Go figure
3: Punts by Tennessee's Chad Cunningham downed inside or at the Auburn 5-yard line
19: Combined number of punts (Tennessee 10, Auburn 9)
24: Combined number of first downs (Auburn 15, Tennessee 9).
Big man on campus
Auburn's defensive end/tackle combo of Antonio Coleman and Sen'Derrick Marks gave Tennessee problems from start to finish.
Coleman had four tackles, including a sack and a tackle for loss, while Marks had two tackles, including a half sack, a tackle for loss and two pass breakups knocking down two Jonathan Crompton passes.
"We never got tired," Coleman said. "As long as the coaches run us every day and work us out hard, endurance won't ever be a problem."
The game changer
Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer called it "maddening."
Just before the Vols took over on first-and-10 at their own 5 with 7:12 left in the first quarter, Fulmer emphasized several points to his offense during a TV timeout.
"We talked about our linemen getting a good push and getting two hands on the ball, all the things we teach in practice," Fulmer said. "This was a very safe play, a handoff you do lots and lots of times."
This time, Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton never connected with running back Arian Foster. The fumble rolled in the end zone, and Auburn defensive tackle Jake Ricks recovered for a TD and a 14-6 lead (after an Auburn extra point) 7:06 before the half.
"It was just like one of our drills from practice, except that this time, it ended up as a touchdown," Ricks said.
Odds and ends
Fulmer and offensive coordinator Dave Clawsen said they briefly discussed yanking Crompton in the third quarter, before the Vols put together their only touchdown drive.
Crompton would have been replaced with sophomore backup Nick Stephens, but ...
"He'd already been in the game, and he was getting coaching every time he came off the field, so we thought he gave us our best chance to win," Fulmer said.
But Fulmer said he's not afraid to make a change at quarterback and will look at the game film today.
Besides Stephens, there's also freshman B.J. Coleman. According to Clawson, both have gotten a few practice snaps the last couple of weeks.
"They both are making good progress," Clawson said.
Auburn has quarterback problems of its own. Starter Chris Todd completed 14-of-23 passes for just 93 yards, one TD and one interception and was booed before being replaced by Kodi Burns.
Burns, more of a runner who can make a play out of nothing, was heartily cheered. He hit 4-of-6 passes for 36 yards, and ran eight times for 16 yards.
"It was real exciting going in, but I started a little rusty," Burns said. "My footwork was a little off."
Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said he and offensive coordinator Tony Franklin will look at the QB situation closely.
"Chris made some good decisions and played well at times, but he also struggled," Tuberville said. "I thought Tony put Kodi in the game at the right time at the end of the first half, gave us a shot in the arm and got the fans back in the game."
Audible
"When you play like we did, it's hard to feel like you're really close (to being good on offense)."
-- Vols' offensive coordinator Dave Clawson
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Comments » 60
BigOrange_supporter writes:
first
HamptonsVol writes:
You are the first idiot.
tnvol27#546179 writes:
They will start Crompton....try & build his confidence & win 40 - 0. Wrong call...this kid is a virus..i dont think the other players respect him much....hes a talker..cocky & arrogant...we need a humble leader with a killer attitude..take no prisoners approach. If youre up by 10, make it 17..
TommyJack writes:
There's no way CPF has the huevos to start Crompton.
bobmcreynolds#663132 writes:
When is everyone going to wake up and stop blaming Crompton, Clawsen, Chavis and others. It is Fulmer, the buck stops with him. He is calling the shots.
It is obvious that we are running Fulmer's offense, not Clawson's offense. It is very apparent that Fulmer spent all summer teaching Clawsen the Fulmer way. Even the 2 point conversion play was a play we used in a failed attempt in 1992 against So Carolina. I think Clawsen was NO WHERE NEAR UT in 1992. But Fulmer was.
On defense, on the last play when Auburn converted a 3rd down on a 5 yard pass, our Secondary Coach was telling our secondary to "Be ready for the bomb." The bomb? It wouldnt have mattered whether they hit the bomb or not. Either way, we lose.
Personnel...2 sacks...1 by Ben Martin and 1 by Chris Walker. They played a total of 10 plays. Gerald Williams plays 3 plays and makes 3 tackles, albeit one was a personal foul. And, Foster, bless his heart....he's no good, he had fumblitis and he's too slow. When are we going to learn about him...
Good bye, CPF. It is your fault and YOU ARE DONE.
tulelakevol writes:
living on the west coast, hard to get a feel for what the callers are saying on the call in shows. I can guess the general mood, but I wonder what jimmy hyams and tim irwin said on their program today?
tnvol27#546179 writes:
Tommy, uve been a vol fan for awhile, do you really see conservative fulmer start bj or nick?? hes loyal to his guys to a fault. His starting crompton is a message to the other players that you can make mistakes and start...seniors over sophmores all the time. Its wrong...we need some hungry sobs who want to win...not this loyal bull**** that gets you 1-4.
TommyJack writes:
tnvol: He's proven he doesn't care what the fans think. But I think that if he starts JC, his own players will revolt. These kids are stupid.
ncvol17 writes:
The fault with Fulmer is that he continues to back Crompton. He is not the QB he was recruited to be and a change needs to e made. If Stephens is no good then we sink for this year. We need to show all HS QB's that there is a place at a major SEC university wide open for them.
10ACVOL writes:
I think the opposite...honestly, there is no way that he benches Crompton. Crompton will be QB when we play Bama. Remember, what makes sense is not what happens when it comes to Phil, he must live by some crazy loyalty code...or Crompton has nekkid pictures of him.
You all know what will be said by fulmer on Tuesday. "We got back to work, sat down with Jonathan, got on the same page, worked like heck, had a great practice, brainwashed the team in to believing in him, and we still believe that Jonathan gives us the best chance to win....
HONESTLY, does anybody think that Fulmer starts Stephens?? No way in hell. Listen to his responses from the the post game interview. When asked further about benching #8, Fulmer gets as vague and as non-committed as ever claiming "we will get back to work and break down film".
Don't fall for this Vol fans...
tnvol27#546179 writes:
his teammates do not like him..fulmer will continue to start him, it will implode soon...someone will say what they are thinkin & the boat goes down. Foster is horrible....same thing there.
jcvol#215939 writes:
Off subject a bit .. but I was at the game and during the 4th qtr it sounded like Auburn was piping a drum beat over the PA system at least during one series .. did anyone else hear this (yes, yes ... some of you will say it was AU whipping our butts... but this is a serious question)?
Also - Crompton looked lost even on the sideline.
DarthVol writes:
It's hard to get mad at Fulmer when he's not directly responsible for the coaching of the defense, offense or special teams. He doesn't throw passes, catch balls, run off tackle, kick or make tackles. According to what he's said in the past he's not in charge of practice tempo or making sure the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. He hires and recruits people to do that.
He grants interviews, talks in generalizations about the direction of the program, takes the blame when we lose but generally follows up by telling us how players are coached NOT to do the things they are doing wrong. As of yesterday, he's still calling it *Clawsons* offense.
You talk about "the next coach" and where would he come from. If all I knew about head coaches came from what I know about UT football, then I would say you don't need an x's and o's guy. You need a charismatic CEO of a successful major corp. who knows how to delegate authority and refuses to accept being average. Someone who talks candidly and openly in interviews and doesn't hesitate to call it what it is. It may not work out but at least it would be refreshing.
fedupvol writes:
So Nunes is a Cardinal...Ok. who's next....booing isn't killing the recruiting, it's getting embarassed on national TV week after week....but that won't happen much longer, the networks will realize there's something or someone better to watch! Foster and Crompton should NEVER, I repeat NEVER play another down for ut....as the announcer said, Foster has voodoo on him or something and when combined with the worthless excuse for a qb, it's a disaster just waiting to happen...let's see that's 3 games it's happened in with those two, right? But I'm sure looking at film will fix it...yeah, right...
mpm80#1357758 writes:
BOO
WYLOVER writes:
has it occured to anyone else that when they look at the 'film' that it could just a dvd of Girls Gone Wild???
stormblast writes:
Basically, Crompton's passes do everything but quack.
I don't think Clawson's new scheme isn't working. This new scheme involving throwing the ball 30 yards out of bounds on a 3rd and 4 & the trying to confuse D lines and LBs with putting the ball on the ground and trying make them follow and tackle a running back with no ball doesn't seem to have caught on.
But don't worry, the fans will try a scheme next week against N Illinois. Our scheme will involve using the glare of the bleechers to blind the N Illinois qb into throwing bad passes. Not only will we provide this visual distraction, but hopefully our audio distraction will work also. Our coaches will be able to use the silence to their advantage by listening in on the other sideline. The plays and audibles will be better heard by our coaching staff. Those of us, the six of us, who will be in attendance will report back to the rest of us if our scheme worked. Because we will not know. Pay-per-view purchases will be at a minimum on Saturday.
I hope this works better than Clawson's scheme has so far.
FedUpVolFan writes:
Yawn
MidTennVol writes:
How quickly we forget...see revolving door between Erik Ainge and Rick Clausen just a few short years ago.
Fulmer would pull one when he underperformed (or melted down) and just couldn't settle on one over the other.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I think Phil will-
change nothing.
govolsfan#214750 writes:
I do hope they start the back up next week. It would be a good game to get his feet wet and see what he can really do.
I dont see Crompton getting any better. If he continues to be the starting QB, I wont even be able to say "maybe next year" anymore.
Urban_Weiner writes:
I completely agree, Try all three qb's Stephens, Coleman, and even the G-gun, and if we can't win ball games, we need to "ADVERTISE" a free starting spot for the next recruit!
O, and this talk about Nunes not coming because of boos, yea right, look at UF and Georgia, booing after one loss when your team is in the top ten! ha, what a joke! they make us look good!
picchic913#459936 writes:
I am continually amazed at how much of an IDIOT Crompton is. Everyime I think he can't possibly get worse, he proves me wrong. And someone tell me why when he is on the sideline and the tv zooms in on him as he yells "F#$K" just as Daniel Lincoln makes a field goal. I mean, does it bother him that bad when his team scores points? I almost am starting to think my mom was onto something when she jokingly said, "it's like Fulmer owes somebody money and that's why he just refuses to pull Crompton." And I swear if I hear "we're gonna look at the film ONE more time, I'm going to scream.
mlsoft#228820 writes:
Just one more thought about Crompton. I will continue to keep in mind that he may have the talent, but has not been given the benefit of any good coaching on how to play and win at the SEC level of play. I believe Clawson is in well over his head, and has had little time to coach the QB's -- with the level of coaching that is apparent in our team, Peyton Manning might have never become a good QB.
That said, in the real world, Crompton cannot consistantly complete a handoff, much less a pass. It was inexcusable that Fulmer/Clawson did not give Stephens or the other kid a chance to see what they could do -- how could they have done worse??? How can we ever ask athletes to come to UT when it has become evident that Fulmer will not play them until late in their career even if the current starters are playing poorly.
Tennessee's level of Coaching is back down to that of a division III school competing in the SEC. That has been the case for a number of years now, and instead of doing what it takes to fix the problem, we are rewarding mediocrity with raises and contract extensions. Hopefully, Fulmer will be given a "promotion" to assistant AD, and we can begin rebuilding our football program.
WYLOVER writes:
everything can be corrected by watching film. no talent, watching film will fix you right up.
MustangPackage101 writes:
Crompton is the worst QB I have ever seen put on the Orange & White. And for some reason, he still starts.
doctorvol#211700 writes:
alternate quarters with Stephens and B J next Sat, and start the one who plays best vs UGA. With Crompton, we will loose by 30 to both Ga and Ala. If we must go down, go down trying something different. We know the outcome with the current situation. Stupid continues to be defined by doing the same things, expecting different results.
MississippiVol writes:
How much is Craptom's family paying Foolmer to play their idiot son??
UTME06 writes:
On your first comment... no one is directly responsible for coaching special teams. If I'm not mistaken, Fulmer assigns an asst. to take it for the season... even checked the official coaches page, and it does not list anyone as a special teams coach. Whatever happened to the ol game maxims...
I've never really been a Fulmer hater before the UCLA game... but this just isn't cutting it. Get someone in here now while there is still some talent left on the team. It's a hard task to get off the downward recruiting spiral (isn't that right Bowden?).
tennisvol writes:
Hey Clawson and Fulmer - When you watch that game film, make sure and note that ole Crompton was throwing one way and the receivers going another. I know we haven't had much time to get these plays down during the spring, summer and now 4 games into the season. I also notice Ole Miss didn't seem to have many busted plays on offense yesterday. Do you think coaching and being unprepared may have something to do with it?
TNfaninMS writes:
you all, we lost a dam good quarterback in NUNES. He was a stud at THE position we need. Oh well, back to the drawing board.
ect1983 writes:
Darth---no offense-----but Phul Philmer has "taken the blame " once...last week. The quote last week....."this one's on me" implied that NONE of the others were------Well, they all are. Playing a no football IQ QB like Crompton is Phat Phil's Phault.......Please retire Phat Phil
Vols1998 writes:
Wow! Clawson and Fulmer must script their comments before each game, no real thought is given on any question other than the obvious...until we look at the film.
Do you really need to look at the film? heck..look at the score board, it will save you time, inwhich you need a lot to to get this ship righted.
Starting Line up:
Nick Stephens QB (backup G-Gun, that can throw)
Montorio and Greer in the back field..cause these two can flat out run.
Double tightend set....whomever, does it really matter, as long as they can block.
Our regular Offensive Line.....who else do we have?
Ahmad Paige(sp) WR
Bricoe (WR)
Lucas Taylor WR
Rogers (WR)....he does have good hands!
Run it down their throats, play action pass...cross your fingers, close your eyes and a little prayer that the guy is open :)
Just goofing around on the blog.
Go Vols!!
pusselgut writes:
Auburn begged us to beat them.....BEGGED US!!!!. Compton is nervous and anxious. We must try one of the other boys.
rep88 writes:
got to make a change at coach and at qb. I had forgotten about the coach at usf wouldnt be a bad choice but i would love to see tn go after butch davis. What are some of the other names fans have been hearing
FWBVol writes:
It's now obvious why David Cutcliffe didn't want to play Crompton last year. Some will disagree, but Cutcliffe has a great history with quarterbacks and knows how to develop them even if they aren't named Manning.
Cutcliffe must have seen things in practice we are all now seeing.
It's time for Fulmer to bench Crompton or start looking for a new line of work.
lomas98 writes:
If he doesn't play Stephens this week there will not be a change on the horizon. This is the chance to get him some playing time, blowout or not. Fulmer will play him in a hostile environment in GA if he doesn't get significant snaps this week. I think Fulmer is afraid if he starts switching QB's he will have the same thing that happened in 05 with the QB carousel. Unfortunately this time if he doesn't switch he will have the same thing happen anyway. 5-7 record.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Phil, after carefully considering all the facts,
will change nothing.
VOLKING writes:
I disagree 100% with your comments. We don't need a CEO who knows how to delegate. We need a fierce leader who isn't afraid to get in someone's face when they are doing wrong. A take charge guy. If the offense or defense stinks it up...it's the head coaches' ultimate responsibility to make sure they get better or someone gets canned. A little a**-kicking would go along way on this team. Crompton, Chavis, Clawson....they were all put there by Fulmer. He's afraid to change when things go wrong. He is in complete and utter denial. I'm sorry, but the statement that it's hard to get mad at Fulmer because it's not his responsibility is junk. More pacifier/loser talk from a blindly loyal Fulmer follower. Everything that happens on the field is a direct result of teaching and preparation from the head coach. The buck stops at the HC. After 10 years and no championships, even a blind man can see that.
cdonsbach writes:
Crompton angry! Crompton throw ball at puny field HARD!
CROMPTON SMASH HOPES FOR WINNING SEASON!
salocke#209467 writes:
Nunes was ranked a 4 star at #16. No PAC 10 power has offered. I don't think Nunes is the stud you think he is. Vols have Bryce Petty from Texas a 3 star at #31 committed. I don't think Andy Kelly or Jeff Franicis were HS studs and they turned out OK, but they did have a QB coach. Time will tell.
threesdown#452226 writes:
Does anybody get the feeling that Crompton caught Phil Fulmer making out with an water bottle girl, or stealing vast amounts of fried chicken from the cafeteria? Why is this happening-You know it is important to be humble when you are winning. It is even more important to be humble when you are losing...and I don't see any humility from Coach Fulmer or Crompton. Crompton not only can't check off at the line, he can't seem to even look at any other receiver. It's not hard for a defense to know where he's throwing the ball when he is staring like a laser beam at his intended receiver. He also only likes to throw the ball in double coverage, heck, triple coverage if he can get it. It is simply infuriating.
Equally infuriating is how in the world we can justify letting Arian Foster have the ball anywhere near the goal line. It is the epicenter of failure for him to be within ten yards of the pile-ons. If I were coaching I wouldn't even let him look at the play if it was on the five yard line. I know this sounds harsh, but it feels like he's doing it on purpose now. I was at the game when Travis Henry broke the all-time record and he is probably my favorite UT-RB of all time. I can't understand why we keep trusting this guy in vital situations. If we are anywhere between our own 25 to the opposing 25, Foster looks like a first round pick, however, anywhere close to the goal line he looks like James Little Man Stewarts idiot cousin. Not blaming the kids for their failures, just blaming the coaches for putting them in this situation. Crompton needs to go call in plays for Nick Stephens and adjust his cocky attitude. You don't lose to your biggest rival and come out and blast your fans and then go out and suck it up again and act like everything is going to work itself out.
threesdown#452226 writes:
This weekend will turn into a lynching if Crompton starts and throws it 20 yards passed a receiver. I can already hear the chants of Stephens Stephens Stephens Stephens. They will boo Crompton and it will be ugly, very ugly. Whenever you are upset on the sideline and decide to transfer to UNC-Greensboro Crompton, just remember that you brought this upon yourself. He will play Nick Stephens because HE HAS ZERO TO LOSE. 8-24 for 68 yards is something that almost every player on our team could do, i.e., Gerald Jones and Lucas Taylor. We run the G-gun one play into the sun and abandon it. I mean what was going through Fulmer and Clawson's minds when we had it 3rd and 4 multiple times...? Why are we passing when we have someone who is struggling so bad? Why don't we try pounding the freaking rock? What happened to Tennessee football? Don't we have like...ummm...all of our starters back from last year? We can't get 4 yards at least one of those times? 3rd and 4 and we overthrow it by twenty yards.
I would rather have Jim Bob Cooter at QB than Crompton...I can't think of anyone who has looked worse than Crompton has...Todd Helton looked better. C.J. Leak looked better than Crompton. I mean just try and name someone who is worse.
thevoice writes:
Oh, and he's also a junior!
soccervol writes:
I hope they keep Crompton at QB...The more games we lose the closer we are to a new coach!!
DarthVol writes:
In response to Adamjive.
There is no ONE coach in charge of special teams at UT. The different aspects of the kicking game are given to different assistants.
To Volking.
It's sarcasm. I assume anyone that actually reads one of my posts already knows where I stand on Fulmer. The ceo comment was a shot at those posters that dismiss losing games as the fault of the coordinators.
To ECT. Fulmer is really good at taking blame in a general way. He's done it for a while. But when you hear him talk about what's wrong he'll tell you he coaches it and it all comes down to execution by the players.
us43137415#376444 writes:
NOTE TO EVERYBODY WHO THINKS THIS IS FULMER'S OFFENSE:
Dudes.. why is it that Cutcliffe didn't seem to have a problem with "Fulmer's Offense."
The buck DOES NOT start with Fulmer.. stop sending moving vans to his house.
"The buck" starts with the players.. it also ends with the players.
Coaches do not play the game, players do.
Coaches teach fundamentals, players execute.
By the way, that's what game film is for.
It don't get no simpler than that.
Game film is why reporters and photographers like me get tossed out of closed practices.
Crompton needs to start playing the offense that is taught in practice all week.. he gets out there, and all of a sudden, what he's learned all week goes out the window.
Play the game you're taught..
Oh yeah, I forgot.. that's not what SCHOOL is for.
NOTE TO SELF:
Stop laughing at all these quirky, "Letterman-Leno" comments from these comedian wannabes..
These dudes THINK they really know what they're talking about.
us43137415#376444 writes:
BTW: About Nunes backing out.
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
If it's too hot in the kitchen, stay away from the cook.
Welcome to the SEC, baby.
We like to win here.
Don't worry at Stanford.. mommy can still do your laundry.
thevoice writes:
I disagree. Fulmer, in his other interviews, vehemently backed JC, saying he's our QB. By being vague in his recent interview, he's FINALLY assumed the position of most posters on here. Think about it: this N. IL game is the prefect time to try a new QB. If the head coach is worth anything, he'll realize the timing is perfect for someone else. One game warm-up, let our D win, then get ready for the second wave of SEC heavyweights, which basically consists of every team but us. Again, look for BJ to settle as starter by the end of the season.
MustangPackage101 writes:
us43137415#376444- You might be right that the coaches teach and the players execute. However, Fulmer is the head coach, therefore he is 100% responsible for the on field product. He obviously isn't doing what it takes to make these players execute. On 3rd and 4 in Auburn territory, THE COACHES, call pass plays with the WORST qb in the conference. Oh, and they didn't just do it once. The first time ended with a 20 yard pass out of bounds. The second ended with a 20 yard pass out of bounds. The third ended with a 20 yard pass out of bounds. See the trend? Is that smart when we are 3 or 4 deep at tailback? Is that smart with a veteran offensive line? Ill let you answer that, we are 1-3 and you still are defending the coach who hasn't won ANYTHING in 9 years. You are still defending the coach that is 9-24 against Tuberville, Spurrier, Nick Saban, Mark Richt, and Urban Meyer. It isn't our fault we hate mediocrity, If we didn't have to watch it every saturday maybe we would stop complaining.
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