New alignment not part of Vols' problems

For Anthony Parker, it's like looking in the mirror. Ramon Foster likens it to learning to write left-handed.

While Tennessee's new offensive line scheme, which rotates players to both the left and right side of the ball, took some adjustment, coaches and players say it's not the reason why the Vols struggled to protect the quarterback at times in an upset loss to UCLA on Monday night.

"I think we're pretty comfortable," said Parker, a preseason All-SEC and All-American selection at guard. "During the game, I really didn't think anything about it. It was just back to playing football."

Still, it's a little different from years past when players lined up at the same position on every play.

In first-year offensive coordinator Dave Clawson's offense, linemen are designated either "quick" or "strong" and depending on the spot of the ball or a defense's alignment, will play either the right or left side.

Foster, who played right tackle last season, said coaches told him he was lined up at left tackle for about 60 percent of the plays against UCLA.

"I thought we handled that part very well," Foster said. "Some of the cadence things we can address, but overall the flipping sides, it wasn't an issue."

Protecting quarterback Jonathan Crompton, however, was an issue against a Bruins defense that consistently brought extra players to rush the passer.

In the fourth quarter alone, UCLA blitzed on nine of Tennessee's 19 offensive plays. Only one of those plays was a running play. Parker said UCLA's pressure was only part of the equation.

"They brought a lot of pressure from everywhere. They brought heavy pressure," he said. "But there were a lot of things we should have picked up or sometimes the down linemen just made a good play on us. I think it's all stuff that's correctable. That's the best thing about it."

The Bruins only sacked Crompton once - twice if you count a sack that wound up giving UT a first down in the fourth quarter after a UCLA defender grabbed Crompton's facemask. Regardless, it's an unusual position for an offensive line that allowed an NCAA-best four sacks last season.

"I did not know he was getting hit that many times," Foster said. "We got to take that very personal and go out in practice this week and make sure he's very comfortable in the pocket. That's something we can definitely take care of."

So are some of the other problems revealed by UCLA's defense, one of the Pac-10's best last season. Foster said the Vols did not sustain blocks and finish well at times, something that should be fixable by next Saturday's home opener against UAB (TV: WVLT, 12:30 p.m.).

UT coach Phillip Fulmer said the overall inconsistency of UT's offense - from timing of routes to the amount of time Crompton took to get rid of the ball - also played a role in the Vols' protection problems.

And if there are any lingering questions about UT's new line scheme, Fulmer put those to rest.

"If I thought it was a problem, I'd be the first one to change it," Fulmer said. "That would be absolutely asinine on my part to let that go on if I thought it was a problem.

"And no, I don't think it's a problem."

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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