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- Offense squanders great field position
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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
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 190
MANVOL writes:
Coaching F
TommyJack writes:
Hooker is grading on a huge curve. Coaching C??? puhleeze.
jdcvols#230433 writes:
QB play was a F- is that is possible. He should NEVER play another down. A total bust of a recruit.
yeavols#228407 writes:
WILL MUSCHAMP!! Remember that name!
chrisw2967 writes:
QB-D- you have to be smoking those funny cigarettes
coaching-C , we have a coach thats too stupid to know when to bench crompton cause he has no clue about whats going on around him.
Def. A they put the off. in positions to put points on the board and kept Tn in the entire ball game
DennisVols writes:
I'm sorry Cromptons Grade is way to high and to blame Foster for that exchange fulble is just trying to protect Crompton from even more blame.
Hardesty is the man, Foster needs to be on "Dancing with the Stars" He spends to much time feet shuffling instead of just hitting the hole.
Coaching C? Give me a break. If Fulmer was half an idoit he would have pulled Crompton after the first half.
How long do we have to watch what was once a great and respected college football program continue to play as if they have no clue?
yeavols#228407 writes:
He's a coach...not a QB...
anyonebutfulmer writes:
Coaching: F-
yeavols#228407 writes:
WILL MUSCHAMP!!!
wyomingvol writes:
I need to look at the tape....
khelton657 writes:
Coaching should be an F - completely unsatisfactory results, incapable of making critical personnel decisions
davidc#277766 writes:
The coaches keep playing Crompton and Foster....that right there shows the grade should be an F for coaching. :If you do not learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it."
ChuckG writes:
I guess the qb's get a D- instead of an F- because of G. Jones running the G-gun. You should lump him in with the running backs and give the qb position what it deserve an F. It is becoming clear that we would be 3 and 1 if we even had an average qb, say Rick Clausen perhaps. The qb situation we have now will not win 3 more games this season. I have never witnessed a position in such disarray in all my years. I cannot imagine that it can be any worse with Stevens or Coleman. There is just no way they can be worse than Crompton!
TommyJack writes:
I knew the large one would lay that fumble on Foster's doorstep. Ridiculous.
imnotwithphil writes:
Dave Hooker - You have lived up to your last name for years now son - but you need to stop letting Fulmer pimp you out... or you won't have a career or any self respect once he's gone...
Coaching = F
QB = F
O-Line = F
Overall = L (which is the only score that matters)
KNS Objectivity = F
davidc#277766 writes:
Are we the best 1-3 (0-2 SEC) team out there????
VolinCalif writes:
QB was F. Jon couldn't get a ball close enough to a rec. to allow a completion. If the ball was within 10 feet it was in the ground. Jon has a strong arm but we haven't tried a long pass to really speak of. It's all QB, that's sad because I liked Jon, he's got heart.
rusty_shackleford writes:
Watching Alabubba v. Jawja I noticed that a ton of Freshman were on the field for both sides. Things that make you go, Hmmmmm?
TooLegit2Quit writes:
That fumble is not Arian Foster's fault, bad hand off on that one. Keep beating up the kid, the QB is the problem....
imnotwithphil writes:
If you watch the tape backwards... it says "Smokey is dead."
With apologies to the Beatles...
yeavols#228407 writes:
WIll MUSCHAMP!!! COACH!! up and coming...he's got all the tools..someone please listen!!!
yeavols#228407 writes:
SOMEONE please listen...WILL MUSCHAMP!! PLEASE!!
Hunter writes:
Still just a few plays from being undefeated.......
It's like the captain of the Titanic announcing over the loudspeaker,
"Don't worry - it's a REALLY big ship! We'll be fine!"
tennisvol writes:
Another great job by ole Phil!
JohnnyU writes:
So Phil Fulmer puts the fumble on Foster, when Gary Danielson clearly put it on Crompton. At the end of the half CPF says Crompton is playing OK, just need to encourage him. Look, I like Crompton, I think he's got heart and he lays it out for Tennessee, a kid from Waynesville, NC. But Jeez, Louise, lets have a grip on reality here. The situation can't get better until we have an honest take on things and THAT begins with the HEAD COACH!
Orangeblood13 writes:
do we have a backup qb? Why are we so hesitant to pull the trigger on Incrompotent?
vtvol#210290 writes:
Foster has had his share of fantastic fumbles but that one agasint Auburn was not his fault. Crompton acted like the ball was a "hot potato." It's time to play for the future. Put Creer in the backfield with Stephens or Coleman under center. With Ellix Wilson out, see how Gerald Williams does for the rest of the season at MLB. I can deal with a MUsic City or Liberty Bowl appearance if it means a major change of personnnel right now with an eye on grabbing the brass ring in 2009.
Mr_Bandman writes:
Sigh....
VOLKING writes:
Apparently Hooker and Fulmer are buddies. First the article saying that booing would hurt recruiting. Well today I heard boos from UF and AU fans. What a stupid statement. Then, he gives the coaches a C grade when a single-cell amoeba with Alzheimer's would have pulled Crompton in the second half after seeing passes going anywhere but near the receivers. My double-amputee uncle could have thrown better passes. To Hooker....BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
jacksonvol writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
wheatbarley writes:
Tennessee is so screwed up, I don't know what to say.
bigtimevol writes:
VTVOL---you said it. Maybe Crompton is a great practice player, and a great kid. But, why the loyalty? I fully expect an article tomorrow or Monday announcing that someone else will start next wk. At least he could "tune-up" for Ga. If the QB's lower down on depth chart are worse, then either coaches have been totally missing the boat on recruiting, or not developing them, or both.
Vol23304 writes:
Coaching F , look at Bama for an A level coach.
Also it is ok to to use your no. 2 QB when NO. 1 has an off night or an off season.
vol4good#206163 writes:
Wow-Nick and BJ must really stink if Phil wont give one of the two a try. The definition of Insanity--is doing the same thing over and over--expecting different results!
1manningfan writes:
WILL MUSCHAMP!!!!!!!
Vol4life_J_Cham writes:
Being a life long VOL, I suggest that TN fans wear Black at home for the rest of the year. Doing this will be a sign of discontent to M Hamilton. Also, the players think we are all booing them, which has a negative effect on them.
PLEASE past this idea on to Vols everywhere
normdia writes:
For the first time in my life, and I can't believe I'm typing this...
I almost hope we don't win another game, then maybe, just maybe, Hamilton will grow a spine and make some long needed changes. I'm sorry, but for someone who has defended Fulmer for the last 9-10 years, I finally realize that it is time to clean house. If Fulmer can not see by now that C-r-a-p-ton is not the answer then he never will, and as someone "who has never played the game" even I can see that, heck my four year old can see it. Blaming Foster for that fumble is just plain pathetic.
yeavols#228407 writes:
1manningfan!! FOR REAL..this guy is can coach..we let too may coaches slip by..WTF was FUlmer thinking when he hired some 2 bit spider coach Clawson?
gobigorange writes:
This just in : Crompton says he thought the offensive done pretty well they just going have to correct a few mistakes and this game wasnt them out there. Wonder how many games this kid is going have to lose before they give the job to someone else? I must give acculades to the defense this game though. Kinda embarrassing when a football team like UT cant move the ball 10 or 11 yards to get in field goal range in 4th qtr. I believe my 13 year old son could have performed better than Crompton in this game: Because he can make a proper handoff.
volsboy1983 writes:
bench him please sign the petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/Benchhi...
stormblast writes:
Coaching C? Quarterback D-? Are you serious?
Coaching F. (Coaching C. You've go to be Kidding). No comment needed.
Quarterback F. Crapton is NAIA material on his best day. He couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat.
chucker6 writes:
Coaching smells worse than a day old dead fish, F- is too good. F- for QB would be more likely also. I don't think the fumble was Foster's fault either. Did Crompton's family donate several million to Hamilton and Fulmer's retirement fund? Not owning up to his mistakes just shows Crompton lacks character as well as talent. Fulmer is worse. Fulmerites can fawn over their boy all they want to, he is as phony as a $3/bill. If he had any honor or character he would resign and quit hurting this program.
BigOrangeCrazy writes:
Come on now lets give Phil some credit. Did everyone not notice how well he blocked out the sun on a few of those CBS sideline shots? A total Fulmer eclipse!
rockytopatl writes:
Jon Crompton's D- at quarterback tonight improves his overall UT GPA to 0.8. Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
MrBamSeydu writes:
I simply wanna know 2 things:
Will we PLEASE start ANYONE other than Crompton next week at QB?
and
Where are all those John Adams bashers now? Seems he was right all along! David Cutcliff made Phil Fulmer.
jacksonvol writes:
Wait a minute!!! I Know why Phil is lacking good judgement. Chuck Norris is sitting in section CC row 2 seat * and staring at the medulla oblongata of Flubber and Phil's brain is now in the DENIAL mode. Watch out Phil, resistance will result in cranial-rectal interface.
volthrunthru#658770 writes:
Maybe you watched a different game.
UT did not tackle well, at all; especially the LB's and DB's.
The punt returning and kick coverage were both awful.
Rogan's refusal to field punts, but instead to fair catch them or wave as they went by, left the Vols in horrible field position three times.
The coverage units were still a mix of okay and screwed up.
The receivers did NOT do "B" work; they were not on the quarterback's dance card several times---and several of the throws could have been caught.
And the KO coverage looked like a couple of folks were out of their lanes, this game, too.
walt23tn writes:
Crompton sucks, but I'm tired of hearing G-gun. C'mon people. G-gun is always run, how is that going to help the quarterback position? We don't have much choice though, since our great coaching/recruiting staff has made Nunes ill. Since I'm on that, forget Nunes. If he don't want to come we shouldn't want him. That was another one of Fulmer's mistakes chasing Simms when Dorsey was dying to come here. We end up with Clausen, and that was the beginning of the end for this program. Time to get rid of Fulmer!!!!!!!!!! No, I take that back....5 years past time to get rid of Fulmer. He's killing this program. I hope you Fulmer fans aren't telling me that Joe Blow couldn't find himself 1-3 with a win over UAB?? What coach in the country couldn't do what he's done so far??? Bye bye you conservative, complacent, has-been coach.
ctownvol writes:
Anything having to do with the offense and/or coaching gets an F. 5 or 6 drives in the fourth quarter near or PAST midfield and we can't score 3 freaking points? Give me a break! Crompton has got to go. I don't know the kid and have nothing against him personally, but he is not a starting quarterback in this league, or ANY league past Pop Warner for that matter. I'm so mad I could spit nails. It's all I can do to not drive to Knoxville tonight and kick somebody's teeth in.
lt4vols writes:
Hey Crompton...... You're a 5 star???????
Enjoy your 5 star high school days because you are one sorry QB..... And we thought Ainge was bad.............
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