Your new quarterback throws a couple of interceptions in his first full-scale scrimmage, and you might get a little antsy. But imagine how you would have felt if Jonathan Crompton had picked apart Tennessee's first-team defense Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
Never mind how much everything is magnified with a new quarterback. Based on last season - and based on how far the defense has fallen behind the offense in college football - the performance of UT's defense was just as significant as the play of its new quarterback Saturday.
The defense is supposed to be ahead of the offense in the first scrimmage. And it was.
But it also was ahead of the UT defense that was victimized so often last season.
It's one thing to hear how much better the secondary will be. It's another thing to see it.
You saw it repeatedly in the scrimmage. You saw defensive backs making one-on-one open-field tackles and making plays on the ball in one-on-one situations.
And it wasn't just preseason All-American strong safety Eric Berry. It was free safety Demetrice Morley and just about anyone else who took a turn with the first-team defense.
UT secondary coach Larry Slade should have been doing cartwheels. He just smiled instead.
"We've got to keep performing, but we've got six to seven guys (in the secondary) we can win with," Slade said. "When you look out there, there's not a liability. (Nobody is) just a cover corner. All those guys can tackle. They demonstrated that."
They showed their versatility, too, when UT replaced Berry and Morley with cornerbacks Dennis Rogan and DeAngelo Willingham.
"Willingham played strong safety for the first time (Saturday)," Slade said. "(He and Rogan) played a lot of reps. They went in and played with the (No. 1 defense). I thought they played well."
Include cornerback Brent Vinson among those who played well. After starting 10 games last season, he began preseason practice as third-team because of "academic concerns."
His ability isn't a concern.
"Brent is probably the best athlete on the team," Slade said. "He's very capable. He's coming along well.
"He can vertical jump 40 inches anytime he wants to and do backward flips; then go over to the gym and put his elbows in the rim. I can go on and on. He's a freak."
And the freak isn't even starting yet. That tells you something about a secondary that has been transformed from a position of weakness to one of strength since last season.
The UT secondary shouldn't be easy pickings for anyone, much less a new quarterback in the first full-scale preseason scrimmage.
Crompton did OK for the most part. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 114 yards and was credited with throwing only one interception since the pass picked off by Morley was released just as an official blew his whistle to signify a sack.
But offensive coordinator Dave Clawson would be the last one to minimize the errant throws - neither of which was related to physical limitations.
"There are times when it's appropriate to make a play," Clawson said. "And there are times when you need to cut your losses.
"For the most part, his decision-making has been good. That's an area that has to be pretty close to perfect to win championships, which is what we want to do."
But you shouldn't judge Crompton solely by a couple of wrong decisions in an August scrimmage. His physical ability is obvious.
"He can make every throw," Clawson said. "He can throw the deep ball and the underneath stuff with touch. In terms of physical ability, he can make every play you want a quarterback to make.
"If your quarterback plays well and your football team takes care of the football, you can win a lot of games. I know he can play well."
And based on Saturday's scrimmage, a quarterback will have to play well to beat UT's secondary.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 36
mbradshaw1#655539 writes:
This is not news!
CT_VOL writes:
Hey, where is everyone? Guess that makes me 1st!
Frank
longtimefan writes:
Win championships? Hmmmmm.
Bigger_Al writes:
I liked the article. But I do not appreciate the author's frequent attempts to make himself the news in Knoxville rather than reporting the news.
budd#207344 writes:
report the news? whatr a novel concept! I wonder if it will catch on?
LargeOrange writes:
My thoughts on John Adams are no secret, but this was a fairly good article. He somehow avoided bashing CPF and actually was positive in his own way. I don't have any problem with him pointing out the mistakes made as long as he also points out the obvious positive points. OK article JA, thanks.
pms151 writes:
You idiots that just want to bash Adams because he is Adams, and you have good reason to do so, please hold off to midseason. He might be right for a change. Spend our time doing research rather than relying on him for info is probably the best thing to do.
rootin4volz writes:
To the writer of this article:
Who are you, and what have you done with John Adams and his big bag of negativity?
LargeOrange writes:
nafslov, I think I know who you are now, you are one of those guys that try and sell the "lineups" and programs as I walk from my tailgate to the gate. Do you have one of those "I Need Tickets" signs around your neck with a hand full of tickets in your hand, too? :-)
LargeOrange writes:
Ok, nafslov, but, please find some new material. The same old phooey hating on Peyton, Bartholomew, and all the others is getting old. GO VOLS!
ZR writes:
Win Championships? How long is Crompton going to be here? Hambone said 2 every 10 years, but several years later that must have been updated. Crompton will have to play about 10 years - 3 years after Fulmer leaves to win a championship.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Good article. Chavis is back to having a monster defense and all of his detractors will have to keep it shut this year.
Verdict is still out on the offense but I think it will shape up. Maybe not world class, but it'll get the job done. My guess is we'll average about 27 points per game after it's all said and done this year. A few big games, and a few with not much will balance it out to about 27.
MidTennVol writes:
I am SICK of hearing about how good this secondary is supposed to be. It scares the heck out of me to hear all this preseason hype before one down of football has been played.
Columns like this are a jinx, a curse. Anybody remember all the "swagger" and "confidence" and "high expectations" that were mentioned in columns like this during the summer of 2005?
Tennessee football teams do not perform well when they are expected to. They only perform well when either very little is expected of them or they have their backs against the wall.
As far as this secondary is concerned, show me the money in January -- with end-of-season NCAA stats showing us as a top-10 pass defense.
THEN I will believe this secondary is good.
CoverOrange writes:
Nafslov is gone from this post board too. Looks like Kappy but the bite on him.
pms151 writes:
Ok tngeoff, your mastery of youtube is superior. Got anything else in your game to display?
rockytop#413695 writes:
Denmark.
So by your "logic" all preseason talk about the Vols should be how terrible they are at every position and how we will lose every game? That would then equate to us actually winning the NC? I majored in philosophy at C-N and I don't remember any logic courses that taught that. I believe negative thoughts, especially when done by a large group of minds, leads to negative results, while positive thoughts, again when had by a large group of like minds, will lead to positive results. Therefore, if we are really Vol fans, we should send only positive thoughts their way. BTW, if the idiot (negative thoughts toward him) nafslov is really gone, it will make my reading of these comments much more pleasant. Go Vols, undefeated so far!
pms151 writes:
Well you left out the fatal car crash but otherwise good comeback. Now, I have always heard that a good tv reporter will never tape a position coach because the tape will never get past the editor. Got some footage?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Slurping along toward 9-1-08. Getting slighly deeper.
As it should.
pms151 writes:
pd, slurping? Excellent Gonzoism.
pms151 writes:
tg, one in a mil, bud, if you know what I mean. Your skills are also. Can't wait until we really have something to talk about in Sept. Keep up the good work.
pms151 writes:
Tg,never saw that one before. No sound no problem. I can just hear it. Can't you?
pms151 writes:
See ya later Bud.
iowavol writes:
Didn't read the article, never will read another word Adams write. Just came on to declare that Adams is a jerk and should be fired.
TommyJack writes:
Anyone have the skinny on Naffy's demise? (not that I mind)
JohnnyU writes:
Most folks seem to be missing the point of this column. They would rather assess the writer than the article, which is probably the most interesting since the beginning of camp. It merely points out that after the first scrimmage, things are about where you would expect or want them to be, and that in practice Crompton may be facing the toughest secondary he'll face, and that that's a reason for optimism at this point.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
As others have alluded to, I believe our o-line under Cut got so much practice pass blocking, that opening holes for RBs is a problem.
Well, except for McNeil.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
littleorange writes:
Adams could write a hundred "positive" articles and it will not undo the damage he has and is causing the Vol football program.
writer#358485 writes:
After his unprovoked attack on Coach Fulmer and his six-week hiatus, Adams seems to be trying to worm his way back into our good graces. Believing in forgiveness, sobeit. But I suspect he caught a lot of flack from his highers ups before he reformed his ways. Decent article pointing to reasons to be optimistic. I would be concerned if the secondary wasn't ahead of the passing game at this point. Practicing against what may be the toughest secondary in the SEC this year will just make Compton and the Vols tougher. Go Vols! Come September!
marinevol writes:
TJ, I heard there was a revolt by his "fan club" and it wasn't very pretty.
xvolx writes:
vinson has earned db position and should start. he learned on the job. looked good at end of year and played injured most of year. you dont take a player job unless he loses it. we made this mistake with ainge. He was our starter, got hurt and when he returned was made to compete for job he already had earned against r. clauson. it was wrong then and it is wrong now.
bloodrunsorange writes:
You’ve got to go to class and get with your tutors. Not the correct effort in any way will hurt the team and you can’t be counted on to produce on Saturdays (and Mondays this year). Ask Morley. Don’t let your team down, Vinson.
volmattna writes:
I agree xvolx. Vinson will be a playmaker and deserves to start. Just needs to keep the grades up. GO VOLS!!
slammingseth writes:
i agree with johnnyu this secondary has the talent to be the best in the country and with jcromp facing them in practice and in scrimmages it will only make us better when he steps on the field with more lackadaisical secondarys
Orangebrewbasher writes:
If you look on paper we should have one of the best secondaries in the country, but hearing all this preseason hype reminds me of the old saying 'don't tell me about the labor pains just show me the baby.'
How many days Ashley?
xvolx writes:
hey foreverorange. i like that one.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
C'mon Vols win this game on Labor day against UCLA, you guys need it and so does the SEC.
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