When Jonathan Crompton zipped a 20-yard pass to Gerald Jones in the final seconds of the first half Saturday night, it did more than set up Crompton's touchdown dive on the next play.
No fireworks were launched. No bells were rung. But the completion to Jones was a watershed event.
In eight-and-a-half games, Tennessee's 2009 offense had gained more yards than its 2008 offense did in 12.
You remember the 2008 offense? (Try as you might not to.)
The Vols' offense was hard to watch last fall. At times the experience deteriorated to excruciating.
If the offense didn't directly get Phillip Fulmer fired it was clearly an accessory to the crime.
The 2008 Vols finished with 3,225 total yards, the lowest total since the 1977 team cranked out 3,220. But the '77 team played only 11 games.
The 2008 offense averaged 268.8 yards per game, the fewest since 1965.
Even if Fulmer had hung on to his job, it's questionable that Dave Clawson, his first-year offensive coordinator, would have survived.
When Tennessee set about hiring a new head coach, my hunch is that applicants with a strong offensive resume moved to the front of the line.
Lane Kiffin certainly fit that bill. His turn as offensive coordinator at Southern Cal in 2005 and 2006 established his credentials.
The only question was what kind of success he could have with the roster he inherited at UT. There wasn't a Reggie Bush nor a Matt Leinart to be found.
Kiffin's 63-7 debut (657 total yards) was impressive, even against a bad Western Kentucky team. But when the Vols mustered 15 points and 208 yards against UCLA, followed by 13 points and 210 yards at Florida, it looked a lot like 2008 again.
"You never know what's going to happen,'' Kiffin said Tuesday of his preseason expectations.
"There are too many variables to say you're going to score this many points. You don't know what's going to happen with injuries and the development of players.''
What has happened over the past six games is several injured receivers got healthy and virtually everyone on offense has developed.
The Vols already have rushed for more yards than in 2008. They've already passed for more yards than in 2008. It adds up to 3,604 yards, or 400.4 yards per game.
"If you look back since the UCLA and Florida games,'' Kiffin said, "we made some lineup changes and some players got healthy.
"And we've taken care of the ball a lot better. I don't know how many touches it's been since we had a fumble.''
The running backs are averaging 4.5 yards per carry, compared to 3.6 a year ago.
Receivers caught 12.7 passes a game last year. They're catching 18.3 passes a game this year.
And then there's the scoreboard.
Last year, subtracting defensive scores, the offense generated a mere 180 points. This year it's at 280 with three regular-season games to play.
What you see the past month is at least a reasonable facsimile of what Kiffin sold in his job interview.
But it's not the total package. Not yet.
"We love running the ball and we love grinding it out,'' Kiffin said, "but if we're going to be a championship team, we have got to be explosive.
"We've got to make people scared that we can throw the ball downfield and make plays everywhere. We've done a little of that, but we've got a long way to go.''
There is still time, even for 2009. At least three more games to see where the numbers go.
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6276.
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Comments » 29
ArealVolFan writes:
Sally, stop being a moron. Lets take away all of Tebows stats against all the cupcake teams Florida has played. UT has dominated teams they should be expected to dominate. Feel free to not give credit, but you know this team has improved and will continue to improve under Kiffin. Be scarred little gator!
VOLoom writes:
Let's do this math on out a bit hmmmmm, 21 tds and 10 picks. Not too awfully bad. I enjoy watching every touchdown against garbage teams. Since everyone plays these garbage teams, they still count in the stats.
NorthwestVol writes:
Why don't you come on up to Knoxville and tell him that to his face big boy.
huskyvol writes:
What are Tebow's stats against the creampuffs UF has played?
BigOrangeGhostHunter writes:
Save the mindless comments. Its all sour grapes because you can't admit you were wrong about JC and that he may very well find his way into an NFL camp. The young man has finally found his comfort zone, and CLK has turned a team with its confidence shattered into a title contender in the near future. Especially since it won't take long for Urbie Crier to go running up to South Bend when they can the fat man Charlie Weis. That was a mistake for Notre Dame from the start. Watch out, because there won't be a Richt or a Crier in the East for much longer, and the Vols will reclaim their rightful place atop the SEC. And why don't you take your stupid comments on to somewhere with the other crybaby gators can shortly lament their misfortune when the Crimson Brides destroy you in the Championship Game!
jman33163 writes:
Exactly Witch_Doctor! The Vols are playing their asses off, getting better and better and tougher and tougher! The trolls are just getting pathetic.
Go Big Orange!!
Chris4Vols22 writes:
LAME...Go to bed, Sally.
orangepridenation writes:
good writing by strange, but he forgot the most important stat to compare, 2008 vols through 9 games were 3-6, 2009 vols through 9 games are 5-4. And we still have vandy and ky on the schedule.
GBO!!
tenuscvol writes:
MVU is a chump...
And how many TD's passes did the QB's in those BCS conference games throw against us?...
JC is improving game in game out and that you cannot deny...He will be drafted in the NFL draft in the spring...
Hope you're day get's better and you loose that sourpu$$...
GoVols!
Last Game Prediction: UT:55 Memphis: 10
Saturday's Game: UT: 24 Ole Miss: 17
Go Mississippi State!!! Beat Bama
SmokeyHound writes:
wat about tim tebow? like 9 touchdowns against like charleston southern, troy, kentucky, florida statse, florida international, mississippi state, arkansas, and vanderbilt... wow. you really dont know what your talking about. crompton actually capitalized - he is waayy better.
Vol_FAN_atic writes:
Tebow:
vs. Charleston Southern, Troy - 5td
vs. BCS conference opponents - 6td 4 picks
11 tds total and 4 picks!!!!
Not bad for a glorified FB
OrangePride writes:
Actually, the chump here is YOU Moral-Victories. Inside that BCS oppenents list are the #1 and #2 teams in the country. How many INT'S did Crompton throw there, idiot? And maybe you missed Georgia and South Carolina...how did Crompton do in those games? It seems that you oversimplified........something quite common in simpletons.....like you.
ArealVolFan writes:
Looks like Jawaun James is a Vol.
panties4tebow writes:
I normally don't do a yell for the floraduh team but here it goes....for all you trolls......
Give me a P
Give me a A
Give me a N
Give me a T
Give me a I
Give me a E
Give me a S
What does that spell............panties
What................Panties
WHAT...........PANTIES!!!!!!!!
he he hah hah HAH
hillsborovol writes:
Good point Husky Vol...Here's Tebow's stats...
vs. Chas.So., Troy, VU, & KY - 7 tds, 0 picks
vs. UT, LSU, AR, MSU, GA - 4 tds, 4 picks
Hmmm...Moral_Victories_U...do you see a pattern developing here? By your logic, Tebow is still a chump as well.
bcdvol#234255 writes:
We forgot to put pictures. Sorry, did not mean to ignore your reading comprehension problems. Won't happen again.
JB0001 writes:
Disgraceful comment.
VolinCalif writes:
Come on how WD. just tell me a little fib. We could have gone undefeated this year with just a little luck. Ask the bones if this is true. Then tell me yes. I know it will be just a little fib but tell me anyway.
hillsborovol writes:
MVuniv you are missing Huskyvol's point altogether. He never suggested that Florida didn't have a good team. He just responded to the idiot that suggested Crompton was a chump because he had better stats against weaker teams. Look at my post a few entries up and you'll see that Tebow also has better stats against weaker teams. This isn't a knock against Crompton or Tebow. Players generally have better stats against weaker teams.
VolinCalif writes:
Foo you too
bcdvol#234255 writes:
Oh MV what a comeback, you've got me laughing so hard. Not! Here's a word of advice for you and your buddies that are amongst us all the time. Florida is an outstanding academic institution. Take your buddies, audit some classes and see if you can learn how to write intelligently and perhaps make a logical argument. Frankly your brain is out of ammunition and a battle of wits with an unarmed man is just no fun anymore. Not that it was ever fair for us to fight against your 22 caliber pea brain with a howitzer.
hillsborovol writes:
UT has played two #1 teams. How many has Florida played? Don't talk about schedule. Sagarin's SOS has UT at #32 and Florida at #42. Again at the risk of being repetitive:
Tebow's stats against weak teams: 7 TDs, 0 Ints
Tebow's stats agsinst better teams: 4 TDs, 4 Ints
Maybe UT should be more like Florida and play powerhouses like Charleston Southern (ranked 206 by Sagarin). As bad as WKU is, they are ranked 181.
hillsborovol writes:
DaMan...I guess facts are only pertinent if they are viewed in isolation and support your position.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Man, you trolls are so predictable! If someone destroys your lame argument that Crompton isn't as good as his stats indicate by pointing out that Tebow's aren't that great either, you change the subject to records. Your pathetic desire to belittle the resurgence on the Hill these days is just as sad and as devoid of logic and fairness as DaMan is. You deserve each other.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I can see that you are a good guy, CCVol, by trying to treat MVuniv as if he were just another good fan--even one of an opponent--desiring to discuss football. He is no such thing. He is an avowed hater of all things Big Orange who has NO interest in fairness or discussion. He will use any flimsy argument that bubbles up in his tiny brain to try to make the Vols look bad, no matter how twisted up he gets in his arguments. He will not acknowledge any objective concept of truth in service of his complete contempt and hatred of all things Big Orange. Do not waste another keystroke trying to convince him otherwise.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
You have just shown your true colors. You will acknowledge and agree with one of the most notorious interloping trolls on this board if he happens to say something you agree with, but you will not engage any true Vol fans who choose to argue with your selective choice and interpretations of "facts". You are not a Vol fan, so stop trying to pretend. We will all feel so much better, yourself included, if you would just join the trolls outright rather than continuing to try to portray yourself as a concerned Vol fan.
dirty_don writes:
The schedule tennessee plays this year would be considered the toughest schedule by far ever played by a Florida Gator team.
jdcvols#230433 writes:
Can't stand to see clawson's name mentioned. Worst coordinator in UT's history. Even got mad the other night when BG scored late to beat buffalo....and we have to pay that idiot $150K for two years because of the buyout. (UT $350K-BG $200K).
tyler1 writes:
look at Alabama he had 1 td pass and passed for more yards than any other QB.aT GA he did a great job and if they played FLA again they would win by 20 tebow-12-25-167 and Crompton would be 20-28-300 with 3tds
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