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
There’s a reason Robert Ayers leads Tennessee in sacks. Simply put, the junior defensive end isn’t the player he used to be.
“I was holding myself back,” said Ayers, who has three sacks this season. “I wasn’t putting in the effort in the weight room. I wasn’t coming out to practice everyday and trying to get better.
“Everything’s on me.”
Since signing with UT in 2004, Ayers had never come close to reaching his potential in his first two seasons, having registered only 30 tackles and zero sacks in spot duty.
“He was one of those guys that was always just better than everybody,” UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said. “He just didn’t have a great work ethic. That’s the truth. It’s been a battle.”
Making the battle more frustrating for UT’s coaches was Ayers’ potential.
“It’s just unusual to have somebody that gifted that doesn’t have the work ethic. He’s got it. He’s doing it now,” Fulmer said.
Fulmer said Ayers is also playing the run much better than he did as an underclassman, as evident by his 14 tackles, 3½ for a loss.
“He’s reaching the potential we hoped he would reach,” Fulmer said.
Pinkie Press: Quarterback Erik Ainge has gotten some much-needed rest for the broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand. And there’s more to come.
After practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Vols will hold a morning practice today then break until Monday. The most painful part of the injury, Ainge said, has been handling the snap from center.
“It’s getting better,” Ainge said of his finger. “I think the off-week will really help it out a lot. Practice a couple times this week and not do a whole lot. That’s the biggest problem, banging on it every day practicing.”
Troop’s Take: Receivers coach Trooper Taylor, who returned kicks and punts while playing for Baylor, believes UT returner Jonathan Hefney was pressing last week when the senior lost 17 yards on four attempts.
“It’s not the club,” Taylor said, referring to Hefney’s “dancing” against Arkansas State. “You’ve got to stick your foot in the ground and get north and south.”
Taylor added that Hefney didn’t have many opportunities for a good return because UT was in “safe” punt return mode, meaning they were lined up to defend a fake.
“It’s not a bad thing to fair catch a ball,” Taylor said.
Injury Report: Head coach Phillip Fulmer said senior tight end Brad Cottam might not be deemed 100 percent healthy until after the season.
Cottam suffered a wrist injury that required surgery during a preseason scrimmage. He was originally scheduled to return in November.
Fulmer said UT is applying for a sixth year of eligibility for Cottam, who has endured five surgeries and a myriad of ailments during his career.
“It would be absolutely the right thing to do for a young man,” Fulmer said of the NCAA granting an additional year. “If the NCAA is pro-athlete — as they say — this would be a case in which you could do it.”
Senior cornerback Antonio Gaines had successful surgery after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament against Southern Miss on Sept. 8. Fulmer said he hadn’t talked to Gaines, who has graduated, about applying for an additional year.
Moving On Up: Junior college transfer Nevin McKenzie said he liked playing linebacker last week against Arkansas State, his first game after being moved from safety.
“Some of it’s basically the same as strong safety, so I should pick up on it pretty fast,” McKenzie said.
McKenzie registered five tackles against the Indians.
The move seemed to capitalize on McKenzie’s aggressive, physical nature.
“It’s comfortable for me,” he said. “I’ve just got a couple of adjustments to make.”
Strict on Stephens: Redshirt freshman quarterback Nick Stephens was jogging around the indoor practice field following practice on Wednesday.
“I’d say he probably missed class or something,” Fulmer said.
Drew Edwards contributed to this report.
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Comments » 18
justingh1 writes:
If we could play Ark St every week Ayers may be an All American. How could you even come to Tennessee knowing the potential to get a shot at the league and not have a good work ethic.Maybe Ainge will stay out of the pick-up b-ball league and rest his finger so he can throw the ball downfield. Everyone knows we can't throw deep and it is absolutely killing us.
yeavols#228407 writes:
Thanks VOLS for some good years. But, the game has come and gone. Watching the VOLS of old and watching the new vols with Alabama videos of Coach Fulmer holdng a box of donuts has taken its toll. All I see is no passion, no enthusiasm, for the game. Watching our coaches on the side lines coupled with bad bowl games and blow-outs has become (well, excuse the word) pass'e. 10 years have gone with only dashed hopes and dreams. Yes, those years have taken it's toll-the emotional roller coaster is too exhausting. Now, I just want to say..GO BRUCE PEARL and PAT SUMMITT! Your work is tireless, your passion is fire, and you want to win. You have innovation, you take chances, you keep up with the game. Most of all, you excite us with your engergy! I CAN"T WAIT FOR NOVEMBER!! GO BASKETBALL VOLS!
ThaiVolFan writes:
"Cottam suffered a wrist injury that required surgery during a preseason scrimmage." What, he had surgery during the middle of the scrimmage right there on the sideline. The writers for these columns crack me up with their writing ability sometimes. It should have been, "Cottam suffered a wrist injury during a preseason scrimmage that required surgery." Let me know Dave if you need any more help writing your columns.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Sporting News ran an AP story today about how the Vols have been focused on tackling.
Quote from Fulmer: "It's very good to get the fundamental work done that we've needed to get done," coach Phillip Fulmer said. "We spent about 15 minutes on tackling today, and that's exactly what we needed to do. We're continuing to work to not make the mistakes that beat us."
Great, problem solved and it only took 15 minutes. We've missed more tackles than we've made four games into the season and he spends 15 minutes on tackling in practice.
HOW ABOUT SPRING CAMP, CHIEF? FALL CAMP? TWO-A-DAYS?? HOW CAN SEC PLAYERS EVEN SHOW UP AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON AND NOT BE ABLE TO TACKLE?
HOW CAN WE EVEN BE TALKING ABOUT TACKLING FOUR GAMES INTO THE SEASON?
What is UP with these guys?!
yeavols#228407 writes:
Logical questions keep coming..but the lame excuses just get better. 10 years. WHo has had enough?
iowavol writes:
I like McKenzie at LB. Maybe he can push these other guys a little. I know they are athletes, but something Al Wilsonesque is missing in this group. I am also quite interested in seeing if a healed pinkie is going to get Ainge throwing down field a little better.
DennisVols writes:
Having a week off is never a week off in the middle of the college football season. No matter what the record there are areas of improvement needed on every team. Tebow at UF has rushed more times than any other player on the team. Do you believe that is not a concern to Meyer?
Fulmer and staff will concentrate on tackling and not giving up the big play the next 2 weeks going into the GA game.
Teaching tackling fundamentals is something that should have been taught back in their Pop Warner days. Why they have not been using them is the bigger question.
The one big thing I have seen missing in the UT defense not only this year but the last couple is field leadership. There seems to be no Big John Henderson, or Leonard Little’s on this squad. I’m talking mean and nasty type. The kind of player that has the respect of the other 10 on the field and raises their game because of it. This is something that cannot be taught or coached. I saw it in Big John back when he was in HS and it carried over into his college and now pro career. Little would hit a man twice his size and that guy would forever remember it. Those are just 2 in a line of defense leaders that played under coach Chavis’s system and made it work. UT has good defensive players but they lack that LEADER, a man among men, that takes responsibility for himself and holds the others accountable as well. With Big John and others it was not just how you hit, it was how well you did it. You make them remember it so that the next time they have doubt, they second guess going through the hole. If you can make a runner think about what they are going to do it slows them down. If you can make a quarterback think about the hit you placed on him the last time he dropped back or decided to tuck and run he begins to second guess the play called.
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."It is past time for a leader to step up at UT demand accountability. These men are given an opportunity most will never have. A signature player that everyone knows is on the field, a difference maker in a game. When Ray Lewis is on the field for the Ravens defense the opposing offense makes adjustments in their play calling. UT needs a Lewis.
Is there a leader here, someone to become the mean and nasty emotional hitter? Only time will tell but with the upcoming SEC schedule at hand we need to see it sooner than later.
chadbuckles#235104 writes:
If memory serves me right 10 years ago we were winning our first of 2 back to back SEC's championships and a NC in 98. So if we are going to get picky lets get the facts straight. Maybe the past 5-6 years we have behind other SEC Schools.
Medalist writes:
Please, please say they spent more than 15 minutes on tackling. Are not 20 hours of practice a week allowed? Here's a suggestion Phil and Chief, practice tackling 20 hours or until its done properly in a game. You guys face GA, AL, SC, ARK, KY - Learn to tackle, now.
wallyinman#208691 writes:
I predict, The Volunteers, with their backs firmly against the wall, give the Georgia Bulldogs all they can handle and them some, and are in position to win the game at the end. It will be a hell of a game. Wonder who will win? Me too?
orangebloodgmc writes:
Did you take last season off? I believe Richt is trying to turn around the beginnings of a losing streak against Fulmer. Geaux Vawls!
aj_vol#248433 writes:
Richt & UGA also managed to lose back-to-back games last year vs Kentucky & Vandy at home after the Vols dropped 51 on them in Athens.
However, I'm sure you will be back here talking all this negative smack about how we will lose to Miss St., Bama, SC, KY, & Vandy after Phillip & the Vols beat Georgia next week.
GreerVol22 writes:
Wally, I admire you and the Beav's optimisim but sphs_vol has a point, and 15 minutes practicing tackling fundamentals 101 going into game 4 is a complete joke. I dare you to find another D1 top 40 program that the head coach is speaking about working on fundamental tackling drills for 15 minutes...and how "it felt good".
fryed004#518992 writes:
What is wrong with having a large, head hunting safety ala Mckenzie? It seems like we always go for the undersized types like Hefney and move the bigger guy to LB--Hefney, who by the way is playing like S%^t...what is up with that guy?
wyomingvol writes:
FYI, Al Wilson started out as a Strong Safety.
ETownVol writes:
"During a preseason scrimmage, Cottam suffered a wrist injury that required surgery." I think that's how it should have been written. Just my 2 cents. Actually, if that scrimmage looked anything like our season so far, it probably did require surgery. Heaven knows our football program does.
invisiblekid writes:
This story does beg the question of why it takes
3 years to instill the proper work ethic in Ayers. I'm sure it has just been a lack of execution on his part. In regards to the Sporting News story, I wonder how much time Paterno or Saban or Stoops spends on tackling with their teams? I'm guessing more than 15 minutes. And with that, I'll leave this session of Coach-Speak 101 on this enlightening statement: "We continue to make progress in not beating ourselves. You've got to avoid losing before you can win, and that is kind of our theme right now, to put ourselves in a position to win football games and not give up plays that lose football games," Fulmer said. Good points, that's right up there with " the team with more points at the end of the game usually wins".
yeavols#228407 writes:
If you were a Freshman witnessing the last few years and now you are now a junior or senior ready to play..you would be lighting up the airwaves and ESPN breaking records. Let's face it..since the fortunate national champ 10 years ago, nothing has happened since then. Guess what? it's not going to this year either. We are 2-2, unranked, and Kentucky and South Carolina is ranked. YA..It hits that hard.
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