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.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.