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Buckle up. It's going to be a wild ride.
If you like scoring, looks like 2007 is your year.
One thing that's obvious from Tennessee's first four football games is that points are in and scores are up. Could Bruce Pearl be involved somehow?
Tennessee is scoring 34.5 points a game, the most in more than a decade. The average got a boost from the 48-27 win over Arkansas State on Saturday night.
The Vols are going to need every last field goal and extra point. They're giving up - John Chavis cover your eyes - a staggering 37.5 points a game.
UT ranks 107th out of 118 teams in the nation in scoring defense. And most coaches will tell you scoring defense is the critical stat in the pantheon of college football numbers.
California lit up the Vols for 45 points on opening day. After they limited Southern Miss to 19, there appeared to be hope for the defense.
Then Florida hung 59 on them. Exit hope. Enter hopelessness.
Arkansas State's 27 points are the latest indication Erik Ainge & Co. will have to keep the touchdowns coming on a regular basis in Tennessee's eight remaining games.
He and the rest of the UT offense might just be up to it. Especially with LaMarcus Coker getting up to speed and Lucas Taylor emerging as a star receiver.
"Erik has done a fantastic job of moving the team,'' head coach Phillip Fulmer said Sunday night.
The Vols have been shut down once, by Florida. The offense scored 13 that day. Eric Berry got the other TD on an interception return.
The 34.5 average is the best since 37.4 in 1995, Peyton Manning's sophomore year. The record is 42.8 in 1993, Heath Shuler's Heisman runner-up season.
The current pace is on par with the 1998 national champions, who averaged 34.0 points.
The end zone is likely to shrink from here on out, however. A steady diet of SEC defenses await, with only Louisiana-Lafayette as a potential point-padding day. (The Vols are fortunate not to play Louisiana-Baton Rouge this year.)
Whatever chance Tennessee has to salvage its season counts heavily on the defense finding some answers.
The new kickoff rule is giving offenses better field position to start drives, a double-edged sword. The Vols have taken advantage of the rule on offense but have been hurt defensively.
Another factor, UT has faced two especially innovative and talented offenses already in California and Florida.
"In general, offenses are much more spread out and open,'' Fulmer said. "They're using the field and a lot more big plays are happening.''
But Southern Miss and Arkansas State made big plays, too. And look what's coming down the pike.
Kentucky ranks No. 17 nationally in total offense. The Wildcats can throw the football all over the field and have a nice threat at tailback in Rafael Little.
Speaking of tailbacks, how will UT tackle the Arkansas tandem of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones? The Razorbacks rank No. 19 in total offense, almost totally on the strength of their ground game.
Alabama is a top-40 offense with a nice mix of pass and run. Georgia and South Carolina rank in the 70s nationally but Mark Richt and Steve Spurrier have the acumen to exploit the Vols' weaknesses.
Fulmer isn't naive. Yet he's not ready to concede that the Vols have no choice but to battle through one score-a-thon after another without blinking.
"I don't think you resign yourself to it,'' Fulmer said. "You have to focus on what you have to do to get better.''
If UT's defense doesn't get significantly better, it will set a dubious standard. The most points UT has allowed in the modern era was in 1988 when opponents averaged 26.0 a game.
The 1998 national champs, if you're wondering, allowed 14.4.
To be fair to the current defense, take out three touchdowns opponents have scored on UT turnovers and two more on punt returns, That lowers the average the defense is responsible for from 37.5 to 28.75.
Still not acceptable.
The Vols are off Saturday. Between now and Georgia's visit on Oct. 6, the defense has significant work to accomplish on the practice field.
But in any case, Tennessee's offense better stay tuned up. And the fans are advised to stay buckled up.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.
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Comments » 27
carolinavol writes:
It's a roller coaster ride for sure! Especially for the team. GO VOLS!
snafu14u#241639 writes:
More like batten down the hatches.This is going to be a watershed year for the Big Orange.If it's more of the same, woe be unto us. I thought we'd get better as the year progressed but this is not what I suspected.
TigerVol writes:
Could we at least give Chavis a new nickname....he is more like Custer than any Cheif. I don't know if our defense or our special teams is worse, but they both are the laughing stock of the country...or at least the SEC.
CrankE writes:
So in order to win, UT's offense has to score a bunch of points because our defense is really bad. That's addressing the effect and not the cause.
That would be great if our offense was a real threat to light up the scoreboard and our kicking game wasn't a real threat to light up the opponents' scoreboard.
It's going to be a long year, I'm afraid.
dgarland1#214014 writes:
The TN defense needs to grow a set. Chavis as DC has become less effective and less effective as the years pass. Time for change at TN.
txsvol#372416 writes:
marc_ash, I never pull against Tennessee, but if I were a betting man, I would have made a fortune betting on our losing, or at least not covering the spread, for the past 30-40 years. We actually covered the 19 1/2 point spread against Arkansas State, so yippy-ki-yi-aa for us! Go Vols!
volsfannsc writes:
Our team is not a BCS contender this year- get over it! Sorry folks, not ready for the suicide hotline yet. Everyone points out the obvious- poor special teams, a weak linebacker corp,lack of prep from the coaching staff. Being at the game brought out hidden problems you dont get the camera angle on televised games. Ainge throws into coverage with open receivers sending up signal flares. He also hesitates, hitting receivers late in the pattern. Why are we padding his stats? I think Foster could become a great back if he could figure out how to hold the ball. We have an excellent pass-block offensive line- rush blocking seems to be the mission escaping us. Would our backs shine if there were an ounce of blocking...probably so. I agree with almost everyone here... lets just give our opponents the ball at the 38 yard-line on kickoffs and save everyone the trouble.
Is this the feared, hard hitting, bloody-your-nose football program of old. Nope! People here talk of Fulmer not changing or trying something different. HELLO...look around... the game plan is now to outscore our opponents. We used to just shut them down! Like it or not- that's a change from the past. I've always been proud of our D until this year. Yes, they improved and showed some signs of life in the ASU game, but are they ready to face the call of tougher opponents? (film at 11:00) Four games does not a season make. Have there been improvemtns from opening day? Yes. Do we have a BCS team? Not hardly. End of the world? Life goes on, with challenges for the future. As UT fans we have been spoiled rotten. We have come to accept nothing less than a top 10 finish. We have fooled ourselves into thinking that there is no player development, only reloading. For those of you who enjoy beating up Fulmer and the program, I'd love to know how successful each of you been on a personal level. Must be nice knowing you have always been at the top of the list of whatever you have done. By the way, I have read about boycotts, letter to the AD, all kinds of crazy antics. My son and I attended the game Saturday and we saw very few empty seats. Promise me you wont boycott gasoline to bring the price down. As far as our season goes, I wish better for our school and our program, but there is a very REAL side to NCAA football. If it were not for the challenge it presents- being at the top would become just another notch on the gun. This year may well become a humbling experience, and that's okay- when we become NCAA champions again, it will taste only sweeter.
Basketball_Jones writes:
VolFansc, you make that initial statement of us not being a BCS team this year sound like we are every other year...Last time we were close to the BCS...2001 when we laid an egg in the Ga Dome against LSU. Right now we are like Texas A&M, UCLA, NC State, South Florida, and Purdue...were a middle of the pack team in our conference. We like to act as iff were a top level program with our giant stadium and out of this world facilities, but as I can see from the product we put on the field, its all just donors money wasted....Bring on basketball season
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
not having a good defense ..... leads to many losses..... very simple.... wait and see
bearyh#240689 writes:
Everyone is on the defense. How about the offense hold onto the ball once in a while?
A team cannot have the defense on the field for 2/3 of the game and expect to win.
We still cannot run the ball. There are still turnovers. There are probems on kick coverages. Until these problems are settled the defense does not stand a chance.
Sort of like bringing a butter knife to a gun fight!
CoverOrange writes:
We are NOT a "middle of the pack team in our conference". The only teams we might be favored against right now is Miss St, Ole Miss and Vandy, if even those I would be afraid to put money on. That's the bottom, not the middle. The SEC may be the bestest and strongest conference but we expect to be a big fish in the big pond not a small fish.
The problem with Chavis' defenses has always been option offenses. Now, most everyone is going to some form of option. Chavis has got to figure it out or Fulmer needs to find someone that can. I'm not betting on either of those two events happening.
invisiblekid writes:
So what Strange is saying is that we have effectively become Texas Tech without the wide open offense? Hoping to outscore teams without any semblance of a defense doesn't work through an SEC schedule, just ask Hal Mumme. The argument could be made that we have faced the two best offenses on the schedule in Cal and FL but, on the flip side, we probably haven't seen the best defensive teams either. FL may have the best talent but they were inexperienced and several of the teams the rest of the schedule have the benefit of more experience, not to mention more film to watch on the Vols. A big concern I have goes back late last year when KY and Penn St shut down our offense. No reason to think that SC, AL, AR couldn't do the same. If we have to count on the offense week in and week out, it could be 2005 in reverse.
DadwasaVol writes:
Difficult for me that many of you hope for more Vols misery and cheer for Vols' opponents in order to rid us of Fulmer. Hey, I want Bush impeached and convicted as much as anyone does but I do not wish misery on him and I don't cheer for America's opponents. If you cannot see the parallel, think again.
arkyvol writes:
aha! i think i get the chief's strategy now. having been at the arkansas-tennessee game last year and having seen the pitiful attempts at defense, i see the method in his madness. have mcfadden and jones do eighty yards sprints long enough and they're sure to wear down. i just hope none of the chief's boys get in their way--i wouldn't want them to get hurt.
vol4jesus writes:
dadwasaVol nice punch at the Commander and Chief. Drink the liberal, drive-by media 'Kool-aid' some more and you will be totally off base. I for one don't want what you think everyone else does!Oh,btw no comment on the article in your sour post either. I said it will be shootout at the OK Corral every week and hopefully we have the most points. Oh,btw thanks for not cheering for terrorist. GO VOLS!!!
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
It is time for the Knoxville Media to stop beating around the bush and apply some pressure. Either the Vols fix this now or it's time to clean house.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
The defense will get better. I still see hope for some of the big games even though most are resigned to TN not scoring any more points this year and all the other teams scoring an average of 70.
Georgia - Hard fought game with TN finally getting to show some of it's fans not to write them off this year. TN 38 Ga 24
Miss St - This one gets all the negative folks talking again. A hungry Miss State team catches TN drained after a huge GA game and TN looks bad and struggles to a TN 24 MiSt 20 victory that has everyone calling for Hamilton to lock Fulmer in a dark cell with no water and only Florida highlights.
I can't judge Bama yet, they scare me a little. I'm going to say we can't get it done (so less people will call me an idiot for my other predictions) Bama 38 TN 24
South Car - Spurrier gives us fits and will show some D but TN wins it fairly easy. TN 24 SC 10.
Louisiana shouldn't be a problem.
Ark - MacFadden and Jones are beasts. The QB couldn't hit a receiver from 5 yards out. Ark. defense does not look too stout. Jones and Macfadden will gain over 300 yards but TN wins it because they put points on the board. Also, will the two beasts remain healthy till then?
Vandy - TN 35 VA 24
KY - Scorefest!! Does KY have the edge after losing the last 89 games in a row? It may be their year... but shoot, I wear orange so let's say TN 42 KY 38
That's an optimistic look at a few of the remaining games. I think it is all reasonable although most will say impossible. Let's see how it shakes out.
rileye writes:
fire fulmer get bob stoops - problems solved rocky top will be a happy place again heck we might even have to add another deck with good coaching - still amazed at what the urban legend did with zooks team-- another championship
DennisVols writes:
Watching college football this past weekend it became obvious that a lot of college teams are equally strong or equally weak. The GA-AL stood out as I saw two teams struggle on offense. GA only real threat is running back Knowshon Moreno. Yes I saw the winning touchdown pass which by the way was successful due more too blown coverage than great passing. Stafford has yet to become the “great” quarterback he was predicted to be coming out of TX. He fails to read the defense a lot of times and throws interceptions, as he did this past Sat. I was also amazed the receiver caught the pass. GA receivers have had a problem of holding onto the ball for several years now and this past Sat.’s game was no different.
Alabama sure did not look all that impressive either. Saban will rebuild Bama, the key word “will”. Like most years, polls are based on opinions and the opinion on Saban is he is a great coach. The trouble is right now he has to deal with the talent left him from years of coaching changes, probations and otherwise upheaval in Tide country. Talking about other future UT opponents having better defenses is a bit of a double edged sword. Who have they faced with a highly ranked offense? GA’s offense has not shown that it can run up an impressive score. AK defense is more porous than UT’s and KY high scoring offense is the only thing keeping them from having a losing season because they can only win by scoring 40 because their defense gives up 39. It is apparent that defense has gone out the window and high scores are the norm.
Don’t get me wrong I don’t begin to think the road ahead for UT is easy but the play being shown by their upcoming opponents really is not all that impressive. With continued improvements by UT over this 2 week period they will face a GA team that had a tough game against AL, now must face Ol Miss who took the Gators to the wire. When GA shows up in Knoxville they will be tired and possibly trying to regroup from a 2nd SEC lost (Rebels). The remaining games for UT are all winnable. The competition is no better than they are. It will come down to fundamentals and execution and we have all seen let downs on UT’s side this year.
Keeping it Real
dfite#440781 writes:
I have been watching (or listening to) UT football since Bowden Wyatt was the coach. I've seen UT suffer without talent and win because of talent, but I've never seen us lose like we are with the talent we have. This is a whole new situation for me. But, we really do need to be a little more civilized. As some of you have said, using intelligence instead of screaming obscenities will do a lot more good. Mike Hamilton is a good man. He will do what needs to be done. He doesn't deserve the criticism now because, he sure as hell can't committt himself after four games. What happens happens. If Phillip wins seven games, he stays. If he loses three or four or five games, he's gone. Settle down and stay with the players.
snowvol writes:
The following line in this piece really made me think: "Another factor, UT has faced two especially innovative and talented offenses already in California and Florida." I remember when writers in other SEC cities as well as members of the national media routinely wrote the same type of line...........referring to the Vols. Oh, how times have changed. We aren't Woody Hayes-like, but if you limit the discussion to words like "predictable" and "conventional"....UT has become a 1970's Big Ten virtual reality tour.
DooleyNoted writes:
Good Big 10 analogy. We would dominate the slow boys up north. Let's do an even swap with Ohio St. They fit the SEC better and since they have never beat an SEC team in a bowl game that would work well. We could establish the running game that Fulmer is so attracted to and dominate teams like Wisconsin and Michigan. Don't schedule Penn St. though.
yeavols#228407 writes:
I want to thank all those that left links seeing TENNESSEE in her golden age. I am saying good bye to the Football program. 10 years of hope married to 10 years of disappointment has taken its toll. The game has left me as much as the game has left our coaches. No passion, no excitement, no enthusiasm. Rome did fall, too and it was never the same. Good luck Eric and to the rest of the team. See ya'll next year! Now I am ready for BRUCE PEARL!! BRING ON BASKETBALL~!!!!
nmvol writes:
If Georgia smokes us and I think they will it will be a losing season. Coach Fulmer it is time to do what is right for the good of UT and retire.
utbaby#215635 writes:
The kick off team is absolutlely killing the defense. We miss Wilhoit more than any other player from last year. He would consistently kick the ball into the end zone. How much better would the defense fare if a kicker could kick to the 5yd line or better. Letting the other team start drives on the 35 to 40 yd line propably adds 10 to 17 points per game. This along with the fact that seldom does the kick returner have someone within 5 yards of them until they reach the 25 yd line. Either the scheme is bad or players can't get off of blocks to make tackles. When you count the gifts from punt return, INT's and fumble's, the defense ain't as bad as it sounds. Stop these mistakes and UT can beat everyone remaining on the schedule.
Volnut writes:
dfite hit the nail on the head for me but I'd also like to add my take to the woes of the program if I may.
Living in SE Alabama, our treks to K-town were always something the entire family looked forward to year after year and what has transpired in the past few years is just very hard to stomach.
Having played college ball, I have always had a hard time jumping on the backs of players and the coaching staff. But something is incredibly wrong with a program that loses with the talent our program yields year in and year out.
The coaching staff first has to take the brunt of the blame for preparation and game plan execution. All facets of the game rely solely on them. The players feed off them and look to them for guidance. This isn't what's happening with our program. Instead of progress, we have been in a steady decline for quite a few years now. Lack luster performances for a program that has a stadium capacity of over 108K, and top tier recruiting isn't something that will endear fans and alumni to the AD or the coaching staff.
I won't make many friends with this comment, but Randy Sanders got a raw deal from CPF and took the entire offensive woes for the staff. While Sanders was in the box instead of on the sidelines our Offense was more productive than at any time during his tenure at UT. Same can be said for CJC. His ability to adjust to the offense was always a strong trait for his coaching ability but since he's been placed on the sidelines with CPF, our productivity and adjustments have fallen off and rested solely on the second half.
Yes, I understand you want a coach looking the players in the eyes when they come off the field, last time I checked, that's what the HC and the assistants are for. We have been lacking in correcting mistakes and problems on the field during a game for quite some time and I don't see any signs of this getting done anytime soon.
Mind you parity in CFB is tougher now than when you had 100+ scholarships to throw around. Fielding 85 scholarships demands you meet the needs of the team and the weak areas of the team. While we have excelled at recruiting, we have fallen off the wagon on coaching.
Also, if a coaching staff has to fire these young men up to play this game then we are more concerned with talent vs drive, heart, and a willingness to succeed.
It's just hard to see programs like Boise State, Rutgers, and lower tier programs, get the most out of their players and staff while we suffer from lack of enthusiasm and heart week end and week out.
Sorry for being so long winded but these are issues that are going to have to be addressed before we make the journey back to the program we once were.
invisiblekid writes:
Nice post Volnut, no disagreement on any of your points from me.
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