Thinned linebacker corps a big concern

Injuries will force Tennessee to play linebacker-by-committee Saturday. Now, it's up to the committee members to prove their ready.

The Vols likely will be down to seven linebackers when UT hosts Vanderbilt. Two are walk-ons. Three have faced health issues this season; two are still limited in practice.

Walk-on sophomores Shane Reveiz and Jake Storey are now firmly in the two-deep depth chart.

Freshmen Nigel Mitchell-Thornton and sophomore Daryl Vereenare there too - despite not one career start between them.

Four linebackers have experience, but three are gimpy.

Senior Rico McCoy and freshman Greg King are dealing with sore knees but are expected to be available.

Junior LaMarcus Thompson is still dealing with the aftereffects of a severe stinger that forced him to be carted off the field last week.

Redshirt freshman Herman Lathers is unique. He has started the last two games and is healthy.

"The situation is what it is," linebackers coach Lance Thompson said. "You just take what you've got and do the best you can with it."

Thompson commended his players' effort in this tough time, but was frank when discussing the situation.

"Ability wise, obviously your third- or fourth-team linebacker is not going to be quite as good as your first or second one," he said.

In order to try to keep the best linebackers on the field against Vanderbilt, UT is asking its younger players to learn parts - not all - of its playbook. Some might focus on the base package. Others might focus on the nickel package.

Mum McCoy: McCoy doesn't like talking about his injury.

"Nah, What did you say now?" Tennessee's senior linebacker said Wednesday when asked about his knee.

Yet when pressed, McCoy admitted he shouldn't have played in the second half in last Saturday's loss at Ole Miss.

"I probably shouldn't have been out there," McCoy said. "But I wasn't one to just sit on the sidelines and let somebody pull me off the field. You've got to drag me off the field."

McCoy said he wouldn't even let UT's doctors inspect his knee in Oxford for fear that they might not allow him to return to the field.

"I wanted to stay in there and keep fighting with the team," McCoy said. "That's what I tried to do."

McCoy chose not to get too specific with his injury, saying there's a "couple of little things going on" and that Saturday's setback was a result of aggravating a previous injury.

The Vols already have lost two middle linebackers for the season to ACL knee injuries: Nick Reveiz and Savion Frazier. Those absences and others have Shane Reveiz, Nick's younger brother, running with the first team at times in practice. That was the case Wednesday as McCoy was limited.

"I wasn't really trying to think 'Oh, I'm in with the ones.' " Shane Reveiz said. "I was just trying to practice how I know how to practice and get ready for Vanderbilt."

McCoy would like to be doing the same - but seemed to acknowledge that his status for Saturday is still in doubt.

"It crossed my mind but I think it would take a lot (to keep me out)," McCoy said of missing senior day. "If I can roll, I will roll."

Injury Report: Kiffin said cornerback Dennis Rogan (leg) was limited and Thompson (stinger) did not practice.

"I would anticipate all those guys being game-time decisions," Kiffin said.

Kiffin said Rogan's injury could mean more playing time for former Austin-East star Anthony Anderson and walk-on Tyler Wolf, who could play safety if the Vols shift their defensive backs. Wolf played sparingly against Ole Miss.

Kiffin said kicker Daniel Lincoln (quad) has kicked well this week against an oncoming rush with players holding blocking dummies above their heads to test the junior, who has had three field goal attempts blocked this season.

"It was really good to see, but that's not enough for me," Kiffin said. "We're going to have to see in warm-ups (on Saturday) as well."

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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