Report card: Tennessee vs. Auburn

Quarterbacks D-

Jonathan Crompton avoided any monstrous mistakes in the passing game but was 8-of-23 for 67 yards. Not good. Crompton isn't seeing the field well and still looks uncomfortable. Crompton's play was so bad that UT's coaches admitted to discussing a quarterback change. Gerald Jones ran the G-Gun well, rushing for 25 yards on four carries and throwing a perfect pass that was dropped.

Running Backs D-

Head coach Phillip Fulmer pinned the fumble on Arian Foster, saying he had his arm too low on the exchange. With Foster's fumbling problems, Montario Hardesty looks like a safer option.

Receivers C

Lucas Taylor's drop in UT's first pass attempt out of the G-Gun hurt. The Vols may not be explosive but they proved the ability to get open at times against a good Auburn secondary. Crompton and UT's receivers clearly weren't on the same page on several plays.

Offensive line C

UT's top two rushers, Foster and Hardesty, averaged less than four yards a carry. The Vols allowed six tackles for a loss, including two sacks.

Secondary A-

UT's vaunted secondary looked out of position on Auburn's first touchdown, but then played lockdown in the second half. Dennis Rogan's interception set up Tennessee's only touchdown and was a big momentum changer.

Linebackers B+

Nevin McKenzie had two pass breakups, including a key play to end an Auburn drive in the fourth quarter. Ellix Wilson led the Vols with 10 tackles, including one for a loss. Rico McCoy had six tackles, but Adam Myers-White missed at least one tackle.

Defensive Line B+

The Vols struggled to get athletic quarterback Kodi Burns on the ground at times in the first half but showed serious moxie defending two quarterbacks with far different styles. Ben Martin registered the first sack of the season by a UT defensive end. Fellow end Chris Walker had another. Tackle Dan Williams had eight tackles, two for a loss. Robert Ayers also recorded a tackle behind the line of scrimmage.

Special Teams A

Chad Cunningham showed a strong, accurate leg, dropping three (and nearly four) punts inside the 5 and kicking two touchbacks. Daniel Lincoln made both his field-goal tries, his first attempts since UT's opener. Gerald Jones provided a spark on punt returns, including a 40-yarder that flipped the field. UT's spread punt formation still looks like an accident waiting to happen.

Coaching C

The Vols couldn't get 11 men on the field in the first quarter when linebacker Adam Myers-White had to sprint onto the field as Auburn snapped the ball. That play embodied the first month of the season: UT just seems to be missing something.

Overall D

Perhaps UT doesn't have enough talent to compete for a championship. We'll never know unless fundamentals improve dramatically and the Vols get better play from their quarterback, whomever he might be.

- Dave Hooker

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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