Posted by agentorange on September 6, 2007 at 11:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sit Britton and Ainge for this game and let them heal up for the Swamp. We beat Fla and all is good. Anybody else see Peyton put on a clinic tonight? Beautiful.

Posted by andy112382 on September 7, 2007 at 12:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Four kickers on the sideline, that has to be nearing a record of some sort for us. Hey, whatever it takes to get the right guy in there. I say rest Colquitt and ensure he is good for the trip to the swamp. That will be a game where things such as good, strategic punting will mean a lot.....but then again, I'd love just to go blow them away and not have to punt against their young defense! Just take care of business against SoMiss and destroy the gators, all will be back on track then!!!! GO VOLS!!!

Posted by andy112382 on September 7, 2007 at 1:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yea, I saw Peyton tonight, looked great, pretty darn impressive showing by the Colts, their defense was solid. Of course, I was especially happy since Peyton in my QB on my espn fantasy league!

Posted by 55Vol on September 7, 2007 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I saw Peyton also. Pretty impressive. I also saw #8 get run up and down the field by MTSU most of teh night until the 4th. Everyone has lambasted our defense against Cal. While we have much improvement to do, be glad the Louisville starting 11 is not our starting defense. They were terrible. MTSU had well over 500 yards offense against the #8 team.

Posted by Dirtdobber on September 7, 2007 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Peyton lit it up as usual. That says a lot for the UT program. Peyton will go down as the best qb in the history of football- no question, the best passer of all time; thank goodness while at UT they got the most out of him allowing him to hand it off to the running backs up the middle every time. just think what he could have done if we hadnt tried to get back to Tennessee Football every week- smash mouth and would have allowed him to open it up!

Throw the dang ball and the running game will take care of itself!

This is a prime example of great talent being wasted at UT!

Posted by Dirtdobber on September 7, 2007 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

CRVol- couldnt agree more! Hey coach- Unless you got Reggie White on the bench- personel change is not the answer. The problem is that you got 6 blocking 4- The qb has all day to throw the ball! Get real and quit being so dang conservative!

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why not move Fisher back out to DE?

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

UT is almost at a point where they should have the defensive philosophy of Spurrier at UF. "Get the offense back on the field even if the other team scores to do it."

Posted by grvol on September 7, 2007 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Where's Wes Brown? Failure to develop or yet another bust from 2004 #1 recruiting class? Even with poor coaching and development he's gotta be better than Reynolds.

Posted by TNvolunteer on September 7, 2007 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wes Brown played a little Saturday, but not as much as he should have...I dont understand why we have so many problems on defense..i just cant...I mean we some 30+ practices and 4 scrimmages in fall camp and still cant get it right??? Our starting ends should be X. Mitchell and Wes Brown/Robert Ayers...Ayers was a highly ranked LB coming out of high school...why is he now playing DE...That is another thing.Why do we change a kids position where he excelled at in high school and change it in college..all that does is make his development slower!

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Where did you find that he'd added 30 lbs? The roster released with the media guide still has him at 265.

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They're looking for speed eric and believe they can bulk kids up from HS. Lots of times they can... but it is obviously a philosophy that has some holes in it.

Posted by TNvolunteer on September 7, 2007 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I know stj18..but when you add bulk to some..it slows them down...Take a look around the league...how many other schools move safties to lb, lb's to de, and de to dt??? not many...Recruit kids to play the position that they play...I am sure if you walked into a top recruits house and said " son you are one of the most sought after LB's in the country...if you come to Tennessee I will get you on the field at DE..." That kids is gonna be like..DE..i am a LB coach...Sorry!

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Alot of schools actually do that. Others like Arkansas recruit kids that are 6'6" 230 and bulk them up to 300... but the rumor is that they use some "questionable" methods to add that body mass. There are very few college ready DT's coming out of HS. Langley is one. Most of them come out either too fat to be effective or too light/weak.

I guess it would be fairly accurate to say that most great college DT's are built, not recruited.

I'd still like to see UT use a MLB that's 240-250. I think that would help the run D alot. I don't think Mayo will reach that.

Posted by TNvolunteer on September 7, 2007 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think that is why they moved Andre Mathis to DE...He was a man child at 245 lbs...Why he was moved????? Andre Mathis could have been a great SEC MLB...He had size, strenght, and speed...but they moved him to DE and he will not see any signifigant playing time until next year.

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with that eric. Mathis could have been a stud at MLB but looks to be a waste at DE. He may never see the field if some of those other guys make it in like Sykes, Hall, Williams, William, etc... not to mention he'll still be behind Martin if not Walker.

But this is what you get with Chavis' philosophy... then when you need to play a reactive, low risk defense like they did against Cal, you don't have the personnel to do it effectively.

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Why do you beleive everything that is listed on a media guide?"

Because it is the only tangible thing I have... and it is confirmed by the various preseason analyses though they probably come from the same source. If you have some contradictory proof... I'd be more than glad to see it.

"Do you really think Antonio Gaines is 5'9"?"

I have not earthly idea and no way of pinning the guy against a wall and measuring him. Do you have a means of proving he isn't?

"If we have Fisher as a backup tackle playing at 265 lbs than that is plain stupid."

I absolutely, positively agree. I e-mailed several beat writers and questioned several folks on message boards that seemed to have some very accurate sources of inside info. No one was able to confirm he'd gained weight or answer why they would play him there when he would give up 35-100 lbs every snap.

"Another site said that he is the 280 to 285 range right now and that is still not big enough to be an effective dtackle in the SEC."

Can you refer me to that site or else cite their reference for the info?

There are some guys who play effectively at 285. McBride was about there. At least one of UF's guys is about that size. But typically, you're right. That isn't big enough which makes it even more baffling that Mapu lost down to that size thinking it would improve his effectiveness.

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Chavis has the idea that MLB's have to go sideline to sideline... so he plays guys that can't stop a run up the middle because they're too small. IMO, the MLB's responsibility should be from end to end. Anything inside the DT's belongs to him plus the cut back lanes on sweeps.

Posted by TNvolunteer on September 7, 2007 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If guys like Rae Sykes,Cory Hall, or Gerald Williams make it to campus next fall....Mathis will be burried on the depth chart...Those guys are true DE's with size and speed..Cory Hall is a MAN CHILD at 6'5, 260+...Chavis can we please move Mathis back to his natural position, MLB!!!

Another thing...why did the coaches move Adam Myers-White to LB...wasnt he a highly rated DB?

When Gerald Williams arrives on campus he will be like 24 year old freshman or something...if he isnt somewhere in the starting line-up or 2nd team....there is something wrong!

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm not trying to be a smart aleck CR nor question your integrity.

Volquest is the UT site associated with Collegefootballnews/Scout, right? I read their info but didn't see that weight given for Fisher.

But to your point, are you claiming that Volquest has some means of measuring and weighing UT's football players to refute what the staff releases? Their opinion's are more objective than the stats being released?

In the case of Fisher, you're claiming he's actually heavier than the official release by the team. If anything, shouldn't he be lighter? What advantage to UT for saying he was lighter than he is?

eric, Gerald Williams will be a Junior if he makes it.

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Mahelona was 6'2 at UT but measured in at 5'11 and 1/4th at the Combine."

And that means that every stat released is less accurate than the guesses of guys at Scout? Hubbs at Rivals would be a much more impressive source but last time I checked they had Fisher listed at 265.

"Also, all those 40 times you like to spout off and claim that there are 10-12 guys that run sub 4.5 40s is BS. There are only 30-35 guys max each year at the NFL combine that turn in sub 4.5 40s."

I'm not spouting off anything. Why are you getting so agitated? I am repeating what I've read and am more sure of the times that have reportedly been electronically timed. If I'm not mistaken that's the same method used by the NFL combine.

I have read that O'Neal runs an electronically timed 4.29. It may be a lie or a myth. But I have read it... and Trooper confirmed that he's incredibly fast.

Posted by TNvolunteer on September 7, 2007 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Gerald Williams will be a sophomore....He sat out he first year out of high school...then played one year at Hargrave Millitary Acadamy...and this year is at a JUCO school..He will be a sophomore next year.

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

BTW, CRVol, the 100m times of various guys might be a better measure of their true speed. Most of those times were taken in competitions that demand accuracy. Most guys under 10.5 are going to be legit 4.4's.

Posted by GreerVol22 on September 7, 2007 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

is it just me or is College football trending towards a PAC-10 format? That is, just so, so defense and a crap load of points on offense.

ilove_football brought up a good point in that the #8 team gave up 500+yards to MTSU of all people. Think about it, with the exception of LSU and Penn State, does anyone in the Top 15 have a truly dominant defense? No. There just good enough on D to beat you by 10-14 points...

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Do you really think that Louisville who benefits from playing in the Big Easy Conference belongs in the top 10? They didn't exactly smother Murray St.

Posted by GreerVol22 on September 7, 2007 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My guess is that Cutcliff has figured our D is hopeless so he had better score on every possesion or we dont stand a chance...

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sorry about that. I was thinking Volquest was the Scout but that's "insider" or something, right?

If Hubbs says he's 280... then he's probably adjusted the scale himself... or had coffee with the guy who did. Did he actually say that?

I'd actually feel much better about Fisher's prospects for contributing if he did... but unless they've changed it, the Rivals/Volquest roster still has him at 265.

I'm not at all disagreeing with you that specs/times get inflated... but what more tangible thing do we have? O'Neal's speed is also more credible due to his track performance at FSU.

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Greer, I don't think I'm reading too much into his comments and actions when I say that Cutcliffe seems to believe UT should score on every possession regardless of what the D does.

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If Cut had his way, Colquitt would be begging to become the placekicker so he could get on the field.

Posted by GreerVol22 on September 7, 2007 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And no Louisville does not deserve to be ranked and is further proof that as long as we have the system we have, there should be no polls until the BCS poll starts. But, there has to be some fodder for TV guys to jaw about.

Posted by GreerVol22 on September 7, 2007 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes,but Phil does not think like Cutt and if he tells Cutt to kill 10 minutes of clock and get three points or even a punt to the two yard line then...however, sounds as if Phil said screwit, handle the offense, i have to play defensive roulette.

Posted by andy112382 on September 7, 2007 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wardlow will have another punt block soon. Remeber the one at georgia he had last season? I don't know who remembers, but he was pretty darn close again at Cal to getting one. I could see him getting another one, or more! He seems to have a knack for getting around the corner on punts.

Posted by bigbluevol on September 7, 2007 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Walker actually played defensive end in high school early and was moved to LB later on, but played both. He said so in a story on here in early August. As for moving some players to different positions, I think it can be a disaster sometimes, but other times it's necessitated by a guy's growth. When some players hit the weights at UT, they put on muscle and bulk up. This can result in a loss of speed. Myers-White was not a particularly fast DB. When he began to fill out, it was better to move him to LB rather than have him try to keep up with WR's. Some guys respond well to position moves: Anthony Sessions, Hefney, Leonard Little, Al Wilson (he was a DB in high school, I don't hear anyone complaining about that move). Others don't respond well: Bernard Jackson, Fisher hasn't seemed to, potentially not Mathis though time will tell. Some 18-23 year olds are still developing, let's not forget that.

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I want to see Wardlow contribute in the secondary. As exciting as punt blocks are, I'd rather have another guy use that kind of explosiveness to shut down good WR's.

Posted by sjt18 on September 7, 2007 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Greer, I really hope that is the case. If so, the O will be enjoyable to watch even if they lose. The torturous part of the Sanders era to me was that the offense was not good against anyone with a pulse.

Posted by jcvet on September 7, 2007 at 3:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We have plenty of talent on defense. The problem is scheme and coaching. Last yr. a crappy team like AF made them look like a DII team last yr. because Chavis doesn't know how to defend the option. He sat back and waited on it. The next week they played as well as anyone against FL. He also sit back and waited on Cal. I guess because he was afraid his young secondary would get burned. Frankly, I would rather a team try to burn me on one play with 3 people chasing and hanging all over the QB than to let the QB sit back there, take a crap and beat me with 4-5 uncontested 20 yd. throws in a row.

Posted by invisiblekid on September 7, 2007 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Looking ahead to Southern Miss now that everyone seems to be on the same page with weights and 40 times of the Vols. Offensively, I don't think they'll compare to the speed or, more importantly, the coaching that we saw last week at Cal. Their RB's seem to be the bright spot with Fletcher and a true freshman , Easterling. He got offers from ND, FL ST, FL and Miami and could well be another Best. Defensively, they return 9 starters from a defense that ranked 30 in total defense and 28 in scoring defense. Pretty impressive until you look at their pathetic schedule, their two toughest games were blowout losses to the Gators and Hokies. I think the Vols defense will be properly motivated and look much better, albeit against a much worse offense. Questions about the defense will really be answered in the Swamp IMO. Offensively, they should get enough out of Foster and the dink and dunk to win. Not really expecting much from Coker upon his return, hope I am wrong though.

Posted by Dirtdobber on September 7, 2007 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jcvet great post! if a qb has all day to throw the ball- it doesnt matter if you have 5 ronnie lotts playing db- the receiver is going to get open. If you are getting beat constantly rushing 4- then start getting pressure any way you can! if you cant get there with 4 rush 5, if not 5 then rush 6, if not 6 then 7- Put the dam qb on his back every play- give him something to think about while he's on the sideline about how he will get his head buried in the turf if he holds on to ball! Unlike longshoreman who stood on sideline dreaming about smoking week after game!

Posted by budd on September 7, 2007 at 6:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

you guys complain about Fulmer when he doesn't play freshman and now you complain when he does. That is an obvious sign of an idiot

Posted by Ironcity on September 7, 2007 at 6:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

budd your spot on. It should not take a blitz to get the QB in an obvious pass situation. Its really up to the Ends to get up the field and cause havoc. Going back to last year our ends have been plain lousy. If Fulmer recognizes that and says help is on the way, (Walker and Martin) then I for one am glad for it. I am not a believer that all can be solved with a blitz. For all the posters here I have a question? How many times did we blitz last week and how many time did we get to the QB.