Posted by stroker on March 29, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Stay the course lol!

Posted by andy112382 on March 29, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nice to have football material to read, but pretty darn pointless being the first scrimmage, and of the spring at that.

Posted by GreerVol22 on March 29, 2008 at 9:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sounds like Crompton started off right where Ainge left it...

Posted by IPOrange on March 29, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Take it easy, guys. It's way too early to be expecting a brand new offense to be clicking on all cylinders yet. They'll put it together before this fall.

Posted by burntorangeVOLffle on March 29, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I like what I'm hearing so far. You can't expect the offense that's only 35-40% installed to be doing too much. If we get 75% is installed by the end of spring we should see a pretty interesting O&W game.

Sounds like Morley hasn't missed a beat. Secondary will be the best in the SEC if not the country. D-line still has work to do but should be better. Probably won't be dominant but possibly good enough to get the job done. Hopefully the D-backfield will buy enough time for the big guys up front to get to the QB a few more times this year.

So far I see no reason why would shouldn't compete for an SEC title.

Posted by burntorangeVOLffle on March 29, 2008 at 10:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

So far I see no reason why WE shouldn't compete for an SEC title.

Posted by yemmusdarb on March 29, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

burntorangeVOLffle: because we say that every year haha. every pre-season our players get hyped up (i.e. Kenny O'Neil aka spotted ape and Jarred Parrish aka mr. 3 INTs in a scrimmage therefore all american) but i will never again say we should win the SEC until we've got a comfortable SEC East lead late into the season (reference 2005).

Posted by invisiblekid on March 29, 2008 at 11:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A little confidence never hurts. May as well send the Sears Trophy to Knoxville and save all the other teams the trouble of playing.

"He's not Britton Colquitt right now," Fulmer said of Cunningham. I am not sure that is necessarily a bad thing.

Posted by budd on March 29, 2008 at 11:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"He's not Britton Colquitt right now," Fulmer said of Cunningham.

nope, he's sober

Posted by invisiblekid on March 29, 2008 at 11:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Excuse my earlier post, should have read the "AFCA National Championship Trophy made of fine Waterford Crystal".

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on March 29, 2008 at 11:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

crompton has the ability, but he is trying to impress to many people at once and also BJ is about to take the qb position away from him

Posted by andy112382 on March 30, 2008 at 2:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

budd - lol

Posted by 98reax on March 30, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Dan's done OK. He needs to lose about 20 pounds again."

So does Coach Fulmer. Lead by example. Would be a good way to start this disciplinary action.

Posted by iowavol on March 30, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow, some of these comments are way out there. What is somebody seeing that makes us think we should win the SEC or that BJ should win the QB job over JC? The article says Clawson claims JC made the right decisions but QB and receiver need to be on the same page. With only 35-40% of offense installed, you would hope the senior receiver would know what to do - glad the junior QB did. REal glad to see Morley not missing a beat.

Posted by waterskier3 on March 30, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

our defense always looks good against our offense..... so nothing new.... 43 yard punting average isn't bad if enough hang time....

i just don't see us competing for sec title this year.... receivers doing the same thing as last year... we need better rec, better DL, better sec coach..... all that talent in the sec and slade is coaching it.....

GO VOLS.... wait til next year baby!!!!!

Posted by tigervol9802 on March 30, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I would much rather read our D-line got to the QB 1 out of every 3 plays. I don't care how strong our secondary looks, if we can't get a pash rush, it doesn't matter.

Posted by givehim6 on March 30, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Just remember this was our 1st full scrimmage. New offence, QB and recivers will develop a rhythm, this is john 1st year as starter,lots of new stuff.

Posted by givehim6 on March 30, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I was going to say more but had to leave for church. Good to hear morley is making his presents be known on the field, and the coaches are experimenting with berry, huuu. bloking punts. D sounds like there geling, by fall the off. will gel too. GO VOLS!

Posted by imw8n4u on March 30, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Remeber guys, this is largely the same line that only gave up 3 sacks last year, so don't be too hard on our d-line not getting to the QB.

Posted by TommyJack on March 30, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

imw8: Good point. But this OL hopefully will hold its block a little longer because HOPEFULLY, we won't be running the Chuck & Duck.

Posted by mallardbayvol on March 30, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Not Britton Colquitt?

No. He is Chad Cunningham, the starting punter for the Tennessee Volunteers, who has not been cited 5 times, at least, for drinking offenses, DUI, fleeing the scene of an accident and whatever else I cant remember. Britton should not play another down for this team. Period. Another person with great ability and no sense of responsibility and little maturity. If his last name were any other, he would have been long gone.

Posted by Hunter on March 30, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"I just came clean, came free," Berry said. "I just came in and blocked it. We corrected it. We're just making each other better." - E.B.

Eric Berry is already a phenomenal leader for this team. He says "WE" corrected it, meaning Berry, Lincoln, and the whole crew. So often these things are offense vs. defense. Eric Berry understands that "WE" means everyone with a "T" on their helmet and they have to make "WE" better, not just "ME" better.

Posted by burntorangeVOLffle on March 30, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

yemmusdarb and waterskier,

Did we or did we not win the East last year? The year before we were only 1 game behind FL until Ainge got hurt and still finished 2nd. Two years before that we won the East. The year before that we finished in a 3 way tie in the East. Two years before that we won the East.

In reality, since 1998 there has only been one year when we truly didn't "compete" ('05) and only 2 others that we finished worse than 2nd in the East.

It sucks that we are 0 for our last 3 SEC CG appearances but that's why I said "compete" for an SEC title. And there is no reason why we won't next year.

Posted by DCSOvol on March 30, 2008 at 7:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Fulmer talking about someone else's weight. What a freakin hypocrite. He's been pounding fritters like an olympian since about age 40. I bet he's 320 if he's an ounce. Shut up, Great Pumpkin.

Posted by philfan on March 30, 2008 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

burntorangeVolffle at 5:19 p.m.,

That is what I have been saying all along. As long as we are in the mix with a win in our division, it is just a matter of time before we win the SEC trophy. And with the SEC being so strong, that usually means a trip to the National Championship BCS bowl. I never expected us to win a NC after Manning left, but we did, the very next year.

Posted by Plasticman on March 30, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good point Hunter. Berry is going to be a phenomenal player and it looks like an excellent leader too. I'm glad he can do interviews now that he is no longer a freshman. Berry and Morely as safeties is exciting.Critical we can find a MLB to take Mayo's place.

Posted by pdhuff on March 30, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No wonder Bama signs a gazillion d-linemen. 11 sacks in one scrimmage at Bama. We all know its early, but they'll kill John Parker Fitzsimmons Beaugard Wilson if Saban doen't have a flashing red jersey for him!

Tighten down, Vols!

Posted by redneckerson on March 30, 2008 at 11:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

come on now, tigervol, improved coverage works wonders for the pass rush.

Posted by Grim1 on March 31, 2008 at 12:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I look at it this way....10 and 4 could have VERY EASILY been 6 and 7 with how close Vandy and KY and SC were last year on us and maybe a trip and loss at the music city bowl instead of a win in the outback and no SECCG.
we got lucky in the Vandy, KY, and SC games...and you could see it on Phil's face after each of the games...he knew...he knew his job was safe for at least 1 more game.
AND how the TV stations didn't want to show our games!!!
we almost had as many games on PPV than on free TV.
people didn't want to see boring ass Tennessee play..and they were boring..have been for the past 8 years.

I will accept a 7 and 5 record next year...I may bitch about it..but I will accept it....with a whole new offensive coaching staff and tons of new stuff...7 and 5 will be ok.......
but after that...we better be back to where we SHOULD be...if not..then there is only one more way to go...they have already changed the major offense coaches around 4 times in 10 years (be it they kept going back to the same ole same ole..but changes none the less) there is only 1 other option left.

Posted by LargeOrange on March 31, 2008 at 12:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

DCSOvol - News flash for you, CPF doesn't PLAY football he is a coach. His weight is as irrelevant as his 40 times. A player who is carrying 20 extra pounds is affecting results of the team, this is not hypocritical it is a good coach telling it like it is. Some of you guys are so ignorant of football knowledge and drunk on Hater-aid it is ridiculous and it is only March.

Posted by mparker on March 31, 2008 at 12:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

hey, are there a few vol football fans left?? my goodness, this is unral how negitive and sarcastic some of you already are.

hell, guys, I've been following the vols since the 1960's, when I was just a little kid. Why bother being a fan if all you can do is bitch and moan????

Maybe things will be good this year, maybe not, but I'm certainly going to give the kids a chance to get it going.

Posted by burntorangeVOLffle on March 31, 2008 at 12:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Grim, why take the glass-half-empty outlook?

By your logic:

*UGA could have easily lost to Vandy as well if not for a late Vandy fumble. It took OT to beat Bama and they got lucky Tebow had a bum shoulder when they played them. That's 3 more "possible" losses for an 7-5 season. And they DID lose to SC who we beat.

*FL, after trouncing us, let Ole' Miss take them to the wire. UK was in it to the final minute with them as well. That's 2 more "possible" losses for a 7-5 season. And they DID lose to UGA who we beat.

*LSU, the National Champions with 2 losses, needed five 4th down conversions to beat FL at home, threw a hail-Mary to beat Auburn, and some how over came 3 turnovers to edge Bama. That's 3 more "possible" losses for a 7-5 finish. That's not even including the INT for a score they needed to beat us because if they had lost those other games they wouldn't have been in ATL. Oh yeah, and they DID lose to UK and ARK who we beat.

I could go on.

The truth is the SEC is just too tough to avoid playing some close games. All you jaded fans who want to whine about close games to SC, Vandy, and UK need to look at the conference as a whole. You can’t just thump your chest about being part of the toughest conference in the nation then cry when the games are close. That's the way it is for everybody. For every blow out there could be an equally close game the next week even if it’s an "inferior" opponent.

Posted by jimr07 on March 31, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

University of Cincinnati All-America defensive tackle Terrill Byrd has been suspended by the school for one game following a citation for smoking marijuana on March 5 at his residence.
I know john overlooked this one.

Posted by jimr07 on March 31, 2008 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

grim1 and all the others who bring up close games. Each stadium has what is called a scoreboard. when the referee deems the game over, you look at the scoreboard and the team that has the most points wins. it is as simple as that. ten years from now when people look back at the records, no one is going to know that we barely beat anyone. it is going to show ten wins and four losses.
good post burntorange

Posted by johnlg00 on March 31, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great post, burntorange. The angst on this board is beyond belief sometimes. Is the team as exciting and dominating all the time as we would like it to be? No; we're fans; we want to be National Champs, or contenders for it, every year and be the program everyone knows, and talks about, and wants to emulate. On the other hand, there are scores of programs who want to be like us NOW, whose fondest dream of football success would be just what we are TODAY. Some of those--South Carolina comes to mind--donate way more per capita per win than we do. We play in the country's best conference and then complain that too many of our games are too close, even when we win. The origin of the word "fan" is in the word "fanatic", which by definition is an unreasoning partisan. Do I want my team to win and be respected? Yes! Am I satisfied when they don't? No! Do I appreciate how successful the team is, year in and year out, compared to nearly every other program in the country? You betcha! GO VOLS!!!

Posted by martinvolfan on March 31, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"He's not Britton Colquitt right now," Fulmer said of Cunningham.

I'll take a sober Cunningham who will improve with time over a Colquitt (who can't stay out of trouble) any day.

Posted by orangebloodgmc on March 31, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

In my opinion, not a bad thing to have actual quarterbacks as holders for kicks. Geaux Vawls!

Posted by sjt18 on March 31, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Guys... Just remember, some of these folks are looking for reasons to complain. They want to share their misery.

You'd be tempted to think that they'd be satisfied if CPF were fired, tarred, and feathered but that probably isn't true. They'd just move on to the next target.

They say they'll be satisfied with a championship. If that level of success is the only thing that will end their incessant whining and griping... Lord help the people close to them in their personal lives.

Posted by sjt18 on March 31, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

That said.

My personal message to coaches Fulmer and Chavis:

If Dan Williams can play from end to end at 325, LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!!! This ridiculous obsession with playing everyone light is making your run D pathetic. A 6'3" 325 LB, active DT is EXACTLY what UT needs to shut down the middle.

Posted by invisiblekid on March 31, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18, correct me if I am wrong, but it seems as though Williams showed up on campus with some weight issues. My guess is that this was a not so subtle reminder to keep his weight down. That being said, I don't know that 20 lbs is a major issue this early in the proceedings. Last year, Bolden was complaining about having a tough time keeping weight on at the end of the season.

Overall, I agree with your point, they are playing guys at 270-280 lbs with Williams being the lone exception up front. They may be in better shape than the guy playing at 310 lbs across from them, but any difference in stamina is offset by the fact that they are still pushing against an extra 40+lbs on every play.

Posted by TommyJack on March 31, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

good to see the bitch & moan crowd is alive & well.

Posted by LargeOrange on March 31, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Scout posted an article on Coaches who must have a good year in '08 to keep thier job. Check out where CPF falls on the list...
http://cfn.scout.com/2/734689.html

Posted by sjt18 on March 31, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think you are right invisiblekid. My point is that he had 4 tackles and 3 pass knockdowns at that weight. That doesn't sound like someone struggling with mobility.

Not that UT's O presents a great test but he just about had to be part of shutting down the run. That would have been good against McNeil but it is "great" playing across from a guy (Parker) who could have gone pro, Richard, and McClendon (the UT bench press record holder).

I would just about guarantee that if he'd been at 285 they'd have pushed him around.

Sorry. This is just one of the things about Chavis' philosophy I can't stand.

Posted by sjt18 on March 31, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

LO, I can't get to that link. What does it say?

Posted by pdhuff on March 31, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ, any rain in Boerne Tx lately? We've had a ton.

What's your assessment on Williams and Fisher?
Crucial.

Posted by LargeOrange on March 31, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

stj, the link works, but you have to refresh it or try it a couple of times, must be having some issues on the Scout site. But I will paste the article below. Bottom line CPF did not make the "hot seat" list. He was not on the "under pressure" list either in the same preview. I had to edit this down to just the names, due to the 3000 char limit. But try the link a couple of times it has some interesting stuff on each of these coaches.

2008 Spring Previews - Coaches Who Must Win

By Pete Fiutak
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Mar 3, 2008

What ten big-name coaches have to come up with big seasons? Which ones will be fired without a big 2008, which ones need to get their mojo back, and which need a strong year to get off the hot seat?

Spring Preview 2008

The 20 Big Questions - No. 11

By Pete Fiutak

Ten coaches who need to win big this year are ...

Some of these big-name coaches will be gone next year if they don't have big seasons, some will be on double-secret probation in 2009 without a strong 2008, and some just need to turn things around and make their already good teams special again.

Three Big-Name Coaches Who'll Be Gone Without A Big Year

Chuck Long, San Diego State

Greg Robinson, Syracuse

Mike Stoops, Arizona

Four Big-Name Coaches Who'll Get One More Chance If They Don't Rock in 2008. One More.

Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville

Mike Price, UTEP

Ty Willingham, Washington

Charlie Weis, Notre Dame

Three Big-Name Coaches Who Won't Ever Be Fired, But Need To Get Their Mojo Back

Mack Brown, Texas

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

Steve Spurrier, South Carolina

Posted by sjt18 on March 31, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks. I've learned not to take CFN's predictions and opinions very serious over the time I've been visited there. For "experts", they get too many things wrong.

I'm not sure where there contributors are from but they seem to be particularly weak on the SEC and probably strongest on the Pac 10.

Posted by LargeOrange on March 31, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am not too familiar with CFN, I just stumbled upon it. It was interesting that in their "40 Non-conference games to get really, really excited about", they picked SEC teams in 7 out of the top 10 games including Tennessee and UCLA.

Posted by TommyJack on March 31, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

PD: No rain..need it bad.
I think Williams will be there; just keep him out of Ralphs. Depth at DL seems thin...maybe they will move some OL over. If no improvement in DL, it will be the same old, same old.

Posted by philfan on March 31, 2008 at 9:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is an interesting article about the new and not so new recruits from the various universities throughout the USA. Some of the players with 4 or 5 stars have done poorly, some have done well, and some have done extremely well, like Eric Berry of Tennessee.

http://msnbc2.rivals.com/content.asp?...