Stats
There was a wipe of the brow and a sigh of relief from Jonathan Crompton and Dave Clawson.
All they wanted was a feel-good finish to their spring.
They got one.
Tennessee's offense under Clawson, the Vols' first-year coordinator, remains a work in progress, but it put up big numbers in the annual Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday.
A crowd announced at 28,988 watched Crompton complete 13-of-20 passes for 266 yards, three touchdowns and one interception as the White beat the Orange 38-16.
"I don't know the stats," Crompton said, "but we just tried to end the spring on a good note and that's what we did."
Clawson didn't wait around to unleash his junior quarterback, either.
On the first play of the day, Denarius Moore went deep.
Crompton proved the Vols can throw long, hitting him in stride for a 74-yard pass play down the left sideline.
Touchdown.
"That's what we wanted to do," Crompton said. "We wanted to take a shot deep on the first play depending on the coverage. It was there and that set us up the rest of the day to sling it around a little bit."
Granted, he was slinging it around against the second-team defense, but none of that mattered.
"I thought early especially we executed extremely well offensively," UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "It was good to see Jonathan in that kind of rhythm.
"There were some really big plays in the passing game. I thought he had a good day except for that last ball."
It's the last ball, a short throw over the middle that was intercepted by LaMarcus Thompson, that bothered Crompton more than anything.
Avoiding those mistakes will be a focus of Clawson's offseason work with Crompton.
"I think part of that is, when you're a backup, you play eight or 10 plays at a time," Clawson said. "The challenge of the starter is to play 65, 75, 85 plays at a time.
"That's a lot of the transition going from a backup to the starter. You have to come out sharp mentally and not make those mistakes the 67th, the 73rd, the 85th plays of the game. To me that just comes from repetitions."
Crompton was nearly flawless in the first half, going 10 of 14 for 233 yards and the three TDs.
He hooked up with Josh Briscoe (four catches, 72 yards) for his other two scores, an 18-yard pass and a 31-yard laser near the end of the half.
"Right away, you could tell he was a physically talented player," Clawson said of Crompton. "He can make every throw and he's athletic.
"Like any quarterback that's learning the system or taking over as the starter, a lot of it is just management of the game."
Running back Arian Foster took most of the day off with one carry for eight yards, but Lennon Creer picked up the slack with 59 yards on 10 carries, including a 3-yard TD.
The "G-Gun" package with Gerald Jones lined up at quarterback also made a couple of appearances, including a 17-yard TD pass to Moore.
The lone "Orange" touchdown came on an 8-yard pass from B.J. Coleman (9-of-13, 80 yards) to Tauren Poole.
Other scores came via the field-goal route: Daniel Lincoln a 43-yarder for the White, Deven Mathis from 30 and 45 for the Orange and Taka Koyano from 41 yards for the Orange.
Defensively, the big plays came from the usual suspects.
Sophomore safety Eric Berry intercepted Nick Stephens (6-of-17, 44 yards, two interceptions) and had a 25-yard return.
Junior safety Demetrice Morley ran back another interception of Stephens 18 yards.
"That was more of what we've seen all spring," Fulmer said. "The secondary is very talented and experienced enough now to get themselves in position to make plays.
"If they can get their hands on the ball, those two guys especially, can make big things happen."
Morley also had the hit of the day, a crunching blow on Quintin Hancock to break up a pass.
"Even though it's a spring game, it just happened, man," Morley said. "It's reflexes. I told him I'm sorry, man. He's OK."
So is the first-team offense - at least for now.
"I think we're better now than we were practice one," Clawson said, "but I don't feel like we would be ready to play UCLA next week.
"We started here, we need to get there, and we're somewhere in between. We have a lot of work to do."
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Comments » 85
VolPride_13 writes:
That is what I like to see!! Our team throwing it DOWN THE FIELD for a change (not to take anything away from ainge, as he was hurt!!!) AND why in the world did we use the G-Gun package to THROW in, the opponents might be watching this and practice for it!!!
All in all What a great Game for the Offense and Defense!!!
gohawks1 writes:
No word here on special teams play. Anybody have any info. on how that went?
volfaninchattanooga writes:
http://wdef.com/image_galleries/orang... Photo Gallery of Today's Game
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
Special teams was average at best. There were a couple of decent kick returns but most all of the punt returns were fair catches.
tigervol9802 writes:
Sounded somewhat promising from what I heard on radio. That or we have even less depth on than I thought.
I now say 3-5 at October's end!
vtvol#210290 writes:
It was good to see the offense air it out even though it was against an arrested defense. Crompton solidified hiimself as the Vols number one signal caller with a crisp and efficient performance. I think that just the possibilty of Gerald Jones completing a pass out of the G-gun will give opposing defenses pause and unsuredness whenever he lines up behind center. His TD pass today will reverberate at all schools on our 2008 schedule. It would have been nice after the White team got up 35-3 to see how Crompton would've fared against our pass rush unleashed full-speed. It's not as easy to complete 65% with the green jersey off. Stunning hit by Demetrice Morley. He's going to rip some heads off this fall! Jesus-- over four long months until some meaingful football happens! It can't get here soon enough. Go Vols!
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
Didn't get to see the game or watch it on TV. My Google skills are not great, does anyone know where I could watch recorded video of the O&W game on the internet?
andy112382#209793 writes:
Yea, i can't wait to watch this one, I live down here in North Augusta, SC and don't get any coverage other than here and other Tennessee sites, sounds like it is a good one watch, though!
GO VOLS!!!
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
Unfortunately, Charter Cable doesn't have a market in Louisiana...my provider is Cox Communications. Bummer...oh well.
ZWVol11 writes:
Well I know it comes on Sports South tomorrow but all in all i thought the game started out as a breath of fresh air and then it seemed to kind of be the same old stuff but when they threw out of the G-Gun I was sitting up there in the endzone and I turned to my friend and I said they're gonna throw it and everyone just kind of looked at me like I was crazy. After the TD I just said I told you so.
jeremyinitalia writes:
Cox wonderful Cox...CST is rediculous
72vol writes:
Sport south is showing the game sunday at 7pm.
utchris writes:
They will open the UCLA game with the same bomb (unless there is a really funky coverage to prevent it) that they ran today. Go ahead and make REservations for SIX.
newtonrail writes:
vol in lsu land, sports south should be there if Cox carries it. I'm on Charter, but I know others like Knoxville on Comcast get it. It covered Ladies Vols Softball, then other teams in the South.
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
Why doesn't Crompton throw against Berry and D-Mo? Doesn't make any sense to me...1st team versus 1st team, second vs second...we're not going to get any team's second string defense.
badawg44 writes:
8-0 by end of Oct?... yeah, ok and you'll be the first one to say fire Fulmer. I say maybe 4-4.
G-Gun, I like it. G for Georgia right!?!
Get ready goon squatt, Stafford has a bigger GUN.
See y'all 2morrow, gotta get some zzz's.
Sic'em!
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
badawg,
I've heard about Stafford for about 15 years now and still haven't heard of him actually doing anything... especially against TN.
If you are a courteous poster on this board, maybe we will be courteous and spot GA another 17 point lead, ala 2006, before we turn it on.
Fulmer owns Richt.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I thought it was illegal to throw a pass over 8 yards. Did the rules change?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
ZWVol11 - what was the attendance?
eduardo writes:
So much for the vaunted secondary. Looks lots of offense means no defense. No better than 8-4 people!
sevenmaxims#354995 writes:
All punts were fair caught by spring game ground rule.
DSaVol writes:
Alright all you kool-aid drinkers, it's obviously time to get jacked up!! The Vols won!!! Now if only the 12 teams on the schedule will agree to play their 2nd team against the Big Orange Ones it would be something to look forward to! Yessirree, this Clawson/Crompton duo has the look of champions now doesn't it??? And ole Norm Chow - you know, the OC that EVERYBODY said wouldn't take a college job - well, I know he's losing sleep thinking about opening against this stalwart band of ChavisChumps! Oh and I can't wait for Nov. 8 and that HUGE homecoming game! Won't it be wonderful to see about 85,000 actual ATTENDEES welcome the Vols home just when they need it to face Wyoming! With at least 6 losses at that point, the great kool-aid crowd will be needed more than ever if the Vols are to reel off three straight wins and claim a berth in the Music City Bowl! And the best news is that by winning those last three, ole FOOLmer should only need to hang around for THREE more years to pass Neyland!! There IS hope!!! Or is that another perfect storm cloud I see??????
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Gen Fritter, sir, 8:09 you mention a "pass rush", could you 'splain that term for we'un Vol fans?
Was Dupree at the game?
DSaVol - Tell us how you really feel!
For the really doldrum affected, splodetv.com - drunk girl launches.
ElizabethtonvolnNC writes:
DSA- Until we have another 2005 can we please let that one go? I will accept one "perfect storm" every 14 years...AND a National Championship.
DSaVol writes:
Well I guess you will also accept that IT'S NOW BEEN 3,422 DAYS SINCE TN WON AN SEC CHAMPIONSHIP IN FOOTBALL!!!
And since then LSU has 3 titles, FL and GA have 2 each and AL and AUB have one each! Yeah this is an ELITE program with GREAT leadership! But I'm sure you'll remind me of how many times FOOLmer and Co. have beaten Memphis, La-Laffy, Air Force, Duke, Vandy, Kentucky, SC, etc etc....
tigervol9802 writes:
If we have to let 05 go, can we also let 98 go too? We're now celebrating 10 years since our last national title. Or are we celebrating 10 years since our last SEC title?
DSaVol -
5-6 headed into the UK game, and UK beats us at Neyland.
waterskier3#226480 writes:
there you go agan DSavol.. giving stats... people on here will give you countless other stats on fulmer winning percentage and lets not forget those 4 fab east div championships... wow!!
the only stats that matter are the ones you pointed out!!! 3,422 days and counting....
on the positive side sounds like crompton is looking better... my concern is still the Defense... dline has to get better to compete for any type of bcs game or championship!!!
GO VOLS and have a great week
ThurmondEppy writes:
Don't mind the GA fans. I live in ATL and I am constantly amazed by their smack talk. They still talk about Herschel and their 1980 NC like it was yesterday and they delude themselves into truly thinking that they are contenders every year. Makes it even more fun when we beat them.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
would agree with others---1st team O against 2nd team D and vice versa proves very little---and anyone who takes that much from it needs to lay off the orange liquid for the 4 months just as the players have 4 mo off------while it doesnt give a real indication of the players it does give some of the coaching style and would appear we going to open it up some and go downfield and thats good to see----------this irrelevant 1st against 2nd setup is more designed to get the fan base excited and optimistic than give a real indication of what we got
Beasty72 writes:
DSaVol----True we have not won the SEC championship since 98 but we have played for the SEC championship as much as anyone in the entire SEC has.One year we were upset by LSU but the other two years we lost to an undefeated Auburn team that should have played for the National Championship and the National Champions that humiliated Ohio State in the National Championship.
I would love to win it all every year but so would every other team in the NCAA. I think it was a hell of an accomplishment what our team did last year with the way the level of competition has grown in the SEC,
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
thurmondeppy, lets be honest and fair about it- we engage in smacktalk and often delussion as well---how quickly you forget they beat us 3 in row
SFOrange writes:
Its a SPRING GAME, installing a NEW offense. Its PRACTICE. Take a deep breath and relax...enjoy the spring/summer...and the real work begins in August.
Noticed (in photos/highlights) differences in Neyland at field level--brick walls (looks cool), grass cut alternate light/dark (every 5 yards)--did anyone attended the game--does that change the feel of the stadium....and are there other changes inside the bowl? Go Vols.
givehim6 writes:
It is great to come to come to this post and hear fans talking positively about UT football again. And listing how good THE VOLS are playing now. But then ad a few sour fans, plus a few UAG, UF, or BAMA people and throw around there little digs at UT, I mean really, I don't go to your guys sites and cut your team, or put down my team. A bit of respest.
jcorange98 writes:
we can only hope all ut punts are fair catches bc we cant cover kicks, oh maybe if ut had live coverage practice or if starters played sp teams, someone will make a cut and ut will be out of position, same old sh
eb502us#225637 writes:
Funny how DsaVol is on Fulmer's arse yet he was kissing Buzz's arse until the day he was fired. I guess his dislexia is rearing it's ugly head again. Talk about a guy that knows nothing about UT sports, much less coaching......that's DsaVol folks.
miamiVOL writes:
eduardo, you can go ahead and finish bricking up Neyland, BY YOUR SELF ENJOY
alfrizzle097 writes:
A couple of people wonder why we threw out of the G-gun, effectively showing our hand. This way Florida will have to acknowledge that possibility and not pack 10 men in the box. That way we can use it in the game without actually having to pass. Remember, the pass has a much greater potential for disaster than the run.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
A calm will now settle across the land. Doldrums have assumed the mantle of summer. Selah.
Time to let the koolaid age.........
99gator writes:
there is a rumor on gator boards.....
that there are some vols in trouble with grades. is that true? if so, does anyone have an inkling as to who?
person who posted the rumor said that he saw fulmer on television and that fulmer specifically referred to bolden and mccoy.
can anyone verify this or is this a big load of .....
wyomingvol writes:
Impressive strong negativity for a spring game... Keep it up haters.
Phowell23 writes:
You would think after the beat down TN gave GA last year they would shut it until they actually show up and play.
Offense sounds like they are starting to fire. Hopefully, they can oil it down a little more before UCLA and come out firing on all cylinders. Even if we don't I think we'll still win as I don't think UCLA can move the ball against our defense. For those now scared we don't have a great defensive team, it's much easier to get pumped up for Orange/White game for the offense rather then defense.
rusty_shackleford writes:
little stevie superior's 2 QBs threw 8, count 'em EIGHT, PICKS in their spring game!! Smelley is living up to his name!
CoverOrange writes:
99gator, Kenny O'Neal missed some spring practices because of academics. Have seen nothing about Bolden or McCoy this spring in that regard. McCoy missed the Outback Bowl because of academics.
CoverOrange writes:
99gator, add Bolden to the list of players that missed the Outback bowl. I forgot. Looks like your rumor mongerer has old news.
movol77 writes:
The only stats that matter are the ACTUAL ones. Made up predictions of doom don't count. :)
VOLS85 writes:
So here's the deal, if the offense does well it is most obviously because they're playing the second team defense, and Fulmer is incompetent...If the offense is ineffective, then we're going 5-7 this year and Fulmer is incompetent...either way, Fulmer can do no right. Can someone please tell me what this team should have done yesterday to please you, because I am having a hard time finding any positives out of 70% of you...
abnermc writes:
Here's your positives: Badwag, the Ga dogs will fail to live up to stretched expectations AGAIN . The hype is way over the top & for what ? finishing strong LAST YEAR. Every year you do this ; NC my ..foot.
Fla will prob. beat us as usual because it's early gme & they always get up for us but meyer will lose down the stretch ,as usual, & we go back to Atl. Fulmer gets better, meyer gets worse. Fla will be our only loss. Count on it. Crompton is the man!!!!!
keithswafford#269308 writes:
we are just as good as anyone in the SEC, if anyone argues against that statement they are wrong.
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
You 5-7 prognosticators must be smoking the same crack as gatorfan8 (who is either a 14 year old or must be posting from his cell phone by the way he types).
'05 was a "perfect storm". Everything that could go wrong did go wrong that year. There is absolutely nothing that would indicate a repeat this year.
At worst we go 8-4 with losses to UF, UGA, AUB, and Bama. At best we go 11-1 (just because its too hard to win them all in the SEC)with a random loss to one of the above four teams. Reality will probably be 9-3.
Regardless of what any of us THINK may happen I like to take the glass half full approach and think the team I hold so dear is capable of wining the SEC this year. There is more positive potential than negative.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Well... the koolaid is vintage today!! Good to have you back on the optimistic side tngeoff! Let's hope that we are not deceiving ourselves and that we really will have a great year. I am with ya!
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