Tennessee Stat Book
Tennessee coach Derek Dooley might ditch the quarterback sneak for a while.
UT quarterback Justin Worley got stuffed on a crucial sneak in the second quarter of Saturday night's 14-3 loss to South Carolina at Neyland Stadium.
It was the second consecutive game the Vols couldn't convert a key fourth-and-1 on a sneak. Matt Simms was stopped for no gain in the same situation during the third quarter of the Vols' 37-6 loss at Alabama.
"We've been 100 percent on quarterback sneaks until the last two weeks, and can't get a sneak on fourth down, so it's tough right now," Dooley said.
Worley, who replaced Simms as the Vols' starter for the South Carolina game, lined the Vols up for fourth-and-1 at the South Carolina 44-yard line with the Gamecocks leading 7-3.
Worley was stopped by Melvin Ingram and Kelcy Quarles for no gain with 4:48 left in the half.
"It's six inches, you know," Dooley said. "But they knock us back, and we can't dig it out, so we've got to not sneak it with Justin and Matt."
UT converted a fourth-and-1 situation in the first quarter when Tauren Poole ran for a 3-yard gain to South Carolina's 29-yard line.
Three plays later, the Vols faced fourth-and-1 again, but right tackle Ja'Wuan James was called for a false start.
"Once again, new quarterback, and it's a play we run a lot, but his cadence is different, and (Worley) kind of said it differently than the way Matt said it, and we jumped," Dooley said. "That's part of a lot of little things that become big things out there. They just do."
UT's last offensive play of the game was Simms' incomplete pass on fourth-and-1 from South Carolina's 27 with 6:33 left to play.
Dooley said the distance of the field goal was the reason he went for the first down.
"I just felt like it was so short and the field goal was long," Dooley said. "It was a 40-something yarder. If it had been fourth and eight or seven, I would have kicked the field goal."
One Runner: Poole, the Vols' No. 1 tailback, was the only back to carry the football. He rushed for 38 yards on 18 carries.
Freshman Marlin Lane didn't practice leading up to the South Carolina game due to a knee injury.
"Marlin went in one play, but he was out (Saturday)," Dooley said.
Freshman tailback Jaron Toney, former standout at Alcoa High School, played but didn't get a touch.
"We probably should have run Jaron (Toney) a little bit," Dooley said. "We put him in a little bit."
Dooley said he wants to spread the carries out between his backs.
"We'll look at it," Dooley said. "We're going to have to find a way to run the ball better, and we've got to play some more backs. We've got to block."
Freshman Devrin Young, former Bearden star, is also an option at tailback.
Brewer Hurt: Starting strong safety Brent Brewer went out with an apparent knee injury with 6:09 left in the third.
The injury occurred on the 11th play of South Carolina's 20-play, 98-yard touchdown drive that led to a 14-3 lead late in the third quarter.
Brewer was replaced by Rod Wilks and did not return.
Lineup Changes: Sophomore Maurice Couch started at nose tackle for starter Daniel Hood, who was banged up from last week.
Hood entered the game in the first quarter and saw considerable action.
Sophomore Dontavis Sapp moved into the starting lineup at strong-side linebacker for freshman Curt Maggitt (calf injury).
Couch was one of five Vols who got their first career starts — joining freshman Worley, freshman guard Marcus Jackson, sophomore receiver Raijon Neal, and sophomore free safety Byron Moore as first-time starters.
Special Visitors: New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and his son Seth were at the game. Seth is a junior wide receiver at Summit (N.J.) High School who wants to become a coach one day.
Rex Ryan was quoted last spring during a visit to Tuscaloosa, Ala., as saying his son wanted to play football for Alabama, and that he wants him to be around the best coaches possible while playing college ball.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 73
ACWLY writes:
The QB sneak is the least of our problems, what a ridiculous article. I've been supportive of Dooley from the start but anyone that didn't see a poorly coached team tonight didn't see the game I saw. And I'm sure Rex Ryan and his son are long gone by now, this coaching staff certainly isn't what they are looking for.
born2ride writes:
Great coach, tell our next opponents we will not be using a QB sneak on 4th and one. I am sure they will be disappointed since it has NOT worked.
The majority of Vol fans have doubts about Dooley. He is a nice guy but is a lousy coach. Hamilton made a mistake hiring him. Dooley was not ready for the SEC. He got his coaching jobs off his daddy's name.
Hart needs to ditch Dooley and bring in a big name coach who can win.
DooleysOrangePants writes:
if you cant coach a guy to fall foreward 6 inches you dont belong in the SEC.
sorry, ive tried to drink the Dool-aid it tastes like phooey.
DooleysOrangePants writes:
i couldnt care less about rex ryans talentLESS son. i want to see some improvement on the field.
jack_2222#231746 writes:
Game next Saturday against MTSU is huge. A victory sets up the Vandy game for the state championship after the Arkansas loss.
Not sure the Vols can generate enough offense to take down the Blue Raiders, but if they do, then it's Vandy for all the marbles in the state and a possible Music City Bowl bid.
man_and_dog writes:
It may be time to ditch Dooley too....
VOL_MAROONED_IN_NC writes:
Wow, just wow. An SEC head coach admitting publicly that his team is so poorly coached they cant execute a quarterback sneak. Anyone out there who really thinks this orange pants wearing clown has a prayer of being successful against SEC competition is insane.
BustaRhymes writes:
"It's six inches, you know," Dooley said. "But they knock us back, and we can't dig it out, so we've got to not sneak it with Justin and Matt."
I'm tired of this "character coach" throwing our kids under the bus in the press. Why don't you BE A MAN Dooley and admit that calling that play was MORONIC and was YOUR fault?!?!?!?! I swear Dooley is making me actually miss Kiffin... Kiffin is a scumbag... but at least he is a competent scumbag...
DwayneElizondoMountainDewHerbertCamacho writes:
When you guys are evaluating Dooley, think about how many coaches fail in the SEC and how hard it is to have success in this league. Coaches that actually have a history COACHING have trouble succeeding in this league. It is naive to think that we could take a coach who only has three years play calling experience and then just give him "enough time" to succeed...as if patience is all that's needed for a coach to be successful in this league.
Even if UT enjoyed the same recruiting base as UF, LSU, or Bama...finding a successful head coach would still be a monumental task. But UT isn't on the same footing at all those teams and it takes a LOT to convince a recruit to leave home, travel across state lines and play for UT in the mountains.
Mike Shula, Ron Zook, Houston Nutt...all these guys had great pedigrees and THEY didn't get the job done. Heck, even the great Johnny Majors had trouble getting this team back on the right track and we somehow expected a coach with three years play calling experience and no real signature wins on his resume to do it?
UT has a problem, it's living in a world where college football has become commercialized and it is holding onto a past where it isn't. Good coaches demand high salaries...that's a fact.
UT is going to have to bust out the checkbook and then purchase a good coach. We're probably going to have to pay the guy more than Saban because UT has special recruiting problems that make the job less appealing.
UT needs to stop constantly looking for "diamonds in the rough" and actually hire a coach that will attract high quality players based on his resume and not his "character."
Dooley is a great PERSON. He would make a stellar AD, but there is no reason to think that at his best he is going to produce 8 win seasons with maybe every 6 years having a shot at the SEC championship...but if that's what the fanbase is ok with, then why the heck did we get rid of Fulmer???
Dooley needs to have the next year to produce a mediocre record and then he needs to go. The excuses at this point are endless and can be adapted for whatever pile of krap Dooley leaves on the field. Injuries are a part of football, youth is a part of football, playing in the most talented conference in America is part of football in the SEC. Dooley isn't paid to "manage" these things, he is paid (and expected) to overcome these adverse situations and he is failing at it.
I say, give him one more year to show some kind of tangible progress in some aspect of his game, make his future career based on beating either UF, UGA, or Bama, and then cut him loose with his big pay day.
UT is still rebuilding and apparently we are still looking for the right guy for the job.
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
Note to Coach Dooley: the operative word in "quarterback sneak" is "sneak". Everyone in the world knew what was coming. You've got to make the defense think that we MIGHT do something else in that situation.
I really like some of Dooley's calls...but this wasn't one of them.
Stanman08 writes:
Recruiting great players has never been an issue at UTK. History has shown that. While you need key players in in key positions, coaches will make the difference. I have stated this before on this site, While I hated what Kiffin did in his decision to leave, I appreciate now more than ever the fact he could take this team of "decent" talent and make them at least competitive. Dooley's supporting cast hasn't a clue on how to do this.
ProfessionalHandicapper writes:
Wow..and I was called a troll for the last year reporting facts that are now so obvious everyone sees the mess at UT. Until UT commits to spending real money on a real coaching staff they will not win in the SEC. S Carolina just rushed for 231 yards without Lattimore. Spurrier ran the ball over 50 times and made very good calls. Now let the excuses begin..
led0321#648727 writes:
Like Muschamp? Yea.....idiot
TommyJack writes:
Yeah. It's time to simplify the sneak.
Ironcity writes:
By not calling the play he would throw his team under a bus. No way UT should not be able to get 6 inches on a sneak. disappointed with this team and the coaching. Their needs to be improvement if we are to start believing.
ScottEmge writes:
Email to A.D. Hart (utad@utk.edu)
Director Hart,
Please do not allow our football program to slip any further into decay as your predecessor would have done.
Go get Urban Meyer or Mike Leach and pay them whatever they need to come to UT and coach our football team.
Unless you remove Dereck Dooley and bring in a big name coach with a proven winning record, our football program will have no chance of being competitive in our conference any time in the foreseeable future, and we will not be able to get the high caliber recruits we need.
Sir, you come from schools who have winning traditions so I know you can see that the experiment with Derek Dooley is a failure. If you do not go get Urban Meyer or Mike Leach, I fear you will continue to see fan apathy build to the point where the University's Athletic Dept. is going to be financially affected... dramatically.
CB4VOLZ writes:
Everyone can complain all they want.. till they drop if need be. The simple fact is that Dooley will be the HC for at least one more year and more than likely two. The money people behind the program are not going to fork over BIG bucks until the Dooley experiment actually falls on its face. Go ahead and raise cain all you want.. won't do a bit of good. The real question is this...noone but Dooley wanted the job last time with the shape the program was in. With yet another unsettling coaching change looming, what "great" coach in their right mind would want the job of rebuilding the program? Name one... I'll be waiting on your reply.
CrankE writes:
Ralph Friedgen was asked about his 5 year plan for turning Maryland around. He snapped back that 5 year plans are for coaches that don't have a 1 year plan.
Put another way, a losing attitude says, "next year." The attitude of a champion is, "now."
I do not see any evidence of that sense of "now" urgency with UT. I do not see evidence that seeds of victory are being planted. If you want the fruit, then you have to plant the seeds.
I've seen enough. Fire Derek Dooley.
BamaVol writes:
I really thought the Vols would have beat SC. I was wrong. We beat our selves. Dooley may have to make some coaching changes at year end, The defense play good. All great coaches at one time or another was a nobody. I like the fire and the guts in Dooley. He will bring us back.
GoVols
CheckerboardPassed writes:
I just heard Coach Dooley say on TV: "We're just not very good right now. We're just not good enough to beat a good team."
As a former football QB and player, this attitude is shocking to me. Do you think Bear, Urban, Les Miles, Saban, etc would say this? The attitude and lack of execution/performance starts at the TOP. The Vols COULD HAVE beat both USC and GA if they had simply executed without MAJOR mistakes. Top coaches NEVER make excuses, youth, or whatever. Get out there and get it done and if if you don't get it done you get blasted out and you get somebody in there that can get it done. The lackadaisical attitude and excuse making really sucks. I feel for the boys who really want to win.
VOLliven2it writes:
How about ditching the offensive line and go find some mean buggers who just do not care to smack down the folk across the line from them? I know we are young at 0-line but we just aren't near mean enough. This year reminds me of a song in the 70's with the line, "now it's a long, long road." Hang in there guys, and coach. Some of us are all behind you even in the struggle.
chl1958 writes:
When you are outmanned as a team,you need to be creative with your play calling. Like guerilla warfare,do the unexpected. Fake the the damn sneak,roll out the QB, and pass to the tight end. We are too predictable in our play calling!
TennesseeForever writes:
Why do people want another new coach already?We're not firing Dooley this year. In case some of you forgot, another coaching change will lead to more roster defections. We'd end up repeating these past few years, with a starting lineup full of new freshman and sophomores.
I've hated this oh for October and it feels like forever since we won a game. However, you have to look at the big picture too. Right now we aren't as good as any of the teams that have been beating us. In 2012 and 2013, perhaps we will be.
I'm guessing this must feel a lot like the late 70's and early 80's for Vols fans. I saw my first game in 1983 and we have enjoyed a lot of success in the 25 year period after that. It seems this is our down period, similar to what mnay other big name programs have experienced- LSU in the 90's, Oklahoma in the 90's, Nebraska and Michigan in recent years, etc.
johnlg00 writes:
That is exactly what I have been saying for weeks now; this offense is so predictable ANY team can stop them. When Waggner ran that INT down to the 5-yard-line, I just KNEW the first play would be the same run up the middle the team ALWAYS does in that situation, and sure enough, it got stuffed. So what do they do on the second play? Not sure what the play was supposed to be but it probably WASN'T to throw a two-yard-pass into a defender's arms.
Has anybody on that staff heard of a fade pass? Why do we have 6'3"+ receivers like D. Rogers, Milton, and Rivera if we NEVER give them any red-zone plays to take advantage of that height? The timid, unimaginative play-calling is just telling the players, "We don't have any confidence in you. We don't think you are good enough or smart enough to run anything other than the most routine, predictable plays in football. Oh, and when we do, you had BETTER execute them against the best defenses in the country, who know they are coming, and if you can't, it's YOUR fault." Even if that is not what they think or can say in public, how do they expect to build any confidence in their young players and induce any better players to come play for them if they don't show more confidence in them than that and don't show any more ability to craft a winning offense with the players they have, rather than crying about them or WISHING for better.
No matter what, I still think Dooley needs one more year. As I have said before, it seems clear that the staff is playing for next year. So be it. They didn't improve as much as they no doubt hoped they would this year, but the numbers and experience should be better next year, and goodness knows they should have all gotten a bellyful of soft, inept play the last couple. It will be a big help to get Bray and Hunter back, Worley's experience should help him, and everybody has another year to get bigger and stronger.
Most importantly, it will be clear that the administration has given Dooley and staff enough time to show fairly conclusively that they can or cannot do the job. That will be a big help in restoring the program's credibility to the extent that the next coach approached about the job will know that HE will have a decent chance to make a move. The downside of this for the present staff is that, with the writing-off of this season, they MUST win at least nine next year if they expect to stay on.
Sorry, FCV, for tagging your post with this long rant. I do NOT assume that you go along with all this. If you do, fine; if not, please forgive my venting.
johnlg00 writes:
That is my position as well. Thank you for stating it succinctly; I do tend to ramble when I get annoyed. If we are still having conversations like this at this time next year, the writing will be on the wall, but no one can say we didn't give Dooley a decent chance.
johnlg00 writes:
I agree with you right down to your last two sentences. I disagree with those for reasons I, along with many others, have stated previously. Despite Friedgen's words, he got considerably more than one year to see if he could turn Maryland around. Dooley should get at least the same kind of chance, though I agree that there had better be a change in philosophy and execution for next year.
johnlg00 writes:
Thanks, chl1958 and TennesseeForever, for displaying a degree of common sense which is far too rare on this board during this painfully difficult time.
CMKSIDESHOW writes:
I see all kinds of talent on this team RIGHT NOW. What i don't see a is a coaching staff getting the best out of their players. The TALENT IS THEIR. PLEASE HART make the move next year will not be different. WE ARE WHAT THEY THOUGHT WE WERE> You get what you pay for, how can we compete for SEC titles when we have a incompetent coach. 4th and less than a hard and he runs that quaterback sneek again when he has a fullback and a running back who just picked a 4th and one on a earlier drive. Time to go. BYE BYE Derek ORANGEPANTS
MartyDurham writes:
Team performance a very big disappointment. But the play before the sneak the spot was horrible. You are taught as an official to give the ball carrier everything he earns. Look at the video. He was pulled back nearly a full yard.
CMKSIDESHOW writes:
The TALENT is here, Coaching list. Terry Bowden, John Chavis, Jon Gruden, Stanford Coach, Chris Peterson, Jeff Fisher, and im sure more will be available. Just going to have to pony up.
CB4VOLZ writes:
Chavis doesn't want to be a head coach... don't blame him since he's the defensive coach for the number one team in the country. Let Miles take the heat... The Stanford coach has a top five program going.. WHY come here?......Same with Chris Peterson. I doubt Fisher ever goes the college route if he ever coaches again. SO.. guess we better ring up Bowden... NOT.... Keep on trying.. You'll come up with something realistic eventually.... (can't believe he left Cowher off the list)
dtennessee writes:
I see nothing about a Dooley coached team that makes me optimistic about the future. This team may be young but anybody who can't tell they are poorly coached must be on crack.
Not since the last Fulmer team has an offense been this inept and pathetic.
jobrando#216494 writes:
Plenty still do but I think some think 7-5 or 8-4 will be great for next year. I think that has dropped from 9-3 next year. I think we are going to see Kentucky and Tennessee in a battle for the bottom of SEC. I cant see a win over Vandy even with Tyler back.
budd#207344 writes:
CDD will show what kind of coach he is at season's end. If Chaney and the OLine coach are not replaced then it will just be another year and then we are back looking for another coach. If he does what he should and fires them and gets replacements who have been successful then he may well make this work. But he needs coaches who have and can show success. He is not good enough to train coaches. Chaney still dreams about DB and he has run the offense this way because of it.At the first sign of trouble he gives up on the run. The O line guy is a joke. He has all the talent and size in the world and has done nothing with it.That is our critical need and CDD has to find the right guy.
TommyJack writes:
Terry Bowden? Jon Gruden? Good grief, man. I'm guessing you wouldn't have to pony up much to get Bowden.
CantStandCantStandSaban writes:
"Special Visitors: New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and his son Seth were at the game."
Good news for the concession stands.
sportsdoc2016 writes:
Are you kidding? Calling a QB sneak on 4th & 1 with a true freshman QB is the dumbest coaching move I've seen in a long while. These guys are paid millions to make boneheaded decisions like that? And the false starts are unacceptable. Dooley looked like Fulmer with his stupid clapping after mistake after mistake. No way this team beats Vandy. How pathetic.
utclyde16 writes:
It's a shame they didn't bring Simms in earlier I believe he will give us a better chance. Simms played against 2 of the top teams in the country with no support. Da'Rick catches that pass and it's a different game. Use Santana's brother a little more.(Rivera) We also need to look for players with a lot more speed. Watching games on Sat. all the good teams have a lot more speed.
CMKSIDESHOW writes:
Who do you suggest then? This coach is throwing his kids under the bus, he should be fired.
mjq22 writes:
There is not another coach in the country that could win SEC ballgames with a 3rd string freshman QB. Why should we expect to beat the #1, #2, and #13 team with backups? I am so sick of our idiotic fair weather so called fans. You know the ones that leave a 14-3 game with 10 minutes left. Please don't come back. We don't want fans like you representing the others. Booing and treating 19 year old kids like they are professionals. Dooley is getting at least 4 years and if we win 10 games next year stay home because I only want real fans at the game. I am ashamed to be a Tennessee Vols fan right now. And its not because of the coaching or the players performance. Its because some people might think I'm one of the idiots who have no perspective and have unrealistic expectations every single year. Get a life and support the program threw its ups and downs
CoverOrange writes:
Whatever happened to the ole RB up-n-over play on goal line/short yardage plays? Required perfect timing and the right angle from the defense's LBs to stop it. Never see it anymore though.
GetSimmsandTeagueout writes:
They can't even execute the most basic play in football. That about says it all.
OKVOL24 writes:
Do you really have to coach a guy how to fall forward?
Voloyalty writes:
I agree as well. No coach in their right mind would take a head coaching position at a University that will only give them two years to rebuild. The fact of the matter is that you truly can't grade Dooley and staff until next year. If we are 3-5 next year at this point, we will have a serious problem. Our best players are not only hurt but are also Freshman/Sophmores. People really need to take a step back and understand how important depth is in the SEC as well as experience. We have neither on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. I went to school at UT from 97-2000 and I just like everybody else would like to get back to the days of competiting for SEC Championships but understand the process at hand. I knew going into this seson that we were still a year or maybe even two away. Firing your head coach is not the answer particularily when your program is rebuilding. Every other team in the SEC understands this but our impatient ridiculous fans expect us to actually beat teams like FLA, UGA, LSU, ALA, and USC when we are so young and experienced. Relax and inhale and perhaps don't exhale until September of next year.
sameolvolalum writes:
The only reasonable suggestion is to give CDD the chance that was promised to him by UT. How many competent coaches would be willing to work for an intsitution that can't/won't keep a coach and his staff together for any decent length of time? Those of you who can't see the current talent gap between UT and the other SEC schools (KY and Vandy excepting) due to the past two HC's, most likely also can't understand that there's a learning curve to follow through.....CDD, young players, etc.....and that no reasonable and responsible AD is going to play musical chairs with coaches until one is brought in who can magically produce a championship contender within a one or two year span (under these current circumstances). Which one of you coaching geniuses can viably claim to understand the scope and dynamics of assembling a successful SEC football program? I'm sure CDD will have at least two more years to show his stuff. Until then, quit getting your panties in a wad.
Voloyalty writes:
Completely agree. Our fans were flat our embarassing last night. Neyland Stadium is about as an intimidating place to play as Vanderbilt. If people really want Dooley fired after last night then I suggest finding a new team to root for. He will be here at a minimum for 2 more years and I personally think several more after that. He has the backing of several boosters and former coaches i.e. Fulmer, Majors. I would be emabrassed if we fired Dooley because we would once again be on National TV as a school that is in turmoil. We will not get a big time coach if we don't give Dooley at least 4 years. Why is that so hard for fans to understand. I know, because win or lose last night...it was the difference between possibly going to the Music City Bowl or the Liberty Bowl. WHO CARES EITHER WAY. Not much difference in the grand scheme of things being 7-5 or 6-6. They both suck. Give the staff time and good things will happen. Of course all you haters will back Dooley when that starts to happen.
Voloyalty writes:
Throwing his kids under the bus or stating the brutal facts? Have you ever heard a Nick Saban press conference or for that matter any other SEC head coach after a lost game. Dooley can't win, either he is throwing kids under the bus or he is making excuses. You can't win as a head coach at UT. I would never coach here and I love the Vols with all my heart. That being said, imagine how other coaches feel about our program/fan base. They would not touch it with a 10ft pool. I think that was made very much apparent after we got turned down by several different coaches when Kiffin left. We just are not that good right now. We got players banged up and out for the year and we are ridiculously young. Give the man 4 years and then make an evaluation. Ball up UT fans.
VOLFAN4LIFEgovols writes:
LOL this post shows hog ignorate and foolish people on this site are. You think Urban Meyer would leave Fla stay out a year and come to UT lol.
Oh ya everyone saying Dooley was a bad hire on this site must have forgot he was the only coach that would take the job,the only one!!!
If you keep going thru coaches this fast no top recruit will come here, cmon u guys cant be this dumb.
UTSmokey04 writes:
I see a lot of posters that add "UT is at the bottom with Kentucky and Vanderbilt." I've got news for Vol Nation, as much as I bleed orange like many of you, Vanderbilt will be favored over Tennessee.
Is it possible James Franklin was left with more talent at Vanderbilt than Dooley at Tennessee? Most would say that's unheard of.
sportsdoc2016 writes:
You have to face facts. Alabama was in turmoil & they hired Nick Saban. Had one bad year, and now is on the cusp of second natl title. No one ever heard of Dooley mainly because he had a losing record at LA Tech. This is the Mike Hamilton legacy. He set the athletic programs back ten years minimum then gets a million plus severance. This institution is clueless. And don't think basketball won't be even worse.
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.