Postgame audio by Dave Hooker
Tennessee’s offense protected the ball and put together long drives in its most solid performance of the spring.
The Vols’ ball control problems of a year ago seemed a thing of the past as the offense beat the defense 41-23 in Saturday’s scrimmage after being outplayed for much of the spring.
“There were some lengthy drives. That’s good to see. That’s what happens when you don’t turn the ball over,” coach Lane Kiffin said.
Tennessee’s offense had suffered many interceptions and fumbles through the team’s 14 spring practices.
Rico McCoy intercepted starter Jonathan Crompton for the game’s only turnover, earning the defense 5 points. The defense received 3 points for every drive it stopped.
Both units played a watered-down version of their schemes designed to help the offense be successful, but defensive end Chris Walker promises the defense was doing all it could to get the ball.
“I think the coaches really stressed it and the guys really bought into it — not to say we didn’t try to get it out, but those boys were really holding onto it,” he said.
B.J. Coleman, playing with the second team, connected with Brandon Warren on a 9-yard touchdown pass and Quintin Hancock on a 4-yarder. Coleman finished 13-for-22 for 160 yards.
Warren also caught a 5-yard scoring strike from Nick Stephens and had 50 yards on four receptions. Hancock led the team with 96 yards receiving on eight catches.
Crompton finished 14-for-27 for 143 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Austin Rogers.
Tauren Poole rushed 18 times for 83 yards, and Toney Williams gained 79 yards on 13 carries.
Playing a more vanilla version of the offense — Kiffin said about 20 percent of the offense was shown — helped the guys have a little more fun on the field in front of the crowd of 51,488, the second largest spring game crowd in history.
“We just wanted to execute,” he said. “We made some throws, we made some catches and we made some great runs. It was real fun. We got in a rhythm, and we just flowed with it.”
The team went through a typical game-day routine of meetings and the traditional “Vol Walk” with fans from the team’s practice facility to Neyland Stadium.
It was the first Vol Walk for the new coaching staff. Kiffin walked calmly past fans while defensive line coach Ed Orgeron pumped his arms in the air and slapped fans hands and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin was greeted by chants of “Monte, Monte!”
Former coach Phillip Fulmer was honored on field before the game for receiving the Gen. Robert Neyland Trophy from the Knoxville Quarterback Club, drawing cheers from the fans.
“I’m as big a Tennessee fan as anybody can possibly be. This is home,” Fulmer said before the game to reporters.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 91
OrangeMan_86 writes:
Good job Vols.
dvhill100 writes:
Good stuff. More details would be nice.
the10sevol writes:
Man, I can't wait to watch this tomorrow night!
Go Vols!
OrangeMan_86 writes:
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yourtheonlytennisee writes:
go big orange
iowavol writes:
WOuld like to know if Coleman was mostly with 1s or 2s. Based on what I'm seeing from this game and the spring, he should be our starter in the fall. Good to see limited TO's. What did the other backs do?
OrangeMan_86 writes:
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kingcole57 writes:
i think coach O is the D line coach not the O line coach way to go KNS
tyla0404 writes:
Every time I see the stats for a scrimmage, or this, Coleman outplays Crompton.. Why does Crompton continue to be considered the frontrunner?
OrangeMan_86 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
UrbanStopCallingMe writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
DennisVols writes:
Yeah the whole UF D sat out to help their offense look successful.
Why don't you just crawl back into your lil swamp, which by the way is where the sewer flows into and just shut the .... up.
Get yourself prepared for a whippin this year. UF will lose at least 3 and Tebow won't even get an invite to NY.
Meyer will quit so he can go whine up in ND where they are use to cry babies.
RoadTrip writes:
Played with both units - ran up his totals on the second team defense. Crompton saw the most snaps with the first team offense and against the first team defense. Both BJ and JC had one or two poor series, where they could not hit the open receiver. All three of them were better than last year.
Williams showed the most at RB since Hardesty got limited action. Williams is really good in the first 10-20 yards with nice cutbacks and vision.
gavol74 writes:
i just got back home from the game,and BJ Coleman Should be our starter, Crompton and stevens both had some nice moments but i felt coleman was the better of the three,,,,jmo
Kiffin_fan writes:
Okay guys I was at the orange and white game today and here is my take:
Any of you wishing for Nick Stevens to be QB you might as well crawl under a rock. He was horrible. John and BJ were pretty good but not great.
Brandon Warren will be a stud along with Quinton Hancock. Hardesty looked great as did all the running backs when they were working on the running game. Toney Williams will be a stud eventually.
I met Montori Hughes personally and asked "will you hit them hard today or take it easy on em"? He said " No Sir, when I hit them they will know it". His arms are huge "HUGE" he has the physique to be awesome.
Also talked to Gerald Jones and he is pumped about the direction they are headed.
As for Lane being in the huddle today, they have been so focused on installing the offense that they have not worked on calling in plays from the sideline so don't be worried.
Monte said, "The defense will be very limited today, don't worry gang". He was so pumped up walking the VOL WALK he kept raising his hands and it was awesome. Everytime he did that all the fans just started screaming.
In closing, I hope most of you made it to the game but if you didn't I hope I helped some of you understand what it was like. All I can say is "GO BIG ORANGE" ...
Also, coach O was huge running down the Vol Walk like you might imagine. He was screaming and ranting and raving. Lets Go Tennessee!!!!
All of you that couldn't make it you will be very impressed when you come this fall to watch in person... Have a great night everyone and most of all GO VOLS!!!!!!!!
TNFootball writes:
Great day at the game. It was the most people there for a Spring game than what I have ever seen.
The VOL walk was full of recruits, and there were thousands on-hand for the VOL walk cheering the new coaches, team, and recruits on! I was proud to see that.
stillavolsfan27 writes:
Well there you are again trying to get us to crack on you... I can't wait for the season to start and we beat Florida and i want to see the excuses you make up
tums writes:
Wow, first Florida fans couldn't keep away, now Tennessee is attracting NC fans. Cute.
sebfootball_39 writes:
Who's going to be the starting QB? Do you think we will have 2 starters again?
volfan53 writes:
For those of you who can't seem to make a post without using sexual comments or degrading others may I suggest that you go back to school and take as many English classes as you possibly can. That way you can increase the size of your vocabulary and learn how to say the same thing without being vulgar or obscene. I get your intensity over UT football. I get intense too. Just clean up your act or go somewhere else. And yes, I don't post very often, mainly because I get sic of the vulgarity in the posts and stop reading them. It would be nice to be able to read the responses to the articles because quite a few of you have some very insightful responses and some information I would never have but if I have to read porn to get to it then I will stay in the dark. Just consider that what you write could be being read by a young person who shouldn't be hearing or reading these comments. None of us should have to endure your crude comments. Please be considerate of others on this site. Thank you.
UrbanStopCallingMe writes:
Thats not a North Carolina fan. Its a Florida pretending to be a NC fan. A Florida Fan can't come in here and talk about basketball after the season they had last year.
dvhill100 writes:
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any reports are greatly appreciated.
Ironcity writes:
Thanks a bunch. Fantastic update, I wish I could have been their
Kiffin_fan writes:
That is very true, but it was very obvious. He was my hope as well.
philfan writes:
I continue to be shocked and disturbed by the quality of person who responds to govolsxtra. Trying to explain why Fulmer was a class act while Kiffin and Orgeron are classless is an exercise in futility. At least you can spell correctly. I will give you that.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Will the game be televised later?
Kiffin_fan writes:
All the gator fans have much more than Lane to FEAR!!!
the10sevol writes:
Well said, Sir, I agree wholeheartedly. GBO!
Kiffin_fan writes:
tomorrow night at 8 i think on sports south
senracjr writes:
What, that you are an a-hole?
philfan writes:
I agree volfan53. Excellent post. I admit I know little about the game of football but do know I enjoy watching all the games. Only one out of twenty responses of govolsxtra is worth reading.
therewillbeorange writes:
Does anyone know where I can watch the replay in Nashville. The paper says 7PM sunday on FSN but it's not showing up on the comcast schedule when I try to DVR it?
creepykev#228270 writes:
While I love TN as much as you must love FL, I have not made a tackle or caught a pass for them. It's nice that you get some feeling of accomplishment from yelling at the TV when your team wins, but I don't think that makes you superior to anyone on this sight. We are all football fans and most of us are sec fans and would root for any sec team playing out of conference. If you have anything insightful to say, do it, otherwise your misplaced gloating over something you had no real part in is sad.
senracjr writes:
She didn't mean the Gators game Dumbazz!
rednekmuslTN writes:
how many people were at the game?
creepykev#228270 writes:
oops meant to put that on that florida guys post sorry
topgun writes:
please!!! Give it a rest. This is about the 10,000th post with the Krispy Kreme junk!! Enough is enough!! Boring!!
annemarie writes:
I just had to second the description of everything today. This was my first O/W game ever & I was blown away! The thing I loved about the Vol Walk, was towards the end of the players & coaches going through, everyone started screaming "Monte, Monte, Monte" when he went by. You knew when he was coming! BTW, Fan Day was unbelievable - Eric Berry had his own line which was really close in length to that of CLK - miles & miles. They will need to start this next year at 7:00 a.m.!!!
dvhill100 writes:
It will be on DirectTV on channel 649 (Sports South) at 2000 and 2300 Sunday.
stillavolsfan27 writes:
Yeah ok... you just put your foot in your mouth
sprty3 writes:
"Tebow, Thompson, running back Chris Rainey and three offensive linemen were the only starters who played in the spring game. The entire first-team defense got the day off, which might have benefited Brantley the most. Instead of going against the first unit, he faced second- and third-teamers."
You are making comments about us using a dumbed down defense? Brantly played against the scrubs and walk-ons..... You seem to be terribly worried about the Vols to be here EVERYDAY checking in on things.... Don't worry we will still let you come out and play when your on the losing end of things..... I swear Gator fans are more arrogant than the old Notre Dame fans use to be...
GREATVOLSAFIRE writes:
I think that BJ looked the best his passes seemed to be more crisp but all did a good job. MAN WE GOT SOME RUNNING BACKS. With more coming!GO VOLS!!!!
Kiffin_fan writes:
Amen to the 7:00 am...... :)
NorthwestVol writes:
Thanks. Good info for those of us unable to attend or watch.
Kiffin_fan writes:
Guys and Gals, this is about the Orange & White.... Why respond to Gators?
QB_10 (Inactive) writes:
My rock will see day light soon-The great things is Western Ky game should determine who will be the future- i still like 17 and 18 pushing for the job- remember nick got hurt, it BJ one game to break his foot against Vandy...you need to 2 good QB...and it is not one-hopper aka Jon Crompton
Fossilfiction writes:
Crompton should be given an award for the most improved. I was there and I saw a much better QB than last year.
Now for real talk.
Crompton threw behind the recievers at the start. Coleman over-threw them at times. Stephans looked rusty but shaped up.
Crompton played against 1st team, Coleman threw against 2nd string and the D dropped 2 Coleman ints! Coleman had Warren has his favorite target and Warren looked good.
My hat is off to Williams for his great moves.
I like Stephans but I must say that Crompton looked better today(look past last year and you will see it too).
Recievers caught about everything.
The D was the normal D. Great job coaches keep going!
Kiffin_fan writes:
Point taken. I don't care who it is as long as we score and win....
tree_em_smokey writes:
I just had this vision, Im in high school and Im in the cafeteria when this wormy little sh#@ walks in. He starts running his mouth to this guy and the guy decks him, the little worm (gatorz4) runs off to the office crying and calls his daddy... which happens to be urban cryer. Gators suck!!!! Vols-63 Gators-6 write it down.
UTmama writes:
First, I wouldn't say Nick was horrible. He had a couple of beautiful long passes. Second, he has been out due to his wrist and has seen limited practice time. Last, I was there and I thought that Coleman was the best by far.
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