Box Score
Tennessee Stat Book
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Just about everything was in the hands of the Tennessee defense.
An errant pass with plenty of room to run.
Arkansas running backs that appeared not to have many places to go.
A chance to go on the road and prove that its recent improvements were no fluke against one of the best offenses in the country.
One after another, it all slipped away from them. And the Vols were again left holding nothing in a conference game, losing their grip almost from start to finish in a 49-7 blowout loss on the road Saturday against the No. 8 Razorbacks.
"We kind of feel like we took a step back," Vols linebacker Austin Johnson said. "We knew they were a good team, and they came out and showed us. We've got to take advantage of mistakes, and they took advantage of our mistakes.
"We try to eliminate big plays, and we kind of started to eliminate them as the season went on. At the beginning of the season, we let up a lot of them. We just kind of went back to the beginning of the season this game."
The regression for the Vols (4-6, 0-6 SEC) was clear in pretty much every quarter as potential tacklers bounced off rushers, defensive backs lost track of receivers and quick-strike drives kept expanding the lead for the Razorbacks (9-1, 5-1).
Arkansas ran right through a defense that had seemingly sharpened its fundamentals, racking up 254 yards on the ground by routinely shedding Vols and chugging along after contact.
Quarterback Tyler Wilson didn't have his finest outing and was intercepted by Johnson in the first quarter, but he still threw for three touchdowns and was sacked just once. And while the offense was again unable to provide much support, the defense wasn't exactly returning the favor either — summed up when a possible interception that could have been taken back for a score fell harmlessly out of Eric Gordon's hands.
"These guys are good," UT coach Derek Dooley said. "That's what they do, and they've been doing it with a lot of teams. The running back (Dennis Johnson), he's a heavy guy and he's good. What happens is, here's what is different, they're so explosive throwing the ball, you have to loosen up a little bit, and when we loosen up — we think we're good against the run, but we're good when they pack it in there and we reduce space.
"When we play teams we can't do that on and they can do either one, we just get exposed. I don't know any other way to say it."
Dooley certainly wasn't the only one at a loss for words in a lopsided loss that clearly surprised the Vols, particularly given their recent improvements defensively.
The opponents weren't at the same level as the Razorbacks over the last two weeks, but after a shutout against Middle Tennessee State and yielding just 14 points before that to South Carolina, the Vols seemed to be feeling pretty good about their progress. But in their stiffest test of the season, they simply had no answers.
"We had a lot of mistakes and they capitalized on them," defensive tackle Maurice Couch said. "We had a lot of mis-fits, a lot of missed tackles, and they put up their points on our mistakes. That's something we've been practicing since fall camp.
"For us to go out and have that many mistakes, it really surprised us. It was just a bad day for us."
The Vols really haven't had any that were worse defensively. And by the end of it, both the score and the opportunities were out of hand.
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Comments » 74
smokies_old_soul writes:
very painful to watch.
DancingOutlaw writes:
Clearly you have overlooked our youth and our injuries and our youthful injuries and our youth and did you know they were injured?
We were only 3 PRTD (had we forced 2 more punts) and 3 passing TD's from being in this game. We'll get em next year for sure.
VolMan126 writes:
It is very hard to watch a once proud program be man handled by Ark like we were a d 2 team. We still can not get lined up on defense. Once we were still on our knees when the ball was snapped up front. We continue to have to use time outs because we cant get the play in. I hate to admit it but our coaching is bad! I am not a fire CDD guy at all but things do not look good. Your gonna lose from time to time because the team you are playing has better kids. We are losing in every aspect of the game these days. Offense, defense, kicking game and coaching. Never in my life time have I seen a TN team be this bad. I buy the youth arguement....and have tried to be positive about the coaching but we are not getting better in any part of the game. I have attended every game for the past 27 years and never dreaded the ride up more than I do next week. NO WHERE TO GO FROM HERE BUT UP...I HOPE! GO VOLS
kantanuuv writes:
What's the early short list on Dooley's replacement?
Steve Kragthorpe at LSU?
Ellis Johnson at South Carolina?
Todd Grantham at Georgia?
Kirby Smart at Alabama?
Bufforange00 writes:
Another great recruiting class, a year more experience. good players back healthy, an easier schedule. Dooley will not have the excuses next year. He will need to win to keep his job.
westknoxrepub writes:
Surely we can aim higher than that list.
slambob2#228938 writes:
Top 10 things that hurt to watch:
10) Tauren Poole run with no momentum (he must be good, but I haven't seen much this year)
9) The ball bounce off Eric Gordon's chest
8) Deanthony Arnette drop the first pass of the game
7) The left side of our offensive line on every play, but especially the interception before the half when they were destroyed
6) Any O-Lineman or Tight End trying to block a linebacker or DB
5) Palardy's punt, pass, whatever (waiting for injury report)
4) Dontavius Sapp trying to tackle the punt returner by his shoulder pads on the most embarrassing play in UT football history (coaching)
3) Long bomb on 3rd and 2 from the Arkansas 40 when we were still in the game
2) Vol DB not even knowing a play was happening while the receiver was making an all-time ESPN highlight catch
1) The Vols quit (see 2008)
dtennessee#235123 writes:
This team is horrible and is not getting much help from a incompement head coach.
Not an once of improvement since game one. Injuries are an excuse and not a reason to just quit. We hired a head coach who had proved nothing.
tmcretired writes:
If at this point you still think its not the coaching ? I hope we can win at least one game against SEC team. It's hard for the players with no plan from the coaches hang in guys GO VOLS
The_Ghost_of_Duke_DeLuca writes:
No. No. No.
No more head coaching changes.
powert#205805 writes:
It's what happens when you hire a coach with a losing record who couldn't land the Memphis job the year before we hired him.
Hopefully next time a proven winner will be hired and my first reaction won't be "you gotta be fricking joking".
Of course, the good news for Dooley coming out of this year is he won't have to do much to show improvement next year.
sol_way writes:
this looks like a team who does not have full contact in practice. we dont hit , were not agressive and we seem content to arm tackle. youre not going to win in the SEC with soft players. you practice physical you play physical , it aint rocket science !
bikervol writes:
Are you happy with this one for the next 25 years?
tomkats3242 writes:
Dooley is not the problem. Mike Hamilton was the problem and now that he is gone it will take two more years before Dooley gets SMART players, some that can read and write, some that can find their way to class and some coachs that can coach handicap players,(Brain dead). Coach on defense need to be replaced or remember how to coach players to tackle, not go for the ball everytime they see a runner coming their way. TWO MORE YEARS OF THIS, Don't give up on them yet.
thevoice writes:
Too bad our players don't have higher GPAs. That's about the only thing that separates us from the Vandy of old.
utdihard#527762 writes:
It amazes me that anyone truly thought this team would be good this year with the amount of young kids we are playing, never mind the loss of Hunter, Bray and Brewer. On top on that, have we played anyone that has been ranked lower than 14th at the time we played them. The negative comments about firing the coach are really great for recruiting. Again, I am shocked over the amount of expectations we have for this team. Now two years from now I may be eating crow.
Classof72 writes:
You can't spell "qUiT" without UT.
The coaches and players seem not to know the meaning of the word "unacceptable".
One is reminded of Vince Lombardi's opening statement to the Green Bay Packers: "I may lose, but I'm not going to lose looking at the same old faces."
gwills228#231210 writes:
at least now,we can put this silly talk of a possible bowl game behind us. let simms continue to pack, continue playing worley,and keep bray out untill spring practice.....and then maybe,just maybe we can talk kirby smart into taking the head coaching job!
jobrando#216494 writes:
This year has been about coach rest. They are taking alot of time to get settled in the neighborhood. Practice has been left to graduate assistants. Next year will be there last so half way through the seaon after a dismal October they will spend the remainder of the season packing. Fulmer will be paid off and things can start to improve with a new coach that wants to work to win.
Ibleedorangeforlife writes:
No way Smart would come here. I would take Grantham as Defensive Coord. though anyday after watching that Georgia game. Basically we are stuck with Dooley so we might as well pray he can get it done because no self respecting coach would come here now.
leprechaun writes:
When will Vol nation wake up and realize that Dooley has got to go NOW!
TN is not even competetive! The cannot block, tackle, or do any of the basics.
The team under Dooley is an absolute farce!!
volbob writes:
Amazing how many posts there are calling for Dooley's head. Obviously, those people don't understand the current state of the Vols - too young to compete in the SEC. When he was hired, it was a three year minimum process. For those who can't count, this is year 2. If, by this time next year, there isn't significant improvement all the way around, THEN it will be time to talk about replacement. For now, please remember what he is working with: young team, no OLine to speak of, significant injuries to key players, toughest schedule in the nation, and of course, playing in the SEC with all of that. I loved the list of "improvement" coaches from previous posts. Aiming a little low, weren't they? How many of the available coaches were willing to take the job 2 years ago? Bunch of pansies that didn't have the guts to come into a program with the level of talent that would easily compete...in DII or the Big East. Lighten up, people. But...get the mattresses ready to burn if UT looks like this next year. GBO
thevoice writes:
Some see the writing on the wall NOW and don't want to waste 2 more years.
thevoice writes:
2 years ago, candidates thought we may be experience serious sanctions.
Ibleedorangeforlife writes:
I can take losing alot easier if we would knock someone on their arse. I blame Wilcox for the lack of physicality on this Defense , our db's are always giving atleast 7-9 yard cushion why not jam them at the line knock them on their arse or alter their route at the very least. I think we have the athletes on defense it all comes back to coaching. I have yet to see a coach in a kids face after he screws up on the sideline it's almost as if they condone the basic fundemental mistakes we continually make.
Pullingguard writes:
Vols could not have won game verses Ark. if everyone was healthy and playing at their best. Its nice to have a wish and an excuse but this team is a long ways from being a team that plays and beats the likes of LSU, ALA, ARK, AND OTHERS. They are not young anymore, they have in most cases 2 years experience and if Freshmen they have 10 games under their belts. So, please no excuses, just face the facts.
pbfishing01 writes:
Dumbest post of the year
OrangePride writes:
Folks!! Our defense has given up 138 points in it's last 4 SEC games....add in Georgia and its 158. That's about an average of near 33 points a game. Oh, the offense? The story gets worse. We have scored a grand total of 23 points in that 4 game stretch. Let's see, that's about what? 5-ish? There is NO WAY to sugar coat this season. NONE of the teams are playing anywhere near SEC quality...not defense, not offense, not special teams. And last night was the LOW WATER mark of the entire half-century of Tennessee football. SAD.
HooRay_Vol writes:
We gave up Chuck Smith for Wilcox? At lease Smith would get the players fired up. Wilcox has shown nothing that he was a good hire!
volfanz writes:
I am glad I live in VA and am not so close to UT that I am tempted to buy season passes and attend every game like I grew up wishing I would do someday.......At least I am not wasting a boatload of money watching this phooey!
VolNationStandsStrong writes:
Coaching. Coaching. Coaching. Coaching. Get it? These players do not deserve the whipping they are taking. Good coaches overcome. Derek (or DeDe as his mama calls him) is a good guy. He'll have a great career on ESPN. Get a coach in here who knows how to develop the players, inspire confidence, create plays, win games.
smokey-vol writes:
I agree completely. This is the lowest of low. Every aspect is horrible. We will be lucky to win 1 of the 2 remaining games.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I certainly agree that it is hard to see the silver lining in the dark thunderclouds hanging over the program right now. However, one graphic they put up on the telecast is a sign of hope for those still looking for one. It showed that Arkansas played about the same number of freshmen four years ago that UT is playing this season. That Arkansas team went 5-7. This year those same players are seniors on a team that is now 9-1 and still in contention for the SEC West title and a BCS bowl. If Mallett had stayed for this year and Knile Davis hadn't been lost for season, they might well be undefeated and in contention for the national championship.
Bray seems to have the same potential Mallett had and the receiving corps of Hunter, D. Rogers, Dallas, and a couple of others might be as good in another year or two as Arkansas' receivers this year. I'm still concerned about the running game--don't see any real home-run threats on the squad right now--and the defense needs to get bigger, deeper, and, well, better. I also have concerns about some of the coaching staff after what we have seen this season.
But the overall numbers on the squad will be up to the NCAA scholarship limit after this incoming class is signed for the first time in over three years. It may take awhile for the fans to get over this season, but if the players have the kind of character Dooley has been looking for, they will take their frustration into the weight room in the off-season and use it to fuel a real push to the next level next season. As for this game, I don't whether it would be better to burn the game tape or run it on a continuous loop in the weight room. Either way, everybody in the program knows they never want to feel the way they probably do this morning ever again.
As you said, Dooley does NOT need to be fired after this season. The same may not apply to a couple of assistants, though I don't know enough about the internal situation to say which ones that ought to be. If the team doesn't make a pretty big leap next season with Bray and Hunter back, everybody with another year to get bigger, stronger, faster, and more mentally and emotionally mature, and with a full squad, numbers-wise, THEN it may be time to put Dooley on the hot seat.
Even if he goes after next year, his successor will not be stepping into nearly as deep a hole as Dooley did when he was hired. I hope he has the wherewithal to make the best of what should be a vastly better situation next year, because I do believe that he is a man of character who will continue to represent the program and the university well--as long as he starts winning the big games, of course.
smokey-vol writes:
No improvement what so ever.....going backwards.
HooRay_Vol writes:
Jeff Fisher or John Gruden! There are no bigger names that would be at least somewhat interested in the job.
mrvol2u writes:
Let me say something positive about last nights game! I liked the checker board shirt sleeves.
Bubba_Knows writes:
Great effort and heart last night. I'm not drunk. I'm just drankin.
pammyvol1000 writes:
The longest 3/12 hours of my life.
VolunteerLifer writes:
It isn't that they got beat. It isn't even that they weren't in the game to the end. It's that they aren't improving. In fact, it seems they are getting worse. I put it on coaching. I realize there's a talent and depth gap. But those things don't completely explain the thoroughness of this loss.
LOWCOUNTRYVOL writes:
Epic Fail! On all fronts, folks CDD needs to take a hard look at his coaches and their ability to coach up, and get their kids prepared! I will give CDD a pass this year, but he needs to cut some coaches and get some motivators! I agree with a previous poster Chuck Smith was at least paasionate, and a great recruiter(which we desparately need!) Please get in some players faces!! ...Sorry for the sermon, just upset at what I, and anyone watching, saw. OMG!
OrangePride writes:
Take out MTSU as just a team that is not even worthy of consideration, over the entire SEC season all we have done is demonstrate how we are not even close to being competitive. Thru the first half of the season we heard how much better this team is than last year's edition. Really? Don't think so. Just go check the scores and remember we were actually IN most of those games. And this last outing? This is the exclamation point on a totally overmatched Tennessee side. Oh, as for that punt coverage meltdown, it has become the poster-child of football ineptness. And I don't know about you, but I am fed up with busted "trick plays" that provide advantages to teams who need no advantage. This coaching staff had best take a VERY long look at just what they are doing because another year like and they will not survive.
brokendownoldvol writes:
With out question the worst coached secondary I have ever seen tying to play college football. Thank goodness they have talent back there.
CarolinaVol2281 writes:
Did anyone else see when it was 3rd and 4 and the camera zoomed in Tyler Bray, someone walked up to him and said something to him... He just started shaking his head and looking toward the huddle. Then they ran up the middle getting 2 yards setting up 4th and 2 and a turnover. You gotta think he was told of the play call.. And his reaction said it all..says a lot about play calling and coaching when the hurt QB has a better idea how to call the game...
CantStandCantStandSaban writes:
Todd Grantham is a complete dolt. I wouldn't hire him to mow my yard.
clvolfan writes:
BS,BS,BS,BS!!!!!!!!
RockyMountainVol writes:
Really great point re: Lombardi. Why didn't Dooley think of it earlier? All we have to do is cut some of the underachievers on the team, and bring in better replacements mid-season.
RockyMountainVol writes:
Do you supply a translator with your comments, or are we expected to guess??
clvolfan writes:
Constructive criticism-worse defense I have ever seen at UT,however after,maybe some changes on defensive staff,and a new group of recruits,an next season with the injured players back,I really believe we will be a very decent team next year.Looks like the offense will be putting up some scores with Bray back.Worley has a good future with the right tutuledge.Got to give CDD time to build back a sysystem that was dismantled.The downfall did not happen in one year,and we certainly cannot expect it to happen overnight,especially since the west is going to be strong for a long,long time,plus we have the same Fla.and Ga. to contend with every year,and Mo. will be no pushover.
RockyMountainVol writes:
OR....
...somebody asked him if his thumb was healed enough to play, and Bray said no.
OR....
...a teammate asked Bray if Worley should check off the called play and just sneak it himself.
OR....
...Bray was asked if Smokey's ACL had sufficiently healed.
OR....
...his teammate asked Bray if he had just farted.
You're really reaching to come up with criticism when you to to decipher a sideline converation with an injured player. Give it a rest.
Pipe_Down_Otis writes:
They are playing off the receivers because they are afraid they will run by the DB's for long touchdowns if they play bump and run. Our DB's are too slow to keep up and our coaches know it. So they play soft, and it still isn't working. And you're right, our coaches say nothing when a player messes up. Wilcox and Channey are up in the booth, and Dooley looks like a deer in headlights out there.
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