Remember that bit about making assumptions? Go ahead and apply that to Tennessee's quarterbacks.
Heading into Saturday's 6:30 p.m. season-finale against Kentucky in Neyland Stadium (TV: ESPN2), the Vols' quarterback situation remains as muddled as it's been for much of the season.
"I don't know if I'd assume anything right now," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Sunday during his weekly teleconference. "We're just looking and working and seeing what we need to do."
The Vols' 20-10 victory over Vanderbilt only served to muddy the waters more.
Jonathan Crompton returned to the starting lineup for the first time since a loss at Auburn on Sept. 27. He lasted two series before being pulled in favor of redshirt freshman B.J. Coleman only to return late in the game.
Wide receiver Gerald Jones and safety Eric Berry also took snaps at quarterback against the Commodores.
But this week's starter is yet to be named.
"We haven't really decided that at this point at all," Fulmer said. "We'll go to practice and see what we're going to do and then go from there. We obviously need to throw the football better than we did (Saturday)."
In all, the Vols threw nine passes for 21 yards and did not attempt a pass in the fourth quarter as they clung to a 10-point lead.
Through 11 games, UT has 1,649 yards on 147-for-301 passing with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions.
In 2005, when UT struggled at quarterback on its way to a 5-6 finish, the Vols had 2,178 passing yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
"It's by far the most challenging quarterback situation that we've had," Fulmer said. "Even in '05, there was some concerns and inconsistencies, but nothing like we've faced this year."
Emotions At Bay?: With all the emotion surrounding his final game as UT's head coach Saturday, Fulmer said he's trying to focus on the task at hand.
"I have a lot of great memories and great experiences," he said. "But I want to concentrate on this game and this team and get one more win out of this thing and then we'll have lots of time to reflect perhaps."
Saturday also marks the final game for UT's seniors.
With three weeks passed since UT's press conference announcing Fulmer would not return in 2009, the Vols have moved on, Fulmer said.
"We've gotten past the emotional things, I think," Fulmer said. "I'm hopeful they'll just be determined to win this football game to finish up the season on a positive note."
Running Man: Coleman finished Saturday's game with 17 yards rushing (which included two sacks). Several times, UT called designed runs for the redshirt freshman.
"He's a good runner, ran it in high school and did a good job," Fulmer said. "That's one of the reasons we felt like he could fit in our package in some things. He's not Eric Berry or anything, but he's a guy that can make some plays and get up in there and get it done."
Injury Update: Cornerback Brent Vinson likely will have an X-ray to further evaluate an injury to his right calf.
Vinson's leg was swollen, but he did not need crutches to leave the stadium.
Fulmer said he expects Vinson will play Saturday. "We'll have to get him an X-ray and look at it and see what it looks like," Fulmer said. "Then we'll go from there."
Vinson missed practice Sunday for academic obligations.
Montario Hardesty did not practice but is expected to play against Kentucky.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 195
TommyJack writes:
lookin and workin. sounds about right.
KingVol writes:
it does not matter who starts because it will be their last if Tahj comes through on his commitment
invisiblekid writes:
Well, it would almost be a shame to have some type of epiphany on the situation at this point.
vtvol#210290 writes:
BJ will be Brian Kelly's guy if he comes. He has the mobility to run the spread.
98reax writes:
I hate to see Phil Fulmer go out on a loss to the Kats, but I believe we will lose at home...sad, very sad. I just don't see anything promising here the way he jerks th qbs in and out, the goofy G-gun with no movement and the blackberry pkg. is just a circus clown act. Why don't we have any wide receivers? Didn't we used to be called Wide Receiver U?
thevoice writes:
I'm not so sure we don't have SEC caliber QBs. But I'm darn sure we don't SEC caliber QB coaching!!! Absolutely pathetic that it's come to this: no starting QB by game 12. Mr. Fulmer, if you ever wondered why you were shown the door, it's mainly because of your inability to produce a consistent offense (QB and OL, oh and TE and RB and WR) in years. This offense has no style, no character, nothing to rely on.
xvolx writes:
the whole program is muddled.
soccervol writes:
If Boyd is here next year, he will start. He reminds me of Tee - can run and throw.
Still not sure why Stephens didn't get into the game yesterday - he's the best of the three.
BillsBrother writes:
Let's see..we can't throw the ball with any confidence.
The QB is noted to have running ability..will we see option football return to Neyland this Saturday?
No, but I do expect we will see nine wildcats in the box!
hotrodvol writes:
Go with Coleman.
Fireman writes:
Hmm I played NCAA Football 09' tonight and ended up putting berry in at quarterback halfway through the first quarter. Even in the game Crompton sucked big time! Eric Berry was 22 for 31 with over 300 yards passing and barely under 100 for rushing. If only they could play like that.
Go4Two writes:
This post sums up the problems with college fooball today
newtonrail writes:
mikevol writes:
in response to Fireman:
Hmm I played NCAA Football 09' tonight and ended up putting berry in at quarterback halfway through the first quarter. Even in the game Crompton sucked big time! Eric Berry was 22 for 31 with over 300 yards passing and barely under 100 for rushing. If only they could play like that.
This post sums up the problems with college football today
Fireman: Not to pile on, but your post is what's wrong with fandom today. Everyone is a Play Station instant Coach. It just Ain't That Simple.
Volnbama writes:
It's easy to see that cutcliff was the only awnser @ QB. We simply can't develope them into at least a decent D1 QB.
glockjockey writes:
Who cares at this point.Fat Phil is going out with a loss to the Cats.Good riddence.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
We had Stallworth and Kelley Washington, after that nothing, Whitten left early too, and since then nothing. My frogs hairs tell me that since we didn't appreciate Kelley Washington any more than we did, that we are not going to get another one until we change our minds about him being a UT Volunteer@!@ Things happen for reasons, and our eggheaded fans sometimes , meaning well, can actually hurt the destiny they are actually looking for by stumbling over stupid things. How do we break the curse of the Wide Receiver?
txsvol#372416 writes:
I care! I want CPF to win his final game, and for him to hear nothing but cheers from the Neyland Stadium crowd. It's the least we can do to honor one of our best, ever! Our fans need to show the same class that he has shown, both in victory and in defeat. If he wins, I think he'll be 152 Wins and 52 Losses, exactly 100 wins more than losses, + the National Championship for the 1998 season! Thanks for your commitment, Phil! SAVol
CoverOrange writes:
Seems to me we had similar high expectations of Crompton when he arrived on campus. I'll wait to next year to see what happens.
CoverOrange writes:
In my recollection, Ainge's pick was nothing like Coleman's other than both should have known not to throw it.
burpee_von_rotweiler_IV writes:
J. Crompton was supposed to be the Vols best chance to win the game. That is why he was started? I don't get it. I'm beginning to relate to him: baffled, perplexed, dazed and confused.
Why don't the coaches just ask for volunteers (get it) for the QB spot Saturday? Let any player (offense or defense) who wants to have a go, take a stab at it under center? Just line up and play, just like on the playground. What have they got to lose? Sure would be fun to watch.
rusty_shackleford writes:
From little league to the NFL, an offense is only as good as its QB.
mbradshaw1#655539 writes:
Why is Stocker starting before Warren? It can't be because of pass catching ability.
BigMix writes:
T
pdhuff#552644 writes:
What degree of "muddled" are we in, would you surmise?
Are we slightly muddled as in less than 50 yds passing?
Are we an average muddled Phixable team with 34 rushes for 79 yards, say?
Or are we the rare SEC over-the-top muddled squad with nary a clue as to what we are going to do?
I vote for over-the-top.
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
fool ,we got good wide receivers .don't have a quarterback that can hit them .you must be blind .
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
b. j .coleman keep him out there , if he messes up , he'll learn . the others are total mess ups , find a way to get rid of them .
Volgrad777 writes:
*First of all , Tajh Boyd will start next year if he remains a committ , which ive been told he will. Secondly , Ainge's pick and Colemans pick were very similiar , its that same ole 8 yard curl route by the x while the y runs a slant to clear out the backer. If you noticed the play you saw DJ Moore point out to the safety that it was coming his way on a short first down route. You could honestly see him pointing it out. That was the problem with that route in the LSU game last year and the same this year. Teams scout us and when you run the same 3rd and 6 or 3rd and 8 play over and over again , not to mention 10 times alone in the LSU game last year , corners and safties learn to jump the route. Jackson knew it was coming last year and Moore and the S knew it was coming this time. As a QB thats basically your read , if its not there , you gotta eat it or toss it away. Obviously BJ wanted to pick up the first down and got away with one earlier , he took a chance. Poor play call and coaching more so than QB play. It shouldnt have been thrown , but it SHOULD NEVER have been called.
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
maybe fulmer will take crompton and stephens with him ,they the reason he's leaving ,being stubborn cost fulmer his great job .
Triton1 writes:
Seems to me like Meacham had a fair year after those 3.
leedsvol2007 writes:
Coleman looks like he has the overall skills to come on.
The problem I see is none of the current quarterbacks see all the field and therefore they are missing reads.
If the light bulb goes on for any of the 3 that guy will be the quarterback.
There is a guy living in Alabama named Homer Smith that is known for his ability to work with quarterbacks. He says at first a quarterback only sees about 25% of the field, then he sees maybe 50% after awhile and finally he sees the whole field.
Last year Erik Ainge walked up to the line of scrimmage and knew who would be open and quickly determined where to throw it.
None of our current quarterbacks have that ability yet. And as a consequence we have no passing game.
All look to have the physical tools to get it done but a lack of ability to read coverages and see the field is the problem.
The one that emerges will be the guy who is able to make the reads.
Govols!
tennisvol writes:
Afer all these games, the QB situation still isn't settled. BJ helped moved the team down the field and had a completed pass for a 1st down but was called back for a penalty. Clausen calls for the old flare pass to the right that everyone in the stands know is coming and is picked off for a TD. Let BJ throw the ball down field and I think you will see some results.
jsmithnga#207674 writes:
Last year our posters were calling for Ainge's head to put in Crompton; this year they were/are calling for his head to put in Stephens; then calling for his head to put in Coleman; soon they will be calling for his head to put in whoever; guess it will never end. I expect it will be the same with future coaches as well.
tnbigg writes:
Okay...wait a minute...I've got it! No...he messed up... Okay...wait a minute...I've got it! No...he messed up...
Okay...wait a minute...I've got it! No...he messed up...
Okay...wait a minute...I've got it! No...he messed up...
Okay...wait a minute...I've got it! I gonna look at the film...
Okay...wait a minute...I've got it! No...mirror mirror on the wall...who shall quarterback the Vols...
Okay...wait a minute...I've got it! Let's shoot for it...
tnbigg writes:
Time for mentoring and educating...no time for coaching...
rockytopron writes:
How many of you Erik Ainge haters are missing him now?
This season shows you what a difference he made. He may have made some mistakes, but he gave this team an opportunity to win many games the last two seasons (19).
He made an All-SEC receiver out of Lucas Taylor who has been pitiful this year.
He made teams respect the passing game which allowed the running game to work. Foster had over 1200 yards and 12 TD's last year.
I know a lot of the Ainge haters will say it was all Cutclift, but the truth is, he had to execute the plays to make them work. And remember, he played the majority of last year with a broken pinkie finger on his passing hand.
KENVOL writes:
His system has worked everywhere else that he has been. I think Fulmer is standing in his way.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
That plan in in effect, ineffectively.
Mentored right into place.
I'm not sure Phil thinks he is really leaving. It will take several from Mayflower to carry his chair out of the office with him still in it.
Wish him well
OrangePossum writes:
I agree, Ainge had his bad moments, but when he was healthy he was a pretty solid QB. I would love to have had him, or even his uncle Danny, this season!!!
CoverOrange writes:
Have to disagree on a fine point: Hancock didn't run 8 yards down field last year and there wasn't a second receiver (x or y or z) beyond him like Saturday. WR screen vs 8 yard curl. Have to look at the film again to be sure though.
Agree with the scouting and repetitious play calling, though.
SemperVol writes:
Anyone remember Chuck Knoblauch of the New York Yankees....All-star second basement a handful of years back who developed this quirk of not being able to make a throw to first base...one-hopped everything?
Or that catcher off of the movie Major League who couldn't throw it back to the pitcher until he started reciting 'Playboy' magazines?
Maybe we oughta get these guys a copy of Hustler or take 'em down to the The Katch.....i don't know.
Go4Two writes:
Didn't we score 30+ a game last year. Had a 3000 yard passer and 1000 yard runner and 1000 yard receiver. Sometimes QB's just don't work out look at how Bret Farve has changed the Jets. One player can make the difference if he is a QB.
TommyJack writes:
Stubborn, yes. I tell you what else..arrogance. He will start JC vs KY just to flip the fans off. Just wait.
Colliervol writes:
Ditto on most of what Dothan said. It is incredible to me that we have three QB's (who were supposedly highly rated coming out of high school) that can't make basic reads. Whether it's Clawson's system, our overall development of players, the ability of these kids, or a combination of all of the above, I don't know.
All I know is that a new day dawns as of Saturday night at about 9 pm. Hopefully, the new guy can straighten this mess out because the current system has failed.
SemperVol writes:
I expect him (JC) to say before the KY game..."I know what I can do..the whole country will see what I can do Saturday. They'll know what's up. Yeah."
I hope he keeps that trashy beard for the game...I could use a good laugh this Saturday.
JMP_Vols writes:
I think a good place to start with Coleman this week would be tempo. Seemed Saturday he had trouble getting the play called, getting everyone lined up, and taking snap before play clock expired.
Otherwise, he played well all things considered. Running game was actually there for him on a drive or two, something we haven't really seen all year. Not sure if he's the guy to be running that QB draw with. Seemed a little heavy-footed. Pick-6 was bad, but he'll learn what throws can and cannot be made.
bigutfan writes:
I see that Coach Fulmer is reporting receiving many e-mails. Can somone tell me his address. Although, as a donor I wanted to see a change, I would like to tell him thank you for his service to UT.
iron_eyez7#227558 writes:
All of this QB stuff would be irrelevant if we could RUN THE DA#$ football like we did Saturday! Hey guess what makes it really easy on your QB? Being able to run the football. Did anyone know that if you can run the football you are more likely to limit your QB's mistakes ??? Did I mention anything about running the football ??
BJ is my choice for starter. End of discussion. BJ can run better than either of the other two. AND he can read the defense better. Crompton should be dropped to the JV team. No way he should ever see the field again. Creer should be allowed to start as well. He knows how to run.
invisiblekid writes:
The skyrocketing costs of everything associated with the sport and the fact that it is now a multi-million dollar business has nothing to do with it huh?
invisiblekid writes:
Frog hairs? This post sums up what is wrong with GoVolsExtra today.
WVVOLFAN writes:
i think stephens mouth has gotten him in the dog house for the season. i won't be surprised to see him transfer to dII.
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