Tennessee Stat Book
UCLA Bruins
New Tennessee offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said communication between coordinator and quarterback is the key to coaching in the press box.
He will get his first opportunity with the Vols on Monday night against UCLA.
"It's important that (quarterback) Jonathan (Crompton) and I have great communication and we're going to work hard to do that," Clawson said.
Clawson said he has every intention of staying in the press box for the duration of this season, yet it was easy to see he wasn't completely used to the new environment.
"Sometimes it feels like you're in an office rather than in a football game," Clawson said.
Born To Run: Offensive lineman Vladimir Richard appreciates the accolades associated with giving up just four sacks last season, which led the nation. Yet he's not satisfied.
"The four sacks and all that is good," Richard said, "but we feel we're so much stronger right now and quicker.
"We want to be known for run blocking."
Richard said one of UT's goals for the offensive line is to average 200 yards rushing per game. The Vols averaged 139 yards per game last season.
Monday Night Man: Tight end Brandon Warren will make his second appearance in a Monday night game.
Warren was a freshman at Florida State when the Seminoles beat Miami 13-10 on Sept. 4, 2006. Warren had one catch for three yards in his collegiate debut.
Warren has a good chance of topping those statistics against UCLA, even though the package of plays he's ready to run is somewhat limited.
"That package is growing each day," tight ends coach Jason Michael said. "What we're asking him to do, I feel comfortable with."
Warren, who has played tight end, H-back, fullback and wide receiver during camp, is optimistic he'll have an early impact.
"The offense is tight-end oriented," Warren said. "We're going to have a chance to stretch the field a little bit, run down the field and run little out routes and stuff like that.
"I think it works to my advantage."
Homecoming: Senior tailback Arian Foster, who lived in San Diego before signing with UT, said his father always wanted his son to play in the Rose Bowl. Foster's father played in the historic stadium for a high school championship.
"He always bragged about it and told me about it and said 'You've got to play there one day.' " Foster said. "Here I am."
As the story goes, Foster's father caught two touchdown passes and helped his team to a victory.
"I haven't seen no film," Foster quipped. "You know how old people like to brag."
Foster said he's fresh following preseason camp, in which he missed a week of practice with a bone bruise in his knee.
That ailment may have Foster fresh, but it also limited his amount of live, practice carries intended to ensure he's ready for game speed.
"It's a give and take situation," Foster said. "We'll see."
Foster said he dropped his body fat percentage by five percent this offseason, yet still maintained his 2007 weight of 235 pounds. Subsequently, Foster said he's quicker than ever.
My Guys: Foster said shortcomings running the football in 2007 had nothing to do with UT's offensive linemen.
"I think that was their forte last year," Foster said of the Vols' run blocking. "I think they're good at both. Look at our statistics running the ball and they were good."
Foster pointed to UT's running backs totals as proof. Foster had 1,231 yards last season. Sophomore Montario Hardesty had 373.
Still, other stats dispel Foster's hypothesis. The Vols only averaged 139 yards per game, which ranked ninth best in the SEC and 73rd in the country.
Still, Foster's rebuttal was ready and waiting.
"Look at a lot of games, when we only ran 13 or 14 times," Foster said. "It's hard to establish a run game when you're not running the ball consistently.
"A lot of that had to do with we fell behind early. They were great run blockers last year."
Time will tell. As for 2008, Foster said the biggest improvement in UT's offensive line, which returns five starters and its top six players, is their improvement in playing their assignments.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
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Comments » 59
Rebelsfball2008 writes:
1st
orangebloodgmc writes:
May we not give up cheap turnovers while on offense, and may our special teams beat their special teams ... then we won't have to abandon the running game.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
va tech got beat at thier own beamer ball!!!!
volunteer_cowboy writes:
Tennessee by 7 over UCLA. Rick Neuheisel is back with the Bruins, who won the 1984 Rose Bowl with him as their quarterback. But that’s pretty much the only positive these days for UCLA, which will start inexperienced QB Kevin Craft after Patrick Cowan and Ben Olson both both went down with injuries this offseason. The Bruins also have a bad offensive line, which portends poorly against an aggressive and experienced Tennessee pass rush. On the other side, new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson will unveil his new spread offense. Still, the Volunteers will make sure that big-time RB Arian Foster gets plenty of touches to keep the UCLA defense honest. Clawson’s new-look offense might get off to a slow start, but Foster and Co. should eventually put up some points in this one. Factor in that UCLA will have an extremely difficult time moving the ball, and everything points to the Vols. Tennessee wins, 31-10.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
why does espn keep calling our offense the spread? it not the spread its a west coast offense right??????? Fulmer said Williams' main role against UCLA would be on special teams. Gerald Williams also has three years of eligibility remaining.
pammyvol1000 writes:
tngoff: So sorry! What a bum thing to find out on one of your most anticipated trips. Let us know all the TN rumors, and have fun!
volunteer_cowboy writes:
ESPN host are saying that UT's O-Line is good but not really good because Cutt had ainge to throw the ball away instead of taking a sack and that was the only thing that helped the stats because they sure couldnt run block!!!
FWBVol writes:
I love Richard's attitude about running the ball. I would love for our line and backs to be in tune to rush for 200 yards a game. With Foster, Hardesty and the other guys we have that goal should be very accessible.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
Why is ESPN calling our new offense a spread offense????????
pammyvol1000 writes:
tngeoff: what a beautiful gorgeous lady. Ok..that part got me where her twin lay beside her. Misty eyed now.
Do you know what uniforms we are wearing?
volunteer_cowboy writes:
where is savage or pdhuff? 1 of those 2 might be able to answer my question. why is espn calling our offense a spread offense and not a west coast offense?
volunteer_cowboy writes:
Ucla will probably wear thier white shirts and UT will probably wear thier orange shirts
pammyvol1000 writes:
Cowboy: you think so> and R U a real cowboy?
volunteer_cowboy writes:
dallas cowboy fan! born in dallas texas.
wkjq#213863 writes:
1st!!!!!
utwick writes:
Don't count on ESPN to provide any accurate facts about the Vols. When it comes to UT, ESPN has a anal-cranial inversion.
BigOrangeInCarolina writes:
Tngeoff, our prayers are with you and that nice lady's family. What a tragic thing. Y'all make plenty of noise out there for the Big Orange. We'll be making our share here in South Carolina, and here's to the Vols opening up a can on UCLA!!!
CoverOrange writes:
volunteer_cowboy, "spread offense" is the buzz phrase of the decade. "West coast offense" is so last millenium. I have yet to hear anyone give a really accurate description of the "spread offense".
BTW, you didn't formerly go by "Tennessee_Cowboy" on this site, did you?
pammyvol1000 writes:
Cowboy: I see. Never been to Texas but would love to go. I love horses and cowboy hats and I love George Strait. My nephew is die-hard Dallas Cowboy fan. I have a custom made cowgirl hat that I wore last year when my picture made this website. T on the front-Vols on the back and checkerboard on the top.It was a big hit with my jawga friends. They all wanted me to make a G hat and I said.. No way!!
RockyTopRosser writes:
In regards to what our offense is being called....I've been hearing it described as a mixture of different offenses. Some west coast and some spread...but also keeping with the power running game we like to have. Not sure how you accomplish all of that...but that's what i'm hearing.
Moaninglikeheck writes:
Volunteer Cowboy.
Hmmm. I can see how you might seek the knowledge of SavageOrange on the true nature of Clawson's offense....but pdhuff? I only turn to him when I want to be reminded of how many seasons without a ring Fulmer has put us through or how many "no ring rings" Fulmer has won.
Not much else to read in his posts. Maybe next week he'll be warning us of the dangers of UAB.
RockyTopRosser writes:
Va Tech goes down. Michigan getting beat in 4th Qrt...not a bad day so far. Also, appears michigan is putting in some "neyland like" suites and press boxes on one side of the big house....more commmonly known as the big quiet.
Thoughts on clemson vs bama tonight?
pammyvol1000 writes:
RockyT: Clemson wins this one. Julios Jones will be the playmaker for the BamaMullets. It will be interesting and I know Bammer is SEC but still hard to root for them.
RockyTopRosser writes:
Pammyvol...I'm with you...it's a tough situation. Hear me out on this. I live in Indianapolis and all i hear is bit ten this...big ten that. OSU losing the last 2 yrs has helped me, but you still have the big 10 elitist up here.
So in general I love...absolutely love when the SEC does well out of conference. But I hate alabama!! So do you pull for clemson? Or do you pull for Bama' and then hope they lose every single SEC game they play including a 30 pt beat down in Neyland Stadium?!?!
EHSvols23 writes:
I will never root for Alabama as long as I live, but that being sad, being objective, I will never be able to pick Clemson to win a game "they are supposed" to win. I dont know if it's CTB or what, but they always seem to choke when they are favorites. I think Saban has had all offseason and he plans on making a point. I do remember what he did to ARK last year with McFadden and Jones. I see the same thing happening this year with Spiller and Davis. Cullen Harper cant win it on his own outside of Death Valley. Bama 24-22
RockyTopRosser writes:
EH...I hear you. And to be honest...I think most vols fans share you point of view and can't ever pull for Bama. I've had this conversation with a ton of vols fans...SEC fans...and then the Big 10 fans up here in Indy.
In my opinion...I think part of it depends on where you live. My entire family lives in knoxville and they would never pull for Bama. Local Indiana University Alum would never pull for Purdue. But I think an IU alum in Atlanta would pull for Purdue over Geogria? Why...b/c he/she is sick and tired of hearing about the Dawgs and will pull for the Big 10 team.
Just my opinion. Either way...CPF better be rallying the troops for UCLA....and they better still be pissed off about the gator and bama games last year!!!
EHSvols23 writes:
I think they need to pissed off about being embarrassed last year at Berkeley. That was a disaster and can not become a normality. We are supposed to be a national recruiting program, which is why we lose some in-state talent. Therefore, when we go out West, and other places around the country, we have to at least play accountable, and not get waxed and look slow. I think we will play much better this year in Cali. I really wont be upset if we dont play great on offense, it being new and all. What I am looking for is for the defense to be as advertised. UT 35-10.
P.S. I am calling our offense the West Spread.
EHSvols23 writes:
Michigan just lost. Makes me happy.
"MICHIGAN SUCKS!!!!!"
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Wonder what the line was on Michigan-Utah? Apparently Lloyd Carr knew when to go. Papa Joe just tied Bowden for wins. 2 geezers hanging on.
Incredible good news with Clawson up top (ala Cutcliff). I'm still not over Sanders and Fulmer looking at the charts together on the sidelines. Whew!
Man its tough to pull for Bama, but we need them to continue the great SEC start, Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam mow them down. Vols need only to look at Michigan to take a realistic approach to this game. Tackle-tackle-tackle.
Well, lets see how well the Tide does against another orange 11......
Happy brr-day to me, get my present Monday nite.
RockyTopRosser writes:
I think SEC domination helps 1 and 2 loss SEC teams make the National Title Game. So in the long run, I think it can only help us for SEC teams to win non-conference.
Plus, the more they win...the better we look when we burry'em!
EHSvols23 writes:
RockyTop..its alabama. I just cant do it. I will compromise. I will simply be indifferent.
RockyTopRosser writes:
Fair enough EH...fair enough. I'm torn myself. WHen clemson comes up with good plays I'll find myself cheering...I'm not gonna lie. I was just curious what the rest of rocky top nation thought...with bama being the most hated team in the SEC to most vols fans...with the exception of the gators over the last 10 to 15 yrs. And lets be honest...I can't stand the folks down in Athens either.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Tngeoff - I should have sent you a big fritter to hold up and wave.
GerryOP writes:
Welllll, from one old geezer to another, Happy Brr-day to you pdhuff!!!
Monday eve we shall see what we shall see. Will it be the dawning of a new age of Aquari... er ... Tennessee football ... or ... more of the same ol' same ol'?
Be well my friend....
EHSvols23 writes:
I cant stand them either, Gator fans are a close second, but I guess the prime example of why I cant stand Bama and their fans is when you have 92,000 show up for a silly spring game because you have....now wait for it....ANOTHER NEW COACH. Just because he's Nick Saban doesnt mean you gotta start naming babies and building statues. They are just blindly stupid. And I do drink the orange koolaid but they are ridiculous. UF has the habit of throwing up games in your face, but we have had a strong handle on Bama recently and you'd think they'd won the NC after their win over us last year. Everything is just stupidly blown out of proportion. I would say UGA is third on my list, but I will have plenty of enjoyment watching them being crushed at the end of the year after the ClusterF**K over them in the preseason by the media.
RockyTopRosser writes:
Yea..I don't understand the pre-season hype on Georgia. I don't doubt they are a very good team...but the hype picked up big time after they beat Hawaii. That's Hawaii....not a BCS school with a great football program. I think most people expected UGA to smoke Hawaii. I realize Georgia also won the last 5 or 6 games of the year...but it came after the vols made them look silly....AGAIN!!! AGain...not saying they aren't good...but seems like they went from good to best in the world over night!
GerryOP writes:
tngeoff, sorry to hear about your friend ... may she be at peace.
I guess you realize you are responsible for carrying the flag at the Rose Bowl for us "mature" folks on GVX. I am sure you will do us proud!
Safe travels my friend....
EHSvols23 writes:
I think what happened with GA is that the media needed someone to put up on tha pedestal, and after they pounded their darling, Hawaii, last year in the Sugar, they just hitched their wagon to a different bus leaving NOLA. If you take a strong look at the time, they are a top 5 team, but I dont see any real distinguishing factor. I would say UF has more of one with Tebow. I look for us, GA and UF do that three way tie thing that we have done in the past and it will come to some form a tiebreak for the East
EHSvols23 writes:
Is there any word this year if Clay Travis will put up another sign like last year's 'SEC Rules, PAC 10 Drools?" I thought, though it turned out badly, was priceless.
pammyvol1000 writes:
pdhuff: Happy Birthday!! Bring on the orange stuff.. whatever your recipe is.:}
pammyvol1000 writes:
EHSvols & Rocky: I can't stand the Mullet nation nor Saban so I hope Clemson wins!!!
EHSvols23 writes:
Mullet nation, Bamabangs..they are all the same..a pack of liars and losers..Go Tigers
volunteer_cowboy writes:
clemson is either over hyped or bama is better than advertised!!!! bama is wearing out clemson!!!!
ctownvol writes:
Geoff- Sorry for the loss of your friend.
You got a picture of Dupree to hold up so we can find you Monday?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
True vol cowboy - its early but Clemson's d-line is getting shredded.
We'll see....
EHSvols23 writes:
Clemson will fall apart for the season if they blow this game, but I am not suprised. I cant stand bama, but i figured they would play strong and be a formidable test. A bama win would improve the SEC's bcs rating so that is the only silver lining i can find in a bama win.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Man..Bowden looked like a deer in headlights. Somebody needs to throw some gatorade in his face and bring him back to the Dome.. Bama is plowing their way in.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
tennessee better be good!!!!! bama is
ThurmondEppy writes:
Just got back from Athens, watched GA beat I-AA GA Southern. Dawgs didn't look all that good actually. Certainly not like #1.
EHSvols23 writes:
All the pundits were saying 08 would not be like 07...looks like it is picking right up where it left off last year. UT better suit and be ready to play from the start. I think if we play well at UCLA, this team will respond and take over on its own. I am pretty sure if we can split the UF & Auburn games, we will look pretty good for the second half
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