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Coach Fulmer and coach Chavis talk about Alabama's performance this season and what they're doing to prepare for the game. Watch »
If the idea of Tennessee safety Eric Berry returning kicks or taking a few snaps on offense makes fans and coaches a little nervous, defensive coordinator John Chavis provided an image that might be a little more jarring than seeing his star sophomore line up on the other side of the ball.
“I can’t wear my wife’s dress right now, the size isn’t (right). But if I ever get afraid, I’m just going to stay at home and probably start cross-dressing,” Chavis said when asked if he would cringe seeing Berry on offense, drawing big laughs from reporters gathered in Neyland Stadium for UT’s weekly media day Tuesday.
“You’ve got to do what you need to do to win and be successful,” Chavis continued. “If that’s going to help us, then I’m all for it. Berry’s a very, very talented young man. Certainly he could handle that, and if coach chooses to do that, I’ll be very happy.”
There’s little doubt that Berry is dynamic with the ball in his hands. For his career, Berry is averaging 39.7 yards per return on 10 interceptions with two touchdowns.
Receiver Gerald Jones is questionable with a high-ankle sprain, casting doubt as to who — if anyone — would line up at quarterback should UT run its G-Gun package Saturday (TV: ESPN, 7:45 p.m.) against second-ranked Alabama.
“Hard to have the G-Gun without the G, right?” smiling offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said. “I couldn’t think of anybody else on the team that could possibly do that, can you guys?”
The obvious answer, of course, is Berry, a former high school quarterback who has taken practice snaps in the package.
The biggest drawback aside from injury would be the risk of Berry taking too many snaps and tiring late in a game when the Vols would need him most at safety.
UT coach Phillip Fulmer said that if the Vols can limit Alabama’s offensive plays, Berry could take a few snaps on offense or as a returner.
“If we can hold the other team to somewhere in the 50s as far as numbers of plays — and that’s not an easy thing to do when you’re playing a team like Alabama — then I think he can play on special teams and some on offense,” Fulmer said.
Defensive backs coach Larry Slade said he’d also welcome the sight of Berry on offense.
“I think there would be some good things happening if he was over there,” Slade said. “He would find a way to make a football play, I really believe that.”
If Berry did play offense, he’d most likely see snaps at quarterback, although Fulmer was coy when asked if Berry would be more likely to play quarterback or receiver if used on offense.
“I don’t know why I would actually say that right here today on Tuesday,” Fulmer said.
If Berry doesn’t play on offense, Clawson offered a pair of offensive linemen as tongue-in-cheek suggestions for a change of pace.
“We may get Vlad (Richard) back there or Anthony Parker,” he said. “Make it a real short-yardage package or something.”
Five-Man Front: With Parker questionable with an ankle injury, Fulmer said the Vols likely would use only five offensive linemen against Alabama, if the senior can’t play.
“Depth is a big deal,” Fulmer said. “(Cody) Sullins and Jarrod Shaw are the guys that are most ready. But right now I’d say if we went to play, we’d play with five.”
Even if Parker is available, Tennessee would still start Vladimir Richard. Richard made his first start last week in place of Jacques McClendon, who after Parker left the game in the first quarter.
No Redshirt?: More injuries on the offensive line could result in coaches playing true freshman Preston Bailey.
The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Bailey has seen more second-team snaps in practice.
“I told him Sunday he needed to be prepared to play if need be,” Fulmer said. “I don’t know how long Parker will be out, or Parker may be back this week. I don’t anticipate having to play (Bailey), but he needs to be ready.”
Johnson, Myers Back: Offensive linemen Ramone Johnson and Darius Myers are back with the team after serving a two-week suspension for academics and violation of team rules.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 118
Inquisitor writes:
First?
NO_DIGGITY writes:
Visons of LuLu from Hee Haw.
GoVol writes:
Fulmer - just play the best players and quit all of this 'favorites' phooey. Also, keep to your favorite strategy - HOPE!
coaltrain1300 writes:
lmfao @lulu. chavis may need to man up to grow her mustache though lol.
MustangPackage101 writes:
The only thing I would like to see Chavis in is different colors... he needs to go with the rest of them. He has had had 1 good gameplan this season, against miss. st. That isn't consistant enough.
jclowers writes:
I'm still questionable about whether this will ever really happen under Fulmer (Berry on offense, not Chavis in a dress something tells me he already does that)..
DennisVols writes:
Got to do something to liven this offense up.
dirtdobber1 writes:
Please dont run the direct snap with anyone! Put him in at receiver- If you average all the yards that g-gun has gained- i bet its less than 2 yards a play/ why in the hell do we keep trying that crape! I guess the same reason the defense runs the MUSTANG PACKAGE over and over again! BS!
Stop the G-gun and any other gun! Look for alabama to put 9 or 10 in the box like Miss State did!
volnbig11land writes:
No profound insight on my part, just an observation. It sure seems like the coaches and the team are pretty loose this week. Especially considering a 3 - 4 record and some more difficult games ahead.
Good sign, bad sign, no sign or no clue?
givehim6 writes:
Chavis in a dress? trick or---no trick. If Berry does play offence do not tell everyone, let it be a surprise so bama will not have time to think of a way to defend it.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
C'mon, folks. As good as Eric Berry is, we know what these "packages" look like, don't we? It's a shotgun snap, then a straight run behind the O-line.
We did the same with Eric Locke as we're doing with Gerald Jones. We've also heard of "packages" for Brandon Warren, but where is it? Nothing is new.
Thanks, but no thanks. Let's not jeopardize our best defender getting hurt on a stupid run up the middle. That being said, if I had to choose--I'd rather see Berry on Offense than Chavis in a dress.
TotalPackage1 writes:
UT should step up to the line of scrimmage on the first offensive play with an empty backfield and let the GUNSLINGER sling the pill until they stop it. UT couldnt rush for 100 against Maryville.
Volchaz writes:
Wild Berry, here we come....
raynochonspeed#212632 writes:
What is Hee Haw?
NO_DIGGITY writes:
Use the old A.J. Suggs offense that UT used vs Florida in 2000. Shotgun, 4 wideouts, RB next to QB, throw quick slants. Just make sure you get TD's instead of FG's. And make sure Ref does not give Bama TD if WR holds ball for one tenth of a second. That call is still a Burr in my Chuck Taylor's.
TommyJack writes:
He didn't say whether he is too big or too small for the dress to fit.
SemperVol writes:
"I'm ready to go in, Coach, just give me a chance. I know there's a lot riding on it, but it's all psychological. Just gotta stay in a positive frame of mind. [stands up] I'm going to execute a button-hook pattern, Super Slow-Mo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxhrpY...
dirtdobber1 writes:
Great post! concur 100%/ especially when the other team has 10 within 2 yards of the line of scrimage!
bdub77 writes:
Gimicks always backfire on us... ALWAYS!
volnbig11land writes:
WOW, remember that game like it was yesterday.
The gaffney phantom catch.
Must be a burr for Gators too because everytime I mention they get ticked off.
They always come back with "so, we still had 3 more downs to score" of which I reply, yeah and you still had 3 more downs to turn the ball over!
Inquisitor writes:
I don't give a da*n what Chavis wears or doesn't wear, if the D doesn't play agressive, blitz, stunt, pressure the quarterback, UT will suffer the same slow, but sure, death of a loss that we've seen all year. I saw a little of the 2nd half of the Bama-Ole Miss game last week. One of the TV commentators said Saban never plays zone.....his DBs are always tight man-to-man the whole game. Until UT starts playng that way all the time, instead of playing the "prevent" D the whole game, teams with a decent QB and O-line will continue to score many points. Good defenses put the opposing offense on defense. Good defenses go on the offensive by playing aggressive and attacking the other team. Saban knows that. Fulmer and Chavis don't.
markr22vols writes:
Forget the Wildberry or G-gun how about an on-side kick like Ala. done to us last year. Saban pulled out all the stops maybe Fulmer should take a play or two out of last years game and turn the tables on the on the old Saint Nick!
volchiq writes:
I would like to see Berry returning kicks and punts. That will give him an opportunity to make something happen, but hopefully minimize the chance for injury.
Hopefully there are a lot of punts for him to return...not kicks.
GreeneVol writes:
Double-edged sword, Berry returning punts, playing QB - that's how GJones got hurt against MsSt - on a punt return. If it were me, I'd be bluffin' with him just to keep Bama thinking. Keep him on D - where he still has a knack for making big plays. At the most, put him back to return punts late in the 3rd qtr if we're in a low scoring affair where his defensive play count is as Fulmer describes.
HotlantaVol writes:
Can Berry kick field goals?
markr22vols writes:
I am sure he can't do much worse than what we have had so far this year.
HotlantaVol writes:
Why do all the direct snap offensive schemes have to be Wild _____? Wild Cat, Wild Hog, Wild Rebel, etc.
If we're going to do that with our underachieving team, we should call it Girls Gone Wild.
HotlantaVol writes:
Chavis can lift his dress for the camera during the game.
bigcalf51 writes:
martin and walker ,reveiz need to be starting they have shown more giddy up then who plays in front of them.the season is shot lets get the guys in there that are going to be in that postion next year.....foolmer makes me sick with the favortism.take a good look at alabama offense and defense count the under classman.Saban plays the best 11 on both sides of the ball....as far as berry and jones are special one is hurt right now lets not go 2 for 2.His postion is on defense,,have a good night
bigcalf51 writes:
amen!!
TheFuj writes:
Difficult for him to pull the trigger. Eighth game of the season, and now they think they may need to get the ball more to Berry. Each time he touches the ball, he could take it the distance. Offense will be tougher with our non moveable line, but definitely let him return kicks and punts. Michigan had Woodson, GA had Champ Bailey, FSU had Deion. Why are we at the 8th game of the season and just looking at getting the ball more to Berry?
CheckerboardPhilosopher writes:
Mark Ingram would OWN Eric Berry????????????????
Discuss here
http://3rdsaturdayinblogtober.wordpre...
shipperman#280095 writes:
I suspect there will be more kicks than punts to return
shipperman#280095 writes:
Keep in mind that Bama is no Miss State. Berry might not look as great this time, and why maximize the chances for him to get hurt? We need him on defense in the worst way
FLVol writes:
Glad to know they can all joke and laugh in the midst of a possible losing season
cnalumni writes:
I dont think that having Berry on offense is going to cure the offensive woes. Is he more elusive than Gerald Jones? If lines up in the g-gun, are holes going to magically appear. Berry has had some great INT returns, but it is harder to avoid tackles from defensive players vs offensive players.
IPOrange writes:
Here ya go, diggity:
http://www.luluroman.net/images/hee_h...
TommyJack writes:
Gird your loins, boys.
WhitePineVol77 writes:
No way we'll hold Bammer to 50 plays +/- 2 or 3. Let Eric play where he plays best, and let him return punts. If he is used on offense, keep it < 3 plays. Bama will go down this year. Why not to us? VOLS show up to play, finally, and it's UT by 7.
FlaVol2 writes:
My opinion is that Eric Berry can do most anything on the football field. He is a wonder. Go Vols!!!
BIGEJ writes:
Blog, blog, blog, blah, blah, blah, GO VOLS
VolFanNC writes:
It bothers me that they keep worrying about the injury thing....It's football...I haven't seen any other coach worried about playing their best player in a big game because he might get injured....Most coaches try to get the ball in the hands of their best players....and even design plays specifically for them.....sigh
wkjq#213863 writes:
frst grade?
brush#220070 writes:
lets hope we can keep them below 50 points-run it down their throats & get back to TN SMASH MOUTH FOOTBALL-in my opinion
wildberry14 writes:
might as well play the kid. everyone is worried about injury, but has this guy ever been injured in his life? can you injure someone with bulletproof skin and a titanium skeleton?
berry would be our best player at any position except kicker, punter, offensive lineman, and defensive tackle. someone tell me im wrong
allVolinGA writes:
Foster throwing the ball against Miss St. was a neat sight and totally fooled the defense. If it had only been a little more accurate!! I think the Vols are going to need a few unexpected plays against Bama.
pammyvol1000 writes:
I say give him a chance at QB or at least use him a a decoy on some plays. Seems like the G-gun was predictable after we did it several times. If your gonna use it, throw the ball couple of times.
SemperVol writes:
allVolinGA-
I might have accidentally pressed the "Suggest removal" button next to your thread. I was trying to reply to your post because I think you're right. We need to definitely do something unorthodox. I even think the 'Prowler' thing we did to Florida a few years back would be pretty cool. Might freak John David Ernest Billy Hal Parker-Wilson out!
Once again, if your post gets removed, my bad! My aim was a little off.
TommyJack writes:
Semper: As I understand it, the suggest removal button just alerts the staff to review the play (post). Without overwhelming evidence, the post will not be overturned and the post will stand as called.
rclarkvols#224537 writes:
I hate the G-Gun. 10 against 11 is not smart. Until they replace the quarterback with a receiver on that play it is a wasted down.
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