Finger pointing? Defense has a hand in mistakes : govolsxtra.com

It's not often that a football team is at a crossroad in September. Yet that may well be the case for Tennessee following its 19-15 loss to UCLA on Saturday.

"This right here could make our season," UT senior defensive tackle Dan Williams said. "We can come back as a team or we can be divided. It's very important that we put this behind us."

The thing that Williams is trying to leave behind him was some finger pointing that occurred following the first loss under first-year coach Lane Kiffin.

"I saw a little bit of a mentality during the game, and I saw a little bit of it in the locker room before I talked to them that isn't what we are and isn't what we want to be," Kiffin said. "It isn't a championship mentality - a little bit of finger-pointing came out, and we have to teach them. They have to understand it's a team and you don't win that way."

Defensive end Chris Walker knows the danger is imminent.

"It's very dangerous," the junior said, knowing the Vols (1-1) are headed to defending national champion Florida next Saturday. "I've been on teams where it's happened and I really hated it when it happened.

"I don't think it's going to happen on this team. We've got too many leaders on this team. We have good kids on this team. If we sense it happening, we're going to nip it in the bud real quick because that's the quickest thing to tear a team apart."

Defensive players surely couldn't have been happy following UT's offensive performance. The Vols had four turnovers: a botched quarterback snap that center Cody Sullins took blame for and three interceptions by senior quarterback Jonathan Crompton.

Adding to the frustration is the fact that when Crompton was at his worst, UT's defense was at its best.

"That's what the team is about," said Crompton, who had five touchdown passes in the season opener, a 63-7 win against Western Kentucky. "If we're struggling, they keep us up. If they're struggling, we keep them up. That's part of a team. They did a good job today."

UT's defense kept hope alive - often with a short field at its back.

In UCLA's drives following a UT turnover, the Vols only allowed 42 yards and 10 points. On three possessions that began in UT territory, the defense gave up only 39 yards and 10 points.

UT's defense nearly saved the game in the waning moments with a safety by defensive back Dennis Rogan. UT's defense also helped generate some points when it forced a fumble at the UCLA 18, which resulted in a touchdown.

Kiffin was pleased with his defense - to a point.

"I thought they played really well," he said. "Even at that, we still killed ourselves. … We screwed some things up by not doing things right."

Kiffin pointed to a blown pass coverage on UCLA's only touchdown as one example.

Safety Eric Berry said the Vols gave up too many third downs conversions: 3-of-14.

Most damaging, UT only recovered one of UCLA's six fumbles. One missed opportunity occurred at UCLA's goal line in the game's final moments.

"We just have to take a look at ourselves in that situation," Berry said. "Did we do everything that we could do to help this team win? You might have to do some soul searching for yourself to see.

"We don't need to do any finger pointing. We won't do that. I won't allow it."

Berry, who led the Vols with 10 tackles, said he's not frustrated that he went a second straight game without turning in one of his signature, game-changing plays. He said his efforts, albeit quiet this season, allow other Vols to make plays.

"Everyone wants to make a play but I feel like I need to play my position in this defense," said Berry, who is often lined up close to the line of scrimmage this season. "I have a role in this defense. Everyone has a role and that's what I need to focus on. Don't do anything out of the ordinary."

Walker said UT's older players have already spoken to the younger Vols about having the right attitude in tough times. Walker said UT's defense is also confident that their offensive counterparts can succeed thanks to their showings in off-season practices and the performance against Western Kentucky.

Yet it's hard for some not to think about what could happen, especially after UT's 5-7 season in 2008.

"Especially coming off the season we did last year," Williams said, "a lot of people are, I guess, just letting their frustration out."

Every player, frustrated or not, knows their challenge only gets tougher next week.

"We have a big game in Gainesville," Walker said, "so we can't dwell on this too long."