No matter what difficulties Tennessee's offense might incur in this afternoon's scrimmage, that shouldn't affect your outlook. UT's offense will be improved this season.
You're probably thinking: "That's not saying much."
And you're right.
One of the few advantages of letting Dave Clawson hang around your offense for an entire year is that the next year can't be worse. Not that UT's last offensive coordinator should get all the blame for an offense which made a mess of things on a regular basis. When you rank 115th nationally in total offense, it's a group effort - led by the head coach.
New head coach Lane Kiffin will benefit the most from last season's offensive meltdown. His offense will be better by simply showing up.
But it will be better for other reasons as well. The Vols are improved at every offensive position.
You almost could have reached that conclusion in the spring. When UT's freshmen showed up for preseason camp, there was no debate.
Quarterbacks Jonathan Crompton and Nick Stephens are both better suited for this offense than the knuckle ball Clawson threw at them. Moreover, it's obvious UT will lean more on its running game.
Senior running back Montario Hardesty was asked this preseason if he were surprised that UT had a new quarterback throw more than 40 times in the season opener against UCLA last year. Hardesty said "No, sir" twice and laughed.
It's funnier now than it was then.
The return of Hardesty and Tauren Poole are two of the reasons UT will be better off at running back. And the addition of freshman running backs Bryce Brown and David Oku will more than make up for the loss of Lennon Creer and Arian Foster, unless one of them starts offering up game-altering fumbles on a regular basis.
Fullback is better off, too. Kevin Cooper is a returning starter, and Austin Johnson has caught the ball well in preseason.
Receiver is another obvious area of improvement. Gerald Jones has been exceptional whenever an injured wrist has allowed him to practice. Former tight end Brandon Warren has come on strong, and Quintin Hancock asserted himself in the spring after falling by the wayside during the last coaching regime.
Also, freshmen Marsalis Teague and Nu'Keese Richardson have had an immediate impact, just as Kiffin expected when he signed them.
Tight ends Jeff Cottam and Luke Stocker have 20 starts between them. And they should get more opportunities in this offense. In 61 career games, the two have combined for only 21 receptions, including 17 by Stocker.
The offensive line, which returns four starters, might benefit the most from the new coaching staff. They seemed less comfortable than the defense in Clawson's flip-flopping scheme, which had guards and tackles switching from one side of center to the other.
You can't blame Clawson for placekicker Daniel Lincoln's drop-off. But kickers, like hitters, can be susceptible to slumps. Based on how Lincoln has kicked in preseason, you certainly would expect him to improve on last year's 10-for-18 performance.
And although Kiffin has yet to call his first play as a college head coach, I'll give him an edge over the last guy.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 79
CaliVol2009 writes:
GO VOLS!!!!!!
ThurmondEppy writes:
No more "woo" after "good ole rocky top"!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Coudld we have an "amen".
CaliVol2009 writes:
SMASHMOUTH! This is what I like to hear. I am so pumped for the new era of Tennessee football!!!!
stayingorange writes:
And I've got to believe that any dropoff in the D from last year's 3rd ranked unit will be made up for by just a slightly better O. That D last year had to fight from a lot of tough spots that a little O production can prevent.
ctownvol writes:
Amen
Need_2_Know writes:
I'm with you on the "woo".
vol98champ writes:
When is someone going to write a book on the disaster of 2008? If it is by a real insider it ought to be a best seller.
NoogaVol55 writes:
the last sentence in the article was a little rough. I Love Kiffin....but Phil had his day in the sun once...no denying that.
DennisVols writes:
What has improved:
1) Discipline( No arrests or other off field incidents since Kiffin arrived
2) GPA ( Largest semester increase in team GPA)
Appears to have Improved:
1) Confidence (Players and media alike have expressed an increase in the players confidence in what they are being asked to excute) This had to be a top priority for this coaching staff after the fallout from last season.
2)Physical toughness: Both camps have been extremely physical.No kid gloves for this team. Plus the the training in the weight rooms increased. Some players quit (If you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen)
3) Mental: Players were 100% in attendance this summer for player's only practices. Even the incoming freshmen put in the extra work so they could contribute to this team.
The season hasn't started but all the right indicators say that this team will be better, more competitive and better prepared come game time.
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
It's really sad that BB may not play, but I still like our chances with Hardesty, Oku, and Poole. That's a pretty good pool of backs.
Seriouslyorange writes:
Amen to "no more woo!!!!!!
Who in hell ever started that should be hung from the goalposts. Beaudeleaux and Felice Bryant, who wrote the damn song, would be extremely upset at that little add-on. Maybe Dr. Julian ,band director emeritus, could get that stopped. However, win 10 games or so and the woo will sound great "all night long"
VolFanInTheBoro writes:
Clay Travis wrote a book called On Rocky Top about last season. You can read excerpts from it on fanhouse.com
blitzshoot writes:
Amen, and I agree, the Vols will be better.
Waldorf writes:
http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Top-Front...
Starting about the Auburn game it gets really good.
teampenny#658108 writes:
Good post. All you said is true. Go Vols
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Think he was talking about Clawson. Just a hunch since he was dogging him the whole article and Clawson was technically the one calling the plays last year.
jeremy writes:
I agree no more "woo" after good ole rocky top!!! I will be ipressed if our recievers run an 8yd rout on 3rd and 7, if we don't go into the prevent defense when we get a 3 point lead with a quarter and a half to go and our "special teams" don't line up with 5 yds between them on the line...see last yrs ucla game.
the10sevol writes:
anybody heard any news on toney williams? if healthy, i think he would still be right in there with the other guys, jmo.
GBO
agohn writes:
I hate that stupid "Woo". I remember when it started in 1996. It makes me want to stop singing the song or going to the games.
go_vols_go writes:
We will suprise a few people this year. I can't wait until kickoff!
jeremy writes:
sounds like a "grass roots" effort is underway to "stop the woo"!!!! Count me in.
DennisVols writes:
Toney tore his ACL so he will redshirt this season. He is a great fit for this offense not only because of his running ability but he has great hands for catching passes out of the back field. He was a freak of a player in HS in the ATL area. He scored 7 TD's in one game his senior year.
During Spring camp he made the biggest impression of all the incoming freshmen backs.
There is always next year.
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
VolFan1012 writes:
Toney Williams tore an ACL early in the fall practice, if not during summer workouts. Had surgery and out for the year.
RockyTop_Tampa2 writes:
anyone should be able to see the O will be better. But its being said we had no offense last year and wont have this year. as i said anyone who has paid attention to whats going on in ktown should see this will be a good year and yes VOLS are gonna shock a lot of people this year.
tenuscvol writes:
"....good ol'e Rocky Top...."
(altogether now:...)
"WOOOOOO"....
"...Rocky Top Tennessee..."
Sorry,....couldn't resist.
GoVols! ("Wooooooo!")
the10sevol writes:
thanks, dennis. you bring good stuff to this site, and i agree on your assessment of tw, but i was hoping to find somebody who is in contact with toney to let him know he's missed. and to tell him, in the subtle terms coach O, to "get off that butt and get that rehab done! you gotta go, son, these other backs are trying to get ahead of you!"
GBO
TommyJack writes:
Richard Cranium. Now I like that. Richard Cranium. Bwahahahaha
balloonman writes:
there you go again Adams!.....shoot Fulmer one more time.....he might not be dead yet!
TWhite11 writes:
Its seems like its usally the chicks that say wooo, in the song. Maybe thats just me thinking that.
NoogaVol55 writes:
Wow...I completely read that wrong....sorry fellas...been a long week.
ThurmondEppy writes:
I remember when the "woo" started creeping in, around the late 90's I think. I didn't like it but I was usually into my thirteenth airplane bottle of Jack by then so I didn't care too much. Now that I'm older I actually want to watch the games (and remember them the next day) so I don't drink so much anymore, and the "woo" really annoys me. Sobriety makes me cranky.
ROCKYTOPWOOFAN writes:
Hey morons!! It didn't start in 1996, it started back in the late 1980's while Dr. Julian was the director,and while I was in the band so he is not going to stop it now. If he didnt stop the woo then, what on earth makes you think he will stop it now? LONG LIVE THE WOO!!!!!
Orangeblood13 writes:
well, until he wins, I'll save the better
as for " I'll give him an edge over the last guy." Adams always bashed CPF.
How soon we forget
DannyVol writes:
You are absolutely correct. No sense in revisiting last season at this point. But what can one expect from Adams? Certainly not class or good journalism.
TommyJack writes:
Unlikely
MidTennVol writes:
Adams just can't get over blaming Fulmer. He's still doing it and Coach Fulmer is long gone.
If we lose badly this fall and fans get upset, will he still blame Fulmer? How long can this obsession go on?
Reminds me of a similar situation on the Potomac: blame the previous guy for everything under the sun as long as you possibly can.
Thank heavens that it's just a newspaper writer and not the new guy doing this in Knoxville.
GerryOP writes:
Sounds like a bunch of cranky people on here this morning! Wooooo!
14 -- Fear The Kiffin...
Couchdummy writes:
The "woo" after Rocky Top is spewed in relief that the song is over! As I have said, what a hokey, corny song. If we could get a less embarassing pep song, the "woo" exclamation would stop! Go Vols!!!
cloudodust writes:
Preseason swagger from the fan base is promising, yet what I want is to rub my oppositions fan bases nose in it on Saturday's and Sunday mornings. I want that post game 'who's your daddy' feeling back. I don't care if Tennessee wins by 1 or 21 but I do care if we lose by the same margins. Moral victory's won't win the SEC. No, you can't win them all but champions win more than they lose. It can be done..! We've all read columnists predictons for Tennessee ranging from 4-8 to 8-4. The bulleye is more on our backs than Florida's. Let's bust some bubbles and whip some a@@. Amen. Go Vols.
Defect writes:
You can't stop the Woo. You can only hope to contain it.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
To be honest the "woo" is the only part of the song I really know. I vote to keep it.
HoustonVol writes:
When is someone going to write a book on the disaster of 2008? If it is by a real insider it ought to be a best seller.
I have actually seen a book advertised. I have no urge to read a book about the VolTanic
Go4Two writes:
Adam's has a major mancrush on Kiffin.
Go4Two writes:
Fulmer will be coaching in 2010.
GerryOP writes:
Really? Where?
BigOrangeCountry writes:
Funny you should ask. Check this book out. I got my copy yesterday.
http://bit.ly/mG6Bj
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Agreed, but I never thought play-calling was one of ex-CPF's particular strengths. I know that he didn't make all the individual calls, but he had the final say, and the OC's all knew what his preferences were. So did all the opposing DC's, players, and all the fans. When we got predictable and our talent level dropped off and we got the Clawfense...we got what we saw in '08. No way our offense won't be better this year.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Not sure I have ever heard Adams accused of being a "fan of Fulmer"! Even people who dislike both Adams AND Fulmer thought Adams was a little over the top in some of his criticism, especially when Adams slammed Fulmer on Paul Finebaum's radio show in Alabama a couple of years ago. But maybe you were joking.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Me too! As a bluegrass musician who played "Rocky Top" for a good 15 years before it was adopted by the school, it REALLY annoys me. However, it only stops me from adding my own "woo", not from singing the song and CERTAINLY not from going to the games(;-P)!
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