It's almost game week. Tennessee's final preseason scrimmage today at Neyland Stadium will be little more than a dress rehearsal with an emphasis on the kicking game.
Like last week, coach Lane Kiffin has scheduled a game-day simulation with a 12:21 p.m. start.
Here's a couple of things to watch for:
1. Hang 'em High: Chad Cunningham takes over full-time for the Colquitt punting dynasty.
Cunningham, a junior, averaged 39.5 yards in the five games he started early in 2008 while Britton Colquitt was suspended.
Judging from camp, Cunningham's leg strength has improved and his hang time has often been impressive.
2. Lincoln On Target: Kicker Daniel Lincoln's accuracy tailed off badly in 2008 after an impressive 2007 rookie year. He made only 10 of 18 field goals, after going 21-of-29 as a freshman.
So far, Lincoln has been extremely accurate in scrimmage work. He needs to carry that momentum and confidence into game week.
3. Who's Deep?: The Vols have evaluated a bunch of guys for kickoff returns. And that includes freshmen, too.
Exactly who will go deep on Sept. 5 will be interesting to see. Will it be veteran Dennis Rogan or a guy playing his first college game?
4. Sure Hands Needed: The punt-return job is another interesting choice. Gerald Jones is out of the equation until his ankle recovers.
That leaves veteran Rogan - a 4.8-yard average on 13 returns in 2008 - or possibly freshman Nu'Keese Richardson.
Richardson is explosive but does the staff have enough confidence in his hands to give him the job this early?
5. Special Freshmen: Expect to see a number of true freshmen on various kicking teams.
The strength of the 2009 signing class was at the skill positions, offensively and defensively. That makes them prime candidates for special-teams duty.
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Comments » 27
GoodOleRockyTop writes:
GO VOLS!
mountainbrook writes:
Chattanooga Times Free Press has the depth chart posted:
http://media.timesfreepress.com/docs/...
CoverOrange writes:
183 hours and 41 minutes.
Cldvols1 writes:
Thanks for the post MB! Say, you wouldn't happen to live over on Mountain Creek Rd in Red Bank?
ChattaVegasVol writes:
Lets get it ON!!! Go Vols!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I'm gonna lay off that white sunshine for a while.
Starting to see Indians running across the screen.
KINGKONG writes:
is it this me seem look the 12:oo kickoff against the hilltoppers is taken forever to get started anuff talking lets get it on please i cant wait feel like im about to explode
chargervol writes:
I thought it was only me.LOL! Let's get the season started already! GO VOLS!!!
back2backchamps writes:
Thats funny right there, I don't care who you are :)
the10sevol writes:
"Tennessee's final preseason scrimmage today..."
i'm reading this at 2215 hours 28 august 09. the scrimmage is 29 august.
oh, i get it, "reporting live from london, this is mike strange for govolsxtra."
just mail it in, strange. are you using our grammar patrol to proofread your stuff?
GBO
Hounddog writes:
The old Hounddog howled on that one!
Let's play football. Hounddog
the10sevol writes:
i think the high's in the low-to-mid 80's, but it will be very hot for wku.
GBO
doggonevol writes:
Hold that line, witch doctor, bones never lie GO VOLS
flashbone writes:
flashbone laugh so hard at witch doctor post, flashbone pee all over himself.
GBO
smashmouth98 writes:
that is pretty accurate. I hope they produce!!!
Voluvr writes:
what more is there to say?
cc623 writes:
BWAHAHAHA man you often make my evenings with your hilarious posts!!!That one was a classic HAHA "pee a little"...
Crumbhead writes:
Hey, TF, I don't know if you've got this link or not, but it's the Countdown to Kickoff:
http://www.geocities.com/jerrybecker/...
10scvol#518794 writes:
The news "UT releases depth chart." Do you think a fine journalistic specimen like the Knoxville News-Sentinel would provide the public with a copy of the release? Will they hold it for a day or two and then release it?
doubledown writes:
I would rather have Nukeese in the early game with the crowd noise to see how he does. In passing drills, he catches just about every ball thrown his way, very athletic player to be so small. I would imagine he also can make some initial moves after catching the ball the Rogan can't do and get up field with it quicker.
RJ_Vol writes:
Is the Western Kentucky game in hi-def?
OrangeBlur writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Volsnfl writes:
Kick some butt VOLS!!!http://goallineblitz.com/game/signup....
KennesawVol writes:
Is there any site you can get the games online - for free??
jigsha (staff) writes:
We have posted the depth chart. You may find it here:
http://web.knoxnews.com/pdf/083009ut-...
johnlg00#206211 writes:
For the thousandth time, many of the articles we see on here are intended for publication in the NEXT day's paper edition of the KNS. Most newspaper articles are actually WRITTEN the day BEFORE they appear in the paper and always have been. The only difference is that these days they actually post them on line before they hit the actual paper. Get it now?
Sorry to be so snippy, but I can't believe how many people come on here, read the articles--presumably--and then write posts ASSUMING that no one at KNS knows what they are doing. Granted, they make enough REAL mistakes, but this is not one of them.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
OK, then we'll just take it away from you! That way you won't have to punt, either. Then everybody's happy(;-P)!
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