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Tennessee’s Austin Rogers (21) scores on a 16-yard pass play and is followed by a host of Vols, including Quintin Hancock (87), against Arkansas at Neyland Stadium on Nov. 10, 2007.
Inside the receivers
POSITION COACHES
- Wide receivers: Latrell Scott; Tight Ends: Jason Michael
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART
- WR: Austin Rogers (Quintin Hancock), Lucas Taylor (Denarius Moore, Ahmad Paige), Josh Briscoe (Gerald Jones)
- TE: Jeff Cottam (Luke Stocker, Aaron Douglas).
WATCH OUT FOR
- Sophomores like Paige, Moore and Jones, who could well be a starter by the end of fall camp and a big-play threat in the fall.
KEY STAT
- UT's three leading receivers - Taylor, Briscoe and Rogers - return after combining for 2,181 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
It only takes a year to go from weakness to strength. In 14 games last year, Tennessee's wide receivers proved as much.
Replacing all three starters from 2006, Lucas Taylor, Austin Rogers and Josh Briscoe didn't miss a beat, combining for 2,181 yards and 15 touchdowns after many questioned their abilities before the season.
But, as Briscoe sees it, those questions are still swirling despite the receivers' production in 2007.
"We're going to compete just like we did last year," says Briscoe, who finished with 56 catches for 557 yards and a team-high six touchdowns. "People still don't think we can get the job done as a group, so we're going out and take the challenge upon ourselves to go out and show everyone that we're not the weakest link."
Tennessee's wide receivers, like the rest of the offense, has plenty of talent returning.
Taylor, a senior, leads the bunch after catching 73 passes for 1,000 yards in replacing first-round NFL draft pick Robert Meachem (school-record 1,298 yards in 2006).
Taylor's output last year marked the first time UT has had 1,000-yard receivers in back-to-back seasons since Peyton Manning was quarterback.
But it's not just Taylor.
Junior Austin Rogers finished second on the team with 56 catches for 624 yards and four touchdowns, proving a reliable target over the middle and in key situations.
Briscoe, a senior, finished with touchdowns in four of UT's last five games and caught a combined 15 passes for 180 yards and two scores against LSU in the SEC championship game and Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl.
But this spring, Tennessee focused on its younger receivers - sophomores Gerald Jones and Denarius Moore, redshirt freshman Ahmad Paige and junior Quintin Hancock - with Taylor and Rogers out due to injury and a class conflict that kept Briscoe from mid-week practices.
The result was increased depth and more work within a new offense.
"They got to play a lot of football," offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said of UT's younger wide receivers.
"That group has the potential to be probably as deep a group as we have on the football team."
That means plenty of competition when practice begins next month.
Clawson would like five or six receivers to get significant playing time this fall, with the top two or three players taking about two-thirds of the snaps.
Once fall camp begins, Clawson and quarterback Jonathan Crompton will be looking for a playmaker to emerge.
For all the yards UT's starters gained last year, Taylor's 51-yard touchdown catch against Mississippi State was the longest play for a receiver last year.
Although Paige was named one of UT's most improved players on offense this spring, Jones is the leading candidate to unseat one the three starters.
"He's a guy we really need to count on to make plays for us," Clawson said of Jones, who also rushed for 58 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries while lined up at quarterback.
"It was important that he develop as a wide receiver this spring, that he learn to read coverage and learn how to release press coverage and become a complete football player as a receiver."
At tight end, the Vols lose do-everything Chris Brown, a frequent safety valve last season who had 41 catches for 282 yards and six touchdowns.
Junior Jeff Cottam is the likely starter at tight end, but he and sophomore Luke Stocker, UT's other most improved player in spring practice, combined for just eight catches a year ago.
True freshman Aaron Douglas, at 6-foot-6, could make an impact this fall as well.
Just what kind of impact the tight end has this fall - and how many receivers will be on the field at any given time - will be determined by productivity.
"I think it's critical that we get our five best players, aside from our quarterback and the five (offensive) linemen, out on the field," Clawson said.
"You need to do a little bit of two-tight ends, but what you major in is who your best five are."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 109
williamshockley#225607 writes:
What is going on with Branden Warren, is he eligible to play or not, what kind of shape is he in? Nobody seems to know so at this point I guess I will assume he will not be playing. He looked good at tight end for FSU.
Volborn writes:
what about Warren at TE?
andy112382#209793 writes:
Can't wait to see the product of Clawsons work and coaching on the field on September 1st!!! Can it just get here already?!?!?
GO VOLS!!!!
BSweet writes:
I hope the young guys step up and shine. Nothing against Taylor, Rogers, and Briscoe, but I hope to see plenty from Jones, Paige, and Moore.
CoverOrange writes:
Appears the NCAA is doing a 'geraldwilliams' slowroll on Warren. He sat out a year, got his grades back up. What more could they want?
Jdavol writes:
Gerald Jones is the most dynamic receiver we have this year, while Taylor, Rogers, and Briscoe are proven veterans they don't have the big play potential that Gerald has.
knoxnewsuser writes:
That Gerald Jones clip was amazing!
volwalk writes:
Daddy,
Thanks for that link..GJ will be a huge weapon this year! I've got a feeling that our offense will be awesome.
volwalk writes:
"clawson and crompton will be looking for a playmaker this fall." Answer=Gerald Jones
Jdavol writes:
no one hears about Kenny O'Neal anymore, he was a great downfield threat and has incredible speed (fastest 40 on the team according to one of my inside sources)
orangefanatic writes:
Good call BSweet...The young guys are going to be vital to our season. Lucas Taylor is a solid player but does not seem to have the dynamics that we need for lots of big plays. Jones and Paige are big play receivers and we definitely need them to perform.
orangefanatic writes:
O'neal is gone...that whole "fast as a spotted ape" stuff must have been right...he left before we knew it.
cjraney writes:
Glad to hear it Butch. All of a sudden it looks like we have a lot of great offensive options to share one football.
Who all will score an offensive TD in '08? I say:
Crompton, Foster, Creer, Warren, Taylor, Moore, Rogers, Jones, Briscoe, Hancock & Cottam.
Darkhorses: Paige, Stocker, Abrams-Ward.
Orangeblood13 writes:
yeah we need to go deep to open up for Foster. Let's hope Cromp can get it done
oldorange writes:
I suspect that "going deep" isn't Clawson's forte.I love he anticipation of the upcoming season around this time of year. Usually the fiirst couple of games under a new OC looks like a fire drill. It will be interesting to see how the team grows during the first 3-4 games.
GO VOLS
KennesawVol writes:
Is there a Willie Gault or Alvin Harper out there somewhere??
HotlantaVol writes:
They were not a bad group last year, but they never really got a chance to shine with Ainge's injuries. Let's hope they get their chance, step up to the challenge and don't drop the easy ones.
The first game or two might be a little chaotic, but it will be interesting to see how Clawson divides up the calls between these guys.
edwardsd#492198 writes:
In regard to the Warren questions, nothing has changed since this story: http://govolsxtra.com/news/2008/jun/0...
The next thing we'll hear about Warren is word from the NCAA whether or not he's won his appeal. I think there's some cautious optimism that he'll be eligible, but you never know with the NCAA.
- Drew
Greyback_Vol writes:
Wow, that Gerald Jones clip was crazy! We should expect good things from him this year.
I expect that Taylor will keep his starting job. He's the most dynamic of last year's starting receivers. But I could easily see Jones or Hancock taking a starting spot away from Rogers or Briscoe. Alot depends on what personnel Clawson puts on the field.
Of course, my opinions don't mean much, but there you go.
orangefanatic writes:
I'm really excited about what Clawson brings to the table. Cutcliffe was a good OC, but he seemed too rigid to me. He didn't adjust much with the different types of players that he coached. It's nice to have some excitement again about our offense.
b_neas writes:
Gerald Jones is the most physically gifted and talented athlete UT has had on the offensive side of the ball since Kelly Washington. Although Washington never panned out like he should have he was still a freak when it came to athletism and natural ability. Lets hope Gerald pans out better.
Jdavol writes:
Erik Ainge was a good quarterback but when the going got tough he tended to fade away (except Florida in 2004 and Georgia in 05) Crompton is going to be an improvement over Erik Ainge
orangebloodgmc writes:
DC, you do not speak for Volfans. We are going from good quarterback to good quarterback, just different styles.
Jdavol writes:
"Although Washington never panned out like he should have" b_neas
thats because when he started to really wow people and become the best receiver we'd seen he sufferred a bad concussion in a game on a shot from the safety (i dont remember what game) he tried to fight it off and keep playing but he wasnt quite the same
miamiVOL writes:
b_neas saying stuff like that when we just had an incredible playmaker in ROBERT MEACHEM (6'3 220, 4.3) which makes him bigger, stronger, and the same speed as G.Jones... wow , just wow dont be so ignorant before you hit "Confirm Post"
As for Warren, his decision will be made by the NCAA in early August, how good of shape he is, is unknown, but you cant expect too much hes been out for a year +
Need_2_Know writes:
BornNBredAVol, a couple of other posters have it right. In May, CPF announced that Oneal was leaving and, of course, wished him well. Apparently he was unable to keep his academics in order, which has been his albatross. We were about his third stop and, while he had speed to burn, he couldn't keep up in class. Put him in the same category as QB/R James Banks, RB Onterrio Smith and TE Dustin Moore - players with extraordinary talents but unable to balance their responsibilities off the field. Therein lie the vagaries of recruiting and coaching 18-22 year-old young men . . . their views of what they need to do are not always those of their parents, their coaches, or their fans. In the end, we all lose in the deal.
Er, sorry, just rambling . . .
BigMikeUT writes:
I'll bet Taylor ends up starting in the slot with G Jones and either Moore or Hancock starting outside. I'd guess Rogers doesn't see much PT this year.
Bigger_Al writes:
Looks like the same situation as last year: Older, more experienced guys vs. younger, more dynamic guys.
CoverOrange writes:
DC, I must be one of the few. Erik Ainge had talent, not so sure about the smarts. He, like Casey Clausen, came in as gunslingers their freshman years and went out their senior years as cowpokes, but for different reasons. It took awhile for EA to learn the finer details of the game and then had injuries. Casey had lesser and lesser talent to work with and a worse OC that wore on him to the end.
Strange that many lambast the "dink and dunk" but it worked, to a point, as opposed to the "dink and dunk" that Rick Clausen ran late in 2004 and 2005 when EA was a head case.
b_neas writes:
miamiVol - meachem was a much better WR, i will give you that. But i would still take Jones as far as a athlete over him. My post said physically gifted and talented athlete. Jones has more athletic ability than Meachem. Look at the moves Jones puts on people. Meachem was a much better WR, Jones is a much better physically gifted athletic player.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
We've got so many talented receivers this year. I hope we run some 4 & 5 wide sets every once in a while just to keep the oposing defenses off balance. The offensive cuppard is full. The only real question mark is at QB. A lot of people on here seem to think that Crompton is going to step right in and be successful. I hope y'all are right. I agree with DC in that Ainge will be missed. Hopefully Crompton will make me forget about Ainge by the end of the 1st quarter on Sepember 1st.
orangeblood writes:
Warren has told a friend of mine that he is cleared...i guess that's just a kid being optimistic though...i hope he does get cleared. As good as Chris
Brown was, Warren will eclipse him as an H-back. Bigger faster stronger
BSweet writes:
CPF was on the radio last week sounding hopeful that word on Warren's appeal would come sometime this week.
b_neas writes:
My whole thing is Meachem ran straight lines and did not have the moves Jones has. To me it takes a better athlete to be able to cut, juke, start and stop on a dime, which is why I think Rb's like Reggie Bush, Barry Sanders, etc are better athletes than any WR. This being said a team full of athletes is not a sure thing to win, but it sure would be exciting to watch.
BSweet writes:
I don't think Ainge was a bad qb, but in hindsight, I think too much was asked of him. He was apparantly playing with unreported(at the time)injuries and if you look back there are definately times you can see where they were probably affecting his play. Cut should have allowed him time to heal and let Crompton see some playing time. For whatever reason, Cut just didn't seem to be a fan of JC.
diggerland17#448133 writes:
Briscoe has really surprised me. After watching him in high school I thought he and Crompton were a package deal bc of their friendship. I didnt think he could play at Western Carolina much less Tennessee. He has proven me wrong (not the 1st time by the way). I like the talk about getting our best 5 on the field for at least 2/3rds of the snaps. When it is all said and done those best 5 will b Foster, Hardesty, Jones, Taylor, and Denariuos Moore. I ve couinted Briscoe out b4 - he may prove me wrong again. Lets hope so bc that will only make the Vols better!
miamiVOL writes:
i agree that both Meachem/Jones have great athletic ability. All the cut backs and quick turns are G.Jones style while Meachem was like a bull
VolFanInAtl writes:
Jones - unproven
Taylor - rock solid
The starters from last year continue to shine and get more high yardage strikes down field because Crompton is healthy, not afraid of getting sacked, we have the best o-line in the country and we have a powerful running game. (slurp)
In my opinion the weak position is tight end. A great tight end that can block and catch the football is an incredible weapon.
BornNBredAVol writes:
i agree with miami, Meachem was more likely to break out of a tackle while Gerald is more like to make a player miss, both are great and cant wait to see gerald this year!
BornNBredAVol writes:
41 days till UCLA
richvol writes:
Isn't it great to finally have an OC that thinks it's a good idea to get the ball in the hands of guys that can make plays? If I'm not mistaken we had Gerald Jones last year and how many times did he touch the ball?
They keep pointing out that he had 58 yards on "only" 8 carries...just think what he would have had if we had thrown him the ball or used him like Percy Harvin. I am so glad we finally have a coach that recognizes just how many great athletes Tennessee has...and wants to use them.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
This thread is really boring. Any news on the recruiting front? I wish JerQuari Schofield would go to some camps so he could get some stars from the recruiting services. He's the only one we've got that's below 3 stars on Rivals and he has 0.
HotlantaVol writes:
"I think it's critical that we get our five best players, aside from our quarterback and the five (offensive) linemen, out on the field," Clawson said.
"You need to do a little bit of two-tight ends, but what you major in is who your best five are."
sjt18 - he's not just talking about WRs here.
thesavageorange writes:
sjt18 brought up a great point along the line here somewhere.Bricoe,Rogers,and Taylor were the best 3 run blocking WR's on the team.If that is still the case they will be your top 3 WR's again.
The general consensus on Warren is that everything is going fine w/ his appeal and that it will be approved.He is working w/ the TE's and is showing off his athleticism.For those that said Warren was out of shape were completely wrong.Hubbs said he looks to be in great shape.
VolGraduate writes:
put the playmakers on the field!!!
IBleedOrange444 writes:
So who are the best 5 playmakers?
I'd say Foster, Warren (based solely on what I've heard of him), Taylor, Jones, & Brisco will be the "best" 5 playmakers we can put on the field. Of course, there are a bevy of others that deserve to see some PT (Hardesty, Creer, Rogers, Cottam, Stocker, etc...)
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Yeah, I'm not too crazy about using E.B. on offense. I'm sure he could be a dynamic and productive weapon on "O". I just don't want to see him get spread too thin and injured. You know every defensive player would be licking thier chops to deliver a shot to ol' E.B. I think we've got enough playmakers on that side of the ball to not need to resort to that.
BornNBredAVol writes:
EB would be a very dynamic weapon on offense (see Percy Harvin of Florida) but we need him more on defense, which was our area of weakness last year, and the risk of injury is too high. so as much as i'd like to see him out there i have to vote against it due to our need of his defensive abilities
volmattna writes:
It kinda makes me wonder about our coaches even more as fresh c clausen and e ainge were gunslingers ainge threw the Ball all over the field against florida and made them look stupid and by the time they were seniors they were average quarterbacks now if you ask me that's coaching afraid to turn them loose its happened over and over just hope they don't do the same to crompton fulmer please let clawson turn him loose and put gerald jones on the field he is dynamite not standing on the sidelines watching
iowavol writes:
DCgator, there you go again proving you are indeed related to John Adams. I suppose you are referring to the article on QB's a couple of days ago and the posts that followed. If that is even a good indication of what the consensus UT Fan opinion is, go count the positive comments again. Most agree with reality that Ainge was a very smart and very talented QB that happened to play most of his career and all of last year hurt. Kind of scares you to think Crompton will be better doesn't it?
STJ, got to argue a couple of your points (while I agree with most of your comments). I know Rogers is a tough kid - the lick he took against LSU and came back to play was unbelievable - but the kid dropped way too many passes. Was it confidence - I don't think so, probably lazy technique like not watching the ball all the way into his hands. But it was many more than a handful, heck he dropped a handful against Cal alone. It just simply has to improve becuase those drops stop drives just like a fumble or an interception when it comes on 3rd down. Second, Clawson was not just talking about the receivers when he mentioned the top 5 players "in addition to 5 lineman and 1 QB", he was talking the rest of the offense including TE and RB. And personally, I agree with him. Give Crompton several play making options and this offense could put up points approaching the Manning led offenses. Defenses will be much less likely to scheme away from weaker options to put double coverage on only one play maker, or a spy on only one player.
I can smell it in the air, football season is near.
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