Dave Hooker audio:
Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton did not practice Wednesday, UT's first practice since losing to UCLA 27-24 on Monday night.
Crompton suffered a concussion midway through the fourth quarter during the season opener and is struggling with a sore right ankle that was twisted later in the game.
Neither injury is expected to keep Crompton out of game week, which begins Sunday. Crompton was only wearing a small brace on the ankle and was walking without a limp.
"I'm fine," the junior said. "A little sore, nothing too bad. I'm ready to go. Just got to play through it."
Coach Phillip Fulmer called Wednesday a rest day for Crompton, who was 19-of-41 for 189 yards and an interception against UCLA.
"He made some really good plays in the game and made some really not-so-good plays in the game," Fulmer said.
Fulmer commended his quarterback's toughness behind an offensive line that uncharacteristically struggled to protect its passer. The Vols gave up only four sacks last season.
"He was a warrior and fought, threw the ball well at times, stood in the pocket and got the heck beat out of him a lot more than he should have," said Fulmer, who added that the Vols should have rolled Crompton out more often.
"I think it was a learning experience for him in the first ballgame, and he'll just get better from here."
Crompton was sacked once by the Bruins but was pressured on several occasions.
"They did a real good job on their twists (stunts) getting us in bad positions," junior center Josh McNeil said. "But it was more of what we did than what they did that hurt us in the end."
Reviewing the game film was not pleasant for offensive guard Anthony Parker.
"It was just a bitter taste in my mouth," the senior said. "I feel like there was a bunch of things we knew was coming and it was a lack of execution on our part."
Parker said UCLA utilized numerous blitzes and stunts to keep UT off balance. Ironically, the Vols had seen it all before - during preseason camp.
"It was pretty much like playing against our defense in practice," Parker said. "Our defense brings pretty much everything."
And that was the case with UCLA's defense, which Parker said was as multiple as any team he's played. Following practice on Haslam Field on Wednesday, Crompton wasn't pointing to problems up front.
"I've got to make more consistent plays than what I did," he said. "I expect more out of myself than what I gave."
Soft Coverage, Tough Coach: Defensive backs coach Larry Slade handled all the tough questions from the media concerning what many perceived to be soft coverage in the second half against UCLA.
"There were some we'd have liked to play a little closer up," Slade said.
Slade said he believes fans tend to dwell on soft coverage, which can be a worthy weapon in a defense's arsenal.
"They're not there," Slade said of fan criticism. "Obviously, (they) don't quite understand it, don't understand what all goes into it so I let that kind of roll off of me.
Slade said he'd face criticism if UT's defensive backs played press coverage and were then beat deep.
"I guess we'd be standing here talking about something else," Slade said to a group of reporters. "We're going to do our thing. I promise you we will be better."
Slade said UT's game plan didn't change much from the first to the second half, even though it seemed the Vols were playing much farther off of UCLA's receivers beginning in the third quarter.
"I think sometimes they think they're playing a game," Slade said of the players in his secondary. "Sometimes they're going to play up on them sometimes and off of them sometimes."
While Slade wasn't pleased with such inconsistencies in technique, he pointed out that UCLA's longest pass completion was good for just 21 yards.
"We saw some guys play real well for a big part of the game but in some critical situations make some mistakes," Slade said.
Slade said the Vols could get sophomore cornerback Brent Vinson back for UT's next game, against UAB on Sept. 13. Vinson was on academic suspension last week.
That could be a key addition. The Vols were forced to play junior Marsalous Johnson at right cornerback in place of sophomore starter Dennis Rogan, who was sidelined with a pulled abdominal muscle.
Rogan plays corner and safety for the Vols, making him a difficult player to replace.
Johnson, however, fared well. Slade said he graded out at 90 percent against UCLA.
Wristbands Explained: During its broadcast Monday night, ESPN reported that Tennessee's coaches distributed armbands to players before the Vols' final possession of the first half.
On Wednesday, wide receiver Gerald Jones said those armbands were related to UT's two-minute offense.
"The quarterback always has wristbands to call plays from," Jones said. "The reason why we went to the wristbands was we went to two-minute. We didn't switch anything. It wasn't anything off key or anything."
The Vols took possession with 2:39 remaining in the first half, and the drive ended with a missed 55-yard field goal with 1:14 to go.
Injury Report: Rogan's injury is not thought to be serious. He should be available for the UAB game.
Junior safety Demetrice Morley practiced with a cast on his hand Wednesday.
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Volscars 2012
Bruce Pearl through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 143
govols22231 writes:
did i read that right 19-41 thats 46 or 47% thats not very good at all
wildberry14 writes:
peyton manning once played a game after stroking out and having an aneurysm. he just rubbed some dirt on his head and went back out there
Vol23304 writes:
I agree with Coach Slade. If we had played press coverage we would have lost by 21 . UCLA had too much O for our D.
CoverOrange writes:
Concussion midway through the 4th, wasn't that when he got us down field for a touchdown and a field goal?
And why do I hear Morgan Freeman's voice when reading Larry Slade's quotes? Larry, every deep pass thrown by Craft was intercepted!!!
wildberry14 writes:
we would be better off without a db coach. let eric berry call the shots.
1manningfan writes:
these coaches are killing me with there answers!
onevolfan99 writes:
what an excuse! well sounds to me like he played better after the injury. Whats the excuse for the second and third quarters?
Volomatic writes:
Well as a fan who bleeds orange I am tired of the the losses But if things can improve (and they BETTER) and we can win a couple of our tougher games we could still go far with one loss. But their has to be a very big change with the offense I get tired of seeing us run the ball to the other side of the field and then try to throw it without any play action at that. I think with my madden skills i could call a much better game than that. But i am not counting them out just yet but they have two weeks to change something and hopefully they do. like play hardesty more or creer
Volomatic writes:
they need to run the two minute drill all game
Urban_Weiner writes:
VOL23304, are u kidding me, they had to much 0 for our D, they have a 3rd string qb, a 2nd string rb, and a 2nd string TE...u must be joking! their is no excuse for what UCLA did to us in the last two minutes or anytime! They made the 3rd string jr college craft look like Peyton Manning at the end!
Our Defensive backs are incredible and are predicted to be one of the top units in the nation. especially Berry and Morely (and Vinson when he returns)!! We should load up 8-9 in the box and tight press coverage all the wr's and have no trouble at all! now maybe when we get to the fast SEC teams like FL with Percy Harvin, back off a little and have back up help with Berry and Morely, but UCLA and UAB should be shut down no problem and none of these easy 7-15 yard catches! I mean of course UCLA had no catches over 21 yards Slade, we were so backed off they couldnt throw that far, but I think 20 10 yard passes is just as bad!
Overall, with our great secondary, I think we should and will become the best unit in the SEC and the unit everyone will fear to play...I just think we should utilize their talent!
GO VOLS
orange_glory writes:
Slade you better watch what you say. Its the fans ( "They aren't there, They don't quite understand it" ) that allow you to have a job at all. Don't disrespect the fans
orange_glory writes:
My grandma could have coached better than that. Rush the rattled QB ( 4 interceptions in the first half ) don't let him get more and more comfortable with every 10 yard pass he throws. Coaching is pathetic.
orange_glory writes:
I would rather get beat with a deep ball and still have some time on the clock than let UCLA 10 yard us to death and use up all the clock. Coaching is pathetic
orange_glory writes:
Coaching is pathetic
LifeTimeVOL writes:
Slade says he just lets comments about his secondary roll off his back? What the heck! We have top notch talent back there and backed off in the second half - EVERYONE COULD SEE IT! That comment is so smug, he needs to listen up and coach his boys to play the way they know how. So what if the deepest pass was 21 yards: they can go all the way down the field and they did with short to medium gains if we give them to them. We have ridiculous talent back there, let them line-up and play ball!
jacksfacts writes:
backing off in coverage may be good when you're facing a qb that can complete a 20 yd pass. I just don't think craft could. Then again I'm only a fan and don't understand everything that goes into it. Like common f'n sense. I'm so glad he pointed that out.
hbvol writes:
Something I saw on TV was a little disturbing - Morley got turned inside out by their tight end about three times - really lousy technique. It doesn't matter how athletic the guys are if they play bad tech they will get beat. That being said I know the coaches will see it on film and work it.
The good ship UT is not taking on water just yet. If we win the next two we are back in good shape once again. I know the kids and coaches will work as hard as anyone and they will be ready. I know we are all frustrated but like McNeil said there are still eleven games left. Remember when Peyton got smoked by Florida early and we still wound up 2nd in the country? You just never know until things play out a bit longer. Having a good year is still a very good possibility. The kids just have to believe and do the work.
junder13 writes:
chumpton had a concussion? i guess the "real" fans will take that as an excuse. not me. sorry.
but here, how bout you sit out the next game, JC, and we'll see if we have a qb that can complete a five-yard out. i mean if UCLA has a heisman 3rd string qb than surely we have at least a so-so qb on this depth chart...but then again, our qbs don't get to face the chief's notoriously deadly 2nd half prevent D. d***t, i thought i had a solution there...
junder13 writes:
Slade said he believes fans tend to dwell on soft coverage, which can be a worthy weapon in a defense's arsenal.
"They're not there," Slade said of fan criticism. "Obviously, (they) don't quite understand it, don't understand what all goes into it so I let that kind of roll off of me.
Slade said he'd face criticism if UT's defensive backs played press coverage and were then beat deep.
-------------------------------------
Hahahaha, soft coverage can be a "worthy weapon" against a team with a qb who threw 4 int in the 1st half alone (3 unforced, i believe), the top receiver out injured after the 1st qtr, slow receivers, and a skilled secondary!
i'm so glad slade can explain things so clearly. all this time i thought i knew a little bit about football! no wonder our secondary plays so well year-in, year-out.
my concerns over coaching were just answered.
junder13 writes:
i guess the first half and second half statistics don't really tell the story, huh, slade.
1st half:
7 of 18, 66 yards, 0 TD, 4 interceptions
2nd half:
18 of 25, 193 yards, 1 TD, 0 interceptions
bad coaching is tough to digest, but stubborn ignorance is just enraging!
orange_glory writes:
Slade and Chavis better be gone at the end of the year if not sooner
orange_glory writes:
Crompton running into Foster. Clawson looking like a deer in headlights. Chavis (don't even get me started). Punts getting blocked. Fulmer clapping. It was like 3 hours in Hell that I was mercifully allowed to return from to tell my story that other people will not have to go there
I_Sweat_Orange writes:
Slade better show some respect to the folks who pay his azz !!!! Go find another job Slade..you suck !!!
jclowers writes:
It would seem to me that it would be a lot harder to beat a team throwing it deep on press coverage when you are a third string quarterback who has little to no confidence left after throwing four interceptions in the first half. We had a rattled quarterback and we switched our defensive mentality and we let him off the hook.
A coach once said that a team was "who we thought they were! AND WE LET 'EM OFF THE HOOK!! Now if you want to crown them, then crown their @$$!" Well if we keep playing like that on defense then I think I'm going to start measuring Tim Tebow and Matthew Stafford for a crown...
orange_glory writes:
These coaches had the whole off season to fix these problems. What makes anyone thing they will fix it in 1 to 2 weeks. Coaching is pathetic
Pullingguard writes:
Slade has excuses for everything, last year it was youth, this year with best talent available he continues to make excuses and says he lets criticism roll off his back...Well they need to ship his rump out of Knoxville for he really has never brought anything to the Vol defense..They did not adjust verses UCLA in the last half, and dont blame that on the players, its Slade's job to make those defensive backfield adjustments.
orangesox writes:
I have to disagree with Slade. I didn't see anything to make me think UCLA had anyone capable of beating us down the field. All the hype from the coaches about how good our secondary is, and yet they don't even trust those guys enough to let them try and save the day. What gives?
orange_glory writes:
Thank you awhill00.
VOLKING writes:
I think Crompton got the concussion before the game.
98reax writes:
Who's disrespecting who?
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
Piss on Larry Slade. He's another coach that needs to go with Fulmer and Chavis.
PreventUT writes:
"They're not there," Slade said of fan criticism. "Obviously, (they) don't quite understand it, don't understand what all goes into it so I let that kind of roll off of me."
yes'm master chief. we is all just sum ignant tenese chearin fules.
I don't need to be there (in the huddle) to understand stupidity. You review games the same way I watch it unfold...on the tv screen. UCLA's offense wasn't complex and didn't require complex schemes. But I bet he can make toe counting sound difficult, too!
That comment coming a day after one of the worst performances I have ever seen is a bit revealing. I now see why a lot of people don't like him.
FireJohnAdams writes:
They're not there," Slade said of fan criticism. "Obviously, (they) don't quite understand it, don't understand what all goes into it so I let that kind of roll off of me."
Yep, I didn't quite understand the reeling off of one first down after another by UCLA at the end of the game. Seemed to me they went right down the field, but heck, at least I know that I don't know what I'm talking about!
wyomingvol writes:
If anyone should of been at practice in full today it was #1 Daniel Lincoln
and
#2 Jonothan Crompton.
TommyJack writes:
After hearing the coaches remarks, I feel so much better.
andefromtn#212139 writes:
How many passes did Warren drop Monday night? He didn't look like an All-American to me. Where were our other TEs?
Alumni_06 writes:
Slade is joke, it seems to me that they were not trying to show too much of their blitz packages before the florida game
BobbyGraham writes:
He actually played better after the concussion, leading us to 10 points i the final 2 minutes of the game. Maybe he should play with a concussion the whole game.
akuncle#250130 writes:
Maybe one of the coaches should stay at home and watch the games on TV, because what we are seeing isn't what they're seeing,
Bottom line is we suck at game time adjustments.
xvolx writes:
what about all the concussions we suffered banging our heads against the wall watching the three stooges call this game. moe fulmer, larry chavis and curly clawson.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Crompton needs to watch where Foster is going on every play. Possibility of a concussion collison exists in that backfield.
At least Hardesty got some carries, I'll give that to Clawson.
Slade and Chavis appear to be on a pension plan already. Where have your values gone, Cafego?
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
AF (Always Fumbles) knocked his a@# out! Nice hit!
Orangebrewbasher writes:
Yeah Slade I did notice we never got beat deep down the field, I also notice a third string quarterback was in there and everytime he did try to burn us deep his passes looked like my grandma's, and I also noticed we played 'prevent from winning defense' when the game was on the line. Same old phooey, different year. HEY SLADE, DO THE UNIVERSITY A FAVOR AND GET THE F#%K OUT!!!
jobrando#216494 writes:
It's past time for heads to roll....starting with the old F..T Slade..and not at the end of the season
Greyback_Vol writes:
Slade makes me sick, but to some extent I understand his comments. After all, we're just common yokels that don't understand simple football concepts, like how UT's defensive coaches could sit back and watch a 3rd string QB pick apart of the most talented secondaries in the nations.
At least Fulmer has the grapefruits to admit they should have rolled Crompton out more.
It seems Crompton played better after he was banged up a bit. Maybe he finally got used to the feel of the game at that point.
utwick writes:
"Slade said he'd face criticism if UT's defensive backs played press coverage and were then beat deep."
I didn't see too much ability of UCLA to throw deep. If we played the receivers tight and continued to pressure the QB, we would have been OK. If our backfield (even with Rogan out) is as good as advertised, then we have to trust these guys to be able to defend one on one. I don't buy this logic. Also, did the coaches actually have to watch film after the game to recognize that they needed to make adjustments DURING the game. It seems that a majority of the football fans and media recognized this without watching film. To be successful, our coaches and team need to make adjustments in "real time".
jasonn1970 writes:
Slade's smug comments are a sad symptom of the disease that infects the Tennessee football program. It will be very obvious to everyone when this team falls to 3-6 on the first of November. Maybe then the recovery can begin.
vol88 writes:
Maybe the b'ball Vols can learn something from Crompton's bounce passes. They were very effecive. No interceptions.
Seriously, hope he's okay. He'll get better.
PennVol writes:
Our coaches could turn the New England Patriots into a middle of the pack SEC team.
GoVol writes:
Slade is an idiot and should have been gone a long time ago. Time and time again many of our DB's don't really excel until the NFL because in the NFL they are coached/taught correctly.
I was at the game so I've watched the replay twice now. There was one critical 3rd down and 4, our db was playing off the receiver by a good ten yards. The receiver takes 4 steps and a gets the first - why?????? poor scheming...which is poor coaching!!!!
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