If you want to fully appreciate how disappointing this Tennessee football season has been, you have to look beyond the 2-4 record. You have to look at individual players.

Compare what you see with what you thought you would see. The difference is startling.

For a couple of examples, take running back Arian Foster and linebacker Rico McCoy. Both were consensus first-team All-SEC picks in preseason. Do they look like All-SEC players to you?

Foster hasn't just lost a couple of game-altering fumbles. He has lost a step.

And in a league as fast as the SEC, that's a huge loss.

You want to see an All-SEC linebacker, watch Brandon Spikes of Florida. You want to see a linebacker lost, watch McCoy against Georgia.

Asked about the drop-off in McCoy's play, UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Tuesday they haven't been able "to put a finger on it." As for Foster, Fulmer and new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson cited fewer offensive opportunities as a reason for Foster's lack of production.

There's more to it than number of opportunities. It's what a player does with those opportunities.

How many times do you have to watch Knowshon Moreno of Georgia run to figure out he might be an All-SEC running back?

I'm not trying to pin a 2-4 season on a couple of players. There are plenty of other players who haven't lived up to preseason expectations, and that reflects on the coaches as well as the players.

Quarterback Jonathan Crompton had played only a couple of meaningful games before this season. But he came off the bench to throw for two touchdowns against LSU, one of the best teams in the country, two years ago. In preseason, Dave Clawson talked about how fortunate he was to have a quarterback who could "make all the throws."

Yet Crompton struggled terribly from the get-go in his first season as a starter. The more he played, the worse he got. After Crompton lost his starting job to Nick Stephens two weeks ago, it's questionable whether he will ever take another meaningful snap at UT.

One of the reasons I expected Crompton to be successful was his experienced, talented supporting cast. The experience is there, but the talent is no longer apparent.

UT's offensive line was supposed to be one of the best in the SEC. For the last two weeks, it has been one of the worst.

It's telling that Clawon would say the blocking problems against Georgia didn't have anything to do with missed assignments. "We had a hat on a hat," is how he put it.

Translation: Georgia was physically superior.

So was Northern Illinois.

At the end of that line, you also have to wonder about Brandon Warren, the much-publicized transfer from Florida State. He was a freshman All-American tight end for the Seminoles. It's all he can do to get on the field at UT.

Is Warren that rusty after sitting out a season? Is UT's offensive system so complex that Warren can't find his way?

Clawson said too much was asked of Warren in preseason when an injury to Jeff Cottam forced Warren to practice as a conventional tight end, as opposed to focusing solely on a hybrid role as a wide receiver/tight end. Against Georgia, UT had a package for Warren that hardly got unwrapped (because the Vols had so few offensive plays in a game dominated by the Bulldogs, according to Clawson).

Maybe next time, huh?

At least, the offense has a new system as an excuse. But there also have been puzzling performances on defense.

Brent Vinson converted from wide receiver to cornerback in the middle of the Florida game last year. He started 10 games. Coaches and players alike raved about his athleticism. He seemed primed for a starring role in 2008.

Instead, he has spent most of the season in the coaches' doghouse.

Demetrice Morley is another defensive back with obvious talent. Opposing coaches mention him in the same sentence with UT star safety Eric Berry. But Morley didn't remind anyone of Berry against Georgia.

UT players shouldn't be asked to play at Berry's level. They should be asked to play up to their ability.

After the Florida-Arkansas game, Florida coach Urban Meyer was asked about Spikes' play. He said, Spikes played "OK."

Then, he added, it's not acceptable for Brandon Spikes to play "OK."

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.