G-Gun to remain loaded regardless of QB

Photo by Michael Patrick

Tennessee wide receiver Gerald Jones (4) can't get away from Florida's Brandon Spikes (51) during action in Neyland Stadium on Saturday.

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Nick Stephens comes from a small town in Texas. He's played football since the 7th grade. However, the sophomore that is a contender for the starting quarterback position at the University of Tennessee had only one year of varsity football in high school before coming to UT. Watch »

Gerald Jones is just one of those guys.

The Tennessee wide receiver is shifty. He's tough to catch. He's fast. And he's precisely the kind of player coaches want to have their hands on the football.

But with UT's passing game stuck in a rut through four games and backup quarterback Nick Stephens making a run at the starting job this week in practice, Jones' touches could come increasingly at quarterback.

"If we're struggling to get him the ball in the passing game, which we did (against Auburn)," offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said, "this ensures that we put the ball in his hands and makes sure he has an impact on the game."

With the Vols' starter at quarterback unsettled heading into Saturday's game against Northern Illinois (TV: Pay-per-view, 7 p.m.), UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Jones could see more action at quarterback in UT's G-Gun package.

Jones has taken 13 snaps at quarterback in UT's four games, and he's just fine with taking a few more.

"I'm honored to be in that position," Jones said. "For them to trust me as much to put me back there, that's a critical position right there. That's the captain of the offense. I'm honored, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to help the team win."

Even with Tennessee off to a 1-3 start, it's helped.

UT's 13 plays in the G-Gun have produced 107 yards, an average of 8.2 yards per play. While it's not always a homerun gain, the G-Gun certainly provides a spark.

Against UCLA, tailback Arian Foster took a handoff 41 yards out of the formation. UT's longest play from scrimmage in Saturday's loss to Auburn came on a 23-yard run by Jones out of the G-Gun. The sophomore had another highlight reel run against the Tigers, taking a busted play from one sideline to the other for a gain of 8 yards.

"He ran 80 yards and got like a 7-yard gain," Clawson said. "Gerald's a dynamic player."

He can also throw the ball.

Jones, who played quarterback in high school, attempted his first pass against Auburn, although it sailed high and was dropped by receiver Lucas Taylor.

"I guess the adrenaline was pumping so bad that I kind of over-strided and threw it high," Jones said. "But I was comfortable back there."

Still, the G-Gun remains a wrinkle in UT's offense. Despite it's success at times this season, it likely isn't a permanent solution to the Vols' struggles at quarterback.

"If Gerald's in the game, we're going to have a pass or two out of it, but generally we're running the football with it," Clawson said. "The looks we're getting against that package aren't really that much different right now because people are really ganging up on the running game."

UT defensive coordinator John Chavis says stopping a specialty package like the G-Gun is all about having more defensive players near the line of scrimmage than the offense can block.

To bring enough players to stop the play, a defense sometimes can't leave a safety net for the pass. And when a team has the ability to throw out of a package like the G-Gun, even on a limited basis, it becomes a riskier venture for the defense.

"There are sometimes when they force you to play zero coverage," Chavis said. "I don't want to go out there and play zero coverage every down because that's living on the edge. Those are the things that you fear the most."

On each of the 13 plays out of the G-Gun, UT quarterback Jonathan Crompton has remained on the field and lined up wide. That's not because he's a wide receiver, either.

Clawson says by keeping the quarterback on the field, it leaves the defense about eight seconds to change plays instead of being able to call a play designed specifically to stop the G-Gun.

"If the quarterback's on the field and they break the huddle, now usually you're getting a little more predictable looks against it," Clawson said, "and that's the reason we leave the quarterback on the field."

While a true quarterback will continue to take the majority of snaps in UT's offense, Jones' role continues to expand. And that's just fine with center Josh McNeil.

"Every week we're adding more and more things to it so the package can become more versatile, throwing, running, things like that," McNeil said. "He's an exciting athlete that can make a lot of plays, make a lot of guys miss and just make a lot of things happen with the football. That's one of his best traits, making plays when there's really nothing there."

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.