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AUBURN, Ala. - In a week that will be remembered for upsets, Tennessee's defense tried to crash the party.
But the Vols' offense couldn't get past the doorman.
UT's defense gave up only one score against Auburn, turned in a timely interception and forced three three-and-outs in the fourth quarter.
Alas, the Vols' offense couldn't capitalize in a 14-12 loss Saturday.
UT defensive coordinator John Chavis wasn't taking any solace in his defense playing well in light of the Vols' third loss in four games and second in the SEC.
"When it's all said and done, at the end of the day, if you've done everything you can to be the best you can be then so be it, that's where you are," Chavis said.
The Vols held Auburn to 226 yards, yet were still bested in total yardage. UT only managed 191 yards.
Auburn's only offensive score came on an 18-yard touchdown pass to Robert Dunn from quarterback Chris Todd in the first quarter.
The Tigers other score came when UT quarterback Jonathan Crompton and tailback Arian Foster mishandled an exchange, fumbling the ball into the end zone. The fumble was recovered for a touchdown.
The Vols most electric defensive play of the game came when defensive back Dennis Rogan, who was playing safety, intercepted a Todd pass and returned it 64 yards in the third quarter setting up UT's lone touchdown.
“Dennis is a playmaker,” defensive backs coach Larry Slade said. “If people throw the ball down the field on us enough, we’re going to make plays. They gave us an opportunity.
Rogan was simply responding to a halftime challenge.
"We talked about that at halftime," Chavis said. "We'd gone six quarters without a turnover and that's unacceptable. I was glad to see that one come."
Chavis said he also challenged his players to tackle better than they had in the first half. That may be nitpicking.
UT only allowed 75 yards in the second half and 37 in the fourth quarter as Auburn tried to run out the clock with the lead.
Auburn played most of the fourth quarter in the shadow of its own goalpost thanks to strong punting by Chad Cunningham.
UT’s defense even prompted boos from the 87,451 fans in attendance. But unlike the Neyland Stadium variety, these boos were directed at the Tigers, in particular Todd. The majority of Auburn fans seemed to favor Kodi Burns.
Neither looked very effective on Saturday.
“We didn’t change what we were going to do,” Chavis said. “We were going to stop the run. That was the game plan we brought in so we didn’t have to change it.”
If there was a chink in UT's defensive armor, it was the Vols' failure to stop Auburn on a key third-and-five. That conversion allowed the Tigers to run the clock out.
Defensive back DeAngelo Willingham said UT's coaches told him to expect Auburn receiver Montez Billings to run a double move and go deep.
"We weren't expecting them to throw it short," Willingham said of the pass that was thrown at the first down marker.
Defensive end Robert Ayers was the first to be asked about UT's performance during post game interviews.
"Our game is far from being dominant," the senior said. "If we were dominant, we would have won. I wouldn't say we were dominant.
"There's a lot of positives coming out of this, but there is a lot of things we could get better at too."
Ayers said it's up to UT's leadership to make sure resentment doesn't grow among UT's defensive players while the offense struggles.
"Leaders just have to step up," he said. "In a time of adversity, leaders just have to step up. I feel like we have good leaders to do that."
Resentment could be the first step towards a divided locker room if the defense is continually asked to carry the load.
Chavis repeatedly said that wouldn't be the case.
"That won't happen," he said. "It won't happen. We're a football team. We're family. We try to find good in people rather than digging in sores."
"Now is when we're going to have to close ranks and pull together for us to get to where we want to be.
"There won't be any finger pointing."
That could be easier said than done.
"When you're tested, you find out what you're all about," Chavis said. "We're being tested, there's no doubt about that."
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Comments » 77
cterblan writes:
Not a good showing.
cterblan writes:
This team has no real leadership. Look at how Tebow responded to his team and the media after UF's loss...that is leadership.
Even Fulmer could learn from him.
VOLKING writes:
Our defense looked good against a quarterback (Todd) that might just suck as bad as Crompton. I said 'might.' Our defense cannot carry a team that keeps giving the ball away to our opponents. I believe our D is gradually getting better, but our offense is getting worse. Please tell me that any one of our back-ups can do a better job than JC. Or do we need to look at the tape again?
budd#207344 writes:
Hey Hooker wonder if auburn lost any recruits with the booing. No because they WON.
Only two more losses and milky has to fire phil
Go Vols
pdhuff#552644 writes:
2008 SEC season, R.I.P.
DennisVols writes:
The defense did show up and play today. If they won;t blame the offense or to be more to the point Crompton then I will.
The worst performing QB UT hass had in decades.
It is in his head now and if he isn't pulled Fulmer could just ruin any opportunity there may be in recovery for Crompton or this team.
fredrickb writes:
http://muschampforut.wordpress.com
http://muschampforut.wordpress.com
http://muschampforut.wordpress.com
http://muschampforut.wordpress.com
Read the white paper.
Volalumnus writes:
The defense sucks too.
Just the offense sucks more right now.
Time for a cleansing.
smashmouth98 writes:
the D played great. The offense couldn't catch a cold if Crompton just threw it 5 yards over the receivers' head or out of bounds. Too many blown/lost plays!!! Especially with there being 10 fewer plays in a game this year.
Sheepscape writes:
Exactly. Hooker is a fool.
Volalumnus writes:
I wonder why the KNS GOVOLSEXTRA is pulling some of the articles they just put up this afternoon?
TommyJack writes:
Chavis may say there's no finger pointing. Ask the D players. They were not happy lads.
tennesseevolgirl16 writes:
vol alumnus--- I was wondering the same thing. Did they already archive that article that had almost 700 comments on it?
jdpvol writes:
Willingham says coaches told him to expect a double move and for them to go deep, wow thats what they really needed to put the game away right, just more typical, scared coaching, they are more scared of a long completion that stoping an offense or winning a game. i'm heartsick because other than that one play the defense played well enough to win. If there is no one on the team and I mean no one at all better than Jon, at QB then that is enough of a reason to get rid of the people responsible for allowing the football team to slip to this level, I am 49 and have been a Vol fan since I was 6 and I have never witnessed worse QB play in my entire life. The only fault I have for the game today with coaching is fulmer did not have the wisdom or the courage to try another QB in the 2nd quarter. No excuse, Just blind stubborness, and it will end up .costing him in the long run
OLDVOL writes:
Don't post very often,but this was the worst I have seen since my first game in 1947. This includes the loss to Chattanooga in 1958 or so. We must get our check lists out and review the game film on Hi Def. Even Johnny Majors was not afraid to try Andy Kelly when Sterlin(sp) Hinton couldn't manage the clock or call the game in the 1989 Auburn game (Regie Cobb 226 yds ).
Don't pretend to know the answer, but it is definately not our present quarterback.
nostradamus writes:
To state the obvious, UT is just a bad football team. As a fan, it's no fun to watch anymore. Losing is one thing, if your team puts forth effort and plays smart. But some of our players and some of our coaching decisions look stupid. 1-3 is even worse than I expected for a start this year. I don't believe there are any sure wins for the rest of the season.
Dark1964 writes:
Look at his eyes! Crompton is a dullard, period. He sits on the bench after some of the worst QB play I have ever seen, regardless of the team, and starts counting butterflies or something. He reminds me of Al Bundy, except through some tragic twist of fate for UT fans, he didn't blow out his knee jumping over a moving car before getting to campus. If he is the best QB over there, then that Uncle from Napolean Dynamite needs to walk on. Heck we all need to. He either throws it at some mysterious midget buried in the turf, or up to some invisible angel that is saying "I am open up here, I'll catch it before it goes out of bounds." I can't stand to watch him anymore. Every pass he does complete is behind the receiver, and makes him turn, stop, or have to fall down to make the catch. I don't know if he would be good at any position, but definitely not at one of them "he needs to be smart" ones. Fulmer & Co. needs to find their 2nd & 3rd QB's, move them to 1st & 2nd, and play them the entire next game so they'll have some game time before GA. The defense could win the SEC if Crapton hadn't already sabotaged us. He also needs to have his scholarship taken back and pay for the years he was there drawing pretty bananas & peanuts. The plays look good but 'dullard eyes' can't see more than one receiver, and then can't hit him when he does get open. Clawson will score as soon as Crapton rides the pines (or goes). Jones would at least be competent compared to InCrompetent.
(Sorry for the repeats - I am really hoping InCrompetent reads this - if he can...)
Orangebrewbasher writes:
Anybody else notice that duke beat Virginia 31 to 3. Thought some might find that interesting.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Tebow is used to losing, Fulmer is not! Fulmer will quit long before anyone has to fire him. He would probably give back half of his salary if he felt he wasn't getting the job done. Phil Fulmer is a nice guy getting to where he is one step at a time. He has been in the system a long long time, and i for one don't want someone outside the program coming in and asking them to save us. Hell we can get the job done because of our heritage, our athletes, our alumni, our good state, and our blessed fans. You can expect to see multipule quarterbacks next week. Maybe even Gerald Jones?
yeavols#228407 writes:
WILL MUSCHAMP!! I am tellin YA!! WILL!!! WILL!!!
Dark1964 writes:
What I really hate about Crompton, other than him being a dullard, untalented and completely inadequate for SEC play, is he won't even own up to his bad play. I can see it now:
Act I - Reporter: you were 8 for 23 what happened?
Crompton: I don't know, I just got into the zone you know? Let me look at the tapes and then I can give you a better break down on those 8 fab-you-luss passes.
Report: what about the 15 you missed.
Crompton: oh, man. I don't even count those. they are just downers.
Reporter: quick whats 2 + 3?
Crompton: z?
yeavols#228407 writes:
Here is a new adjective for all the VOLS who just don't get it..CROMPTON is a DUNDERHEAD..totally lost..DUNDERHEAD forget DULLARD...DUNDERHEAD!
GreerVol22 writes:
My grandfather used too say that family was like feet...they both get to stinking after 3 days.....or 3 loses in our football families case.
savage made a comment that if he's not careful, Fulmer will lose this team. The D will not continue to support the team thing if a certain QB keeps chunking phooey into the bleachers and muffing handoffs.
smokeysal22 writes:
Terrible,Terrible,Terrible, This is the worst season I have watched in 20 years. The defense played solid but the offense can't do anything but untie opposing players shoelaces. When can we expect a change? I have been a VOL fan for a long time and it is hard to watch this team. I suspect there will be 60k at the NIU game. Let the fans force Mikeys hand..........
yeavols#228407 writes:
WIll MUSCHAMP..I am tellin ya..Please don't let this guy go..GET HIM!! he's awesome
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
lfrittzy16#222804 writes:
half his salary???? I dont think so....Fulmers here until someone makes him leave....which cant happen soon enough
I have been behind crompton the entire time. But its time to try something new. He cant cut it and aparently he doesnt realize that...
Oh yeah and Clawson is a horrible OC. No quaterback dvelopment and his play calling is very mediocre
Why didnt brandon warren get in the game much?
hwyrider73 writes:
Show your displeasure--don't go to the NIU game and certainly don't get it on pay-per-view (which, coincidentally, rhymes with "scr*w you"). What are you going to see? Crapton "we play for our team and coaches" InCrompetent going 13-35 in a win (maybe) against a non-SEC school and then glibly defending his starting job. Good job today, DEFENSE...unfortunately, it was for nothing. Opportunity after opportunity was lost on offense after numerous Auburn 3-and-outs. Lincoln didn't even get a chance at a confidence-restoring, game-winning kick.
You have to admire Peyton's (and other former Vols') loyalty to Coach Fulmer, but do we owe Crompton a living? Pull the bum...and if he's worth anything, he'll get a fire lit under his smug, Al Bundy-esque facade. At the least, we'll start developing our talent for next year. I have to say that I never have enjoyed seeing our quarterback get hit until today.
Oh, by the way...the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again hoping for a better result...like watching a Vols football game (and more specifically, a Crapton InCrompetent-Foster handoff).
Urban_Weiner writes:
WHY DOES JOHNATHAN CROMPTON HAVE A SECURE SPOT!! He has done absolutely nothing to earn it, and plenty to lose it! He is THE worst Tennessee QB I have seen in MY lifetime! 8/23 for 67 yrds and 0 td's with TO's left and right in every game! The only thing he is supposedly good at is the deep ball..and he's 0-who knows how many on them, it's either over thrown out of bounds, or a miscommunication! PLEASE TRY ANOTHER QB!! If it were me, and I wish it was, I would go solely to the G-GUN! The options are endless with this package! What has Crompton shown he can do that Jones couldn't! ha, absolutely nothing!
If your not going to finish the season with some wins, at least try some new things and change it up! GO VOLS
MrBamSeydu writes:
Do not attend home games. That is the best way to create change. Hurt them where it matters. $$$
They've wasted enough of my time. I might watch on TV if someone tells me they finally jerked Crompton. Otherwise, I'm over it.
The basketball program was revitalized with change. The football program needs the same thing. Period. Fulmer without Cutcliff is like a bird without it's wings.
junder13 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Urban_Weiner writes:
The reason Phil has a secure spot is because once you win a NC you get a 15 year secret contract...no but seriously, it's not Phil, the only thing I think wrong with Phil is that he hasnt pulled Crompton yet! other then that he's ok. He's been to 2 of the last 5 SEC championships, won a NC, turned a season around last year, and I mean he deserves some slack, it's just our players (CROMPTON) are LOSING his job FOR HIM!! In complete honesty and seriousness, I think we would be competing for a SEC championship and NC if we had an average C+ to B- QB!
junder13 writes:
i shoulda said i think you're a fan of another SEC school b/c who else wld support foolmer like this. i didnt mean to associate other schools to your stupidity. you're even dumb enough to say you don't wanna see someone else outside the program come in to save us. that mentality did bama a lot of good after bear bryant huh (stallings was good but the other attempts to "keep it in the family" kept bama football down for years). you're worthless dribble is as enraging as reading chumpton's ignorant comments after losses. he keeps saying they're "getting closer" like you keep sticking up for Foolmer. you suck man! stay off this board b/c you add nothing intelligent whatsoever.
junder13 writes:
urban weiner, "competing for a national championship if we had a C+ quarterback"?!?!?
you and welovetennessee are the reason we still have foolmer!
i now understand how 918 ppl died in Jonestown.
Urban_Weiner writes:
how can u say we wouldnt be 4-0 right now with a decent QB! Against UCLA we had so many opportunities for the offense to capitalize because our D forced 4 int's in the first half! Shouldve blown them out! Against UF, Crompton had 2 TO's inside the 5! Against Au Crompton had a game costing TO on our own 3 and couldnt get 3 points in the 4th Quarter while starting on the 50 or better tons of times! We had 7 3 and outs and 10 punts!
Our Defense has held UCLA to 29 rushing yards and 4 ints, Tebow (Heisman Trophy winner) under 100 yrds passing and 20 yrds running and UF offense under 250 total, Completely shut down Au while playing like the whole game because of poor offense and no ball control!
WE have the freakin talent, IM sick of hearing that! Everything comes down to the leadership, talent, and heart of your QB!
We have the talent everywhere else but QB! Running backs, 3 deep, Wrs, atleast 5 deep, O-line, played pretty good (best in the country supposedly last year), TE, Freshmen all-American Dline, good and improving, Linebackers, good and improving, DB's, Best in SEC and improving! Everywhere is improving and already GOOD but the QB!
memphistnvol writes:
I will purchase the pay-per-view on the condition that Crompton is not the QB next week.
huntined#565710 writes:
Did I hear the FLA FANS and AUB. FANS BOO ?
I think they both had some BOO BIRDS today..
highVOLtage writes:
LOL @ Dark1964.
Seriously though, Fulmer needs to ask ESPN's Dr. Lou about how to handle UT's QB situation.
rblakeh writes:
Defense played great, offense played with a lot of heart. I hope the coaching staff can soon recognize what to do about our QB situation. I love Crompton and his efforts to succeed, but, for whatever reason, right now he is not getting it done.
Go Vols.
UrbanCryer writes:
defense still stinks. auburns offense is worse than ut's. they only scored 1 td & that was on the opening drive. once again on the biggest play of the game the d gave up a 1st down on 3rd and 6 to a team who couldnt complete a pass most of the day & auburn ran out the clock. not that UT would have done anything with it anyway.
orangebloodgmc writes:
I agree with what rblakeh said.
Man, all we needed was 10 yds for a field goal.
RockyTopVolFan writes:
Blame Fullmer.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I bet Swayback, Wyoming looks good to some this morning.
thevoice writes:
Chavis: "That won't happen," he said. "It won't happen. We're a football team. We're family. We try to find good in people rather than digging in sores."
Coach, sometimes you have to dig in sores to get better and win games. Football is not about making people feel good, it's about winning. The game of life is about about making people feel good. On Saturdays for 3 hours, the game of life is not relevant. You're playing the wrong game at the wrong time, pal.
thevoice writes:
The season's pretty much gone down the tubes. Look for Fulmer to make a QB change this time. With N IL coming, it's the perfect set up. And, look for BJ to be our QB by season's end. Book it.
fedupvol writes:
"dominant" defense....baloney! tigers offense as bad as whiny vols....and about tackling.....there were so many missed tackles from the so called super stars on defense, they could have won the game single handedly...they'll have to with the inept offense of "Crockton", Clawson, and CPF...pitiful excuse for an SEC Fball team...did you hear that ESPN had Vols as one of the "bottom feeders" this week...that's one of the 10 worst teams in nation....well deserved distinction I might add!
CT_VOL writes:
Morely, got turned around and coughed up 7, which was also a game changer. He likes to swagger around like Berry, but if you watch him, he's not that good.
So the defense should not be celebrating.
Frank
fedupvol writes:
Wonder just how "broad" old Phil's shoulders are going to have to be before this fiasco comes to an end...hope they will hold ALL of his millions, furniture, house, Hamilton, and rest of coaching staff! Clean House time...and that includes having to "disinfect" everything to get the "stench" out...it will take several years I'm sure...but maybe before I die, I will see something(anything) positive again...
TommyJack writes:
The equines in Swayback are praying for Phixable to turn it around.
govols22231 writes:
i dont see how an offense cant get at least 10 yards the whole 4th quarter to get us in field goal range.
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