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It's a young man's game these days in the Tennessee secondary.
In the Vols' 48-27 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday night, UT played a pair of true freshmen, a first-year starter - and very little experience.
Junior college transfer DeAngelo Willingham and true freshmen Eric Berry and Brent Vinson all played plenty of snaps against the Indians. Senior free safety Jonathan Hefney is the lone player with more than four games of college experience.
Add to the mix first-year starter Marsalaous Johnson at cornerback, and the Vols are a little short in the tooth.
But they're long on athleticism.
"They bring more athletic ability," Tennessee coach Philip Fulmer said of Willingham and Vinson, who were pushed into action after Antonio Gaines suffered a season-ending knee injury and Berry moved to safety. "Both of them are guys that physically can do what they need to do at corner. They're still youthful, and they still make some of those youthful mistakes."
That was on display at times Saturday, with Arkansas State connecting on a pair of 40-plus yard passes.
But so was the athletic ability.
Vinson recorded his first career interception on a tipped ball, and Johnson got his first interception as well. The interceptions matched the Vols' total through their first three games of the season.
"Considering all the shuffling, and if you consider the fact that we've played the second half without three of our starters we had at the first of the season, I'm pleased," defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "But we've got a lot of growing to do. You don't just line up out there and play. The thing that's good is we've got some athletes that can play and will get better and will be better."
Bye, Bye: Tennessee's lone bye week of the season is well timed, Fulmer said, and not for the usual reasons.
The Vols will use the week to heal some of the minor injuries that accumulate over the course of a season, but the main benefit is one more week of work before re-entering SEC play on Oct. 6 against No. 15 Georgia.
"We have a chance to heal up in a lot of places, but at the same time we're going to take this as an opportunity to improve and learn," Fulmer said. "It's not going to be like camp or two-a-days or anything like that because it's important that we get well. It will be physical enough and certainly a learning process for us."
Injury Update: X-rays revealed that Johnson suffered a bruised sternum, and will be ready to play against Georgia.
Reserve tailback Montario Hardesty (ankle) did not play for the second consecutive game, and the main hurdle to returning to the field is the ankle "getting loosened back up." X-rays showed neither a fracture nor any floating particles.
Scott Free: Late in the game, starting right guard Chris Scott moved to left tackle, where he spent most of spring practice and the first week of fall camp before senior Eric Young took over.
"He did a really nice job," Fulmer said. "One time there was four sophomores and a junior in the game on the offensive line."
Two of those sophomores were Vladimir Richard and Jacques McClendon, who have been seeing more time at guard.
Pinkie Pal: Fulmer said the broken pinkie finger on Erik Ainge's throwing hand is improving.
When initially diagnosed before the Cal game, doctors said it would take about 4-5 weeks to heal.
"I do think Erik's finger is considerably improved," Fulmer said. "We're getting to the point now where we're four and five weeks, about what they said, which is a plus for us."
More Lennon: With Hardesty slow to heal, Lennon Creer carried nine times for 29 yards. The true freshman will continue to get more carries, Fulmer said.
"Lennon will continue to be a factor in our plans, and he did a nice job in the game," Fulmer said.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 27
thevol writes:
CR-Another cut and paste comment?
I like the look of this young secondary. With Berry, Vinson, Willingham, Johnson, Rogan, etc. The future looks bright for the DB's. If we can just get some d-lineman going. Go Big Orange!
wyomingvol writes:
Greener pastures ahead.....
rockytopjeff writes:
CR, you need to change your screen name to "CRexVOL"
leedsvol2007 writes:
They are going to make some mistakes but should get better and we will have a better deeper secondary because of the moves.
From what I understand Brent Vinson was offered the opportunity to move to the secondary but it was strictly optional. If that is the case he deserves our thanks.
GoVols!
GreerVol22 writes:
Greener pastures my bahookie! I applaud the effort of moving folks around, but if their not taught proper technique and position then all the God given talent in the world will not help these kids.
Not if, but when Georgia hangs 500+ yds of offense on us again you will see CR's point as Phil once again pulls out the green card.
TNvolunteer writes:
Anyone know how many rush yards we gave up to ASU??? I know it was alot....We gave up alot of total offense too I think...Man our defense has to improve vastly in the next two..We start the gauntlet of our schedule....Did you guys see the Ken./Ark. game? Ark. ran for some 300+ yards and still lost??? My, god, what is gonna happen when they caome here...Our defense better improve.
Spuchy writes:
The coaching staff is what needs to be "Shuffled"..as in out the door...
volguy writes:
Speaking of the secondary, does anyone else think that Hefney might be the most overrated player in America??
mloaks#222092 writes:
I do.
kevinlimbo#326134 writes:
Hef isn't having his best year.
Maybe it's 3-4 time with McKenzie as the fourth linebacker. Plus I guess three d-lineman can get blown off the ball as well as four have been.
tennernie#535985 writes:
I don't know if Jonathan Hefney is the most overrated player in America or not, but he is certainly one of the WORST safeties in the country. He simply misses too many tackles!
waterskier3#226480 writes:
this is the worst defense we've had in years but look at the stats over the last two years and our defense has been getting worse but what's really killing us is that our offense can't make enough 3rd and 1 conversions so our defense( that suxs) is on the field more than it should be allowing more opportunity for the young guys to mess up... and Hefney should be benched he is the worst tackler on the D........
so fix the offense and the defense will average 10 less points a game and we have more wins....... ITS THE OFFENSE GUYS.... THE OL IS A BUNCH OF SOFTIES...
GreerVol22 writes:
Hefney's is usually in position to make or stop a play in its tracks... his only issue is that he doesn't wrap up and it has cost us dearly on many plays thus far. What I cannot understand is that just a little coaching should correct it...but it doesn't happen. Anyone wonder why the same shoulder tackles are being made in week 3? Answer, just like the kicking(return and coverage) game..its about 10 minutes of every practice. What the heck can you improve on in 10 minutes?
MensaMember writes:
Insteresting comments so far. I did notice us in a 3-4 several times on Saturday, a trend I expect to increase as we get to the heart of the SEC season. One aspect of defense we must focus on is proper tackling. I continue to be amazed by the lack of discipline in tackling. With big backs and receivers, it is not enough to give them and chest bump and expect them to go down. During the game, we often discuss Foster's desire to run for contact instead of an opened gap. My response: He makes huge runs in practice against our defense so he carries that into the game. I suspect if we started gang tackling him at practice, he would convert to a gap hitter and we would, oh by the way, kick butt on defense again. We have a week off to work on this stuff. Let's use it wisely.
TNvolunteer writes:
Hey guys...I am lookin for 2 tickets to the UGA game...Anyone help me?
10ACVOL writes:
Interesting stat:
Saturday's game marked the first September game since 1989 that neither UT nor its opponent were ranked
iowavol writes:
Marc_ash, i agree with your comments. Another thing to consider is how much our offense went down over the same period of time - from 1999 on - leaving our defense to keep us in the game. This year, I am most perplexed over the lb's. We have the size and speed but we just are not in position. I thought maybe there was a breakthrough in the second half of the Southern Miss game when McCoy mentioned slowing down, not overrunning plays and playing with discipline. But it apparently didn't take as the same things happened at Florida and last week. However, while our secondary did get burned a few times last week, a lot of the qb pressures came after he had time to throw but no one to throw too. That's encouraging and I say leave those youngun's in there and let em learn.
wyomingvol writes:
We have an all new secondary, other than Hefney, who happens to be playing like a freshman. (When is there going to be a new punt returner?)
A new D line, A new O line and all new receivers.
Granted, we could of done a TON better. However, lack of experience, even with young talent is taking a toll.
So, would You rather YOUR/OUR team win out and set the tone for the rest of these fresh and sophs tenure?
Or, drop the coach mid season, hire some 'maybe he can do it', and give him 3 years to see if he can get it done?
How long did it take Georgia post Dooley to get it figured out? Around 10 years until Richt started to get it going, and in the 5 years he has been there, ONE SEC championship.
Florida? Boy, they really sucked for 4 years under Zook, lucky for them Elder Meyer had the golden touch. The Saviour also walked the Southeast...
Alabama? Wow, we are a hairs breath away from becoming the Tide Fans brothers, the way we act we are already first cousins... Oh, and see, SHULA, Also the guy that got caught with the HO', Jeeze, there was some other loser in their. Good for about 7 years of sucking. Oh, and Saban will have two great years, get the program on probation, then leave for greener pastures, slimeball.
LSU thanks the heavens for Les Miles, he aint coming to Tennessee.
Jeff Tedford, they stunk for his first 3 years. Also, see 'LSU' above.
Oh, has anyone seen how well Ole Miss has done in the 5 years since firing their coach??? What was that guys name anyway?
Hopefully this gets righted by the end of the year. Lets win some ball games and get the young talent confident.
If there is a coaching change by the end of the Year, lets hope their is someone to fill it...
You guys ready to promote Coach Cut? Not me.....
Oh yeah, we have been scoring enough points to win MOST games the last year, our defense has really sucked.
wyomingvol writes:
Agreed, I would honestly rather see us win than lose. I love the team more than hate the coaches. Anyone that wants us to lose out really doesn't have their heart in the right place.
There aren't alot of Big Name coaches that would head Tennessee's way right now, about 2 years behind the curve on that one. A few I like, Bill Cower, but don't think he has what it takes to recruit year in and year out. Bill Bates should of been our Special Teams coach with a rocket up the ranks as soon as he retired. Andy Kelly would be a hell of a QB coach going towards O coordinator. Peyton, he is way too smart and successful to be a coach on this Vol Navy Ship of Fools.
Mediocraty is not rewarded by Mike Hamilton and Fulmer is about exactly 1/2 way through his test run. If he tanks, or has another 7-5 season next year, he is gone. Until then, he is too expensive to cut loose.
And agreed, we have been getting dominated in the trenches. That said, I think a fullback would help alot in the short yardage, a position that TN eliminated last year......
threehundredbowler writes:
eric13915 I can't go due to an antique car show that weekend.Contact me if you are willing to pay face value.Located in x4 row 37 seats 5-6.seven_pin@excite.com
rdmac28 writes:
I agree with the big mlb theory. Chris Donald is that kind of player right now, but "chief" moved him to DE? How many other good teams move an all-american LB to DE before he even gets a look inside. We need a RUN stopping MLB and not a 220 lb. guy who can't get off blocks! I'm sure that foolmer will figure it our after UGA and Bama hangs 40 on us. As much as I hate to say it, we may be looking at a 6 win season. Can anyone say Gruden?
ZacharyUTK writes:
I like to move-it move-it. I like to move-it move-it. I like to move-it move-it. (He likes to... move-it!)
EHSvols23 writes:
I have to say, I agree with today's posts about the defense. We have big problems at areas that we are not known for normally having problems at, and then throw in the tackling issues, I have to go with these being a player personnel problem as opposed to the Chief himself. I would say he shares in the blame as far as where he is placing the first year guys, but when at UT have we been weak on the DL? LB? One more thing, and I know this is somewhat of a touchy subject due to his devotion and effort, but what in name of the Sweet Mother Mary is Ryan Karl doing at MLB? I know he knows the calls, etc, but for this defense, he's undersized and not talented enough to start at that position in this conference.
Still, I love the Vols, have since I came into this world. Let's lay another on on UGA and let them limb back to Athens! GO VOLS!!!!
olozbal#646632 writes:
Two points:
- The DB's aren't tackling because they don't want to get hurt and lose their pro prospects. Lots of DB's from UT go on and be ten times greater in pros than in college and they know that. So they don't use their arms and do the safe thing.
- The O line can't run block as well because of that "no huddle". Any of you ex lineman ever have to get in your stance and stay there for the whole time waiting on the QB? Try that 50 times a game.
Just theories.
buxavol writes:
We haven't had an effective MLB since Robert Peace...
yeavols#228407 writes:
I have to hand it to the diehard apologists. Every excuse in the book keeps flying..we have young defensive backs and a broken pinkie and that somehow is the reason for our missed tackles, our linemen not opening up holes for the running game, and giving up big plays. The truth of the matter is we haven't lost players to the NFL, we have recruited consistently for years, our team isn't that young, and all we have to show for it is mediocre records with consistent bowl losses. I am not buying it..but keep apologizing though!
Colliervol writes:
Eric, in answer to your question, A-State rushed for 178 yards and, I think, had 377 in total offense. (Remember that this is a Sunbelt team.) I agree with you about the Hogs. If they can't figure out a way to shore up the run defense, the over/under on Arkansas rushing yards will be 500. Having said that Arkansas' pass defense is pretty sad so the over/under on points will be pretty high as well. As with the rest of the teams on the schedule, I hope we can out-score them.
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