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
Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge said he's kept a close eye on his mechanics this season.
The extra attention to detail comes as a response to a pair of minor injuries he's played through: a broken pinky suffered in the first week of the season and a sore shoulder. Both can affect Ainge's fundamentals if gone unchecked.
"Sometimes it's gonna," Ainge said. "When something starts bothering you, you've just kind of got to play ball. You've got to be functional on Saturday."
Ainge said the key to maintaining sound technique is attention to detail during the healthy times. And, as far as watching game tape, Ainge said he's far better evaluating himself than he used to be.
"I used to just go and watch and say, 'Good throw, bad throw'…Now, I can watch everything," he said.
UT hosts Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.
Practice Report: Ainge said UT's players are benefiting from the recent change in weekly practice schedules. Instead of practicing on Monday, UT moved its first practice of the week to Sunday.
That gives UT's players a weekday off, but more importantly gives coaches more time to thoroughly evaluate upcoming opponents.
"Usually when we have practice on Tuesday," Ainge said, referring to the old system, "they're (coaches are) still scrounging. They kind of have a feel for the other team, but not really."
Ainge said part of Wednesday's practice used to be dedicated to correcting mistakes from Tuesday. Now, that's not the case.
"Now, they can really watch (opposing game tape) on Monday," Ainge said. "I think it helps us out."
Ainge said this Tuesday's practice was as much about fundamentals as any practice he's seen since offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe's returned to head up UT's offense in spring 2006. Technique was the focus, not scheme, as the Vols try to correct mistakes.
"What's gotten us in trouble this year is giving other teams plays," Ainge said.
O-Line Shuffle: While Chris Scott is expected to replace injured left tackle Eric Young, other players could see more time to build depth with Young sidelined for the season with a quadriceps injury.
Adkins said redshirt freshman Ramone Johnson will be evaluated at left tackle. Adkins said Vladimir Richard could see some time at right guard. The sophomore has worked exclusively at left guard this season.
With Scott and starting guard Anthony Parker on the left side, there should be some natural chemistry. They played on the same offensive line at Lovejoy High School in Riverdale, Ga.
No Oversights: Several UT players have cited upset wins as reason to be focused for the Ragin' Cajuns, despite their 1-7 record.
Appalachian State beating Michigan and Stanford beating Southern Cal are two of the games that come to mind.
"You can never take a team for granted or take a team lightly," junior receiver Josh Briscoe said. "This has been a crazy year in college football. You don't want to be the next team to get upset."
Double Big Mac: Offensive guard Jacques McClendon recorded his second highly visible hustle play of the season when he recovered a fumble by Arian Foster in the South Carolina game.
" 'Chasing the ball' is what we say," Adkins said. "That was a good example of playing all the way until the whistle blows."
McClendon drew praise from his teammates this season for a play in which he blocked three opposing players, as much as 20 yards downfield.
Scouting Report: The Ragin' Cajuns, led by quarterback Michael Desormeaux, are seventh best nationally in rushing yards (242.5) per game.
"They're a dangerous team," UT junior defensive end Robert Ayers said. "They can beat you. If you sleep on them, they will put up 400 yards rushing on you easily."
The Popes' Plight: Freshman offensive lineman Cody Pope's home is safe - for now. Wildfires in Southern California burned within a mile of the Popes' home but didn't reach their neighborhood.
The Popes lost a home to wildfire in 2003.
UT's new $45 million football…
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
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Comments » 16
snafu14u#241639 writes:
Wear your Orange this weekend, cause UT will win. But take the Rajun Cajuns and the 29 points.(This is for entertainment purposes only). Go Big Orange.bonzaivol
Volunatic writes:
It's kind of amazing that LA Lafayette can AVERAGE 242.5 yds rushing per game and still be 1-7.
Their defense and special teams play must have been TERRIBLE in those 7 losses.
Volunatic writes:
TNGeoff-- you neglected to add in your comments to Arian Foster-- "HANG ON TO THE DANG PIGSKIN!"
Other than that, I think your comments are just about right.
Hopefully Dan Williams and JT Mapu can step up and stop Desormeaux and prove us wrong (and then stop Casey Dick and Darren McFadden, and then whomever is still standing that gets put behind center for Vandy, and then Andre Woodson, too).
orangebloodgmc writes:
Of our common opponents, SC beat ULL 28-14, and Ark St. beat 'em 52-21.
Maybe we better run the ball on 'em (and short pass) and keep the ball away from their offense. But then again, our defense needs some work too.
GreerVol22 writes:
Could be a good warm up prepping for Darren McHeisman the following week.
west_tn_volfan writes:
Ainge is doing a very good job this year. After the '05 meltdown I really didn't think he would do much but he has grown into a fine QB. I know coach Cut had alot to do with that but a player has to be coachable and Ainge obviously is.
MOOREVOLS writes:
Ainge has been one of the high points of this season, but against South Carolina he looked so much like 2005. He had receivers running wide open, but more times than not, he seemed to go with the short route which was covered half the time. He was rarely pressured by South Carolina, but seemed scared and acted like he had no time. He overthrew and underthrew a number of open receivers. Ainge has been a bright spot, but with the exception of the 2nd quarter against South Carolina he looked like his sophomore self. I just hope it was a one game set back. Everyone is due a bad game from time to time, but we're going to need Ainge at his best down the stretch.
asleep#212036 writes:
spambuster,
Their defense is horrific. I think they are giving up an average of over 500 yards/game, and that is against Sun Belt teams. Two of their opponents have gone over 600. Yeah, they do run but can they run against 8 SEC defenders in the box. It won't matter, we'll put up over 40 points anyway. I just hope we get some of the young guys some playing time. Go Vols!!!
MOOREVOLS writes:
I can't remember exactly which drive it was, either the drive to tie or the drive in overtime, but Ainge threw left (maybe the pass to Jones) and if he'd just looked right he'd have seen Rogers standing all alone on the right hash at about the 5 yard line with no one within 15 yards of him. If he's about to be hit I can see him rushing a throw to a receiver that might not be open, but there were many plays against SC where he threw too quick to a covered receiver when he had someone open on another route. But, it is easy for me to see that sitting in the stands.
Volunatic writes:
Asleep-- I hope you're right about us scoring 40+ on them. I worry about a lot of Vol games where no one gives the opposition a chance, though.
You're also right that some of our younger players could stand to get some playing time for Tennessee to develop some depth for the final SEC games.
GO VOLS!!! Beat Louisiana Lafayette!
1974Vol writes:
Ainge does tend to go to his playmaker, sometimes overlooking other open receivers - 2006 Florida game when he went to double covered Meachem on 3rd down in the last drive with a wide open Lucus Taylor in the middle of the field. Next play was a sack on 4th down -game over. Early on this year he was spreading it around pretty good between Taylor, Briscoe & Rogers. Now that Lucas has emerged as a go to guy maybe Eric looks for him a little too much. Hey Eric be more like Peyton; he would throw it to the water boy if he was the uncovered receiver.
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
Ainge is a terrific quarterback who has played for the Vols at a time when lack of team cohesiveness has burned the program.
Is the talent there at Tennessee? I think we have as much talent as anyone in the conference. However, I believe there was a "poison" that caused the malay of 2005 in the form of disruptive influences to the team's character. This may lay at the feet of poor coaching or simply poor work ethic in the character of a few key individuals. As with any cancer, sometimes the primary tumor is removed but relapses occur. I think this season has been somewhat of a relapse of a lesser magnitude.
My feeling is that the cure to Tennessee's woes will be graduation. I think if you take away the 5-6 season of 2005, we as Vol fans wouldn't have a whole lot to complain about. Even with a few 8-4 or 7-5 seasons in the mix, we'd be looking at owning one of, if not THE, most consistantly successful programs in the nation. Even with the "season of the abyss" factored, that characterization rings true. Again, the cure for the cancer of 2005 will be attrition through graduation, where it becomes but a distant memory in the mind of coaches and fans rather than players.
orangebloodgmc writes:
A question: do you folks envision that against a determined running team, we would ever do the opposite of nickel and dime packages and take OUT a db, putting in an extra lb or dl? I don't remember us doing that any time recently.
MOOREVOLS writes:
I don't think we've ever put in an extra dl or lb. Not that I can ever remember. I think we just bring our strong safety closer to the line of scrimmage.
asleep#212036 writes:
Or just move both safeties and crowd the line, putting nine players in "the box". You would also think that Cutcliffe could come up with something to run against a D giving up 500+ yards/game that would get us far enough ahead to let some younger guys in the game. And I agree, MOOREVOL, from the stands it appeared throughout the game that Ainge missed several receivers downfield for sure big gains, perhaps even TD's. Comparing anyone to Manning is unfair - he had a gift for understanding the game and that's something I don't know that you can teach. Every major NFL QB has had it. I'm not sure Ainge does. He sure didn't have it last Saturday night. I happen to be a big Ainge fan so I'm hoping that was a rare off night and we can get back to slinging the ball down the field. Go Vols!!!
orangebloodgmc writes:
Yeah, we can crowd up safeties nearer the line, but with their one ball carrier, that leaves 9 or 10 blockers for them, so whoever we put up there to stuff the run ought to be stout enough to shed a blocker ... not sure if smaller dbs will achieve that. I know I am oversimplifying what happens on the field, but a big part really is 1v1, who whips the guy across from him and who doesn't.
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