Strange: Vols seek fast fix to 3rd, short dilemma

David Cutcliffe has been calling plays for 15 years on the college level and he's here to tell you third-and-short isn't what it used it be.

The yards and inches measure the same as they did when Red Grange was playing. It's not that.

What's changed is the difficulty factor in getting them.

If Tennessee fans are frustrated at the Vols' inability to consistently convert third-and-short and keep the chains moving, the coaches and players are right there with them.

And as sure as Florida fans will extend their arms and do the Gator chomp Saturday, a couple of short-yardage conversions will be pivotal in UT's success or failure at The Swamp.

Cutcliffe, UT's offensive coordinator, admitted Tuesday that third-and-short weighs heavily on his mind.

"If you look at the game today,'' he said, "if you watch the NFL and watch good Southeastern Conference teams, third-and-one-and-a-half, is that short? That's my question.

"We used to just line up, third-and-2 or less, it was automatic, you were going to line up and run the ball and make the first down.''

Defensive players got bigger, stronger and quicker. More teams commit safeties to stopping the run, Cutcliffe said.

So sometimes you have to get creative. Instead of handing the ball to Arian Foster, you flare him out and flip a pass.

Or you sub in Lucas Taylor or Jonathan Crompton for Erik Ainge at quarterback and let them do their best Tim Tebow or Vince Young impersonation.

All are fresh examples from the 2007 season. None of them worked.

If the Vols make a couple of those short-yardage plays at Cal, chances are they win. There's no punt that DeSean Jackson returns for a touchdown. Instead of a failed fourth-and-goal, there's a Tennessee touchdown.

And all the Sunday quarterbacks wouldn't be second-guessing Cutcliffe and head coach Phillip Fulmer, wondering why the Vols don't just line up, hand the ball to the tailback and blow the defense off the line of scrimmage for a couple of yards.

"It's just one of those things,'' said Fulmer. "If one of those flat passes is completed to make a first down, nobody ever says anything.

"And if you run an off-tackle play and don't make it ... We hope to be more consistent on third-and-short.''

No one dialed up Vol Calls to complain last year when a third-and-1 pass against Marshall resulted in a 47-yard Jayson Swain touchdown.

No one questioned UT's manhood when a third-and-1 pass to tight end Brad Cottam went for 25 yards against LSU.

Cutcliffe said Tuesday he's got about five seconds to decide on a play call and pass it on down to the sideline.

"I'm pretty quick,'' he said. "Sometimes it's a lot less than that.

"Whether it's third-and-3 or third-and-8, it takes thought, experience, execution and all those things.

"If you have a sound plan you feel good about and you get whipped, you get whipped.''

Fulmer called plays from 1989 until his promotion to head coach in 1993. He loved it.

"You do most of your work during the course of the week,'' he said. "It's not all of a sudden thinking of a play.

"You've talked through the scenarios and everybody has their input. That's why you're here until 10:30, 11, 11:30 at night.''

Keep that in mind Saturday when it's third-and-a-long-1 at the Florida 36.

Cutcliffe will have five seconds to make his play call, taking into consideration field position, Florida's personnel and formation and who knows how many other factors.

He'd love to just hand the ball to Foster and get a couple of yards.

If only it were that simple.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!