reasons why a game that should have been close and really was closer 2/3 through, can end up an embarrassing blowout and we have seen most of them. Someone yesterday said a perfect scenario would be Alabama and Tennessee meeting again in Atlanta. I agree and the outcome would be much different next time.
drwfocus writes:
I agree with the comments on Slade. The guy should have been gone 3 years ago.
mark.goodson#641124 writes:
I can't believe you comparing a 6 game average to a 2 game average. How Dumb is that?
webbofconfusion writes:
Up Down Up Down... TN Football.
I would like to see us beat our rivals every year. I would like to see us blow out every team we play. I would like to see Phil wearing so many National Champ rings that he looks like a cheap date on Friday night. Fact is... It is Football in the SEC. We can not always get what we want...
Go Vols beat LaLaf.
webbofconfusion writes:
goodson... good point!
threehundredbowler writes:
What in the heck is it with you guys always wanting someone fired?Have any of you ever been without a job?Sure we need changes,but not by fireing someone.You disrupt the lives of more than the coach.How would you like it if you were fired?Give those people a deadline to find another job before throwing them to the wolves.Some of you may very well pay for being so cold hearted someday.I'm not saying we don't need changes,but I am saying do it with some class.In my business,this approach has always worked out just fine.Now if dishonesty or drugs are the culprit,then that is another matter.I have only outright fired two people in the past ten years.I have asked only five others to resign.
volgrog#210164 writes:
grvol, bringing out the dead grandma slam...rough.
orangebloodgmc writes:
I just hope we play lotsa young guys this weekend, especially young lbs, wrs, and ol's,don't "forget" to put anybody in the game, and make sure Crompton gets a good bit of p.t. as well, to knock any rust off. I hope we run plenty, but don't run almost exclusively, cause our passing game needs more polishing too. Geaux Vawls!
invisiblekid writes:
"Slade seems more confident in his young secondary, which has three first-year starters. That could soon mean the end of soft coverage." This could mean that Christmas comes early this year. I feel like the coaching staff has tried entirely too hard to protect the young secondary to this point. By all accounts, they have plenty of athletic ability, it is past time to let them rely on that ability and let the chips fall where they may IMO. I keep thinking back a few years to a quote that Chavis made regarding the defense. To paraphrase, he said something along the lines of "we're going to get off the field early one way or another, either by stopping the offense with blitzes or them scoring quickly". This season seems like a complete role reversal from the attacking style that has defined the Vols defense the past decade or so.
AlpharettaVol writes:
Those of you who are always looking to a Spurrier or Saban or Meyer as the "second coming" on the gridiron, please look at their records this year. In fact, Spurrier probably would have beaten Tennessee if his ego hadn't gotten in the way when he went for a touchdown instead of kicking the field goal in the second half. Nobody is happy with the way the Vols have performed week in and week out this year, but let's not throw our guys under the bus and elect those guys Pope just yet.
mtnvol writes:
We need to ease off the "play a lot of young guys this weekend" talk. It implies that we'll be way ahead early in the game. That is the same thinking that Michigan brought to the table v. App State. They are still selling "Maized and Confused" and "Hillbillies 34-Pompous Asses 32" shirts in Boone!
doegem writes:
@seven_pin: Dumping seven people in 10 years is no small number -- seems like your hiring practices could use some improvement. By the way, were they all making $2 million a year?
invisiblekid writes:
Hahaha mtnvol, I've actually got one of those "Hillbillies 34-Pompous Asses 32" tee shirts.
asleep#212036 writes:
How awesone would it be to have Demetrice Morley and Eric Berry in the same defensive backfield? Talk about athletic! Vinson could do it too - they just waited too late to try and teach him how to play defense. I'm liking the 2008 secondary with Morley and Berry at safety, and Gaines and Vinson at corner - and anybody but Slade coaching them. Go Vols!!!
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Anyone think it is funny how CRVOL always disappears after victories? Strange huh?
I bet if we lost against SC he'd be filled with glee... yes, glee.
mikes70gto writes:
sjt18,you are right on the money with this Jones kid. He is healthy now and drulling to get in the action.He sees the field better than any receiver we have,and makes the Y.A.C. as well.
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.