Double coverage not UT's way

Tennessee will disguise and mix up its coverage.

It might even shade a safety toward a dynamic wide receiver.

But that's about as exotic as the Vols get against big-play threats in the passing game, no matter how many of them they face in a row. So just like the four dynamic receivers that came before him, Mississippi's Shay Hodge shouldn't expect any extra attention when UT lines up against him in Oxford on Saturday (TV: WVLT, noon).

"I'm not really sure I can remember when we doubled anybody in a game this year - not at all," UT safety Eric Berry said. "Usually we'll probably just play a Cover-Two over them, or most of the time it'll be man-to-man.

"I don't think we've really doubled anybody this year."

The Vols (5-4, 2-3 SEC) have certainly faced some targets that might warrant some added attention, but they've proved more than capable of slowing each of them down without it lately.

Georgia's A.J. Green? Bottled up for 60 yards on eight catches.

On the road against Alabama's Julio Jones? Held him to seven for 54.

Highly-touted Alshon Jeffery? The South Carolina freshman also finished with only 54 yards.

The Vols also shut down Duke Calhoun in a rout of Memphis last week, and like the other guys on the list, they also kept him out of the end zone.

Statistically the secondary only ranks in the middle of the pack in the SEC, but it's been put to the test over the last month and made it through unscathed.

"You always have to know where (players like Hodge) are at on the field because they are big playmakers and they have great talent," safety Janzen Jackson said. "You always have to be around them so they don't make as many big plays.

"A lot of times I'm playing zone, so I get to help one-on-ones and the matchups they have. Sometimes a receiver will be out there on the island by himself way across the field and I'll cheat over there to help him, so with always having a man deep, it's really not that bad. . . . But, you know, you can't really stop them. Everybody's going to make their plays if they're a big-time playmaker."

Hodge has been one of the best in the conference this season, and the Rebels (6-3, 2-3) haven't been shy about using him.

The senior has more catches and more yards than anybody else in the league, but with a reliable running game and another explosive option in versatile weapon Dexter McCluster, this week in particular the Vols can't get too focused on one guy.

"(The coverage) all depends on the situation," UT coach Lane Kiffin said. "First down, third down or redzone, all three of those are different. There are times you give guys help depending on size matchups, depending on who's on the field or when we are in nickel so Eric is inside. It's a lot more complicated than just a set percentage.

"We just have to do what we've done with other guys - play extremely well, change up coverages, try to confuse (quarterback Jevan) Snead. He has a big-time arm and can get on a hot streak, so it's going to be a real challenge for our rush and our coverages to do well again against another great receiver."

UT has had plenty experience dealing with them down the stretch, and it has had its hands full in the secondary.

But the Vols aren't exactly hoping for a letup yet.

"No, we love the challenge," Berry said. "That's our job to guard wide receivers, and that's what we're going to do."

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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