Tennessee Stat Book
Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. Georgia
- When: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007, 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Had Tennessee football fans not known better, they'd have thought the Vols signed the biggest receiver in school history.
Streaking (or at least lumbering) down the field against Arkansas State last Saturday was a 6-foot-3, 330-pounder.
Only this wasn't a receiver running a fly route. This was offensive guard Jacques McClendon in his first play of the game running at full speed, blocking a linebacker, then a defensive back more than 25 yards downfield.
"The play wasn't over," the former Chattanooga Baylor star said with a smile following practice on Tuesday. "You've got to keep going."
McClendon certainly kept going, to the detriment of one very unfortunate safety.
"The only thing I saw was his head in the ground," McClendon said. "He went straight to the grass."
Over the years, UT's coaches have often said they'd like to play more than five offensive linemen throughout the season. That, however, has proved to be more luxury than commonplace.
This year, offensive line coach Greg Adkins has the players to easily play seven.
"If I think guys are game-ready, I'm going to play them," Adkins said. "They'll be rewarded by playing."
Adkins said there were no major mistakes from his second string sophomore guard duo - McClendon and Vladimir Richard - and added he should have played senior Michael Frogg and freshman Ramon Johnson last week.
Fulmer said McClendon and Richard, who played about half the game in place of starters Anthony Parker and Chris Scott, bring a more physical mindset to the run game, even though they both need to improve in pass protection.
"You are bringing in fresh legs," Richard said. "I feel that defenses will get worn down faster like that."
McClendon's first play certainly got his teammates' attention, especially receiver Austin Rogers.
"I thought it was awesome," the sophomore said. "I thought we should probably give him the ball next time and let him run over some people."
McClendon was ready for any position change - if called upon.
"I tried to get (receivers coach) Troop(er Taylor) to split me out wide the other day," McClendon said with a hearty chuckle.
Block or Bench?: Taylor said poor run blocking will keep freshman Denarius Moore and junior Kenny O'Neal on the bench.
"You've got to represent us all the time," Taylor said. "It's not a sometime thing."
Taylor said poor blocking by Moore prevented freshman tailback Lennon Creer from scoring last Saturday.
"Denarius is out there hand pecking instead of being physical," Taylor said. "That's why they don't get as much playing time."
UT coach Phillip Fulmer didn't seem as displeased with O'Neal, saying that he and sophomore Quintin Hancock deserve more playing time.
"He and Kenny both should be playing more," Fulmer said.
Meach's Man: Taylor said he speaks frequently with former UT receiver Robert Meachem, who was drafted in the first round by the New Orleans Saints.
"He's definitely frustrated," Taylor said.
Times have been tough for Meachem. He pulled a hamstring early in preseason camp then was sidelined with a minor knee injury as the Saints have fallen to 0-3.
"I'll promise, by the end of his career, they'll be happy they drafted him," Taylor said.
Taylor took issue with a report that Meachem wasn't trained properly at UT to beat press coverage.
"It's not about what he did here," Taylor said. "It's about the injury."
Injury Report: Fulmer said he was very pleased that sophomore tailback Montario Hardesty took part in a physical practice Tuesday. Hardesty is recovering from an ankle injury originally suffered against Cal in the season opener.
"I don't want him doing too much," Fulmer said. "I want him all the way back and ready to go Monday, but it was good to see him full speed."
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Comments » 13
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
What on earth is going on here? Whazzup between Fulmer and Trooper about giving kids playing time?
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
The Saints are 0-3. Let's fire Trooper because Meachem is injured!!!
VOLinDAWGland writes:
You can read the comment from Fulmer as they have all the talent to be playing more, thus they SHOULD be playing more, but without more complete effort they won't. I don't see a conflict at all. Taylor is their position coach and he is setting a high bar. Fulmer is simply reinforcing that these kids of the natural skills to play.
People have complained about Roger's drops and wonder why he's in there, the reason is probably that Austin hits people. There's more to being a receiver than just catching passes. I watched tapes of the game and he had a couple of drops, a few of the other non catches were good defensive plays. He's tough, he'll make the catches...I like him. We need good, tough receivers not pretty boys who are fast. Taylor is looking great.
iowavol writes:
phillip
I agree that Rogers is a tough kid who runs good routes and gets open. In the case of the well defended drops in the last game, he is not sheilding the defender off the ball and letting them make plays. At other times, he's just not aggressive at going for the ball. He has to want it more than anyone else. And when he drops the easy pass that kills the drive, that is just unacceptable. I've seen him block well but I've seen him go half hearted at times as well. It's almost like he loses his focus during some plays. I say put in the young guys and let them learn.
VolMoment writes:
phillip,gilbert you are a student of the game. Excellant comments ==, not some emotional tirate because we lost a game. People who are just fans don't realize it is more than they will ever know about blocking. Not just running down the field. Also your understanding about Fulmer and Taylor's comment were right on.
hueypilot writes:
Some of the "drops" would have been highlight catches if Rogers had held on. Ainge was not on the money against Ark St., and a lot of the throws took off on him and were much higher than they needed to be. Admittedly Rogers dropped one that was right on the numbers and he needs to make that catch, but some of them were as much Ainge's fault as Rogers'.
CoverOrange writes:
How about McClendon at FB?
wallyinman#208691 writes:
Now here's an idea. Line Jacques McClendan up at tailback and let him run left, or right, over tackle.....aka..The fridge...Third down short yardage issues solved.....
sampears writes:
I thought the down field block by Josh McNiel was awesome! I don't think that play is a touchdown without his block!
BigOrange1 writes:
Wow...I didn't know there were so many readers who know so much about the X's and O's of football.
I've always liked and respected Fulmer, but I do think it's time for a change. I believe the game has passed him by. GO VOLS!!
BigOrange1 writes:
marc_ash...well said. Your one of the few people I think has any sense. For those of you that subscribe to Rivals.com, I urge you to go to the South Carolina page and read the "Tuesday Notebook" article about Chris Culliver, one of the top highschool WR in the nation last year. Steve Spurrier, who I'm sure most of you would agree is a hell of a coach and knows his stuff, says that he won't get Culliver more touches until he can prove some "consistancy" in practice. The article says: "If he can get out and get open, he'd get a bunch of footballs coming at him," Spurrier said. "So he needs to prove it in practice."
invisiblekid writes:
Downfield blocking by the offensive line and receivers? I am all for it. One of the problems I have seen watching games at Neyland or on television the past several years is the inability or unwillingness to stay after the defensive player during a play. Too many times we see offensive linemen at the end of plays with their hands on their hips watching the proceedings. Too many times we see these wide receivers doing the chicken fighting that Taylor commented on. I would rather have a guy get an occassional late-hit flag than quit early on a play. You can talk about execution and effort all you want, but ultimately, the coaches carry much of the responsibility in the outcome of a game. They are the ones teaching during practice and deciding who sits and who plays.
Colliervol writes:
If McClendon and Richard can run block at all, they should be starting because it is clear that the five who started the season can't do it. Don't care if it was AR State or not. At least he was downfield making the effort. Play him!
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