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PASADENA, Calif. - Tennessee's defense was at work on Labor Day, but it clocked out early.
UT, especially its super-hyped secondary, gave up two long fourth-quarter drives Monday night against UCLA setting up a 27-24 overtime loss in the Rose Bowl.
The first touchdown drive was 11 plays, 80 yards. The second was a nine-play, 70-yard drive. Both were good enough to take the lead.
Such drives didn't seem within the realm of possibility in the first half as the Vols reeled in four interceptions and gave up just five first downs and 85 yards.
That's barely more than half of what the Vols gave up in the two most important drives in the game.
UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft (who was third string in spring practice and only played because of two injuries at quarterback) proved to be crafty with underneath passes and an occasional scramble in the second half.
That was just a short intermission removed from a performance in the first half that had him looking outmatched and outmanned.
Craft was 7-of-18 for 66 yards with the four interceptions in the first 30 minutes. He was 18-of-23 for 193 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions in the final 30.
"I don't think it was rocket science," UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "He executed very well in the second half."
UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel reminded Craft that during his playing career he threw four interceptions against Georgia and lived to tell about it.
"He just kind of rolls with it," Neuheisel said of Craft's resilience.
And that's saying something considering what the Vols did to Craft in the first half.
Surely, it seemed, the Vols would set an all-time record for interceptions. UT publicists were sifting through media guides in the press box before the second quarter had even come to a close.
And the interceptions weren't just turnovers, they were timely.
When UCLA mounted a drive on their first possession, DeAngelo Willingham reeled in a pick at the UT 24.
When UT kicker Daniel Lincoln missed a 51-yard field goal giving UCLA good field position, Demetrice Morley intercepted Craft's next pass at the UT18.
When punter Chad Cunningham could only manage a 36-yard punt to the UT 45, safety Eric Berry intercepted Craft's next pass at the UT 24.
When UCLA had every reason to believe it could upset the 7-point favorite from the SEC, linebacker Nevin McKenzie intercepted a Craft pass and returned it 61 yards for a touchdown to give UT the lead 14-7 just before halftime.
The overriding question from Monday's game will be: Did the Vols' defense get too conservative with the lead?
Fulmer denied it. Neuheisel wouldn't go there. Defensive coordinator John Chavis, as usual, took the loss on himself.
"They did a great job on those two drives," Chavis said. "The result was 14 points. As it turned out, that was enough to cost us the ball game."
If there was any one adjustment that admittedly threw the Vols for a loop, it was UCLA's change in tempo, safety Eric Berry said, which caught UT's defenders off balance.
"We felt we needed to be perfect," Berry said. "We look at ourselves as perfect. We told (UT quarterback Jonathan) Crompton we had his back going into the game.
"We just needed to finish and help him out a little more."
Several of UT's offensive players took responsibility for not getting their defensive counterparts off the field.
Berry wasn't having it, claiming fatigue was never a factor despite being on the field for much of the fourth quarter.
"Just look at last year," Berry said. "The defense couldn't get it together last year and the offense picked us up a lot times.
"Right now, we have an offense that's struggling a little bit. We just have to take care of them until they get right."
Especially in the fourth quarter.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 48
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
WHO?
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Clawson...the next head coach at UT. LOL!!!!!
What happened to the Goon Squad!!!! ROTFLMAO!!!!
Field Goal Phil strikes again!!!!!!
Only 1 play away from being undefeated!!! LOL!!!!
a new low...UCLA's 3rd string QB and entire 2nd string offense. LOL!!!!!
WOW!!! averaged 6.48 yards per carry and threw the ball 41 times? CUtcliffe called and wants his gameplan back!!!!!!
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Cue the charts!!!!
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Cutcliffe called...he wants his play book back (41 passes while averaging 6.48 yards per carry). LOL!!!!!
orange_glory writes:
Let me tell you story about a about a man named Phil a rich volunteer couldn't keep his teams in games. Then one day his OC got another job and up from Div 1 AA came a sorry excuse for coaches. And then one day UT fans said unemployment is the place you ought to be and then the AD gives him another contract extension. A contract extension, millions of more dollars and at the cost of our beloved program.
(My apologies to the Beverly Hillbillies)
TNisPeerless writes:
Fumble inside the 10 and 3 missed field goals says it all...not to mention getting beaten by this year's Matt Mauck
Wilhelm16 writes:
i'm just tired of paying the money buying the espn gameplan packages and ut merchandise. i'm in the military and live in Alabama do you know what kind of looks i get in my orange jersey all of that just to be disappointed by my team whenever they play out of conference or florida. life has enough disappointment on its own without our team letting us down. we'll never be back in the elite without beating teams we're expected to beat. it looked like they just handed the keys of the offense to a pee wee coach and let him take over. and how long has it been since chavis put out a decent defense? we play so soft it was like prevent in the second quarter. we just get ripped to shreds. i don't know how much more i can take before i just wait until sunday and cheer on the titans.
Wilhelm16 writes:
oh and the best part we were the only game on so everyone got to see it! and you know tomorrow every non fan at work is gonna have something to say. i just hope i can keep from punching them.
cdonsbach writes:
Wilhelm16 wrote:
"i don't know how much more i can take before i just wait until sunday and cheer on the titans."
I hope they beat the Jags on Sunday. Go Titans!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
The answer to Hooker's question, "Did the Vols' defense get too conservative with the lead?" is emphatically YES. We got those INT's in the first half because we were chasing Craft all over the field and the zone in the secondary was closer to the line of scrimmage. In the second half, we didn't get the same pass rush and the secondary backed off the line. That made the gaps in the zone wider and, with more time to throw, Craft picked us apart.
DenmarkVol writes:
Johnlg00, if I'm not mistaken, you've just described our BELOVED PREVENT DEFENSE.
I'm no football coach or expert but I believe it's also sometimes called a "soft zone" where our corners play off the line giving receivers whatever they want short.
The idea is to not give up the big play over the top or deep (PREVENT that stuff -- BEND but don't BREAK).
One problem: the PREVENT defenes does not PREVENT short passes underneath -- slants and crossing routes, hitches, etc. So teams know to do that.
Yes, we PREVENT most bombs and long passing plays in the PREVENT defense. But we give up six, seven, eight shorter plays in a row, usually ending in six points with our defense back on its heels. We BEND all the way back to the goalline...and then some.
Every football coach in America who's ever watched us protect a lead knows that we ALWAYS fall into that PREVENT defense on late drives by the other's team's offense.
It makes me want to start laughing hysterically when I recall all the hype about this secondary over the past few weeks.
YES, they are PLAYMAKERS and ATHLETES. But, in my opinion, it's the SCHEME they are/were forced to play.
You had better believe that Norm Chow knew exactly what to do against our defense in the second half.
Being predictable on defense is just as deadly as being predictable on offense.
TheFuj writes:
Chavis never really plays press corners (or press the tight end) for fear they will get beat. He believes in bend but do not break. Chow took advantage of that. Better coaching beats better athletes.
eb502us#225637 writes:
Fuji hit the nail right on the head. UCLA never looked to pass beyond 10 yds. yet our DB's were playng way off the ball. Clawson's play calling was the main reason we lost this game, but Chavis played a part as well. Then there is Fulmer, who is clueless as to how to prepare a team.
TurboFan writes:
Dink and Dunk revitalized. You would have thought Chavis would have recognized it.
We have no offensive weapons.
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
Please tell me I was dreaming last night. Foolmer didn't blow it again did he? Crompton didn't have 41 attempts did he? Special teams didn't cost us another game did they? That weasel Neuheisel didn't just beat UT with a 3rd string QB and a MASH unit for an O-line did he? Foster didn't cost us another game by fumbling on the 5 yd line did he? Chavis didn't run his prevent D and cost us another game did he? We didn't embarrass ourselves and the conference to a mediocre Pac-10 team on national TV again did we? Hammy didn't give Foolmer a contract extension did he? I'm officially hitting the panic button...another season of hope down the drain. When is this nightmare going to end??? And UT fans are clamoring for BASKETBALL in September?!?!? WTF!!!!
lkilgore#237303 writes:
Disturbing:
Horizontal passing game instead of pounding the rock and wearing down a defensive line and throwing vertically. Not since Tee Martin.
Next: Soft corners and no press on tight ends. How many teams beat the vols in prevent mode with the tight end and fullback (Richt, Spurrier, Meyer, Neuheisel, Chow, etc, etc etc
jack_2222#231746 writes:
Corners are so far off the line that they aren't even in the picture screen.
Just speculating, but the offense looks like a hybrid between Clawson's philosophy and CPF's, as opposed to pure Clawson.
mtnsvol44 writes:
Announcers pre game: "Inexperienced UCLA meets a VETERN UT team" ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!
Should have said afterwards; "Inexperienced UCLA THIRD stringers met underperforming, dumb playing,dumb coached, listless, paper tiger Vols and whipped their a*zes like they were freshmen high schoolers!!!!!!!!!
Hey SEC teams, you can count another win here BEFORE you play the useless Vols!
I see now why CNN has Phulmoore listed as only the 33rd best coach in football-should now fall to 133rd!!!!!
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
WVVOLFAN writes:
62 days until it's BB time in TN
richvol writes:
Crompton was terrible.
Foster fumbles again at the worst possible time. Hardisty is better.
The wide gap formation we lined up in to punt is ridiculous.
Chavis and Slade once again are exposed.
The prevent and soft coverage is useless.
We had how many rushing attempts and attempted 41 passes?
Are we incapable of making any adjustments?
One receiver burned us over and over again.
Not prepared and severely outcoached again.
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
Where was the blocking on the punt formation when UCLA scored?
rockitwithrespect writes:
does anyone know mike hamilton's email address? i have a few ideas to run by him.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Clearly, the "prevent" defense has got to go! Why recruit fast, aggressive guys to play defense if we aren't going to PLAY fast and aggressive? When we rushed the QB and played the secondary closer to the line, they had to try to throw over it and we picked them off. Even if they had completed some long gainers, a quick score gives us the ball back quicker and doesn't wear out our defense as much. Sometimes, quick scores are "fool's gold" for an offense--if it works once, they will keep trying it, setting them up for big sacks and INT's. Just letting the QB stand there and survey the field is an invitation to get picked apart. That, and giving up on running the ball when it was working was what cost us the game. Since we didn't see anything of our "new" offense, Clawson may learn from his mistakes. I'm not sure Chavis gets it these days, and CPF's tolerance for that overly conservative approach on defense was the most disappointing aspect of the whole game.
mikie01 writes:
let me start by saing im a tennessee fan and have been for years. i can hand a lost but last night was a slap in the face, it looked like we did not know how to play football. we could't run the ball and when we did we fumbled it. and passing wasn't no better. high pass no consistiy
just a lot of sitting in the pocket and letting them blitz all the time. and on top of that it looked like they were calling the same play over an over come on now. but, that does'nt matter becuse the defense did not do any better, no blitzing, no man coverage all they did was play soft defence and that is why they marched down field on us. all i can say is bad play calling. but, what do you expect from another clawsan at tennessee calling the plays?
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
At this point I would rather fire Chavis, but if Fulmer won't do it then he can go too...
I am almost all the way over to the Fire Fulmer camp....however I have been entrenched in the Fire Chavis camp for several years now....
calvolfromkingsport writes:
When does basketball season start?
oldbasshead writes:
At first, I felt embarrassed by the loss, but today,not so much. Why? I don't think that anyone, who is not a UT fan, has any expectation that UT is an excellent football team. UT is perceived from the outside just like Miss St. or USC or Arkansas - a good team, but nothing special. Our boys played hard and the coaches did as good as they can do. From that stand point, I don't feel embarrassed anymore, just disappointed. I recently talked to a former Alabama player and I asked what he thought about UT. He said, "you don't go to UT if you expect to compete for championships". I think he is right even though we played in the SEC championship game last year because UT backed into that game after being killed by Florida, Alabama and Cal. Even the media recognized it by placing UT low in the current polls even though we had alot of returning players. I have also noticed that alot of UT's former players who graduated in the recent past are not fairing well in the NFL. Things are tough in college football and particularly in the SEC. UT is not in the uppper level of the SEC. Instead they are competing with Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Miss., Miss. St. Arkansa and USC for the middle ground and lower. Why, two things: 1) outdated coaching and 2) player talent not on par with talent in 90's. Will UT recover, not as long as Fulmer remains the coach. Will they take charge of the middle ground? Most likely for now, but not after Arkansas and Miss. St. get going.
Post a comment
eldee writes:
UT should not continue to employ a DC that obviously has mental issues. How do I know he has mental issues you might ask? What's the first test for insanity? It's when you keep trying the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. Sure the offense struggled. It's brand new and still has some kinks to be worked out but when you employ the "mustang" which is nothing more than "pass prevent" and keep your DB's 10 yards off the ball, then you make 3rd stringers look like All Americans. Beginning with Johnny Majors the University of Tennessee has accepted mediocrity in it's football program as success. Proof that this will continue is this formula. 8 wins = contract extension. Don't get me wrong. Eight wins when there were only 10 regular season games was pretty successful. Would somebody please inform the administration that they play 12 now.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
What happened to the "look" that Foolmore had in his eyes again for this year? He was rejuvenated, etc. ROTFLMGDAO!!!!!!!!!!!
proudtn writes:
Vols don't look tough.
THE_VOL writes:
BREAK OUT THE MAGIC DUST CUZ THE PERFECT STORM II HAS ARRIVED!!! Eerily it was just 3 years ago that New Orleans flooded and TN imploded! Welcome to deja vu all over again!
leedsvol2007 writes:
I agree with assessments of our play calling on both offense and defense.
And, after long defending this staff if we don't see vast improvement the rest of the year its time for a change.
Fulmer needs to go back and look at how he coached when he first took command of the program and get back to an attacking style of play. If he can't he needs to step aside and we need to find a young agressive coach.
Now that I've vented I have something positive to say. I thought when the chips were down in the 4th quarter Crompton and the offense played exceptionally well and it bodes well for the future.
They engineered two scoring drives with less than five minutes to go and Crompton was on target. They appeared to stop thinking and start playing and it came together.
Now that Crompton has a difficult game under his belt as the guy and rallied himself when it counted he should have the confidence to play like he is capable of given his physical tools.
Lets hope the coaching staff can do the same.
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
Look..until the defense actually calls its own plays and does what it wants, Chavis needs to be held accountable. One step drop completion. Why?Cuz our dbs are 12 yards off the ball per Chavis. Get up and press em, which in turn will give the dline time to pressure the 3rd string juco friggin QB. So frustrating to see unfold. How to they justify the salaries ?????
Waldorf writes:
I don't blame the defense.
I'm pretty sure Berry and the others didn't tell chavis on the sideline to please quit applying pressure and drop back into zone coverage the entire 4th quarter.
arkyvol writes:
isn't it about time we started the annual 'who should replace phil' game?
imnotwithphil writes:
Don't blame the defense... blame the head coach and the D2 OC he hired....
BIGEJ writes:
This just in!!! EPA Protects 67,000 Acres of Mississippi Wetlands by its final decision under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to prohibit construction of the proposed Yazoo Pumps Project in the Mississippi Delta;
VOLstuckINky writes:
chavis needs to join Sanders ... at Kentucky or fishing on Saturdays.
tnvoice#278189 writes:
Well let's see... First half O line protected the pocket and opened lanes for RB's. D Secondary picked off 4.. one for TD. New QB was nervous and could not find his game... seemed he was overwhelmed by his first big game with the reins in his hands...there was no Backfield protection for Cunningham when his kick was blocked... when we were making drives we were wearing out the defense and making them make mistakes.. THEN... we allowed them some rest by giving up 2 first downs... fortunately we had the pick and went into the locker room 7 up.... Wasn't there but could almost hear Vols coaches telling the boys... you're doing great..keep up the good stuff... Unfortunately N&C were telling their boys how to avoid the mistakes they had been making... I agree Clawsen looked like a deer in the headlights and worried... AS compared to a look of almost helplessness I had seen on Fulmers face... Second half... Clawsen hasn't yet learned that when you're jamming it down their throat on the ground... Give up your game plan of trying to establish an air attack... especially when your QB hasn't found his cool yet... Don't get me wrong I think Crompton will come around... just hope it's soon. But when Foster fumbled and gave the momentum to UCLA and Chavis started the prevent defense... I had to throw my hands up ... walk outta the room and tell my wife... games over...
Fulmer didn't get to be one of the winningest coaches in the nation by being a bad coach... but time has moved on and he needs to catch up... A doctor that quits studing what's new when he gets his shingle is one you'd never want to depend on... AS Fulmer said...everything that went wrong is fixable... let's just hope the right fixes are applied.... Either way... My team - win or lose... Go Vols
skinalive#242458 writes:
Is that a play-sheet sticking out of the front of Chavis' pants or a menu?
Retiredvol writes:
Hey Guys "It's fixable" remember? This has been a problem at UT for 10 years now. 10 long years we have had to deal with inept coaching from the top down. Unfortuneately we can't do anything about it unless that idiot Hamilton wakes up. Evidently 7-5, 6-6 seasons are good enough for him. Wait till the SEC Tennessee will be trounced by an average of 28 points a game. Yes you heard it from me. Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida and probaly Kentucky all losses for this once storied program. It is no longer an elite program and will take years to recruit the kind of players needed to get it back to that point. Crompton was an absolute JOKE. Where the hell did they pick this guy from? I counted 2 passes on target (where they should have been) all night long. Is he ready ? No he is pathetic. Tell it like it is!! Secondary overrated! Offensive line a joke. Foster can't hold onto the ball needs stickem. All around performance is an F. Coaching doesn't even deserve an F.
MoVol writes:
The late great Jack Buck said it best: "The only thing the PREvent DEfense accomplishes is the mispronounciation of two words."
volmattna writes:
In the second half they just started throwing short quick passes. And we just continued to drop our corners back. Why didnt we get in there face take that short phooey away. And let our safties make plays. Its that kind of pansy a-- s--- thats wrong with our program. We are so afraid its football play the game and a third string qb. Bump his receivers blitz the phooey out of him. And it will scare the phooey out of him. And he will throw more picks. But this coaching staff coaches scared and thats why we will always lose games like this and always be the laughing stock of the sec. And it will continue until we get rid of these old out of date coaches
LifeTimeVOL writes:
can the coaches please take some responsibility and recognize what really happened? It's not that Craft became some hall of fame QB in the 2nd half, but rather Chow and company made some adjustments which allowed him to make short, easy throws. These adjustments worked wonders against our defense because we too made adjustments - we decided to back off the line like we always do in the 2nd half and let them catch tons of short routes resulting in touchdown drives. Fulmer, and more specifically Chavis need to admit they were "out-schemed" the second half, and change their 2nd half strategy. If they cannot see this, then we are in store for a lot more heart-breaking second halves, and more importantly a lot more BIG LOSSES this season. WAKE UP!!!
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
Well its Wednesday and Im still pizzed off...lol...I havent visited one sports site on the net, for fear of reading some jacknuts assessment of the debacle. But, what ive come to realize the problem was (to me) is this....
1. Jonathan sucked...(PERIOD)..will he get better?god only hopes
2.Dave Clawson looked (literally) like a deer in the headlights and his play calling or lack there of was very apparent.
3.Our D is stout. Line looked good. everyone did. BUT. they are told to play where the coaches want em...E.G. 12 yards off the ball (dbs) and we make Craft look like Favre.
4.ARIAN ..ARIAN..ARIAN..(hey coaching staff...take a look at Montario...just my opinion)
5.Games are ebb and flow. Changes are critical for success. Mr.Chavis, Mr.Clawson, and Mr.Fulmer, please see 2nd half of game and refer any questions to Mr. Chow at UCLA
6.My love for this team and university and state are deep and strong. Its just so frustrating to see what needs to be done during the game and not one step in that direction is taken. I think Chavis needs to get in the booth so he can see the cushion the Mustang puts his DBs in.
7.Im thru moaning and groaning. I love ya Vols. But yall are killing me. Get beat cuz they are better, not because we are so inept from coaching and execution.
8.Time to be accountable, then get on track.
9.Short memory, and move on. Go Vols
Madkels writes:
How can the defense take the blame? If the offense would have put points on the board in the 1st half after 4 int's, then UCLA would have given up and quit. But the offense let them stay in the game and once again, kept our defense on the field way too much. What the heck happened to ball and clock control? The defense did their job in the 1st half...the offense did nothing with the gifts the defense created. So I blame the offense and coaching for this one. The defense looked better than expected for most of the game.
Madkels writes:
As good as the defense played early on, I have a question for Chavis. Why do we continue to lay off the receivers and tight ends in a 3rd and 5 situation? I didn't play college ball and even as dumb as I am, know that they are going to throw the dink and dunk pass for a 6 yard gain and a first down. Why not hit that sob in the mouth as he comes off the line and break up the rhythm of their offense? Have you ever heard of adjustments?
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