GoVolsXtra Audio
The secondary went from arguably the most productive defensive unit one week to the worst the next.
All Tennessee was really missing was one guy, but replacing him was apparently at least a two-man job.
Dennis Rogan has gone from cornerback to starting safety and back again as a hybrid defensive back that can play both positions when the Vols need him, in the process becoming perhaps the player they can’t do without in the secondary Saturday (TV: ESPN, 7:45 p.m.) against Auburn. But everybody involved would have preferred to find out a different way than by playing without him last Saturday against Ohio due to an administrative suspension.
“You know, I just did something I shouldn’t have done and it just hit me hard because I wasn’t able to go out there and help my teammates in a time of need,” said Rogan, a former standout at Fulton High School. “Feeling like I let everybody down, that’s the biggest thing.
“I’ve known that from Day One that it’s important to be out there doing a lot of different things. It’s got to figure it’s going to be difficult to move people around. … It definitely reminds me how important my abilities and playing is, but they didn’t do bad without me.”
The Vols (2-2, 0-1 SEC) clearly weren’t as good as they had been through the first three weeks of the season though, and the secondary didn’t get many positive reviews from coach Lane Kiffin as it prepared for the Tigers (4-0, 1-0 SEC).
Ohio threw for 319 yards, picked up critical third-down conversions through the air and took advantage of a handful of missed assignments for big gains — all against a team that had bottled up No. 1 Florida the week before.
“We’ve got to play a lot better than we did,” Kiffin said. “We had blown assignments, we had a bunch of new people in there that didn’t produce the way we needed them to. Whoever is in there needs to play the way the starters do. We were shuffling people around with injuries, and we didn’t make enough plays.
“We had the interception on the screen pass by a defensive end, but for a team to throw the ball 52 times and have no sacks and no interceptions by your back seven is disappointing. We’ve put a big emphasis on it this week and we need to improve a lot.”
The return of Rogan should make the Vols better, particularly since they’re already stretched thin due to injuries elsewhere and not all that deep in the secondary.
The talent pool gets even shallower when they have to replace Rogan since it takes a new cornerback on some downs and a new safety in the nickel package to do it.
“Dennis has played extremely well for us, and he plays both spots,” Kiffin said. “It’s almost like you had to replace two players in a sense that way, and we replaced him with Brent (Vinson) at one point and at safety we replaced him with Darren (Myles), a true freshman.
“There is a difference there. That’s why Dennis is one of our best players on our team through the first three games.”
That point was driven home in the fourth one without him even playing a down.
UT also appears to have made its message clear to him as well with the suspension, and Rogan’s workload should be back to normal against the Tigers — at both positions.
“I really had no idea coming in (this season), I pretty much just thought I was going to be at corner 100 percent of the time,” Rogan said. “I’m glad they’re giving me the opportunity to move around a little bit and show that versatility and it’s actually fun for me to move around like that.
“You have to learn a little more, but ain’t no harm in that.”
But with so much invested in him, it definitely hurts when Rogan isn’t around.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 41
dbc5361 writes:
Some users consider this comment inappropriate. Reveal this comment.
More excuses by Bozo Kiffin.
BreweryVol writes:
Just make sure you do what is expected of you so that you can stay on the field and support your team mates.
TommyJack writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
Rather use a suspension or legitimate injury as an excuse than the whine flu.
oldvolsfan writes:
you need to go back in your hole numnuts
volsenior22 writes:
ummm...what excuse did Kiffin even make?? That a 2 year starter cant be replaced by a true freshman or Vinson? You would probably be difficult to hold a conversation with...
hillsborovol writes:
Is that you again, Phil? Try re-reading the quotes by Kiffin. They were more statements of fact than excuses. UT fired you last year...get over it.
beatlecakes writes:
I did a backwards URL search and found that dbc stands for "dumb, bama, clown." Not surprised. The 5361 was the number of minutes it took him to write his post (all by himself). Bless his pitiful little heart. When he grows up maybe he can man up and make an intelligent post...
VolinCalif writes:
Foo U 61. It appears all you trolls have the Foo U bug. There isn't one excuse in this art. But then how would you know, have the person reading to you to explain the subject and contents. If they won't just go back to coloring books.
andy112382#209793 writes:
So says Bozo Troll
smyrnavol writes:
you didnt say first mrs. DaBozo(the)Clown9021duh! GO VOLS!!!
Razzle writes:
Hey lard brain. Quit posing as a Tennessee fan.
volvoice writes:
Rogan wasn't going to class, and was about to be dropped from two class roles with an "F". He had academic issues last fall, and was borderline all summer on whether he would be eligible for this fall. Only an easy summer Geology instructor who's a huge football fan gave him the C he needed second summer semester, or he'd be watching from the stands right now...
Cldvols1 writes:
I'm not even gonna respond to Dirty Ball Cheese's troll remark! Thanks for the update volvoice, I figured it was academic. Vols need a big win so I don't have to hear it down here! Go Vols!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Just beat Auburn.
CadmiumOchre (Inactive) writes:
===============Quote=================
Volnauburn writes:
I'm not even gonna respond to Dirty Ball Cheese's troll remark! Thanks for the update volvoice, I figured it was academic. Vols need a big win so I don't have to hear it down here! Go Vols!!!
===============End Quote=============
Now, if only all the true Vols fans on this forum would do this, utterly ignore all the petty and demeaning posts of jerks of all species, and post only meaningful messages ourselves. The jerks will eventually grow bored and hunt other places they can create havoc simply out of being classless dead end genetic proto-plasmoids whose sole purpose in life is to make others feel as miserable and self-loathing as they obviously do.
xvolx writes:
The problems on defense are at cornerback. I haven't seen one yet that can cover or tackle and that includes Rogan.
Hounddog writes:
Great idea The Hounddog joins your club
CadiumOchre and will offer this:
I, The Hounddog pledges to never respond to the trolls on the KNS website. Hounddog makes this promise as a True Vol Fan and understands the collective IQ of all the trolls would not reach a total of all the SEC champioships before 1990, and all the teeth at a Bama spring football game.
Let's beat Auburn. Let's play football. Hounddog.
Hounddog writes:
Meant to say total Florida SEC championships before 1990.
cloudodust writes:
After 4 games in, CLK needed to remind the sqaud that noone is bigger than team. Rogan drew the short straw and has been challenged to respond. Please Mr. Rogan, don't be a Morley.
T0MMYJACK writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
More idiotic posts by bozo dbc.
arkyvol writes:
if the vol defense is this fragile, then god help us when the team gets into the meat of the schedule (starting this weekend). i would have figured that they could have played nine and handled ohio, but then, i foolishly thought they could beat those stiffs called u.c.l.a.
FearTheVols1252 writes:
I think you have a secret man-crush on Kiffin and are overcompensating as a result.
TommyJack writes:
POSERS are cowards
Volunatic writes:
Jan Simek:
"When we beat Ohio University in football, we also beat a higher-ranked party school."
Volunatic writes:
The Bobcats knew they couldn't get much done on the ground, and they have a really good QB.
1974Vol writes:
About half the 319 passing yardage came in three big plays. New guys just didn't get their assignments and hand it to Ohio QB that he made the read and delivered the ball. Ohio had the biggest busted coverage all night by either team and JC just overthrew our receiver for what would have been a huge TD. Special teams are what really killed Vols; that KO return for TD got them back in the game. If the Vols could have gotten up 14 in the 1st Qtr it probably goes more like the Western KY game. But it is what it was.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
According to Kesling and Priest, who don't usually say that sort of thing, the Ohio O-linemen were virtually wrestling our pass-rushing D-linemen to the ground when they were threatening to break through with very few calls against them. If so, that could surely help account for some fair portion of their passing yardage.
Volunatic writes:
That is true. I saw a lot of holds by the Ohio O-line that weren't called.
I still think their QB is really good, though.
Volunatic writes:
Tim Priest is the best color commentator in the business. (He was also an excellent defensive back, btw.)
appalachianvol writes:
I for one remember just a few months ago, I was re-solved to the fact, it was probably going to take two maybe three years for My university to get back to national prominance. Now after only four (4) games it looks even better then what I was expecting. I am very happy with the coaching and the team performance. I think it is part of the long range plan. I for one am very happy and willing to wait.
GBO!!
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
Me Too!
appalachianvol writes:
Sign me up!!
GBO
Volin68 writes:
Man I'm glad DR is back in the rotation. Vinson got hung out to dry several times against OHIO. Once was a touchdown, two other times luckily were over thrown.
abnermc writes:
Priest knows more abt. football than you know abt. your relatives.
SWAVol writes:
Amen, I wish Priest was doing the vols games instead of Kesling. I like Bob Kesling but listening to the games is like listening to the news. I want my home radio to be a homer like John Ward. Get us pumped up!
mm29680#645909 writes:
You are pathetic. Has Your GED helped you get a job?
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
Rogan is not a game breaker. If he's not carrying his weight, let someone else have his spot awhile. We don't need moral busters on the team, too many other problems.
ogator writes:
Now you're comparing excuses??? You Vollies aren't bitter are you? Get over it and start playing football! Move on!
balloonman writes:
bubba calls out papa???....pretty comical!
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.