Fulmer: Most productive back will play more

There's only one football.

So it's been a common refrain from Tennessee's coaches when it comes to sharing carries in a crowded backfield this season.

But after UT's tailbacks got just 25 carries in a 13-9 victory over Northern Illinois on Saturday, the tune has changed.

"We just didn't have many plays," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said when asked during his weekly teleconference Sunday about a dearth of carries for tailbacks Montario Hardesty and Lennon Creer.

Hardesty finished with seven carries for 20 yards. Creer, who saw the most extensive playing time of his career against an SEC opponent two weeks ago at Auburn, did not have a carry Saturday.

The culprit, Fulmer said, was that Tennessee (2-3, 0-2 SEC) ran just 50 offensive plays against the Huskies.

"The clock is playing a big factor into that, particularly when the other team has the ball 10 plays, nine plays and nine plays," Fulmer said. "We've got to get off the field and get the offense the ball back, and we've got to keep the ball on offense and not have penalties that put us second-and-15 and so on."

Heading into Saturday's game (TV: WVLT, 3:30 p.m.) at No. 10 Georgia (4-1, 1-1 SEC), the plan remains to try and play Hardesty and Creer as well as starter Arian Foster, who had 75 yards on 18 carries Saturday. Who gets the most carries depends on who is most productive - and not just carrying the ball.

"As we've done in the past, the hot player will play, the guy that's running, protecting, doing all those things the best," Fulmer said. "But they'll all play."

Soft Shield: Saturday's blocked punt - the second surrendered by UT in five games - was a result of Chad Cunningham stepping outside protection, Fulmer said.

Auburn nearly blocked a punt on Sept. 27, and UCLA returned a blocked punt for a touchdown Sept. 1.

All those plays came out of UT's spread formation, which features a three-man shield directly in front of the punter. Cunningham was non-committal when asked about the formation.

"It's good for coverage," he said. "I don't know. I like base punt, too. I can't really say anything about it."

Colquitt Back: Britton Colquitt will resume the starting role as punter after serving a five-game suspension stemming from a February arrest for DUI. He also could take over for Cunningham on kickoffs.

"He'll likely do both, but we'll see how it goes," Fulmer said of Colquitt. "In practice, he's kicked the ball off well. He is the best punter."

Vinson Explained: Sophomore cornerback Brent Vinson was limited to special teams action Saturday after showing up late for a team meeting Friday.

"He needs to be where he's supposed to be," Fulmer said. "It's a constant battle. He just needs to be where he's supposed to be."

Vinson, one of UT's most athletic defenders, did not travel to UCLA for UT's opener because of academics.

Injury Update: Ellix Wilson (shoulder) and wide receiver Lucas Taylor (shoulder) should both be available for Saturday's game, Fulmer said.

Offensive lineman Vladimir Richard's status is uncertain. Richard, UT's top reserve at guard, did not dress against Northern Illinois because of a knee injury.

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.