The question put to Lane Kiffin on Tuesday wasn't about quarterbacks. It was something to do with a coach standing up for his players.
My immediate thought was Jonathan Crompton.
For in the first six weeks of his first Tennessee football season, Kiffin steadfastly maintained confidence in his quarterback when hardly anyone outside Crompton's immediate family did.
And, on cue, Kiffin responded:
"We always stand up for our players. It's no different than the quarterback.
"We stood by him all year long and it's paid off for us.''
Kiffin stood by Crompton:
n When he threw interceptions on three consecutive possessions against UCLA.
n When he opened the second half at Florida with a near-interception on the first snap and an actual interception on the third.
n When his sack and resulting fumble was returned for a touchdown by Ohio, a disaster that was overturned on review because the defender had one foot out of bounds.
n When he was 4-of-16 passing in the first half against Auburn.
Kiffin had Crompton's back, no matter how fervent the chorus of criticism grew. I can't recall ever hearing a UT player disparaged in the contemporary fan forums to the degree Crompton has been.
Thankfully, the howl has diminished. If Kiffin seemed merely stubborn through September, he now appears wise.
Somewhere in the late throes of a dispiriting home loss to Auburn on Oct. 3, Crompton hit bottom or turned a corner or switched on a light or, well, choose your own metaphor.
From the fourth quarter of the Auburn game through a rout of Georgia and a near-upset of Alabama, Crompton has been a different quarterback.
Here, let's trot out some numbers to quantify the difference.
Once a season-opening rout of Western Kentucky was done, Crompton struggled against UCLA, Florida and Ohio.
In those three games he had two TD passes and six interceptions and a dreadful pass-efficiency rating of 88.44.
In the past three games he has seven TD passes, two interceptions and a pass-efficiency rating of 141.66 that would rank him on the fringe of the top 30 quarterbacks in the nation.
In the fourth quarter against Auburn Crompton was 13-of-21 for 181 yards passing with two touchdowns.
Still, I'm betting Georgia was blindsided by the proficiency with which Crompton diced up the Bulldogs' defense in a 45-19 win.
For an encore, Crompton had the best day of any quarterback to face Alabama this season. Where Jevan Snead, Ryan Mallett and others came undone, Crompton rallied the Vols with a 265-yard passing day.
Through the bad times, Kiffin was persistent in pushing the passing game. It'll be interesting to see what level it can rise to down the stretch.
"I've always talked to our quarterbacks,'' Kiffin said, "about how the better decisions you make as far as not forcing the ball . . . we'll give you more shots. We'll give you more opportunities to throw downfield.
"He's bought into that. He's doing a much better job of protecting the football.''
That's not the only factor. UT's veteran receivers took a while to get healthy. Gerald Jones, in particular, is a different player in October than September.
Right tackle Aaron Douglas, a redshirt freshman and converted tight end, is getting more comfortable and proficient as a pass protector.
And Kiffin has been more adept as a game-planner and play-caller as he grasps the strengths and weaknesses of not only Crompton but the rest of the offense.
"Every week,'' said Kiffin, "we've got to figure out a way to move our quarterback around and change things up.''
Every week, a new challenge. Three of the remaining five opponents - South Carolina, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt - are ranked in the top 25 in pass-efficiency defense.
Kiffin stood by his man through a rough start. Even Crompton's harshest critics, no doubt, would love to see him write a happy ending.
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6276.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
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Comments » 56
smashmouth98 writes:
we need to keep pounding the ROCK!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Amen, the Cockadoodles are very susceptible to the run.
And rack Garcia 7-10 times.
HallowedHill writes:
Crompton needs to take a page from Shawn Merriman and do the 'light switch' celebration Saturday given his newfound mastery of the game.
GO VOLS!
allvol32 writes:
I had about given up on Crompton before the GA game and I had been a Crompton supporter right up until that time. Jon's been on fire since the GA game and I couldn't be happier for him and his family.
One of the most memorable moments I've ever seen was after the GA game when Jonathon jumped up into the stands with a Lambeau leap and hugged both of his parents - you could tell there were tears of joy in this family's eyes.
We love the whole Crompton family!!!
tennezz writes:
Right on Witchy, I remember when we were calling for Crompton`s head and saying Stevens was the best quarterback. I guess we now know why Kiffin is the head coach and why we are the fans!
QB_10 (Inactive) writes:
WD, I agree, yes it is me--i am more impressed with the fact that JC has put together 8-9 consistent quarters, more importantly put the ball where it needs to go. But as a QB, we all need to have short memories. Soon i will reach out and all bones will fall into place.
Brillovol writes:
I knew he would do this all along...
Yeah right! I sure hoped he would, though. I'll never forget sitting at the '06 LSU game and thinking that with a little more seasoning, we've got a gem. The boy sure can throw a pretty pass if he's on!
Let's just hope he stays "on" the rest of this year. I wonder how he will do at the combine...
BSweet writes:
Staying with Crompton was probably Kiffin's only decision I questioned. I was wrong, and I'm glad for it. I'm proud of the team I saw compete on the field last Saturday. That passion and fire is what we've lacked for some time. This team reflects its coach well. We will get better and we will reach the top again. Of that I have no doubt.
vol_in_bigten_land writes:
I would love for us to win out and JC take us to a bowl game. Then after lighting up the opponent in the bowl for a win, JC give us all two big middlefingers as he walks off the field to conclude his career at UT, most of us deserve it.
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
During the 4th quarter of the Auburn game I couldn't believe what I was seeing out of Crompton. I started to have faith in him then, thought maybe the the light bulb switched on. He sure didn't disappoint against UGA. Had no clue about him going into Bama, but now I believe we have a QB that will help us win games as opposed to losing them. Kudos to Kiffin for having the faith in Crompton that almost all of us didn't. GO CROMPTON!!
volrush17#609372 writes:
WD & QB_10
JC has the mojo goin
Sat night we'll all be:
Eatin big orange stew in a golden spoon
Underneath that sky of Orange
We'll all be drinkin that free bubble-ubb
Eatin some big orange stew!!
Go Vols-w/apologies to Merle
steamboatticket#484773 writes:
Uh...what in the name of Slim Pickens is going on around here? Where am I? Is this Heaven? Wait...I see...beating Steve Spurrier's South Carolina team this Saturday in Neyland Stadium. That's close enough for now. I can see it. Yeah! Oh boy, I feel good.
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
the only problem I've really had with Kiffin sticking with Crompton is that after this season... Crompton's gone. If it was a "sticking with Stephens" I would have taken it much better as we have another year of Stephens.
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
If anyone has watched Garcia over the years...you know what is coming....Eric Berry will set the record Saturday night.
vol_in_bigten_land writes:
Me don't think him will be sticking with Stephens next year. Either.
CRFVols writes:
It's pretty awesome to see how Kiffin has managed Crompton and brought him along once he had some experience with him in games. I think this speaks volumes about how well he well develop a quarterback over a period of years.
FlaVol2 writes:
Hey Vol followers: Just shows all of us that the head couch and his helpers usually know best. Go Vols!!!
tennezz writes:
I am very ashamed, I once said Jonathon was absolutely the worse quarterback I had ever seen. With all the fan bashing, coaching changes, and having to learn four different offensive systems, He has had to carry a mountain on his shoulders and he carried it with dignity. He has always been a great person and has great parents. I am sorry for my part in this and hope you will always be a part of the Vol family!
volsfannsc writes:
The resounding theme here is that Kiffin developed Crompton. If you take a look around, he has developed more than just Crompton. We have walk-ons playing well against the number one teams in the nation. Bryce gets it- he's filling in for Montario's breathers. This is such a different 'air' from years past. Don't get me wrong, I was a Fulmer fan through and through, but I never saw this kind of development from Fulmer. I really like this team's attitude and they don't quit in the last minutes of a game. I haven't seen attitude like that in a while either. If you look at this objectively it comes down to coaching. Some of the statements that Kiffin makes has me cringing, but Muhammed Ali proved you can call yourself the best as long as you can back it up. I'm excited about this team and our coaching staff. Can't wiat until next season for even brighter promise.
atlvolunteer writes:
ive supported kiffin all along, but i am getting the sense that he REALLY knows what he is doing. time will tell, but from where im sitting the future looks bright.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Finish strong Crompton! A balanced attack and our defense will win the rest of our games and whoever they trot out for a bowl game.
volbald writes:
Kiffin has made a believer out of the entire country. Imagine what he and his assistant coaches will be able to do with new talent. Crompton's metamorphasis is amazing. Remember that he was just as awful last year as he was earlier this year. It has to be the coaching as well as the light switch "going on" for the much maligned QB. Nobody really thought J.C. was deliberately mishandling the snaps and passes - they just thought he couldn't help himself. He's been the best QB on the field the last two SEC games and should continue to be the rest of the season. Go Vols!
volstasis writes:
I agree SM98, but I also think that we need a good, balanced attack, which is pretty much what Kiffin has going now. If they can figure a way to torch the s.c. chicks by air, I'm all for it.
easleychuck writes:
Here is hoping that the Vols can erase that ugly memory that was the SC game last year. To me it was worst than the loss to Wyoming.
Garcia will run so hopefully EB can tatoo his arse a few times.
They are whining down here how they were insulted by by Coack K's supposed comments to Alshon Jeffreys (sp). If that is what they need to motivate themselves, it says more about the chickens...still really know deep down inside that they are 2nd class which they have always have been and will remain.
I find it odd that not one single kid came out with anything negative that Coach K said about any other school during last season's recruiting/signing period.
Here's to JC keeping it going at QB on Saturday night.
Go Vols!
sidwalkvol writes:
I just think it is interesting that JC's GREAT improvement coincides more or less with Brandon Warren's being kicked off the team. I wonder if that is when the entire team came together in a way that may not have been possible with him there. Don't know much about it, but Kelly Washington comes to mind.
MidTennVol writes:
Friend, you just spoke for me. Could have written that myself. Seems to me it's all about player development and modern-day coaching. Talk about a breath of fresh air...this staff is for real.
I can't help but think what Fulmer, Larry Slade, Steve Caldwell, and all the other old-guard former coaches think when they see how this team -- full of players they recruited and coached -- plays its guts out ... with a bunch of freshmen on the field, no less. The development, the practices, the game-planning, the in-game coaching -- compared to where we were? Holy moley...
MidTennVol writes:
Another thought ... Kiffin will never do this but I would love to see him and his staff make a commitment to the people of Tennessee: hold periodic coaching clinics and camps for Tennessee HS and JHS coaches. And ONLY for TN coaches.
Why not transfer the knowledge and skills down to where it's needed most -- here at home?
Do this for five years and see what kind of talent starts coming out of Tennessee HS football programs.
Maybe if Kiffin, et all start and keep winning, Hamilton will write this into the next round of new contracts.
Just an idea.
cloudodust writes:
Crompton seems to at his best when under clock duress, on the move or hurry up. The more time he has to drop back, look things over and think, the more that seems to go wrong. In essence it appears Crompton doesn't do comfort zones.
leedsvol2007 writes:
There were probably 3 things that caused a lot of JC's problems his elbow injury, his ankle injury, and the loss of David Cutcliffe as his coach. It lead to confidence issues that now appear to have been cured.
Last year early in the season every pass he threw downfield had the front nose of the ball diving for the ground. And he was very slow early in the season setting up. Those injuries were likely the cause.
Had Cutcliffe remained his coach he would have brought him along much more slowly. He would have never thrown 40+ passes in his first game like he did under Clawson. If you look at what Cut did with Shuler, Manning, Martin and Ainge he only used them with the throws they were comfortable with early on gradually expanding their passing roles as the seasons wore on in their first seasons as starters.
Kiffin is to be applauded as are the line and receivers coaches.
GoVols!
navyvolinva writes:
Denmarkvol
I agree with you 100%!! We hear all the time that the State of Tn doesnt have the 5 or 4 star talent like our neighboring states. Let's do something about it. Kiff and Pearl need to do various camps around the area. Most young men living in a 50 mile radius of the campus are die hard vol fans. Lets develop these young men!!!!
ThurmondEppy writes:
It takes a man to admit when he's wrong. However, it was truly a terrible thing to see folks on this board and elsewhere anonymously trash Crompton - or any other player for that matter. I will never understand how that's cool or funny for folks to do that. How would any of us like it if people could publically and anonymously make fun of us or our families? We wouldn't of course. I just don't understand why people can't apply the Golden Rule.
wayoutwill writes:
Nice article,Mr. Mike Strange,also on the money with the fact that no player(in my memory) has ever had a bigger turn-around,it's hard not to keep waiting for the "bad johnny" to show up and cloudodust says it right with the comment on crompton and his ability to play better on the move,rolling out,or scrambling to make a play,at any rate,"Kiff" has ignored the naysayers,stuck with his q.b. when very few(if any) other coaches would have done the same,Crompton has rewarded him with good play,we now feel like we have a chance to win out IF we continue to play like we have in the last couple games,a bowl game would be great considering how just about all of us felt going into the Ga. game.GO VOLS!
the10sevol writes:
i think they do hold clinics, and coaches come from all over the country. if we shut those guys out, it will come back and haunt us when we try to recruit their players. just my opinion.
GBO
Mr_Brownstone writes:
win out (very reasonable expectation) and finish 8-4!
givehim6 writes:
Kiffin is to Crompton is like what Cutcliff was to Angin. Every QB seems to need a coach to take them by the hand and lead them to greatness wish Crompton could have bought into what Kiffin was teaching during the UCLA, UF, Ohio, AUBURN. games. But now he has we should win out the rest of the season. Hope whomever starts next season clicks at the start of the season.
murrayvol writes:
Good diagnosis Doc.
murrayvol writes:
Sure hope Hag doesn't see this. 40+ years of work down the tubes. :)
brokebackvol writes:
Let's take it a game at a time. I am glad Kiffin stuck to his guns, as he should for one of his players getting alot of flack from the fans. I just don't want anyone getting overconfident and slipping up against anybody else. We NEED this win over SC and the rest of the SEC East. Ole Miss is a question mark, and Memphis is just plain awful. 8-4 sure would be nicer than 7-5.
BigVolFaninSC writes:
I was right there with you and thought that Kiffin should at least give Stephens a shot. I was wrong and had that decision been made, this team would probably not be the same. Not talking wins and losses, but attitude and the players buying in to the coaching staff. Kiffin "plowed the fields" for future recruits and team continuity for this years team! Every week that passes, you can tell the players believe the coaches!...building for the future! Go VOLS!!
hueypilot writes:
Don't know if anyone else has said it, so here goes. Is there any way in the world that JC gets a shot with some team at the next level as a free agent? I know it sounds like heresy, but clearly the kid has arm strength. In fact sometimes he throws it too hard, IMO. Assuming that he can "make all the throws" and that he has the physical tools, size, strength, can he continue to learn the rest? There are a lot of so-so quarterbacks holding down reserve spots on NFL rosters. Keep in mind out of HS, Crompton was right there with Sanchez, okay and Perilloux too. Obviously he can be gotten cheap. No one would waste a draft choice, but he might get to show up at a camp. Probably the combines will determine if he gets invited.
gillblog writes:
So did I. But, I don't think there is cause for shame. After all, when people like me were saying JC was absolutely the worst qb they had ever seen, he WAS. JC's performance has turned our opinions, hopefully for the remainder of the year, not a desire to be editorially more generous to him. If any of us could have, six weeks ago, seen into the future and known how he was going to improve, we were still justified in calling him the 'worst qb' we had ever seen.
Nonetheless, his turn-around has been especially impressive, to me in the way he looks in the huddle now as opposed to last year. His whole body language says; I am going to win this game, there is no doubt in my mind.
So, 3+ years of high-priced coaching is now revealed as not-so-good after all. Or is it?
shipperman#280095 writes:
Fulmer is still in denial. He thinks that if he was coach we would be 6-1 now. LOL...If he were still here, we would be maybe 1-6
the10sevol writes:
pat ryan.
GBO
jimr07 writes:
and if stephens turned out to be really bad, you would be saying he should have played Crompton. never satisfied.
dowhatsright writes:
Well said. I was the same way and I agree 100 percent.
dowhatsright writes:
That is the attitude we should all have. I was guilty too... it was hard not to feel that way. BUT, what I didn't realize was that Kiffen was a quarterback in college. When I found that out, a lot of things fell into place for me. As an ex QB, Kiffen certainly knows who can be the best QB.
TennTraveler writes:
There must me high school seniors watching how Coach Kiff is standing behind his players and maintaining confidencence. Has there ever been a better coaching job than with JC. We need more QB, OL an DL players coming to the Hill. Vols keep getting better. Recruits keep coming. Life is good.
Go Vols - Beat those SC Gamecocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tenuscvol writes:
JC wouldn't do that...
GoVols! Beat SC!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
You make some good points. I was rather hard on Coach Wilson when I thought the receivers were under-performing. Maybe it was just injuries and inexperience early on, and now the receivers are getting it, just as JC is.
Also, this year's O-line was optimized for run-blocking. They were more comfortable firing out at people than they were in more or less static pass-blocking. They probably do a better job pass-blocking on the run, just as JC does a better job passing on the run.
The best thing about all this is that it all seems to be coming together at the same time, and gives me a REALLY good feeling about the future of the program.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Denmark and navyvol make some interesting points, but there are still several major obstacles in the way of developing a lot of D-I-level talent in Tennessee that are not under the control or influence of UT.
For one thing, it is still a numbers-and-competition thing. Compared to some other states, Tennessee high-schools are relatively small and many of its counties are sparsely populated. This limits the number of players available to play football in a given school, the amount of resources available, and, consequently, the level of league competition.
As for the larger cities, several of them, most notably Knoxville, have not had junior-high football for several years now as a money-saving measure. It is a pretty significant leap from the Pop Warner level to high school, and many high school players in the state have never played organized football until high school.
Finally, it helps UT just as much to help upgrade high school football in surrounding states as it does here. That is why all UT high school coaching clinics are open to all interested programs. It does our recruiting just as much good, if not more, to get coaches at our clinics from Atlanta, Louisville, or wherever, as does from Maryville, Morristown, and Nashville.
I'm not saying the staff shouldn't do all it can to establish and maintain good relations with as many Tennessee high schools as possible, I just doubt it would be worth the necessary resources to set up an extensive program such as you suggest and limit to in-state coaches.
You are absolutely right, DV, that there are lots of kids around the state who would love to play at UT. There must always be a place for a Nick Reveiz or the Sullins brothers at UT, no matter how big the program becomes nationally.
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