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Special teams still not special
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- Post-game audio slide show
- Vol Report, published Sept. 16, 2007
- Box score
- Watching with Ward: Review the game, play by play
- Stuck in the Swamp
- Special teams still not very special for Vols against Florida
- Adams: Tebow power drives Gators' show of force
- Untimely fumble opened the floodgates for Gators
- Pride takes a beating along with defense
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- Fulmer: Clawson will stay upstairs
- Now is time to turn things around
- Poll: With Tennessee's 0-1 start, how many wins will the Vols have this season?
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - You've read this before: Tennessee's special team struggled once again.
The worst shortcoming came early, when the Vols gave up the game's first score on an 83-yard punt return by Brandon James en route to a 59-20 loss to Florida on Saturday.
UT coach Phillip Fulmer said the Vols knew James was dangerous coming into the game. Even so...
"We did a crappy job of getting him on the ground," Fulmer said.
"We've just got to kick where we're supposed to kick it and tackle the guy. It should have been (kicked) out of bounds or right at the sideline.''
James isn't the only return man that UT has struggled to get on the ground this season. Cal receiver DeSean Jackson returned a punt 77 yards for a score in the season opener.
Safety Jonathan Hefney, who sees UT's punt coverage team in practice every week, couldn't explain the struggles.
"We do a great job in practice," the senior said. "You never know what happens in a game. You've got great returners in DeSean Jackson and Brandon James. They're elusive. It'll be all right, though."
Hefney nearly put another dent in UT's special teams performance when he muffed a punt. Hefney was able to drop and recover the loose ball amidst a trio of Gators.
"I think my jersey was wet," Hefney said. "I can't make excuses, though."
UT's kicking unit did turn in a positive play when LaMarcus Coker returned a kickoff 74 yards.
The sophomore would have scored had it not been for a saving tackle by receiver Riley Cooper. The ensuing drive ended on an interception.
Coker also fumbled during a kickoff return. Freshman tailback Lennon Creer recovered the loose ball.
Coker declined to talk to the media following the game. He hasn't spoken publicly since returning from his preseason suspension.
Daniel Lincoln continued to be a bright spot for UT's special teams. The redshirt freshman kicker hasn't missed a field goal this season, going 6-for-6. Lincoln's start equals Carlos Reviez' record in 1985.
Against the Gators, the Ocala, Fla., native connected on scoring kicks of 28 and 22 yards, despite a rowdy crowd.
"I had people throwing stuff at me, calling me names and talking about my family," said Lincoln, who also was 2-for-2 on extra points. "That's what makes college football great. I expected that.
"I know that Florida fans are that way."
After punting only one day this week, junior Britton Colquitt's pulled right quadriceps muscle wasn't an issue. Colquitt punted five times for a 46.2-yard average and said after the game he was fine.
Injury Report: Sophomore defensive end Wes Brown re-injured his shoulder in the third quarter. Following the game, he left the field holding his right arm motionless close to his body.
Defensive end Andre Mathis seemed to injure his right shoulder on a special-teams play. The sophomore left the game and was wearing a sling as he left the stadium.
Montario Hardesty did not play. The sophomore tailback still is recovering from an ankle injury suffered against Cal. Fulmer said Hardesty dressed in case he was needed for pass protection in an emergency situation.
Backed Up: Junior offensive tackle Ramon Foster cost UT two illegal formation penalties because he was lined up too far off the line of scrimmage.
"I felt as if I was lined up pretty well," Foster said.
Offensive line coach Greg Adkins said he was not aware of Foster or UT receiving a warning before a penalty was called. Such a warning is customary, but not mandatory.
"It's just poor alignment," Adkins said. "It's something we work on everyday. There's no excuse for that. We'll get that corrected."
Troop's Troupe: UT's top three receivers - Josh Briscoe, Austin Rogers and Lucas Taylor - averaged 10.9 yards per catch against Florida.
"Obviously, (we) didn't make the big plays like we would have liked to make," receivers coach Trooper Taylor said.
That, however, doesn't mean Taylor is ready to insert UT's younger receivers in the next game against Arkansas State at home.
"We're going to get guys out there that are ready to play," Taylor said. "When those guys are ready to play, we'll put them out there."
Aiming Well: Dating back to the Capital One Bowl against Penn State, UT quarterback Erik Ainge attempted 97 consecutive passes without an interception.
The streak was broken in the first quarter when Gator cornerback Markihe Anderson stepped in front of a pass intended for Quintin Hancock.
“I kind of got in a rut of ‘this is the guy who should be open,’ and tried to stick it in there,’’ said Ainge.
“Their guy made a good play.’’
Changing His Tune: East Tennessee native Kenny Chesney was on UT’s sideline.
The country music singer was videotaped wearing a Florida helmet singing with Gators quarterback Tim Tebow during a summer concert.
Salute: Florida’s two-time defending national championship basketball team was honored before the game. Former Maryville High School star Lee Humphrey was not in attendance. He is playing professional basketball in Greece. Humphrey’s parents stood in for him.
Chomp Marks: Florida has scored 38 or more points in five straight games for the first time since its national championship season in 1996.
Berry Good: Eric Berry’s 96-yard interception return in the third quarter was the third longest in UT history, tying Art Reynolds’ return in 1972.
Star Struck: Florida pass-rush specialist Derrick Harvey registered four tackles, one for a loss. The defensive end failed to record a sack as he lined up on both sides against senior Eric Young and Foster.
“I think we played him pretty well,” Young said. “Myself, I could have played him better in the run game.”
© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by stevefrommemphis on September 16, 2007 at 1:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
From looking carefully through old UT media guides, I believe Tennessee allowed six punt returns for touchdowns in 186 games with Johnny Majors as head coach. The Vols have now given up FIVE punt return touchdowns in the last 23 games! (2005 Georgia, 2005 Notre Dame, 2006 Georgia, 2007 California, 2007 Florida). If Colquitt can't consistently kick the ball where it is supposed to be kicked, he should be benched. If the problem is with coverage players, they should be benched. Speaking of coverage, when Florida fumbled the punt at their 1 yard line, should the man who tackled the returner have been coached to first and foremost do whatever he must do to keep that returner out of the play, thereby giving another UT player a better chance to recover the ball?
Posted by ncvol17 on September 16, 2007 at 2:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's 'work like heck' & 'give 110%' on special teams and then go out again and give the other team a SportsCenter highlight...after all we can always ' go back and work like heck to get better'.. I think I remember those lines after hearing them for years on the Fulmer show..
Posted by stevefrommemphis on September 16, 2007 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
From looking carefully through old UT media guides, I believe Tennessee allowed six punt returns for touchdowns in 186 games with Johnny Majors as head coach. The Vols have now given up FIVE punt return touchdowns in the last 23 games! (2005 Georgia, 2005 Notre Dame, 2006 Georgia, 2007 California, 2007 Florida). Speaking of coverage, when Florida fumbled the punt at their 1 yard line, should the man who tackled the returner have been coached to first and foremost do whatever he must do to keep that returner out of the play, thereby giving another UT player a better chance to recover the ball? (I do not know the answer - just asking the question.)
Posted by drmike on September 16, 2007 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
outside of the kicking game (punting/field goals)-obviously not our coverage team, we simply have the worst special teams in the country. statistics will back me up. phillip needs to either hire a special teams coach or simply start playing his quality players on special teams. how often do players actually get injured on special teams? not very often, phil. look at the tape phillip then say daggummit. we were just 49 plays away from winning the game.
Posted by k0605 on September 16, 2007 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Daniel Lincoln is solid, but the rest of the special teams are pitiful. The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. The special teams coach (if there really is one) has to go and a new system installed.
Posted by pierceya on September 16, 2007 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it is time to quit trying to kick the ball out of bounds and try to start tackling. Tennesse never used to have to kick it out of bounds. It is time the special teams became special again. But, until UT can tackle again, they will never have a good special team (defense either).
Posted by TriCityVol on September 16, 2007 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fulmer's record is 15-12 the last 27 games.
It is time for a change. During their last 3 seasons Battle lost 8 games and Majors lost 13.
Boycott the Ak. St. game. Shread your tickets. Don't sell them. 30,000 empty seats is the only thing AD Hamilton understands. The team UT put on the field last night was a total embarrassment.
Posted by tnorthern on September 16, 2007 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fulmer doesn't know how to coach special teams. In fact there is nothing special about this team at all. Fulmer is certainly not special in terms of SEC coaches. I'm not even sure he's average.
Posted by TommyJack on September 16, 2007 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This coaching staff is SPECIAL in under-coaching..
Posted by yeavols on September 16, 2007 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One last thing: Someone better be doing something fast. The longer we wait, the longer it will take to get recruiting up and the players we do have will only be wasted. I have a plan. DO YOU? I will support our players, but I can no longer support our coaches. For years I have watched and waited and wondered. I am not doing it anymore. It's time for a change. Let's get some new younger blood in our program. I will no longer support this administration until they dump their conservative ways and GET WITH THE PROGRAM! Don't bother calling me and asking for a donation. I won't be purchasing anymore Orange products and I won't be attending any games. The last bowl games I have attended, Peach against CLEMSON and MARYLAND was a total disaster. I AM SICK OF IT!
Posted by Tanker on September 16, 2007 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Special teams coaching by comittee does not work. UT needs (in adition to many other things) a dedicated special trams coach.
Posted by tennisvol on September 16, 2007 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Fulmer should take control of the special teams with all the millions he's making.
He doesn't seem to be doing a very good job in other areas of coaching. I believe he played offensive line at UT and was the offensive line coach also. So having all this knowledge about line play, we can't even open a hole for any running plays. Maybe he will be more successful as the special teams head coach.
Posted by snafu14u on September 16, 2007 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This staff has NO clue how to coach/motivate special teams or it would have been done years ago, and I mean years ago. Players need to shut their traps (they actually believe they will get better and not have to sweat).The only thing we can do is kick it to goalpost and then begin praying. Pray long and loud.Everytime we kick the ball I cringe. bonzaivol
Posted by DwightShrute on September 16, 2007 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i am done with Kenney Chesney as well
Posted by orangebloodgmc on September 17, 2007 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What did Kenny Chesney say?
Posted by DwightShrute on September 17, 2007 at 7:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chesney was seen on stage with Tebow and Joiner wearing a Florida helmet. when it is convenient and will sell tickets, he is a UT fan, but i guess when he is in Florida and needs to sell tickets, he becomes a Florida fan. There is no bigger sellout in country music. i respected him before he became Jimmy Buffet Jr.
Posted by shoalcreekvol on September 18, 2007 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Colquitt is getting a pass in the media so far. Fulmer has said plainly after the Cal and FU games that he was not supposed to kick it to their superstar return guys, and in both games his first punt went straight to them, resulting in a touchdown. Even though he is a Colquitt, he deserves to be called out when needed, especially if the coverage guys have to answer for their breakdowns too.
Posted by volsfan327 on September 20, 2007 at 6:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A real Vol fan would NEVER sell-out wearing a Gator helmet and doing that STUPID Gator chomp. Kenny must be smoking to much wacky tabacky in the islands mon'
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