Scheme isn't the issue.
Really there's nothing too complex about the play that could be changed for Tennessee.
Lack of reps also wouldn't appear to be a problem.
Even with some recent struggles in execution, the number of times the play is run in practice isn't going to be different either.
There's no question the quarterback sneak has been a sore spot for the Vols over the last couple weeks, but they appear to know how it can be fixed. It just can't exactly be done on a chalkboard or the practice field as UT gets ready for Middle Tennessee State (2-5, 1-3 Sun Belt) on Saturday (TV: FSTN, 7 p.m.).
"The whole thing about the quarterback sneak is, that's just a pride play," center Alex Bullard said. "It's just basically whoever wants it more.
"It's not scheme, it's not what play we're running. You need to get an inch, you put your hand down and you go."
The Vols (3-5, 0-5 SEC) have gone with that basic short-yardage approach a few times on critical fourth-down attempts over the last two games, but twice it hasn't been enough to pick up the necessary inches to move the chains.
At Alabama, a stuffed sneak by Matt Simms dramatically swung the momentum when the defense gave up a touchdown on the next play. Last week against South Carolina, the Vols again failed to nudge the ball much further than the line of scrimmage with Justin Worley taking the snap and the plunge — though that didn't cost them anything more than the end of a drive and field position.
But that doesn't make it any more palatable for UT, which has shown a willingness to gamble on fourth down when it needs a yard or less but an inconsistent ability to make it pay off by going just 3-of-7 this season.
"Six inches, the ball's right there, you just grab it and push it over that far," offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. "It seems relatively simple, but unfortunately we're making it rather complex. We're struggling with that right now.
"As a coach, when things don't go your way, you think about a billion different things -- what you do, what you call, what you don't call. But at the end of the day, you lay your head down and you know what's right and wrong. A sneak is an easy play to do to get four-to-six inches, and you'd like to be able to go out there and execute it with a measured amount of success."
The Vols found some late in the game with Simms plowing ahead, sneaking for a first down to keep a drive alive and improving their conversion rate for the season.
At their current pace, the odds are still against the Vols when they roll the dice on fourth-and-1. But they at least know what it will take to swing them in their favor.
"On the first one we ran, they got up under us and we didn't do a good job of pushing them off the ball," Bullard said. "That was our fault. The second time, we drove them out of there and got some yards.
"That's all pride."
Majors Honor: The SEC didn't have to really specify a position for Bobby Majors.
It's just calling him a legend.
The versatile UT great who made a mark as a standout defensive back, a returner on special teams, a wide receiver and even a punter will be honored by the conference as part of the "Weekend of Champions" in Atlanta leading up to the conference title game on Dec. 3.
Majors will represent the Vols at the league's marquee event as recognition for a career that included All-SEC honors in 1970 and '71, as well as a spot on the All-America team as a senior.
Hot Corner: As the mixing and matching continues in the secondary, it looks as though the Vols are going back to where they started at cornerback.
After some early struggles, freshman Justin Coleman appears to be in line for a return to the starting lineup — where he opened the year for two games before a couple big plays led to UT looking elsewhere.
With Brent Brewer's season-ending knee injury forcing Prentiss Waggner back to safety, Coleman is in line for a chance to make up for his early struggles.
"I think this week will be a good indicator," UT coach Derek Dooley said. "He's going to play a little bit more this week, you know, last week we kind of moved him up but Prentiss was still at corner.
"We're going to see how much he's progressed, but he's doing some good things at practice, did a couple good things in the Alabama game, so we'll see."
Austin Ward covers Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274. Follow him at http://twitter.com/Vols_Beat and http://blogs.knoxnews.com/ward
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Comments » 44
RemembertheAlamo writes:
Punt or kick a field goal on 4th and 1, if we cannot gain a yard on 1st down, what makes you think we can gain it on 4th down?
jobrando#216494 writes:
kind of describes the whole run game this year
dvhill100 writes:
You can't give up on it when it doesn't work every time. We are getting out of the murder's row of competition, so we should be more successful. We should take at least 3 of the last 4 (AK will be tough).
Stay positive. :-)
RemembertheAlamo writes:
I am staying positive, punt and keep the field position. Also we are playing Arkansas (AR) and not Alaska (AK) this year. We might wish we were playing Alaska though. Go Vols It is great to be a Tennessee Vol!
cheezvol writes:
Go back and look at the film of every fourth down sneak run this year, You will see the QB trying to push straight up the back of the center. Now go back and read Chaney's comments, apparently he and the QB coach think you don't have to caoch how to run the play, its just a matter of chance. I have not coached HS ball as an OC for a long time but I guarantee you the game has not changed that much that even the most rookie HS coach has several plays that can get the QB a yard much less inches. It is Chaneys and his staff's attitude and lack of creativity that is killing us this year. If Dooley does not change his OC and staff nothing will change about our ability to score. He needs an Erik Russell on offense like his Dad had on Defense at UGDopaSMOKER. EVERY HS COACH IN GA DURING THE DOOLEY YEARS KNEW THAT EIRK WAS THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE OF "VINCE THE PRINCE" DOOLEY?
jobrando#216494 writes:
I think he should be fired at the end of the season or right after Vandy beats us. No way we beat Vandy with his attack unless Worley steps up. This dependency on a passing game was shown to be bogus when Tyler went down. We have to have a proven SEC OC and staff that has a play book that includes the run.
VolAholic_12 writes:
I don't know about you guys, but it kind of bothers me that we really need to devote a portion of an article and have a discussion regarding pride and execution of a quarterback sneak. Fourth and six inches and we can't convert on two occasions. Good defenses or not, there is no excuse for not picking up first downs in these situations.
volspaws writes:
Amen
CroKev writes:
Bowl eligibility and recruiting - especially if the bowl is in a recruiting hotspot.
OrangeinCarolina2 writes:
Although I am a Dooley supporter I do agree the coaching staff may need some tweaking. Remember Chaney was not Dooley's choice but Hamilton's since he was a leftover from the Weasel. I do see that the players and coaches are going through some growing pains but I do believe Dooley can turn the program around in the next 2-3 years. It has been on the decline for the past 10. Not hating Fulmer because I'm a Fulmer fan, but he lost his edge in the latter part of his career. Getting Cutcliffe back temporarily revived it for a couple of years but after he left for Duke, Fulmer was essentially done. Then the Weasel. No coach can fix that mess in a couple of years but if one part of your game ain't improving it may be time for an upgrade in that area. I see improvement in ST and D. Hunker down Vols and see what can be salvaged this season. Better things lie ahead. GO VOLS!
givehim6 writes:
The one thing that it would prove is UT would be bowl eligible which would mean the season was not a total waist, and by UT beating Vandy & UK showes we are not bottom feeders of the SEC east. I know some like to say UT is the worst team in the SEC east, but untill UT and UK play the streak still lives. Do not give somthing away, just because you fill bad and are having a bad day or season. The Vols nead to remember this.
RemembertheAlamo writes:
This is just my opinion, but I think Chaney is worse than Randy Sanders, at least Randy would try some screens and trick plays. Chaney hasn't any imagination at all.
dislikethemtrolls writes:
Stupid_Moron_Idiot_Wannabe of Yellow
Get over it. True Vol fans would like jackazzs like you to go pull for some other team.
IN_Volfan writes:
calm down abdul, the last thing we need is another coaching change! have some patience and give dooley another year to show some improvement. if he needs to make some changes with off.coord. and/or o-line coach, so be it.
OrangePsyched writes:
Get back in the kitchen wench. You think that you're convincing anyone? Folks like you aren't going to change and you aren't going to change the real fans. It's not the coach..it's the program that we support. I support CDD because he is a Vol.
The 2 keyboard cowards Maverick and Flowers don't even have the noids to stick with one username. Calling you out boys...come out and play.
allvol8 writes:
I wish certain fans could be fired....anyone that believes this mess is Dooley's fault has no clue about football. Go Vols!
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Hate to say it but...alot of times we can't even rush for 1 yard on first down! Our O-Line just does not have the strength (or willpower) to get yardage when we need it.
Forget about 4th and 1 plays! Until we can get the yardage we need on 1st and 2nd down, it's not going to matter. Only when we do get the push from the O-Line will we be able to go for it on 4th down with confidence.
Football isn't easy, but's also not overly complicated. This year's team simply has difficulty with the basics of the game in all phases.
jack_2222#231746 writes:
You build a passing offense primarily b/c of 3 guys. You lose 2 of them and somebody wants to know why a line with 4 sophs can't bulldoze SEC defensive fronts with a dominating running game. Didn't hear any criticism of Chaney thru the first possession of the Florida game. These critics sound like petulant children to whom competition is a foreign word.
underthehill writes:
I think Randy Sanders called the play that won the Nat'l title..correct me if I'm wrong..and I think he was let go as a scape goat..I see no way UT can score on a consistent basis with the current play calling and schemes...
underthehill writes:
Re: Florida game..Fla took the ball and scored a touchdown..TN moved the ball and appeared to have a good chance to score.. on 3rd and 1 the run to the middle was stuffed ..on 4th we missed a field goal..the 3rd down run up the middle was obviously what Fla set the defense for and had no chance ..zero.. to make it..game over...did u happen to watch the Fla game..
budd#207344 writes:
"QB sneaks a matter of pride"? You obviously failed headline writing in journalism school. If they had any pride in it they would have made some of them
decades_vol writes:
It's a shame we have to wring hands over two articles about quarterback sneaks. Let's come out lean and mean, starting this weekend. It's time to open up a can of WA-40 on someone, and it would be sweet to see it the rest of the way. When it comes to this Saturday and the rest, just say "maybe yesterday, maybe tomorrow, but not today. Not today!" Your playing for the University of Tennessee. Act like it.
vols37 writes:
Not nearly enough pride.
MtJ_Orange writes:
It would be nice to see a FB get a chance to pick up a yard sometime. What was Fugate's nickname, Three Stack. Oh wait I think he's gone AWOL.
Orange_Pants_Buy_One_Get_One_Free writes:
Nashville or Memphis. Not exactly recruiting hot spots. Especially with Vanderbilt getting the top talent in TN. A trip to Chapel Hill would have been good for recruiting but Dooley....
volincolorado26 writes:
No one cares what crackerjack hs you coached at or your opinion. Chaney is a college coach and I'd take his word over yours any day.
volincolorado26 writes:
You have no idea what you are talking about. Dooley has the ability to hire and fire directly without an AD approval. He hired Chaney. Don't just make stuff up, research before you post.
Classof72 writes:
The team should take pride in being good people and working hard. They do the quarterback sneak about as well as they do anything. They just play football very badly. It's kinda sad, but they can still be good people and a credit to the university.
volsfaithful writes:
When Cutcliffe returned, we came back to life. OC does matter. Two things to win - improve the running game - get a RB Coach if we need one, but do something. Poole probably isn't as bas as he has looked, but I agree he seems to fall down when trying to hit the hole and he consistendly is bumping into his own blockers and then going back a few yards and trying to bring it outside for a loss of 2 or 3. Doesn't work. Second thing - I would agree on a new OC. In a pro style set we need balance, and if we choose pro style, running wins all the time because it sets up the pass. It doesn't work the other way unless you have someone that can actually run. I can't say anything about the OL, I am no football expert, but plenty of you think we need an overhaul. I think we need some energy and excitement. They seem totally flat. Vols of 90s would snap the ball and the line would move two yards forward. Hopefully we will have a good recruiting year regardless of whether or not we get to a bowl. I think we beat Vandy - to them this is us playing Florida on a good year. They will find a way to self destruct and we will win. GBO!
CrankE writes:
And so UT is now reduced to talking about picking up QB sneaks and . . . pride.
Does anyone else think this is setting the bar a bit too low?
volaholic45 writes:
I call for a QB sneak on the first play of the first possession - just to let them know we mean business!
VOLS_SEC_RULES writes:
I didn't like Sanders but at least he would call a bootleg occasionally for short yardage. Cutliff and Kiffin would also do it. The quarterback has the option to either run it or throw it. Does anyone ever rememberChaney ever called a bootleg?
totoiv writes:
During the game the broadcasters went on-and-on about the poor technique on the two quarterback sneaks that did not work. They said Simms was going straight ahead. And, that in most cases the defender submarines the center which doesnt allow for a straight ahead push. That is why the QB must pick a lane slightly off center. Then, during the South Carolina game Worley does the same thing. And, the announcers criticize the technique. Chaney seemingly laughs it off as - hey its only a sneak - its more about effort. There is even an indication that the team doesn't ever practice sneaks. But, to me it seems to represent some of the things that are wrong with the team. In film review don't they say to the QBs - hey we are doing this wrong? Today on talk radio Pat Ryan said Worley probably never even practiced a sneak. Based on the fact that their 4th down efforts have not been successful and they are starting a freshman that has never played a college game before, wouldn't they let him run one in practice so he can see what he will be up against in an SEC college football game? To me this just shows there are problems in the program.
brokendownoldvol writes:
A loss to Murfreesboro would be the end of TN football. Think Dooley feels any heat?
Volunatic writes:
Also, the bowl practices can be a big help, especially for young teams like the Vols.
atributetoLombardiwasbanned writes:
"Today on talk radio Pat Ryan said Worley probably never even practiced a sneak"
"on talk radio Pat Ryan said Worley probably"
No need to comment further about that.
Bray was 100% at picking up the 1st down on the sneak.
So the coaches changed, or was it the talent level?
You people are unbelievable.
utken1942 writes:
They keep referring to the youth of the team, after some have 17 games, you would think they would be getting to the point that what (if any) skills they were taught were learned and results should show improvement.
jobrando#216494 writes:
That's the same as the VOLS beating Bama. Aint going to happen. Middle is really banged up and struggling.
VolGrad writes:
Hey KNS,
You guys need to call ORKIN. I think this site has termites.
Go Vols! Beat MTSU!!!
volsn3 writes:
Someone tell me why in the world do you load up with 2 tight ends on any short yard situation and try to QB sneak and pile all 11 defensive men on the line. Looks to me like if you spread out and send a man in motion it would be a 4 down line on the defense and they would have to spread out and you could fall foreward for fourth and inches. Even in the pros they still do this all the time. Just makes no sense for the center to have to block two defensive lineman and a shooting linebacker. Go figure.
rockytopatl writes:
Jeez, man, when you are playing your third string quarterback, you don't call bootlegs. You can't afford another injury at that position.
VolGrad writes:
We can't afford another injury at any position.
Go Vols!
FTMYERSFLORIDAVOL writes:
Murder's Row-- I believe it's called the SEC
NottaVol writes:
Didn't waste the time to read the article, but the headline is misleading because the word pride and vols just don't go together.
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