GVX audio
- DE Chris Walker talks about the long plays that UT's defense gave up on Saturday
- Eric Berry talks to the media about preparing for Saturday's scrimmage
- Dave Hooker interviews DB coach Willie Mack Garza
- QB Jonathan Crompton talks to the media
- RB coach Eddie Gran talks to the media
- Dave Hooker interviews C Cody Sullins
- Dave Hooker interviews Lane Kiffin about TB Bryce Brown's tough day
Long runs. Big passes. Touchdowns. All those fun items so scarce in Neyland Stadium last season were abundant Saturday in Tennessee's first preseason football scrimmage.
"Don't put us in the Sugar Bowl yet,'' advised first-year UT coach Lane Kiffin.
"It's one scrimmage and we've got a long ways to go.''
In the pedal-to-the-metal mode of the first-year Kiffin regime, the Vols' first day in full pads was - what else? - a full-fledged scrimmage.
Keeping in the NFL mindset he prefers, Kiffin referred to Saturday's exercise as Preseason Game One.
Score this one for the offense.
After an interception-riddled practice Friday, quarterbacks Jonathan Crompton and Nick Stephens were masters of ball security.
Crompton hit his first nine pass attempts and finished, unofficially, 11-of-14 for 173 yards.
He flipped TD passes of 20 yards to Tauren Poole and 1 yard to Brandon Warren. The Warren score was set up by a 68-yard bomb to Gerald Jones.
"Things happen, especially at the quarterback position,'' Crompton said. "It's a roller-coaster ride, up and down.
"It's all a matter of how you react and I think we reacted pretty well today.''
Stephens was 9-of-13 for 100 yards, working mostly with the No. 2 offense.
As opposed to Friday, neither quarterback was intercepted.
"Any time you make a mistake,'' Stephens said, "even though you don't want to admit it, sometimes that's the best way to learn.
"We learned from (Friday) and personally, I'm not going to make the same mistake twice. I'm going to move on from those mistakes.''
The ground game wasn't to be overshadowed, especially Poole.
The sophomore gained 144 yards on eight carries. He had TD blasts of 44 and 75 yards, in each case evading a non-scholarship defensive back to reach the end zone.
Freshman Bryce Brown gained 50 yards on 11 carries. Freshman David Oku gained 34 yards on seven tries and had a long run called back by a penalty.
Brown and Oku each had 3-yard TD runs, Brown showing a burst of speed to turn the corner with a pitch.
Montario Hardesty, the starter at tailback, played sparingly.
Fourteen players caught passes, none more than Luke Stocker's three.
The only turnover was linebacker Jake Storey's interception off Nick Lamaison in a third-string series.
At the end of the day, the No. 1 offense produced three touchdowns and a 47-yard Daniel Lincoln field goal, his only attempt.
The No. 2 offense also struck for three touchdowns and was stopped on fourth-and-goal at the 1 after a 69-yard drive.
And no one professed to be surprised.
"Not at all,'' said All-American safety Eric Berry. "We've been working against those guys all summer and we know what strides they've made and what preparation they put in.''
Kiffin would have been disappointed had the defense won the day. Recharging an offense that was among the puniest in the nation last year is his mission.
"Our expectation is to move the ball like that on every drive,'' he said. "So it's surprising when we don't do it.''
The defense wasn't holding much back strategically but was hardly full strength.
Berry played only one series, then stepped aside to let younger players get tested.
Linebacker Rico McCoy (knee) wasn't in uniform, nor was corner Brent Vinson (hamstring). Tackle Wes Brown (knees) dressed but didn't participate.
Cornerback Art Evans left in mid-scrimmage after a left knee injury but was walking on his own.
"We treated it like a game,'' Kiffin said. "Those big runs don't happen in practice because you're not cutting (cut-blocking) guys.
"When you put the whole thing together and start cutting guys, a lot of people wouldn't do that but our defense needs to be able to play cut blocks and we have to learn to do it.''
Said Berry, "It's a bad feeling to see an offense do you like that, but you'd rather it be your offense (than someone else's).
"We'll look at the film, see what the problems were and try to correct them.''
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Comments » 38
Jmxvo1 writes:
Offense looked really good today.
Pleasantly surprised with Crompton.
Best he's played since he's been here.
All of the Freshman look good.
Whiskey_Wizard writes:
Are you kidding me. I passed out, woke up, and am now the first to post? Glad to hear the productive output of the the Offense. Did the first team O go against second stringers on D? I sure hope this is a sign of good things to come. I haven't heard Big D Williams name in awhile. He 100%? I'm gonna pour one just for this positive post. Go Vols!
Whiskey_Wizard writes:
OK, third to post. I'm a bit to slow.
CoastGuardVol writes:
Go Vols!
Wilsonctyvol writes:
A word to anybody who is a fair weather fan - Come on in .... looks like the water is fine!!!!
diehardvolunteer writes:
Offense 1, Defense 4
the10sevol writes:
lol, good one.
the10sevol writes:
could we get a clarification, mr. kaplan?
Hooker article:
“Kiffin has long said he’d give freshmen the first shot in fall camp. Poole has evidently withstood that for now. He and Hardesty took the majority of first-team snaps on Saturday.”
Strange article:
“Montario Hardesty, the starter at tailback, played sparingly”
so did poole take all the snaps?
vol_chaz writes:
The good news just keeps on coming. Stay healthy boys.
wittenfaninky writes:
It's been a long time since I last posted, but had to post my thoughts about the new direction of this team and coaching staff.
Arrived in K-town today on vacation from Ky and took the kids to see Neyland stadium this afternoon. Got to the stadium just as practice was starting and couldn't believe practice/scrimmage was open to the public. This would have never happened with the previous coaching staff.
All I can say is give Kiffin and crew 2-3 years to get the players they need and we'll be competing for championships again. Love the intensity and was very impressed with the design of the plays on offense.
Thank you Kiffin and crew for allowing public access to practice. Walked away feeling proud to be a part of UT football.
DennisVols writes:
Competitive, physical practices will become competitive, physical games.
This ain't your Fulmer offense. It is going to be physical and it will punish the competition's defense as games wear on.
It will be better and just maybe better than anyone thought it could be in just one season.
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
Cldvols1 writes:
The O hasn't sound that good in 2 years! Keep it up boys and Go Vols!!!
jandrew5 writes:
i dont think these scrimmages are that telling of our skill level...crompton tore it up in the orange and white game last year making the clawfense look like the real deal and we were beyond garbage last year..wait until we play fla, alabama, georgia before we know where we stand outside of our own team..
-im tired of getting dooped into thinking we ae good every year when we are a joke..
rich182x writes:
+1
rich182x writes:
AMEN!!
mike_d writes:
We talking bout practice?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exOxUA...
teampenny#658108 writes:
It is great having fall practice here. It sounds like only 3 or 4 starters from last years defense was playing when the offense was making this run. So I expect the offense to be better, but I do not expect them to dominate many defenses like they did yesterday. How many plays and yards did Hardsty produce? Why the lomited role? Go vols
GOBIGO72 writes:
There is nothing worse than your preseason being your best season. Can only hope that this is legit this time - time will tell and it is almost time.....FOOTBALL TIME, THAT IS, IN TTNNNNEESSEEEE.....Can't wait to hear "Please pay these prices and PAY NO MOORRREEEE....."
volnbig11land writes:
From what I hear (read), JC played well in every practice last year. Playing well in a GAME is what matters.
I hope he does well, but personally don't see him being the starter for long....
linebam writes:
Always believed that talent level coming in over the years has been good (well above average); but coaching the talent up was not a strength of previous regime - always hated to see close wins in games that should have been breathers (and don't even talk about last year). I have a very good feeling that this coaching staff will bring out the best in the talent they already have and that a 9-10 win season IS within reach... just need to get healthy and stay healthy. Even bigger and better talent will come in on the heals of this upcoming "surprise" season.
deadheadvol writes:
good question, way to pay attention Tennessee Jed, Go Vols
blitzshoot writes:
Hard to tell until game day. I just hope, unlike years past, it's not game 8 when things are figured out.
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
Understandable attitude. I think you can always discount the orange and white game as any type of barometer of things to come. The defense doesn't blitz and really it is designed to make the offense look good. Full contact scrimmages are different I think. We must remember Berry only played a series, Wes Brown, Rico McCoy and Brent Vinson didn't play at all. And wasn't a scrimmage this week marred by multiple interceptions by both Crompton and Stephens? While the first game against WKU (SHOULD) be a blowout maybe an improved UCLA will give an indication of how we will play.I'm not ready to pop the cork on my finest vintage orange kool-aid yet but there is hope. Last season was best summed up as demoralizing for the offense and only quantum leap in offensive improvement will we be able to compete with the Tide and Gators.
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
by "every year" I guess you mean you've only kept up with the vols for 3 years?
pammyvol1000 writes:
Keep the faith guys!! We will win more games this year!!
jandrew5 writes:
No ive been to just about every home game since 85' actually....but by every year im mainly refering to this decade as a whole....by the way when was our last SEC championship...let me think uh 98'....here's what has happened to the SEC in the decade after...
SEC CHAMPIONS:
2000 - Florida
2001 - LSU
2002 - Georgia
2003 - LSU
2004 - Auburn
2005 - Georgia
2006 - Florida
2007 - LSU
2008 - Florida
Im an avid UT fan but im not buying any kind of hype about our offense being good at all until crompton is gone...sorry.
Orangeblood13 writes:
hmmm, just a couple years ago we where in the title game......
so not sure if your a fan every year
Orangeblood13 writes:
your reasoning for posting here? Oh, forgot, dipdogs like you have no life and think they know football. People like you were in the band and now you get to come out and hide behind a computer and try and show yoou know football, gimmie a break.
Like it or not, 98' was a great year and we beat every team that was in front of us
laugh all you want, wonder what band wagon you ride?
deadheadvol writes:
thats just the cheap whiskey talking, he cant really help it, get some help soon voice.
kiffownsfla writes:
I see ur ignorant azz is still here!
voloffaith writes:
SUGGEST REMOVAL AS POST IS ABUSIVE!!
Can tolerate your drivel most of the time til you start abusive name calling sir.
DingoVol writes:
After reading the ESPN article about Matt Barkley at USC, Jesse Scroggins would be CRAZY to go to USC. There is no way he sees the field there for at least 3 years. If Tennessee comes out this season and looks good offensively, we will get a big time recruit that changes their committment. Jonathan Crompton is the key to us getting a blue chip QB signed. I think he will have a great season much like Ainge did once Cut came back. Go Vols!
seventysevenvol writes:
Let's dilute our orange kool-ade a bit and understand the "big plays scrimmage" was the #1 and #2 offenses against walk-ons and scout team players. Please, quit the hype, practice hard and wake me up September 5...
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
again...you said you're tired of tennessee not being "good" because they didn't win the sec? you can be good and not win the sec. if not- only one team per conference is "good" every year. tennessee has had some good teams since 98. the sec is just that tough.
the10sevol writes:
wake me up the night of the 4th, i'll need to start the smoker...
jandrew5 writes:
remind me again who won that game? and yes i was at that game 45 yrd line 10th row..
jandrew5 writes:
so tough that LSU and Florida can win it back and forth every year... just tired of living in the past is all..hope the near future is brighter..
jandrew5 writes:
i agree..you cant blame how bad we were last year entirely on the clawfense.. as i recall crompton coulnt even hand the ball off to his runningback without screwing it up..secondly i remember a simple 5 yard out pass that crompton threw into the first few rows of the stands, while looking right at the wide open reciever..even the comentators on the game were not sure if he threw the ball away for some unknown reason or that he is simply the worst QB to play at this level this decade..guess what he is our starting QB this year..how can you possibly think we are going to beat any decent team..UCLA would be a miracle..
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