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Ohio defensive lineman Kris Luchsinger (54) holds on as Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton (8) moves the ball on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 at Neyland Stadium. The Vols evened their record to 2-2 with a 34-23 win.
The folks on the outside of Tennessee football looking in want to know: What do the Vols' fans think about Lane Kiffin now?
Doing talk shows around the country, I've been asked the same question different ways over the past couple of weeks.
Continue reading at Mike Griffith's "Ask Griff" blog.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 85
OldNumber7 writes:
Folks need to relax. If Tennessee finishes 0.500 this year it will be a great start to rebuilding. Most teams that "rebuilt" lately have had similar starts and great 2nd - 3rd years (Saban, Rodriquez, Carroll...etc..). These coaches are playing these guys to the best of their abilities (pretty 1D), the depth chart is thin, QB is limited.
armyvol22 writes:
"But a closer look inside the numbers showed that 10 of his incompletions were not his fault - and his interception went off of Gerald Jones' hands."
I listened to the game on the radio and thought that Crompton had a bad game. Then Sunday night I got to see the play back and when I saw the interception, I knew that was not Crompton's fault. Brown dropped a pass, and you could see him turn before he caught it. I think Crompton is not as bad as everyone wants to say, but on the other hand he is not Payton either. The line has a depth problem and we have young receivers. This combination is why UT struggles. But I still enjoy watching them play and I know this coaching staff will get these problems fixed. GBO
ClearVol writes:
One offensive touchdown will not beat Auburn.
layoffthevolteam writes:
NEGATIVITY IS LIKE A SINK HOLE , ALL IT DOES IS PULL OTHERS UNDER.
FOR ME?
TODAY, I'LL STAND FOR TENNESSEE^^^^^^^^^^
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
Clappopotamus took this program to the point of no return. It's gonna take time to "Phix" it folks. We're not going to win this year or next. Try and be patient.
Hardrocknox writes:
bob4 vols . what is wrong with you ? phil is gone ! you are pathetic .
notoriousBIGorange writes:
No time to panic in the first year.
CLK is obviously using the Pete Carrol model at USC in building this program. Carrol does get players NFL ready and USC has produced more NFL draft picks than any other university in the last 2 years. That is a FACT not your simple opinion. That is also where this program is headed which is why you are so afraid.
BTW, I love it when you call me Big Poppa...
CrankE writes:
It's equal parts bad receiver play and bad QB play. The end result is the PRODUCT of those two, not the SUM.
If I'm an opposing DC though, I do everything I can to make Crompton have a bad game short of physically pounding him. If I'm an opposing DC, I want him on the field.
You know, it wouldn't have mattered if Fulmer got those Michigan coaches and Ryan Mallett after the 2007 season. He'd probably start Crompton anyway saying that Mallett didn't know enough of the offense yet.
This could be another long season.
kazoo writes:
I have been a major Kiffin supporter, and still am--I love the staff he's put together and energy and drive he's brought to the program. But I've lost confidence in his judgment over the QB issue. He sees the QBs every day--I don't. Still, I do not believe for a second that Stephens is not as good as Crompton; I just don't. I saw Stephens play quite a bit last year--he was BETTER than Crompton. Everybody brings up the Wyoming game--the team was imploding by then. Stephens didn't throw an interception in four games--so i'm tired of hearing that he's terrible too. When you've got a guy who can't really play well, it's conventional to try the next guy. For some reason, when it comes to QB and Crompton, Kiffin doesn't want to do this. I have to believe Kiffin has some personal/personality issue with Stephens.
Kiffin's notion that changing QBs could hurt Crompton's confidence, if he has to come back and play, is NONSENSE. The guy doesn't do anything now but throw swing passes to backs! I'm sure that were Stephens not to work out to Kiffin's expectations, Crompton could come back in and throw swing passes again and hand off to the backs. Let's get real here. My sense is that Stephens would be better--but our WR situation is so bad that I doubt he'd be a major improvement.
But here's the thing: Kiffin is screwing up both this year AND next! He's not going to play Stephens next year--he'd lose face if he did that after stubbornly sticking with Crompton and not giving the No 2 guy some more experience! So he's GOT to play the true freshman next year--and that means the Vols are going to have QB problems again. I think Kiffin has screwed up this situation royally.
xd9x19 writes:
I'm guessing 1-3 or 0-4 in October and at least one more loss in November.
winVol writes:
well guess u forgot about last year, he didnt look better to me and ,oh u are with the team every day too right . u need to take a chill pill
AFVol423 writes:
I've been disappointed by the lack of consistant play on offense. Injuries play a huge roll when your already thin. I guess what I've learned from the first few games is that the coaching change was justified. Tennessee just wasn't getting the players they used to or the players were not getting to play because of academics or legal issues.
We all hoped that Kiffin and crew could come in with some magic game plan and make a middle of the pack team perform above average. The kids are motivated and the attitude is better. I haven't seen a cell phone on the sidelines all year. The new kids are talented and contributing on the field (no excuses about not grasping pass protection). Those improvements are incouraging even if they have not manifested as big wins to date. GO Vols!
SavTnVol writes:
I'm not sold on the idea that UT should work on putting players in the NFL....We need to win at the college level...Now I do believe that Kiffin can produce that, but I am concerned about doing it year after year with a Pro style QB...look back on the last oh, 4 or 5 NC's...they were spread...A spread won't work in the Super Bowl and it looks like a pro style doesn't work now in a National Championship game....Sure, it's wonderful to see Peyton play like he does on Sundays and I watch him with UT pride, but really, I just don't buy into the pro-style QB system for National Championships...I hope that Kiff proves me wrong and will gladly eat my words if he does...As for the rest of the NFL players that come from a spread, I don't think they are handicapped by playing in the spread...If they can catch a ball in the spread, hell, they should be able to catch a ball in the pro style too...IMO, it only effects the QB's....
TennesseeJed writes:
I love to see all the positive posts. GO VOLS!
DennisVols writes:
As I have stated before Crompton is not as bad as many think he is and also not as good as we want him to be.
Some of the criticism is deserved and some not. It does appear that at times he is staring down his intended receiver. I believe there are 2 reasons this is happening. One it is a mental mistake by Crompton but the biggest reason has to do with a lack of confidence that his receivers are going to be where he is supposed to throw the ball.
Like it or not lasts year’s “clawfense has done more damage than we thought. This offense went from pro-style to spread and back to pro-style in a 3 year span. All good passing schemes are based on timing. Under Spurrier the Gator’s passing game tore teams apart using timing patterns. Receivers ran to a spot, turned and caught the ball. The QB knew where the receiver would be and when they would be there. Peyton has that same connection with his receivers. Crompton does not have the connection. In part because of injuries, in part because of youth, but the biggest reason is the constant changing of the offensive schemes. There just isn’t that trust, the timing necessary to have a successful passing option. It will in all likelihood improve as the season goes on. The sad thing for Crompton is that he does not have another year to see the fruits of his labor. That will belong to the next QB to start under center next year.
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
TommyJack writes:
Would love to see a secret ballot taken from CLK's staff as to who should be starting QB.
Orangeblood13 writes:
one of the greatest QB's in Vols history, you would think you would know how to spell his name.....
Crompton is awful man, good post but he is awful
Orangeblood13 writes:
Agree
Major_Magilicutty writes:
Teague was miles away from the defender and Crompton overthrew him by 10 yards. You simply can not do that.
tfortennessee writes:
We have to be patient with this team. I feel 100% certain that KLK and his staff have the team on the right track. Crompton has made some mistakes, but so has a young group of receivers and linemen. Give the staff a year or two and it will look a lot different. Just continue to come on out and support these guys. They appear to be making improvements each game and getting a little better.
And on another note, take a look over at the Commercial Appeal and see how those idiots are treating Coach Tommy West down in tiger high land. That is a guy and team that needs support and the fan base is just to stupid to understand it. Talk about a dead end, career killer for a coach. Who in their right mind would ever take that job, and they are dropping names like Tommy Tuberville and Phil Fulmer! I hope we as UT fans never stoop to that level of hatred. Now is the time to go over to Memphis and take any high school kid who ever considered attending tiger high (who is capable of playing at UT).
NobodyCares (Inactive) writes:
BoyBob, and we tolerated some real jewels of wisdom from Big Ol' Doofus for how long? Classics such:
- Won't know until I check the tapes
- The perfect storm
- I don't have any fairy dust
- Gona evaluate this program top to bottom, inside to out, front to back ... and come up with a solution. And after a good nights sleep he brought back Cutcliffe
- The punter let us down
- My primary job as head coach is educating and mentoring
- If the fans had been behind us we would have won
- I had this team all positioned to turn things around next year
- And one of my all time favorites before the '05 season: I don't want to say too much but with the talent we have on this team we have the opportunity to be really special. A national championship is not out of the question.
And after 4 games you want to fire the guy who has the balls to come in here and clean up this mess? Your ignorance is showing.
givehim6 writes:
I will give Crompton one or two good things, 1. He did do a better job against Ohio then he did in all games except WKY but KY would look good against WKY. 2. He is a very thick skinned QB, and UT needs a thick skinned QB during a rebuilding year.
kiffownsfla writes:
Im thinking he is keeping jc in because he wanted him at usc and wants to try and prove to himself and us he is a gud qb. It aint ever gonna work didnt clk say he was draftable? LMAO NO WAY EVER WILL HE PLAY NFL EVER!
jimr07 writes:
You are probably not going to shut all these coaches up about it. the fact is that every coach, high school, college and professional are going to play the best they have. Crompton is definitely not in the heisman hunt, but you have to have someone that can catch the ball.
jimr07 writes:
Johnny Majors is not coming back. get used to it.
jimr07 writes:
amen. nattering nabobs of negativity.
jimr07 writes:
And, the winner is Crompton.
NobodyCares (Inactive) writes:
A few more Big Ol' Doofus classics:
- We had 'em coached up and ready to play. Don't know what happened.
- I've reviewed the season ('05) and we were only 5/7/8/whatever plays from going undefeated.
- I didn't know that Hardesty did not play today.
- After Trooper made his career goals known: No I haven't talked to Taylor. Got no reason to talk to him.
- One thing I really like about David Clawson, he has the guts to tell me I'm wrong.
- We've got some problems but we're going to continue working like heck to correct them.
And, the one classic we NEVER heard from Fulmer.
- That was a terrible game/season and I take full repsonsiblility for it.
Cldvols1 writes:
LOL, that was pretty good! I think Bob's real name is Bob4Gayders.
ashnoca writes:
No crompton = Fulmer still here. We had/have enough talent to win games. Just no one to lead us down field. Defense was great last year. It all has come down to our QB's.
the10sevol writes:
true test is whether booby responds to armyvol's mention of Peyton, lol.
GBO
p.s. i'll sweeten the bait and mention Austin Rogers. any nibbles yet?
the10sevol writes:
a lot of folks said the same thing about pat ryan 30 years ago, ironic, huh?
GBO
Vol86 writes:
The more I think about it we have not had a reciever that would make a team think since Mecheum. Need big time recievers in this conference. All the other Schools have them. Go down th list
rdr4vols writes:
For one thing, someone now as head football coach of the VOLS has some boldness and fire in his heart. It appears too many were used to the boring and lack of desire in the last administration. One quote left out was "We didn't get stupid overnight". As a comedian ole' Fill Fulmer wasn't half bad. In the 90's You couldn't ask for a better recruiter or coach,but alas, the game passed him by. So, remember that Coach Kiffin and crew still has a large number of Fulmer's recruits and will take at least two years or maybe three till a SEC championship is possible. I hope for best for our Vols!! Saw the Army game in 1965 and my blood's been running ORANGE ever since.
Stokes44yrs writes:
I have an uncle Bob? You (Bob4) coudn't be him 'cause he's pretty smart...well except he's a Georgia fan! Hey maybe you ARE Uncle Bob? Bob4's a Georgia fan!! Naaa'cause Uncle Bob hated all those times Tennessee beat Georgia under Phil. He probably hates Phil Fulmer...Except he has a son named Phil!!?? Hey myUncle Bob is secretly a Tennessee fan...naaah his wife would kill him.
Now what was this article about?
ctexorange writes:
No surprise here. Look at Oakland's record while Kiffin was there. Kiffin has his blind followers and they will open their eyes eventually.
Vol_in_Mich writes:
Don't know if you are being sarcastic or not there Jed. I always thought Tenn. had a lot of negative fans till I went on a LSU site. They're undefeated & #4 in the nation & there are more folks calling for Miles head & badmouthing their team than on any Vols board I've seen.
Just an observation. We are rebuilding & getting better. When we are undefeated & #4 you can really start female doging about the coach.
GO VOLS!!!
ps: Tigerdroppings.com doesn't change your words to "female dog & Phooey"
Vol86 writes:
This must be comming from an expert. Ha
Vol_in_Mich writes:
Thank you Mr. Agnew.
GO VOLS!!!
Vol_in_Mich writes:
Bob4Vols is not Naffy. Naffy or whatever he is calling himself now may be a racist but he ain't that stupid, he knows a little about football.
Clapopotmus is the funniest damn thing I've heard lately. Prefect!
GO VOLS!!!
RKYTPTN writes:
I couldnt be more proud of coach Kiffin, and the way he has handled hiself and this Tennessee team.He has put the Vols back in the spotlight, and brought the spark back in the fans as well as the players.I have 100% confidence in him and his staff(unlike last years head coach)and believe great things lie ahead for this Tennessee team.We see the team every Saturday, he sees them 6 days a week ,who are we to question who he has chosen to start the game for any position, not just quarterback.Unlike previous years, we must trust in this outstanding coaching staff that we now have. They know best. GO VOLS !!!!!!
OldNumber7 writes:
Ha! I was shocked at how many empty seats were at Florida Field when game-of-the-century was there..you know...the hit-Tebow-so-hard-his-glare-strips-came-off game. Same deal going on in Jacksonville...it's an economy thing.
Bloodrunzorange writes:
Just beat Auburn! It's been a long time since we beat their butt! It will be another close game! Go Vols!
DAMVIEWVOL writes:
My granny,God rest her soul,always said "If you aint got nothing good to say, say nothing at all." Don't condem,get behind Crompton and the coaching staff. Prayer always goes a lot further than fussing about something we have no control over.
murrayvol writes:
Or worse. See Michigan 08' (3-9).
seventysevenvol writes:
Think only about Auburn; quit the predicting what we'll split and how we'll end up. Auburn will provide a stern test but they're beatable. Irregardless of Tate or their TB (can't spell his last name) they do not have a stellar run game; run stats are misleading in this respect because Auburn has only played one decent team- West Virginia @ Auburn; and they were fortunate to win it. True, they will send 4 wideouts and have a back or a TE as a hot receiver a lot...but Sr. K will send the heat and we'll get some picks. Think only Auburn...and win. We should:
Vols 24
Auburn 14
GerryOP writes:
I am shocked that you gator trolls are not over on one of your own sites keeping updated on Timbow instead of dumping your usual classless drivel on us. Timbow, almost 50% of your offense, down with a serious concussion, yet you clowns are still here talking trash. Kind of like lil' Urbie talking about Timbow playing again soon ... barely 24 hours after being released from the hospital. Classless...
TommyJack writes:
fandom ravaged by flu
TrouserCough writes:
This guy is right, Crompton is good
volsbecoming2ndtiersec writes:
TN is .500 against Western KY, UCLA, FLA and OHIO..... Vandy would also be .500 at this point with that schedule. Also Eric Berry is as important to TN as Tebow is to FL. He better stay.....
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