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Florida linebacker, Brandon Spikes, made the comment Monday after practice that Tennessee had "quit playing" last year and that Florida was tougher than Tennessee. Coach Fulmer and some of the Vols respond to Spikes' comment. Watch »
Florida Gators
Brace yourself for the stat.
The Vols face No. 4 Florida on Saturday in Neyland Stadium (TV: WVLT, 3:30 p.m.), and that means the inevitable mention of how the team that runs for more yards has won this game in 16 of the last 18 years.
Go ahead and add these to the list as well:
n In the last two meetings with Florida, the Vols been outgained on the ground 376-26.
n Against Florida the last two years, UT's longest rush has gone for 6 yards.
n Florida quarterback Tim Tebow's 61 yards and two touchdowns rushing in 2007 double UT's combined rushing totals from 2006 and 2007.
When it comes to Tennessee's recent history against the Gators, running the football has been a liability. And the Vols know that must change to defeat Florida and assert themselves in the SEC East.
"They definitely had our number the last couple years rushing the ball," tailback Montario Hardesty said. "This year, we have to have a mindset to go out and run the ball at them. As of right now, it's one of our team strengths. We have a lot of returning O-linemen, and we have a lot of experience on the field. We definitely need to get in and run the ball."
And buck the trends.
Counting two sacks in 2006 and a play on which quarterback Erik Ainge tripped, the Vols have been credited with 44 rushing attempts. Thirty-three of those have gone for 2 yards or fewer and 11 have resulted in lost yards.
Only six have gained 5 yards or more, including UT's two most productive running plays in the last two games - 6-yard runs by Arian Foster and Lennon Creer in last year's 59-20 loss in Gainesville.
"So if we rip off a 7-yarder," offensive coordinator Dave Clawson joked on Tuesday, "that'll be a gamebreaker?"
In recent years, Florida's dominance against UT's running game has almost been laughable. It's due to a variety of factors as well.
After watching film, Clawson said Florida's biggest strength is its ability to shed blocks quickly and penetrate the line of scrimmage.
"Florida does so many things well on defense, but the thing I'm most impressed about is their ability to get off of blocks and how well they bend up front," Clawson said. "I think that's our biggest challenge against Florida, sustaining blocks and staying on blocks and making sure that we don't have guys in the backfield."
Offensive lineman Anthony Parker said Florida's tendency to move defensive linemen into different gaps than those in which they lined up presents a problem, too.
"In my past three years of playing them, they do a lot of stunting and twisting," Parker said. "I think that creates mismatches, and it fills extra holes where they don't have a person. Hopefully we'll be ready for it this year."
Starting tailback Arian Foster hopes Tennessee can continue to be effective in the run game this week, after having success on the ground against UCLA and UAB.
"You're going to get yards when guys get pushed around," Foster said. "Even if it's not moving, even if it's just nudging them for a split second, that's enough to spring a back for a pretty long run. That's what our offensive line consistently these last two games has done."
That will be tougher to do this week.
The Gators have allowed just 121 yards rushing in their first two games, which ranks 13th nationally and sixth in the SEC. They've surrendered only one touchdown, too, which came with 1:37 remaining in a 56-10 victory over Hawaii on Aug. 30.
And if the Vols are going to run effectively against Florida this time, the game will have to unfold differently.
Tennessee needs to stay in normal down and distances and keep the score close in order to be able to run the ball well, Clawson said.
"If the score allows you to do that and that's what your strength is, you stay with it. But sometimes the score doesn't allow you to do that," Clawson said. "The other thing that dictates that is down and distance. It's hard to stay patient in a running game if you're second-and-15 or second-and-12. You can still run the ball then, but you want to get yourself to third down and manageable."
That all starts, Hardesty says, with establishing the run early Saturday.
"I think rushing the ball is more of an attitude," Hardesty said. "I think if you get out there and make some good runs early, it kind of gets our confidence up and gets coach's confidence up to call more running plays. I think that we can be effective running the ball."
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 138
Snakebrown13 writes:
Geuss that makes me 1st to HAVE ACTUALLY READ THE ARTICLE before posting. Sheesh.
But I digress - Herban has said all week that the Vols will try to pound it on them, and the trick is to make our QB beat them. Hopefully we can still find a way to run it on them anyway.
mdvol writes:
Okay Clawson, time to prove yourself. This ain't Richmond. This ain't Villanova, Valparaso or Vonore. This is Tennessee vs Florida. No time for jokes about seven yard gains. You say you want to "create space" and "get the ball to our playmakers". Well, I haven't seen anything in two games I haven't seen in the past 30 years watching UT football. Bubble screens and QB's standing in the pocket. Let's see if you are ready for the bigtime because this rough start is on you so far.
rblakeh writes:
I hope we get the ball first. If we get the ball first and put together a decent drive (even if it ends in a punt or a field goal), I think that will go a long way toward setting the tone for the game.
Also, glad we have Stan Drayton this year. Though I don't know how much he had his hands on the running game once Meyer and then Tebow showed up. Any of the gator fans want to fill me in?
copan07#220906 writes:
Let's come out and throw deep balls. Throw five of them in a roll. Let Ahmad Paige fly down and see if he can catch one. No worse than a punt. Crompton throws a good deep ball. Maybe we can loosen the Gator defense a little for some running room.
jaxvol75 writes:
Go out Vols and hit them in the damn mouth! Lay it on the line....no regrets. These articles year in and year out make me want to vomit. Where better than that. We should all be damn proud to be Tennessee Volunteers! Let's shock the college football world on Saturday! 60 minutes of all you've got. That's all we ask and all we expect. You are winners!!!
tnvolfan30 writes:
Mdvol, you should apply for the new AD position! lol The reasons for bubble screens and perimeter passing is that JC isn't reading the field like he should. Just imagine if we had someone like Mark Sanchez or Chase Daniel as QB. Then Clawson would be the next President of the United States!
TrueVolFan writes:
I see our big guys getting the job done saturday. I believe a "Fired up Phil" is just what the Vols need and they've been getting plenty of that the last two weeks. Add to that the "Not as tough as us" talk from the Gators and I think it all adds up to a Big Orange Crush coming Saturday. Lets hope I'm right, Go Vols!
ChuckG writes:
Man I hope this game is not embarrassing, like last years game. We have to run the ball or we will get pounded into the dirt. I am not sure we can, especially based upon the first two games. I did not see anything to make me think we can line up and just ram it down an SEC team’s throat. If we have to rely on JC to throw the ball 45-50x it is going to be a long afternoon. I truly hate to side with the programs detractors, those that want Coach Fulmer gone, but I am starting to really wonder if the game has not passed him up. Of course one game does not make or break a season or a program, with that said this is the most important game I can ever remember. We have national TV again, huge number of recruits coming on visits, and a fan base that is one humiliating loose away from jumping ship.
It just seems to me that we are no longer any fun to watch. Win or loose over the last few years I have come away from most games feeling like I just wasted 3-4 hours that I could have used more productively. I love UT football with a passion and hate that it has come to this, but it honestly has. I yearn for the Golden years when our lineman told the D where we were going to run the ball and we still smashed it down people’s throats and made them like it. O where have those days gone????????
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
If we can't run it, forget it! "We have to run it" Keep Harvin off the field, sack Tebow, punt the ballaway from the speedster. Don't get discouraged, and run it down their throats. Keep at it, over and over and over again. This is what their coach thinks well do, and then go long ever now and again. Until we establish the run. So they will stack the box, take their chances(the National Championship always goes through Knoxville), they don't plan to win, but will take it. To lose to the Vols doesn't matter to them, they could take it or leave it. That's why they are dangerous. We have to attack this attitude. Put the fear of God in them.
mdvol writes:
If you want to bash Fulmer ChuckG then you're probably in the right place. But, he did bring in Clawson who was supposed to be the "young gun" that would prevent us from slipping into the dark ages. Who doesn't think with Cutcliffe we would be 2-0 and ready for the Gators? Has anyone seen a reverse, end-around or misdirection play yet? I don't see anything from Clawson or his offense that is innovative.
We are better at every position than we were in 2007. Defense seems ready to go. Offense looks like Division 2 ball.
swampbuggy writes:
rblakeh, if we win the coin toss I can promise we will give you the ball first.
Orangeblood13 writes:
mdvol said Vonore
classic lol
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
ROTFLMGDAO!!!! Hey, this is one of our best offensive lines "ever" and McNeil is up to 260 now.
MrBamSeydu writes:
Montario, sorry man but I just don't see it happening. Without a deep threat, there will be no running game.
bluetick writes:
"I yearn for the Golden years when our lineman told the D where we were going to run the ball and we still smashed it down people’s throats and made them like it. O where have those days gone????????"
Nice line Chuck! I remember that as well and you're exactly right. Those days were golden!
I'll bet my left nut we get some nice runs on Sat. (10-20 yds) or longer.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Vols win by six. The running backs are beasts, defense forces errors and is adequate, Crompton manages fairly while not taking too many chances.
I will be wearing my TN boxers as well
caskew#218608 writes:
Wouldn't it be great if we could jump on Florida like we did Georgia last year? 28-0 at halftime.....Neyland was electric that night!
DenmarkVol writes:
This has become as bad as that Alabama player saying, what -- 10 years ago? that "We own Tennessee." That was in the midst of their run of like 8 wins straight against us. And there wasn't a darn thing we could do about it.
We can this time. Take it to Vegas -- Vols by at least 3.
ravensearay writes:
Don't turn the ball over - take away 2 passes and 1 fumble - gain 150 yards on the ground - have a pedestrian passing game (say 13 of 20 for 125 yards) and Tennessee will win this game by 6. The defense is ready to dominate!!!!!!!
hcjournals#206623 writes:
I Hate the Gators.
They are trying to take what is ours....
In our own back yard.....
And I don't think it's right.....
Let's do something about it.....
Now.....
Wilhelm16 writes:
This has become as bad as that Alabama player saying, what -- 10 years ago? that "We own Tennessee." That was in the midst of their run of like 8 wins straight against us. And there wasn't a darn thing we could do about it.
wrong, our string of wins against Bama started in 1995 13 years ago. no biggie though.
99gator writes:
as i have said before.....under the best of circumstances......
got 4 turnovers....outrushed the opponent by 150 yards......and still lost.....to ucla.
volball7222 writes:
Cant spell University of Florida without an F and a U.
runrunrunrunrunpassrunrunrunrunrunpassrunrunrun
txvolsfan writes:
I agree MDVOL, it seems that the only change is a stubborness to pass when we should run. There is no way we lose the UCLA if we just run,run,run in the second half. I remember Fulmer saying Clawson was just stubborn enough to argue with him. If Fulmer would have been pissed and demanded a run game like he did against UAB, we would have been 2-0. He needs to forget pride and go with your personnel and right now Crompton is not passing well, PERIOD.
GO VOLS
BEAT THE GATORS
TXVOLSFAN
hcjournals#206623 writes:
99...
Stop using my writing style......
Typical Gator.........
We hate the Gators............
GreerVol22 writes:
Florida's owned ground game last 2 years, 376-26
next years article will read...
Florida's owned ground game last 3 years, 576-36
Folks, their gonna put 8 men in the box and make Crompton beat them deep...it doesn't take an Urban legend to figure that one out.
99gator writes:
i'll let y'all discuss this for a while....
forget the opponent (florida)
is tennessee capable, at this point in time, of executing 10 to 14 play drives without doing something stupid along the way to screw it up?
that's regardless of what the opponent is or is not doing.
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Greer:
Try to be loyal this week.....
richvol writes:
Rushing the ball is an attitude...it's also toughness and determination.
When Nebraska was in it's heyday the offensive line was dominate and relentless. They did not just try to nudge you for a second as Foster says...they drove you into the ground and then tried to crush you into it.
They did this with walk-ons and home grown in-state boys that were not 5 star recruits. They wanted to play for their home state and they were excellently coached and motivated to destroy their opponet.
We need some of that.
VOLinDAWGland writes:
doom, despair, agony on us...let's go pound the snot out of those filthy gators...run the ball, then run it again, then run some more. Mix in a bit of play action and hit Warren flying down the seem...then run the ball some more.
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Typical Gator:
Quits when confronted. He's going to "let us discuss" somethng.....
They were Kentucky before 1990...........
History DOES count...............
eb502us#225637 writes:
Most of our inability to run the ball the past few years can be attributed to Cutcliffe and his play calling. Unfortunately, from what I've seen of Clawson so far, it could be much the same Saturday. Hope I'm dead wrong.
FLVol writes:
99 Gator... I agree and UT is not capable of that as of yet and probably won't be by Saturday either. TN wins Saturday if they get a bunch of turnovers and that is the only way.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
If interested, 3-4 great articles on tennessean.com - click on sports.
That said, I'm ready for something to happen.
Has our emphasis on pass-blocking kept this o-line from being a devastating run-block outfit?
One must have a good fullback plowing into a LB to give a run a chance.
You also cannot play 5-9 yards off their recievers.
We will see.
rockytopron writes:
All you coach wannabes, you naysayers, you suicide watchers, crybabies and the like, get some perspective... its only a game.
There are much more important things going on around us that need your attention more than this game. Like the war in Iraq, hurricane relief, poverty, crime, etc.
If UT loses I'll be disappointed, but I will quickly get over it and no one is more of a fan than I am, but my life will not end over a lose in football.
With that said, I predict UT will pull the upset 28-21! Go Vols!
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Rocky:
Cool........
Volsrbest writes:
Do you honestly think Fulmer and Clawson were going to show their full hand in the first two games? Clawson will bring out the real playbook this weekend (with innovation) and we will be successful.
Hey, I have to hang my hope on something! :-)
We need Neyland to be rocking Saturday...without the boos!
Go Vols!!
xvolx writes:
sorry flvol. your theory wont work. we had 4 turnovers in 1st half against ucla and couldnt win. our def. line and lb are average at best. put that with a def. cord. that calls def. in panic mode. tenn. off. line cant finish a block. tenn. off. running plays too slow to develope. allows def. to penetrate. we cant play with fla. and everyone knows it. WHEN THE MOON COMES UP OVER THE MOUNTAIN, THE MOOSES ANTLERS WILL GROW NO MORE.
Volalumnus writes:
Reality is that you cant expect to run against a good team if you have no threat to pass, and don't expect FL to fear TN pass game.
Expexct 8-9 guys flying towards TN QB and RB all day.
Could be another sub zero run day unless Fulmer does his job for more than once a season.
churchinthecurve#538620 writes:
Ok you idiots who are bashing Clawson! He didn't recruit Crompton! (who to rednecks was there man back in august) Plus if you got back and watch the games you will see people standing wide open in the middle of the field and Jc wont find them because he is locked in on one receiver. He is very limited with what he got at qb to work with. Oh and by the way to all the rednecks who always said that Crompton is A TOUGH RUNNING QB and HE WILL BE ALOT BETTER THAN AINGE! Here is a thought Just because he is from western Carolina and he is white doesn't make him Heath Shuler! I am sure most of you guys also think Austin Rogers is our best receiver too. Here is what I would like too see , A BLACK POCKET PASSER! I am sure you rednecks would love to see that . Bottom line either go back to college or just go watch your nascar.
xvolx writes:
tebow will fly into knoxville without a plane.
dirtdobber1 writes:
Maybe Florida will run the MUSTANG defense against our offense!
hcjournals#206623 writes:
DC Florida:
I thought we told you to shut up........
This is our week.......
We hate the Gators............
It's easy to do.........
Meyer is threatening his players with their scholarships they don't perform......Nice system...........
seaplane#216536 writes:
I guess there are worse things then being a Vol and living in the state of Florida this week, but I can't think of any. Yeah, I would if I could but the job keeps me here. My "good friend gators" tell me there's one reason they own us... we're predictable. They prepare for us the same way year in and year out. 26 yards rushing in 2 years is ridiculous. Please show them something different this year in our house.
Volsrbest writes:
DC,
I agree. I'm just looking for hope. :-)
No one gave us much chance to beat Georgia last year and no one is giving us much chance to beat Florida this year. What's the difference? O was moving the ball and putting up numbers last year. Not so much this year. We need long sustained drives (resulting in TD's not FG's) if we're to have a chance Saturday.
I'm done...we'll see the results Sat.
Go Vols!!
volssam writes:
People keep referencing the UGA game last year, which is valid to some degree, but I almost lokoat it as our game against Arkansas last year. We controlled that game. We kept their offense off the field. We ran ran ran, and our defense played great and held Run DMC and Felix in check. It was amazing. We HAVE to have long drives (like 6-8 minutes per drive), put some kind of points on the board, and play hard on D, and we'll have a shot in the fourth.
tntorbett writes:
Meyer's a gimmick coach just like Spurrier, let someone figure out how to destroy his gimmick, & he'll be toast, may take another couple of years, but it will happen. Book that.
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
55vol...You my friend are a MORON. Meyer is a good coach no doubt but without Tebow UT would have beaten UF under Meyer. Tebow makes Meyer look outstanding. Tebow could make any coach look outstanding.
bammervol writes:
No way Tenn gets 100 yds rusing on gators. This Tenn team is not a good team. Not even close. We have the athletes, just ZERO Coaching. It's time to face reality folks. WE need a wholesale change from the athletic director down! Wake up money folks. your flushing your bucks down a black hole!
DenmarkVol writes:
Thanks for that, DCFlorida. You're right. Both coaches certainly sound respectful.
But we'll take the perception of that "bogus, media-driven nonsense" over the reality of what the coaches say any day...because it may help motivate our youngsters. And we need every edge we can grab.
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