If there's a bright spot in Tennessee's 14-12 loss to Auburn on Saturday, it came at defensive end.
Sophomores Chris Walker and Ben Martin recorded sacks against the Tigers and finished with two tackles each.
"The defensive ends were pretty much a bright spot for our defensive team," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "Those two young guys showed some speed and quickness that we've been looking for. They've both got to get more consistent in some of the fundamental things, but they showed signs of being good."
While those two sacks were the first recorded by a Tennessee defensive end this season, Martin and Walker weren't the only ends who impressed Fulmer.
Junior college transfer Gerald Williams also played well against the Tigers, his first significant playing time since being moved to end from middle linebacker.
"I was really pleased with what Gerald got done, other than the penalty than he got," Fulmer said. "Gerald's making strides, and I think he's going to be a real good player."
Williams finished with two tackles, the first of his career.
Senior Robert Ayers finished with four total tackles against Auburn, including one for a loss. Ayers is second to all UT ends in total tackles (10) this season behind Wes Brown.
Lincoln OK With Layoff: Despite going 26 days between field goal attempts, kicker Daniel Lincoln made both tries against Auburn on Saturday.
"I finally got an opportunity this week to do my job, and I got us close," said Lincoln, who is 3-for-6 on the season with a long of 48 yards. "I did my job. That's all I can do."
Fulmer said he was confident Lincoln would produce against the Tigers, despite missing three attempts at UCLA on Sept. 1, including a 34-yarder that would extended overtime.
"Daniel's kicked very well in practice," Fulmer said. "I asked him to do something at UCLA that was a little bit out of the ordinary because I have great confidence in him. Daniel's a great competitor. I get to see him every day, so I was very confident that he would make both those kicks. I wish he'd have had a chance at one more."
Fulmer to Miss Tuesday: Fulmer will miss Tuesday's weekly news conference and perhaps practice later in the day to attend the funeral of a family friend, Skip Carr, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
"I can count on one hand the times that I've missed practice in 30 years for anything," Fulmer said Sunday night. "I'm certain my friend would understand if I didn't go. But I need to be there for my wife and for my children."
Fulmer, who will be back in Knoxville on Tuesday night for staff meetings, described Carr as a "great friend and a great mentor," and said his family was especially close with Carr.
Carr, 64, died Friday of a heart attack.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 27
VOLMAN40 writes:
first
wkjq#213863 writes:
good to see something positive.
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
They (Martin & Walker) should be the starters. I haven't heard Ayers name called once this year. Brown is slow & not as athletic compared to these two
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Glad someone finally wrote about Walker and Martin. I, too, thought they played well against Auburn.
On top of that, I thought it was nice to see more emerging playmakers that are early into their careers!
ravensearay writes:
If you just watched the defense you saw a lot of good things happening........
murrayvol writes:
Agreed but I couldn't just watch the defense.
Jamey1210 writes:
I only saw Williams in for about 7 plays and he recorded two tackles. Sounds good to me. I think out defense is Stellar and there is not another team that we will play this year that can put up more than 17 on us. Problem is, we probably will not even put that up against NIU.
ravensearay writes:
I know..............
I couldn't just watch the defense either...........
I kept thinking - this time we are going to get it done and then again and again,and again. Just like a broken record... It really broke my heart to see half a great game (defense only).
ravensearay writes:
I think he got in trouble for the personal foul penelty for hitting what's his name out of bounds.
BillsBrother writes:
Now if we could just get the defense to SCORE...
1manningfan writes:
Like Crompton says "Its Football These Things Happen" lol..
volfan007 writes:
This is the thing that has frustrated me about Fulmer for years....playmakers sit on the bench. Why was Williams not playing from the very start? The guy is a beast. Why was Ben Martin not playing from the start? The guy is an incredible talent. Down thru the years, I've noticed that we've have some very talented people sitting on the bench, waiting thier turn to play, or something?
Start the best players!
CoverOrange writes:
The personal foul on GW was BS. He was still in bounds when GW launched and hit him right after he stepped out. They don't call that one at Neyland. Play GW ala Leonard Little.
Martin got his sack because of technique to get off a block not just speed and quickness. Every other DLman seemed to just lock up on the blockers and push instead of getting off the block.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Fulmer to Miss Tuesday: Dear Miss Tuesday, can I get a kiss, you are so pretty. Everybody seems to hate me, i can't get any positive traction anywhere, and my best friend died at 64. It's a tough life if you don't weaken. If we won 3 Nationalchampionships in a row, would you think it would quiet down our critics? Then I'd be another Bruce Pearl. Oh well, wish us luck this year, i think we've got a great bunch of kids who if they get going might surprise some people. I sure hope so. See you later. Phil
slambob2#228938 writes:
The defense is outstanding. Except, of course, on third and long, where we have no answers against a team that can throw the football (that wasn't Auburn).
We need some new blood to try new things and to shake it up a little. After 10 years, the rest of the league figured out how to handle UT and we haven't changed much.
The defense played very, very well. But John Parker Wilson is likely to go 15 for 15 on third downs. Especially if it's third and 10 or more.
Good luck, Vols. NIU will be a good three hours of feast. But I hope we're ready for Georgia and Alabama. And I'm afraid we'll be just as unprepared and just as unable to answer as we have been for most of the last four years.
I hope not. But I'm afraid so.
joebomb writes:
Take ALL the time you need Phil, seriously, don't rush back.
VOLKING writes:
P.S.--Dear Miss Tuesday, There is someone on KNS site by the name of WeLove TennesseeVols that is OUT OF THEIR FREAKIN' MIND!!! They keep asking me if I want them to get the Kool-Aid ready...and something about stopping those reporters and politicians from boarding the plane. And this person keeps calling me Rev. Jones. Please help me if my only fans are all like this.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Anyone notice Bama's d-line play vs the Dawgs.
What a concept.
rockydog writes:
I have noticed the same thing TurboFan. I did notice Gerald Williams shedding blocks a few times as well. Maybe Martin and Williams can coach the other linemen how to do this since our coaches haven't.
fedupvol writes:
Sorry but have to disagree with the part about not another team the rest of the year that can put up more than 17..remember that AU's offense is almost as bad as vols...with that said, UGA and UA at a minimum will pile up big numbers and just as likely, VU and UK...yuuch..I can't believe I just said that...so I'd say at LEAST 4 more teams will put up 17 or more against vols...not because defense isn't very good...because offense is so pitiful, the D is on the field way too much!
richvol writes:
WOW! It only took two years to get them on the field. If they were coached by Saban or Meyer they would have had significant playing time as freshmen.
Fulmer doesn't ever seem to learn anything. Kind of like Crompton...maybe that's why he likes him so much.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Sure seems like some of y'all are wringing your hands about big teams further along on our schedule instead of just taking it one game at a time. The Bible says do not worry too much about tomorrow, today's worries are sufficient for today. For now let's beat NIU and play lots of guys that have not been playing, including Martin, Walker and G. Williams.
G8er_H8er writes:
Richvol is correct. Martin, Walker and Williams are all better than the starters. Ayers and Brown should be backup DT's they have no burst off the corner like the others, but that's why our coaching staff gets paid the big bucks. To make all of these decisions and never adjust. Kind of like the Bush administration and as successful.
Hudro writes:
the defense play well enough for us to have won the game with AU. The problem was we gave a very average offensive team a gift wrapped touchdown. We are not doing the basics very well like handing off and it is costing us. Defensively we are holding up ok in most of our games. We just can't generate any offense.
SKO_Vol82 writes:
Okay, folks, let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Sure, we have great, young talent on this team. But, I'm sorry, they haven't paid their dues. We have alot of less-talented juniors and seniors on this team that deserve to get the playing time. And, we need to honor the direcion CPF has set for this team every year. How will we continue to play down to every inferior team we face unless we field the most marginal athletes on this team? We need to keep the fleet of foot, the sure-handed and the intelligent on the bench until their less able teammates have had their fill on the field. Mop-up work for each of them, that's what I say. And, I think CPF will agree. Why change now? The die is cast and it's an ugly, ugly shade of orange.
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
When Rogan intercepted the ball and started downfield I yelled "Score! PLease....our offense can't, you will have to do it yourselves!"
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Some interesting reads on al.com. Also, ajc.com - sports.
One mentioned Bama O-tackle as possible #1 in draft.
Wait till he faces the 2-9.
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