MOBILE, Ala. – It’s was a series during Wednesday’s South practice at the Senior Bowl that Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge wished he would have left in Knoxville.
He took a five-step drop, pump faked and let the ball loose with the hopes of hitting his receiver on a go route. New San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz preached this exact sequence to Ainge, Kentucky’s Andre Woodson and Hawaii’s Colt Brennan earlier in practice.
The pump fake didn’t fool safety Marcus Griffin as he intercepted the wobbly spiral.
His next pass play never materialized as the snap flew down by his feet. He never grabbed handle and the defense recovered. On his final attempt of the 11-on-11 series, Ainge’s pass sailed on him and fell incomplete.
The conditions haven’t been exactly perfect for success. And throwing to a pile of receivers Ainge may have only seen on TV before coming to the Senior Bowl may be a cumbersome task as well.
“The terminology is completely different,” Ainge said. “Reads are similar. A lot of the stuff I’m doing is a 180-degree turn from what we did in college so it’s a little difficult to pick it up. But it all makes sense.”
Ainge said the speed of the practices this week mirrors his collegiate tutoring sessions. But Martz’s “mad scientist” style is unlike any other.
“Him and Coach (David) Cutcliffe are very, very different in what they teach and how they teach it,” Ainge said about his former offensive coordinator at UT. “You can tell in meetings and just listening to him that he’s well respected for a reason. He’s such a smart coach. He knows what he’s doing. I’m taking what I’m learning right here and looking to get better every day.”
For Ainge, it’s all about learning this week and in the weeks leading up to the NFL scouting combine. The read on Ainge has been all over the draft board with him going as high as the third round to being a late second-day pick.
Taking advantage of his week-long crash course from a coach who developed a Pro Bowl quarterback (Marc Bulger) and an NFL MVP (Kurt Warner) is what Ainge hopes most from this opportunity.
“You need to do the things that Coach Martz is harping on me to do,” Ainge said. “He’s harping on me for a reason. It’s not that my fundamentals are bad. It’s just different for what they need to be for the next level under what coach Martz is teaching us.
“I just need to keep listening to him and take advantage of every rep I get whether it’s before practice, taking drops or whether it’s individual practice. I need to take advantage of that.”
Ainge anticipated an invite to the Senior Bowl three or four weeks ago while not being named to the roster until Boston College’s Matt Ryan and Louisville’s Brian Brohm bailed out the week leading up to Saturday’s game.
“It wasn’t like spur of the moment that I had to come out here and play with everybody,” Ainge said. “I’m just glad that I got the opportunity. I think I’m doing good. I think a lot of the stuff I need to keep working on is the fundamentals of taking drops and stuff like that. ... I’m trying to be as coachable as I can.”
Ainge worked with former NFL quarterback Zeke Bratkowski back in Knoxville leading up to the Senior Bowl. He plans on coming back home to work with him leading up to the draft in late April.
“He has the size and the arm strength to play in this league,” one NFL assistant coach said. “He needs to learn how to thrown a cleaner pass, though. He’s had trouble throwing spirals all week.”
None of that has kept the teams from talking to Ainge throughout the week, though.
“I’ve talked to the Cleveland Browns, the Oakland Raiders,” Ainge said. “They both drafted first-round quarterbacks last season. Every team talks to you. The Rams, the Chargers, the Ravens, the Falcons, the Dolphins, the Patriots. I’ve talk five or six actual staffs and there was a bunch of others who were regional scouts.”
How has Ainge treated all the conversations?
“It’s a job interview,” Ainge said. “You show what you know, you show them what you don’t know, where you’re from, how you got here. They want to know everything.”
Ainge will have another opportunity to impress NFL personnel at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Feb. 20-26.
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Comments » 116
Pullingguard writes:
Wow, it seems that Ainge has found out there is another world of playing QB outside of Cutcliff's teaching. When he talks about so many things being taught different you would have thought under Cutcliffe he would have learned a lot of this in College. Has Ainge had problems of throwing a clean ball, one that has spriral instead of the wobble. Some of this may be from pressure.
BornaVolDieaVol writes:
Trouble throwing spirals??? Surely it's not the pinky still! Now I see why we didn't air it out this year. But goodluck to ya EA. Make us proud in the bigs.
Basketball_Jones writes:
This is about opportunity and first impressions. Fortunately this isn't a make or break thing but this can really hurt a player.
Also Erik really padded his stats these last couple of years with this dink and dunk offense that we have. The pro game requires alot of downfield throws and outs. Erik throws a really good out ball but struggles with the down field passes. I'm anxious to see how this all pans out
auttat writes:
Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb...
Pretty sure Ainge never threw a pass to Witton, or Witten
N2Motorsports writes:
I disagree with naflsov. Ainge didn't have great receivers to work with here at UT. Casey Clausen had much more talent at his disposal while he was here (i.e.-Jason Witten, Donte Stallworth, Kelley Washington). Ainge had a good Meachem for one year ('06) along w/ Bret Smith and Jayson Swain. Those 3 underachieved in 2005, as did the whole team, and he didn't work with them exclusively in 2004. Last year he had a bunch of glorified slot receivers and look what he did (3,522 yards, 31 TDs, 10 INTs). Compare that with Peyton Manning's senior season when he had Marcus Nash, Peerless Price, Cedric Wilson, Andy McCollough (all played NFL): (3,819 yards, 37 TDs, 11 INTs). Erik Ainge is the best QB UT has had since Peyton Manning, bar none and for you to say otherwise shows your stupidity.
LongtimeVol writes:
Maybe showing my stupidity here, but Tee Martin only had one year and he pretty much made the most of it. Other than that, being the best QB at UT since Peyton isn't really much of an honor as far as I can tell. I certainly liked Erik more than anyone since Tee, but I will be quite surprised if he has much more football ahead of him.
ATLVOL1 writes:
BEST QB SINCE PEYTON? BEST COLLEGE DECISION MAKING QB...NOT PHYSICAL SKILLS.
Basketball_Jones writes:
Yea since Peyton and Tee this program really hasn't had world beaters under center. Now they all won some really big games but...
I heard the other day on The Sports Animal by a NFL Scout and he said Ainge is a career back-up. I have to agree, Ainge has never shown the ability to overcome major adversity. He is average as far as decision making goes. Lastly he has never been one to try and thread the needle. Cut tought him to throw it out of bounds and how to throw a 5 yard pass. The NFL doesn't do that.
TommyJack writes:
Hey Erik: Andy Kelly wants to talk to you.
rootin4volz writes:
MOBILE, Ala. – It’s type of series during Wednesday’s South practice at the Senior Bowl that Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge wished he would have left in Knoxville.
Shouldn't that read "It's THE type of series..."?
Does nobody proof-read this stuff, or are all KNS sports-writers really that inept with the English language?
bernardking writes:
nnease is an idiot. Ainge hasn't got close to the mental toughness Clausen had. I would take Tee or Casey any day over Ainge. He had a decent career at best. As someone else stated, his stats were padded by dinks and dunks and receivers making yards after catch.
Best QB since Peyton????LOL. He wasn't even good enough to beat Brent Shaeffer out. He was given the job after a career second half against Florida. Very rarely, did we ever see again, that type of dynamic QB play from him. He will get drafted...maybe make a team, but never, and I mean NEVER play a meaningful role as a QB in the NFL......not even close to the mental toughness. If Casey would have had the arm of Ainge, he would be starting in the NFL right now
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Ainge, get as much signing bonus as you can, son.
rockytop#413695 writes:
Yeah, they all said the same thing about Tom Brady. Wasn't he drafted in the 6th round or something? Erik, quoting the NFL assistants who I'd say know just a bit more than some of you idiots, has the size and arm strength to make it at the next level. Sure, he has a lot to learn, but he is extremely smart. He won't jump in and start soon, but like Brady, he will learn what he needs to learn and be very successful one day. You can mark it down.
posivol writes:
i dont know,ainge reminds me alot of eli.seen them both play for years and not much differance.i never thought eli would be much of a pro quaterback but then again i probably dont know squat (lol)
LargeOrange writes:
nafslov - "after four dismal years with great receivers such as Jason Witton and Robert Meacham.Please Ainge don't waste the NFL scouts valuable time. Sit this one out (like you did at Tennessee for 4 years)" -(followed by)
... Witten sp.@ minus 2 pts.....Yes you're right !"
It is not only your spelling that is faulty, it is your memory. Jason Whitten was in the NFL (drafted 3rd round in 2003) while Eric Ainge was still in High School. Could explain why he never threw him many passes. To quote your post at 4:59 "Facts not stupidity" you should take your own advice, nafslov, maybe you should change your name to SSABMUD
Brama writes:
I thought we were running a Pro Offense that was a pipeline to the NFl. It sounds like Ainge is in a shock. Or maybe it's not the system maybe it's Ainge that is the slow learner.
thesavageorange writes:
I'm not gonna argue how good/bad Ainge was at UT b/c it is an exercise in futility.However, history tells us there are Andre Ware,Tim Couch,and Kyle Bollers' of the world, and then there are the Tom Brady,Derek Anderson,and Warren Moons' of the world.I think we should wait and see the results before we hold judgement on his NFL career.Good luck Erik.If the people who say you can't make are wrong, prove it.
givehim6 writes:
Eric it's time to grow up now. remember all the things david told you, that was for coallge, not just for a BIG high school. We are talking NFL the grown up world, OK. Time to be a man now, now go be a man, OK
Vol_in_Atl writes:
Nice guy, gave his all at UT, wish him the best, but....mediocre QB, often "freaked" in big games, never displayed downfield ability--at best, a career back-up in the NFL...
thesavageorange writes:
jawbreaker ,I was wondering the same thing.Zeke knows football though , and at 76 yrs old or so wouldn't waste his time if he didn't think there was something to Erik.His son Bob is an OC for the Bengals.Maybe he wants to have a look at him.
Pullingguard writes:
Seriously, if you recall Ainge did not throw many passes over 20 yards at UT...Everyone was saying it's Cutcliff's fault, well maybe Ainge just cannot throw the ball downfield with spiral, and if it wobbles there is change of it getting picked due to the inaccuracy... Even at UT Ainge seldom loked comfortable in the pocket... And does anyone recall in the SEC Championship if those two interceptions were wobblers or spirals... Not that it mattters now, just wondering.
eb502us#225637 writes:
I wish Ainge all the best but I just can't see him making it in the NFL. Hope I'm wrong. He has just never impressed me in his decision making and the NFL requires quicker decisions which won't help his cause. I don't question his physical abilities but if I'm GM (even with my orange shades on) I certainly wouldn't waste a draft pick on him. Free agent signee maybe.
Colliervol writes:
Nafslov, is your vast NFL scouting and coaching experience telling you that Ainge won't make it in the NFL or do you have a crystal ball where you can see the future? Personally, I think I'll wait for more than one all star game practice (under an entirely new system) before I come to that conclusion.
Just an opinion but I think he has much better physical tools for an NFL team to build on than Clausen or Tee ever thought about having so I give him a much better chance to make it.
thesavageorange writes:
Pullingguard ,Do you not remember the deep balls he threw as a freshman?Spirals, and for TD's(not bringing up 05 b/c I have wiped my memory of that season)If I'm not mistaken the NFL balls they are using are a little bigger than the ncaa ball.That broken pinkie may be causing some trouble w/ grip.Saw some highlights of the practices last night.All of the QB's were having trouble.
TommyJack writes:
Maybe he couldn't throw deep because of the shoulder injury. But wait. If that's the case, why did we not see Crompton? Maybe Ainge (or his father) had poloroids of Cutcliffe...Cutcliffe clearly had no use for Crompton. Question is, will OC Clawson feel the same way? Inquiring minds want to know. Either way, Cutliffe's blind loyalty (for whatever reason), hindered the development of Crompton, or the others. Just wondering.
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
Ya know, Erik Ainge is no longer playing at the University of Tennessee. He'll no longer be taking a snap for our football team. He dedicated 4 years of his life to the program we all love, and I have no doubt that he gave over 100% MOST of the time, at least the last two years of his time with the Vols.
Would it trouble any of you fellers, as hard has it may be, to just thank him for his career and wish him well? The "Ainge sucks and will never make it in the NFL" opinions are worthless. They serve no purpose other than to beetch and moan. His career will be what it will be and we have no crystal ball.
I thought true Vol fans pull for each UT player who makes it to the pros. I know that it's VERY exciting to me that FOUR former Vols are playing in the big dance this year, second only to LSU in the conference. Can't we hang a hat of pride instead of waste time with this tripe?
thesavageorange writes:
vol_in_lsu,Here here!Thanks Erik.Oh ,KNS left out a few notes.http://dnj.midsouthnews.com/apps/pbcs...
thesavageorange writes:
http://dnj.midsouthnews.com/apps/pbcs...
GerryOP writes:
Most of the UT guys that played offense and ended up playing on Sunday were classified as "projects" when they first landed with an NFL team. Even Manning struggled the first few years. Some succeeded and some did not. How Ainge absorbs and performs with the education he is now being given will determine how well he does. The physical ability might be a apparent, but the mental part is yet to be proven.
On the other hand, Ainge is going through some of the same growing pains that we went through when we graduated and ventured into the real world! You remember! No more oversleeping, no more cutting classes, no more being given an extra day or two to turn in an assignment, no more BSing the instructor/boss to excuse a failure, and no more cramming for a test. Every day in "the real word" is a test! He's going through some of the same stuff, but in a much more competitive situation.
As far as the best UT QB in the past few decades? Simple - Tee Martin. He took us to an undefeated season and a NC. No one else did. Period!
gohawks1 writes:
Other than the writer's unusual avoidance of definite articles, there's not much entertaining news here. Ainge is practicing, Ainge is underachieving, Ainge is learning, etc, etc. There is no mention of his broken finger. I wonder if that contributes to his inability to throw a spiral.
RangerForSix writes:
Ainge will be a starter in the NFL. It depends on which team drafts him, on how fast he becomes a starter. He Looked "Between The Hedges" right in the eye twice and kicked Georgia's butt. Plus he kicked Georgia's butt at home this year. 3-0 as a starter -v- Georgia, with three different receiving corps!
He owned Woodson too... Ainge was 3-0 -v- Woodson's Kentucky, with three different receiving corps!
He owned Holtz and Spurrier...
Only U.T. QB to beat Florida in the last 4 years!
Senior year with broken finger and sore shoulder on throwing arm and he leads UT to 10 wins.
He threw 31 TD's, only 10 picks in 450 or something attempts and only three sacks, number one in the nation! Something the NFL really likes. Ainge almost never gets sacked, period. Regardless of the protections. He knows where to go and get's it out quickly, very quickly! Clausen got sacked 'a lot more'. Ainge is the 'current' winningest QB in the SEC, he's a winner in the toughest conference in the USA!
Once he's drafted, he'll get comfortable and continue to do what he's good at. Throwing completions, moving the chains and throwing touchdowns.
He's clearly a "better athlete" than either Clausen brother. He dunks, shoots the three, throws a wicked slider, good golfer, etc...
He's just a "great all around athlete" who's a winner and is tough and really intelligent!!
Ask Cutcliff, Sanders and Fulmer...They all say so and mean it!!
All just words though, we'll have to wait and see where he goes.
Ainge will get 'excellent opportunities' in the NFL: count on it!!!
dfreeman writes:
nafslov - didn't your momma ever tell you the ole phrase... "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!!" In your case most of us would love it if you just didn't say anything at all!!
GerryOP writes:
Wow Ranger! Did Erik also walk on water, heal the sick, and feed the multitudes? Just funnin' ya!
dfreeman writes:
nafslov - nevermind that would be like telling VolCR to act his age and not his IQ!!!
philfan writes:
Ainge is yet another soon to be NFL quarterback coached by Cutcliffe. I have a feeling we may end up missing the greatness of Cutcliffe before too long. You know, the fancy, complex offense of Clawson may not actually work in the SEC. It looks pretty on paper but the SEC defenses may catch on to our new system and make us look foolish on game day. I know it is fashionable now to gush about the new coaches but radical change does not always guarantee success.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
Ranger must be his agent---his mama never even loved him this much no disrespect intended
gohawks1 writes:
I hate to say it, philfan, but SEC defenses have been catching on to our system and making us look foolish for a few years, now. A new OC should be just what the doctor ordered.
orangeblood writes:
Ainge has never thrown a clean spiral. Its usually always on the money though
waterskier3#226480 writes:
well this is not surprising... ut fans think he's great but nfl scouts say whatever... he didn't even get invited people the first time around he is a stand in... that means he was not consider one of the elite qb's in college... average maybe... he choked in big games, was soft against the rush i.e. wouldn't stand in the pocket and take a hit.... got hurt every year....
average qb coming from an average team over a 4 year span.... seems about right...
anyone read the article on espn about myers recruiting tactics???? could be trouble down the road for the gators!!!!!
gohawks1 writes:
Ainge is a very intelligent, very talented QB, but I have to agree with at least one point that waterskier3 made - Erik has been injury prone during his time here. That is my only concern when contemplating his future in the NFL. The first time that someone like Albert Haynesworth breaks through the O-line and pounds him, things could get ugly.
gohawks1 writes:
One missing definite article found and inserted, one to go.....
gohawks1 writes:
"It's was" has me puzzled, though.
philfan writes:
IPOrange, like I said earlier, we can gush all we want to but when Clawson loses to Florida for the umpteenth time, we may wish we had more of the dink and dunk. For the most part it was effective, in terms of getting wins, but I admit a little boring. I want to keep an open mind though. If Clawson can win an SEC championship and beat Florida at least half the time, I will be very happy.
ATLVOL1 writes:
We dinked and dunked because we had a SMART qb who could get rid of the ball. We never through downfield because of the deep wobbly ball EA throws. Meachem broke tackles last year, he didnt go deep except against LSU when crompton was in there. All EA threw this year downfield were timing post patterns lobbed over the db. Crompton has better physical skills, lets see if he can pickup the game theory EA did the past 2 years.
Injuries( finger/knee ) I think have played a role in his ball rotation and mobility...but that doesnt matter right now, he will have to make a team and go from there.
ATLVOL1 writes:
good luck ERik, you really grew up the past 2 years.
gohawks1 writes:
Good point, philfan. The first big test is FL, and we'll have a better idea after that game how things are looking.
dfreeman writes:
nafslov - see now that wasn't too hard was it?? Make nice!! LOL
RockyTopRooks writes:
Rangerforsix, sorry buddy but dont show off your football IQ here.. i'll feel bad for you when Ainge gets drafted but doesnt even make a team.
Here's what ESPN said about your boy ainge's practice tuesday
Tuesday (1/22/08): Ainge took a step backwards today. After displaying above-average accuracy during Monday's practice, Ainge couldn't seem to find the strike zone Tuesday afternoon. Also, Ainge's two biggest flaws were more evident than ever with the intensity ratcheted up several levels during the full-pad session. His feet are painfully slow and he struggles to get set quickly enough on drops as a result. Ainge shows very limited ability when it comes to avoiding the rush and making plays outside the pocket. He also lacks arm strength, which creates accuracy problems because his mechanics change when he's trying to put zip on any throws beyond 15 yards. It was very apparent during Tuesday's afternoon session why Ainge was the final alternate selected to play in this game -- he is nothing more than a late-round prospect right now in our opinion.
and to me thats being polite.
gohawks1 writes:
Ouch.
LittleJohnny writes:
Tee Martin started two years - won NC his JR year.
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