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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 »
In Tennessee's search for a competent offense, it can at least find consolation. It's not alone.
Half the teams in the SEC are struggling offensively. And most of those struggles are related to uncertainty at quarterback.
UT is the latest SEC team to contemplate a quarterback change. Starter Jonathan Crompton supposedly has to outperform backup Nick Stephens in practice this week to hold his job.
Other SEC teams already have made changes. And South Carolina is on the verge of another one.
The Gamecocks might start their third different quarterback Saturday against Ole Miss. Redshirt freshman Stephen Garcia could succeed Chris Smelley, who succeeded Tommy Beecher.
Auburn started Kodi Burns in the season opener but switched to Chris Todd a week later. When Todd faltered against UT, coach Tommy Tuberville turned to Burns again.
Although Auburn can't decide on its quarterback, it decided who would start for LSU. The Tigers were rotating Andrew Hatch and Jarrett Lee until Auburn knocked Hatch out of the game. Based on how Lee has performed, Auburn did LSU a favor.
Mississippi State began the season with quarterback Wesley Carroll but changed to Tyson Lee last week against LSU. His production against one of the nation's premier defenses - 17 of 26 completions for 175 yards - should keep him No. 1 for at least another game.
Mike Hartline has started every game for Kentucky. But freshman Randall Cobb was challenging for the job before suffering an ankle injury.
Instability at quarterback isn't the sole reason for the offensive difficulties. Part of the problem with SEC offenses can be attributed to SEC defenses. A league famous for defense is exceeding its reputation.
South Carolina ranks No. 1, in the country in total defense. Kentucky ranks No. 1 in scoring defense. Vanderbilt is tied for first in pass interceptions. Eight of the nation's top 22 defenses are from the SEC.
The strength of those defenses is a major reason why the SEC doesn't have a team ranked in the top 25 nationally in total offense. Contrast that with the Big 12, which has six teams in the top 12 in total offense.
Injuries also have impacted SEC offenses.
Florida's Cornelius Ingram, a preseason All-SEC tight end, suffered a season-ending knee injury in August. And South Carolina is playing without injured wide receiver Kenny McKinley, another All-SEC player.
The loss of less-heralded players has been a factor as well.
Florida senior offensive guard Jim Tartt didn't play against Miami and left the Ole Miss game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury that could end his season. His loss is magnified at a position which already had lost two reserves to injuries. Also, running back Emmanuel Moody missed most of the Ole Miss game with an ankle injury and is doubtful for Saturday's game against Arkansas.
Saturday's run-in with Alabama further damaged Georgia's offense, which had lost its best offensive lineman, Trinton Sturdivant, to a season-ending knee injury in preseason. Tight end Tripp Chandler and wide receiver Kris Durham are both out for the UT game (Oct. 11). Star running back Knowshon Moreno suffered an elbow injury Saturday but is expected to play against UT.
Before the injuries against Alabama, Georgia was one of the few teams in the conference that didn't have serious problems on offense. That could change, and not just because of the injuries.
In its last seven games, Georgia will play six teams that are ranked in the top 25 in total defense.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 21
eutefan writes:
Second
ibvolman writes:
first
TurboFan writes:
naught
rootin4volz writes:
Idiots
Bigger_Al writes:
Leave town, Adams.
ect1983 writes:
Keep Writing JA--Bigger Al always reads ur columns
cdonsbach writes:
And he obviously thinks about them all the time, too!
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Wow, not a lot of posts for ole Johnny boy is there. I am praying for another football announcer and another news sentinel sports writer to take the places of Kessling and Adams. And that all and way before Fulmer goes. Kick out the trouble makers and peace will ensue.
cdonsbach writes:
Why do you consider Bob Kessling a troublemaker?
mpm80#1357758 writes:
ive grown to despize pro football over the years i never have liked it college and hi school have long been my favorite but the titans are lookin purdy good and the vols purdy bad but i must add vince young is a sissy
mpm80#1357758 writes:
john adams what a goon
pdhuff#552644 writes:
JA, fair points, but other teams offensive woes do not concern us, except when we face them.
Its hard to tell where to start with this team. We held Fla to very decent yards but gave up a ton of points.
We did a great job also vs Aubie, but lost.
The stat that counts is PPG allowed. That is why we are 1-3.
Maybe Stephens will shine.
If he gets the chance.
writer#358485 writes:
Glad to see Adams acknowledging something all died-in-the wool Tennessee fans should know. Defense is the name of the game. Gen. Neyland started that tradition. Think of all the "flashy" non-stopable offenses that have come and gone: single wing (also Neyland's), T, Wishbone, 'Fun and Gun,' though I'm not sure the last one deserves to be called a widely adopted offense. Now, everyone keeps saying the "Spread" is unstoppable. As Adams points out, it seems defenses already have caught up with that one. The traditional SEC philosophy is load up the defense and have just enough offense to punch it in when the defense puts you in the right position. Fulmer knows the game and the tradition, and we're almost there. Our defense did it's job against Auburn, the offense just couldn't do the "punching in" part. Maybe Stephens will add enough of a spark to get it in, especially when the defense/kicking game gives you six or seven chances on the opposition's end of the field. Go Vols! Lets turn this season around, we have one of the best defenses we've had in awhile! We just need a little more punch for the "gimmies".
wyomingvol writes:
So given all that, and Fulmer’s current struggles, isn’t there anything Majors would like to say about the current Vols coach.
Said the former coach: “Frankly, I think (defensive coordinator) John Chavis has saved his job for 10 years.”
Ouch Johnny, But right on the $.
spvol writes:
Johnny never could keep an assistant for more than a year or two because he's an azz.
Colliervol writes:
I'm sure that, looking back, Johnny wished he'd had an assistant that would have saved his.
RJ_Vol writes:
Thank goodness for the defense! As for the UF loss, special teams and poor field position(due to offensive mistakes) seemed to be the main problem - still doesn't explain the fact UF punted very little. The defense did give up critical fourth quarter drives to a woeful UCLA offense - too many "three-and-outs" by our offense I believe. The Auburn games was an exceptional effort. They kept AU on their end of the field the entire second half. Can't really fault them for the last drive - they gave our team every chance to win. If we can find some offense(even some first downs), our TEAM might be able to limp into port. If not, my 9-3 prediction for the season is going to seem very generous indeed. Did you have 7-5? Couldn't remember and am too lazy to scroll back through your posts.
murrayvol writes:
The defense was exceptional against Auburn until you consider that Aubie doesn't have an offense. And when they absolutely had to get a stop they couldn't do it.
CampVol writes:
Stephens or someone else HAS to start. Compton makes this offense In-CROMP-etent. The boy just cannot play.
Major_Magilicutty writes:
what about the play where we should have had the sack, three times, then the kid roles out and throws a strike for the first down. embarrasing.
utvolfan98 writes:
UT hasn't been the same since john ward retired. fulmer & kessling have brought this program to it's knees.
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