Ankles have become a big angle for Tennessee this week, leading up to the Alabama game Saturday night.
Guard Anthony Parker and receiver Gerald Jones each got some work done in Thursday’s practice. Both suffered high ankle sprains in the Vols’ 34-3 win over Mississippi State last week.
However, getting a little work done in practice and doing so against No. 2 Alabama may not be comparable.
“They’re questionable,’’ UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Thursday. “It’ll be a game-time decision.’’
Fulmer’s next statement is probably the definitive one:
“To play on the offensive line or at receiver with an ankle (injury) in a game like this would be very difficult.’’
Defensive tackle Walter Fisher (turf toe) was able to get some work and is expected to play.
Fulmer said senior Josh Briscoe is slotted behind Jones at receiver, but that may not mean he sees a bigger role.
“We run so many formations and personnel we can put a lot of people there,” Fulmer said.
Night For Day: Tennessee’s secondary has come a long way since a 41-17 loss to Alabama last year in which Alabama completed 32 of 46 passes for 363 yards.
“It’s night and day in the secondary from where we were last year, with the experience,’’ Fulmer said.
Tennessee is tied for the national lead with 14 interceptions, along with Iowa and North Carolina.
“Covering receivers is a tall order when you’re trying to play the run game so hard,’’ Fulmer said. “So there’ll be a lot of good match-ups there.’’
At least UT won’t have to match up with departed senior DJ Hall, who had 13 catches for 185 yards last year.
No Slide: Nick Stephens isn’t much for sliding.
If his quarterback gets outside the pocket, offensive coordinator Dave Clawson wants him to slide instead of taking a hit in the open field from a defender.
It’s just that sliding doesn’t happen to be a strength for Stephens.
“I’ve tried it a couple times in practice, and I can’t slide,” Stephens said. “I’m not good at it. I don’t know why. We actually had a sliding drill one time, and (Clawson) started laughing at me. I said, ‘Coach, come on.’ ”
Instead of sliding, Stephens said he tries to keep a defender from getting a full-on shot.
“My thing is, when I get out there and know I’m going to take a hit, I’ll square him up and take it on the side so it’s not a direct hit,” Stephens said.
Fumble Wanted: The Vols are the only team in the Bowl Subdivision without a fumble recovery.
“There’s been a few on the ground,’’ said Fulmer, “but as many interceptions as we’ve had, I guess that’s a decent trade-out.
“We’d sure like to have one pop up loose in the air and take it back the other way.”
Third (or Fourth) Saturday: This year’s Tennessee-Alabama game, traditionally known as “The Third Saturday in October,” actually falls on the fourth Saturday.
While the two teams played on the third week of the month from 1928-94, they’ve met on that day only five times in the last 14 years.
This year marks the 19th time the teams will meet on a day other than the third Saturday. Those games are just as close as the rest with Alabama holding a 9-8-1 edge.
Still, the scheduling hasn’t dampened Fulmer’s enthusiasm.
“I’ve been fortunate to be a part of a lot of them,” he said, “and I just love this week.”
Drew Edwards contributed to this report.
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Comments » 28
Orangebrewbasher writes:
First, I think
Orangebrewbasher writes:
Any anger still left from fulmer getting a supena from our white-trash neighbors. I would hope so. Or maybe some anger left from our losing record. Either way, we should have a lot to be motivated for saturday. Go vols.
blitzshoot writes:
Take the attitude to the field. All business Saturday Vols!
HallowedHill writes:
Ahh, the muskets versus the mullets. Must be the 3rd (or 4th) Saturday in October. Give em hell Tennessee!!
HartfordCTvol writes:
Maybe we could get the ref from the LSU-SC game to play for Anthony Parker
VolinCalif writes:
Do It! Do it well Vols. I'm sure you (like myself) have heard enough about UT's lack of talent. Not true, so lite up the field with those goons. You won't hear any more BS about your team not being top notch.
VolinCAlif
Volundergrad47 writes:
I agree. I get tired of hearing that UT does not have the talent. Berry is one of the best athletes in the nation. We also have more than that though. Morley and Rogan are both great athletes and we have some on the sideline (Creer, Hardesty, and Warren not getting thrown the ball). I think we will play bama much closer than people think.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Parker possibly being out could hurt us worse than Man Mountain Cody gone for Bama.
We'll see, don't have a good feeling about this one.
Get 'em, Vols!
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
I'm feeling the upset.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
I want to gang up on Alabama and take out our anger onto them. Let's see if our secondary can take this man down, their quarterback. Think positive. Expect to win. Expect good things to happen, don't just beg the issue. Come on Phil, get with it!
Vol_N_Texas writes:
Nothing would be finer than to beat bammer. I hope Auburn whips em at years end too. I'm stationed in Germany and have to work with an arrogant elephant butthead every day. He says he hates the team but not the fans. How is that possible? Face it fellas, Bammar may rise again, but they will always be geographically located under TN. They can only rise high enough to kiss TN's behind! GO VOLS!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I've noticed that there is an almost 100% lack of posts about how we could actually beat Bama.
I'm in that group as well. Maybe no turnovers and heads-up special teams play coupled with Bama errors would do the trick. Stephens appear to be on his way to a very serviceable QB, but this will be a tough test to get better in. Their plan will be to force us to the air.
Bothersome when Ga LBs said we were an easy read on offense.
But, I always come back to the trenches. We will have to man up more than anytime this season. They are very good and deep.
Perhaps they just won't show it Sat.
Or....
xvolx writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
wkjq#213863 writes:
That's a nice job, 2 comes after 1. On a serious note, I just hope the confidence gained last week is still there. I know MSU isn't Al. but no matter what you're doing, confidence and positive attitude always help. Now maybe the Vols are ready to take another step, and get a quality win.
SemperVol writes:
Can't believe we haven't snatched a fumble.
Why not stick Denarious Moore ahead of Josh Briscoe?
Orangebrewbasher writes:
Why ask Why?
VolGraduate writes:
if we keep bama scoreless in the first quarter we win the game.
TommyJack writes:
Pray we don't take a 3-0 lead. Ol' Oval will go into the 4 corners.
invisiblekid writes:
I don't think so pdhuff. Cody was a beast on that defense and well, Parker was a starter.
VolGraduate writes:
tj:
the mustang package has haunted me for years.
Knoxobserver writes:
I haven't been this pessimistic about a UT/UA game since the days of Bill Battle when we consistently found a way to lose games that we had won. I'm just hoping Saban doesn't take a page from Pete Carroll and the Trojan's drubbing of Wash. St. If anyone thought Ty Willingham might survive the season at WSU, last week's embarrassment was the final nail. A big win by the Tide might be the last hurrah for Fulmer as well. At least there are some bright spots: Eric Berry, in a class all his own; great player, great person. He makes me proud of UT every week. Rogan has shown flashes as has Denarius Moore. I'm afraid Nick Stephens may be a one trick pony, but a 60yd bomb is a pretty good trick. No match for Bama, but hey, maybe we won't embarrass ourselves.
wjr2b2 writes:
We are the only team in the nation that has not recovered a fumble. Really? It might help if the players were instructed to actually try & strip the ball!! O well, maybe Bama's RB's will get a case of the Arian Foster's and then we can recover a fumble. Idiots!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Cody's replacement dead lifts 600 lbs, benchs 480. Beat out guy who had started 12 games just to be behind Cody. Called amazing depth.
Watch line play in 1st three series. That will tell you how this game will go.
Phil may have a surprise for them.
wildberry14 writes:
weve had a few chances to grab fumbles but we try to scoop em up and run rather than fall on them. guys, just whatever happens out there, please dont boo. we need tajh boyd. branden smith would also be nice to have
wkjq#213863 writes:
You're right about the booing, I hope there's no reason for it. I hate it at any amateur event anyway. If an NFL team stinks it up, let'em have it. I for one don't even like booing when the opposing team takes the field.
invisiblekid writes:
So you are saying McNeil at 250-270lbs may have trouble moving the pile still? LMAO
I can pretty much tell you how the line play will go, they will run the ball, we won't. It's a sad time when we celebrate 12 straight running plays over a team that was only down by 24.
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
The cold, dark night, invited the men from Alabama into Neyland Stadium as the #2 team in the land. Their opponent was the disoriented Tennessee Vols. What the Tide faithful forgot was, this is a game under the lights. UT has been a major disappointment in all the medias eyes. Their coach has been ridiculed from the fans to the analysts. It is the Vols time. No more out of sync plays. Balls will not be dropped, oh no, not on this nite. The o line blocks like a veteran line of 10 years in the pros. The running game accumulates more than 200 yds of rushing, as well as the aerial assault of 260. The D continues to shine with two picks of the Bama signal caller JPW. The disgruntled Tide board the bus to the airport suffering their first loss of the season...28-10.
Dont underestimate Tennessee.
Dont underestimate the Tennessee fans.
Dont EVER underestimate,playing under the lights, ravage UT fans,......and not a da mn thing to LOSE..
UT...go get ya some guys
ravensearay writes:
volguy says it all........
I agree. And remember, AL is number 2, and we all know what happens to teams that are number 2..... They get UPSET!!!! An awful lot of the Bama fans I have talked to share this concern. They're not hearing the team talk about how they are going to take it to TN and they are concerned the Elephants will not be up for the game.
Go Vols..... Kick their Behinds all the way back to Tuscaloosa.
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