SB Nation - Chris Walker

Tennessee Football All-Decade Team: Defensive End

Will — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:00:17 -0000

More photos » by Steve Nesius - AP

8 months ago: FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2008 file photo, Tennessee defensive end Robert Ayers (91) sacks Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Donovan (12) during the second quarter of the Outback Bowl football game in Tampa, Fla. Ayers is a top prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius, File)

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We move to the defensive side of the ball in our month-long quest to name Tennessee's all-decade football team. The Vols had superstars on the defensive line at tackle this decade, most notably John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth. But the Vols also had some very good defensive ends, spanning the entire decade. We've selected the best four as nominees, and present them to you for voting. As with wide receiver, the top two vote getters will make our all-decade team, and as always, breakdown after the jump:

Will Overstreet

Overstreet saw action as a freshman in Tennessee's 1998 National Championship run, and immediately made noise in 1999, helping the Vols to a school record 13 sacks against Wyoming in the season opener. Taking his place as a definitive starter in 2000, Overstreet earned All-SEC honors in each of his final two seasons in Knoxville. In 2001, Overstreet played on what I still believe to be the best defensive line in Tennessee history, with Henderson and Haynesworth causing plenty of trouble on the inside and Overstreet getting it done from end. He played big in big games, helping make Rex Grossman's life difficult in the epic 2001 Tennessee-Florida game. The "QB Pressure" stat has been kept since 1995, and Overstreet is Tennessee's all-time leader with 49. A third round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2002, his NFL career was cut short by injury.

Parys Haralson

Haralson was asked to contribute immediately, and earned Freshman All-SEC honors in 2002. He was a constant presence throughout his Tennessee career, and was named second team All-SEC in 2004 and 2005. He had a fumble recovery for a touchdown on Alabama's opening possession in the Vols' 2004 win over the Tide, and has more sacks (21) than any other player this decade, a total that places him fifth all-time at Tennessee. A fifth round pick of the 49ers in 2006, Haralson has become a very solid NFL player, recording 8 sacks last season and another 4.5 so far this year.

Robert Ayers

Ayers' inclusion on this list is as much for his story as his play on the field, one of the few second-chance guys who actually makes good. He showed up late in the 2007 as one of the keys in slowing down Darren McFadden in a crucial Vol win over Arkansas. As a starter in 2008, his performance was overshadowed by the downward spiral of the season, but Ayers still finished with 15.5 TFLs and 3 sacks, good enough to be named All-SEC despite playing for a 5-7 team. His stock continued to improve, and Ayers was taken in the first round of this year's NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.

Chris Walker

In his first year as a starter, Walker wasn't always healthy...but when he was, the "unblockable" tag he picked up in spring practice was about right. Walker picked up 6.5 TFLs and 4 sacks this season, as well as a forced fumble and two interceptions, including one pick six. If you saw Walker play this season, he showed us something we felt like we hadn't seen in a long time: an end who can dominate, when healthy, and who's given us reason to look forward to his performance again next year.

Poll

Who is Tennessee's defensive end of the decade?

KENTUCKY vs. TENNESSEE: It Doesn't Get Any Bigger Than This

Ken Howlett — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:24:15 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

Kentucky running back Derrick Locke will hopefully show his backside to the Volunteer defenders.

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We all know about the streak. We all are embarrassed by the streak. We're all tired of the streak. Afterall, losing 24 straight to any school, in any sport, is repulsive to most sports fan's sense of fair play. It's simply no fun playing the nail, opposite Tennessee's (6-5, 3-4) ball-peen hammer.

But this game tonight (7:00 PM) isn't about the streak. It isn't about 24 years of blowouts, near-misses, and overtime heartache. Rather, this game is about second place in the SEC East. Nothing else matters. All the pontificating about streaks are merely window dressing compared to the importance of the game at hand ... the importance of Kentucky (7-4, 3-4) overcoming major injuries to star players, the preseason loss of All-SEC defensive end Jeremy Jarmon, of having to play 11 straight games, and of losses that should have been wins ... for this program to still rise to a high level of accomplishment in spite of the adversity speaks volumes about the character of the young men wearing the blue and white, and about the elevated level of talent Rich Brooks and staff have brought to Lexington. And in a year where most predictors of such events had the Wildcats finishing considerably south of second place, for UK to play in the Outback or Chick-Fila Bowl would certainly be an attention-getter both nationally, and within the borders of the Commonwealth.

Four straight bowl games, and a 31-20 record over the last four years, topped off by a second place finish in arguably the most gruesome division in college football, would certainly qualify as a continuance of the Brooks building process. And for this group of 'Cats to continue to build on the unique accomplishments they are responsible for this season -- Winning three straight SEC road games since 1909-'12, beating Auburn for the first time since 1961, and beating Georgia between the hedges for the first time since 1977 -- adds to the legacy of Rich Brooks, but more importantly, enriches the perception of the Kentucky football program throughout the high schools of the south and beyond. Putting the Wildcats that much closer to the goal at-hand -- Becoming a football program that consistently competes at the highest level.

In order for Kentucky to take the next step, they must first conquer the demons in orange. Here is thine enemy:

Unit Comparison (SEC Rank in Parenthesis)

- Scoring Offense -- UT 30.6 points per game (5): UK's coring defense -- 22.2 points per game (7).
- Scoring Defense -- UT allows 20.7 points per game (t5): UK's scoring offense -- 26.5 points per game (7).
- Total Offense -- UT averages 390.8 yards per game (6): UK total defense -- 355.4 yards per game (8).
- Total Defense -- UT allows 313.2 yards per game (5): UK total offense -- 342.9 yards per game (10).
- Rush Offense -- UT rushes for 164.7 yards per game (7): UK rush defense -- 179.3 yards per game (11).
- Rush Defense -- UT allows 141.3 yards per game (6): UK rush offense -- 196.2 yards per game (5).
- Pass Offense -- UT throws for 226.1 yards per game (3): UK pass defense -- 176.1 yards per game (6).
- Pass Defense -- UT allows 171.9 yards per game (5): UK pass offense -- 146.7 yards per game (11).
- Sacks By -- UT has executed 19 sacks (9): UK sacks against -- 14 (5).
- Sacks Against -- UT has allowed only 11 sacks (1): UK sacks By -- 15 (12).
- Third Down Conversion -- UT is at 39.3% (6): UK third down conversion defense -- 39.0% (12).
- Third Down Conversion Defense -- UT allows a 34.4% conversion rate (5): UK third down conversion -- 39.8% (4).
- Turnover Margin -- UT is a + 4 (5): UK is a +3 (6).
- Red Zone Offense -- UT converts 41-46 (89.1%) of their RZ attempts (5): UK red zone defense -- 28-37 (75.7%) (5).
- Red Zone Defense -- UT has allowed 30-35 (85.7%) RZ scores: UK's red zone offense -- 33-40 (82.5%) (8).

The Tennessee Offense

Jonathan Crompton -- 6'4", 228 lb senior quarterback: This season the formerly embattled UT signal-caller has stepped-up his game considerably. He has completed 196 of 335 passes (58.5%) for 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Comparing Crompton's numbers last season -- 86-167 (51.5%) for 889 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions -- to those of this year reveals a much-improved quarterback who has been trusted with the reins of the Tennessee offense.

Crompton has thrown only one interception in the last four games (122 passes). His two best games this season -- Versus Georgia, he threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns on 20-27 passing; Against Memphis, Crompton was 21-27 through the air for 331 yards and five touchdowns. Last season versus UK, Crompton was an 6-8 for 101 yards and one touchdown.

Montario Hardesty -- 6'0", 199 lb junior running back: Hardesty's production is another reason for UT's success this season. He's rushed for 1,127 yards (102.5 yards per game) on 225 carries (5.0 yards per carry), and nine touchdowns. He's also caught 19 passes for 212 yards (11.2 yards per reception), and one touchdown.

Last week in UT's 31-16 win over Vanderbilt, Hardesty rushed for a season-high 171 yards on 22 carries (7.8 ypc), and one touchdown. Hardesty has scored at least one touchdown in eight games this year, and he's ran for over 100 yards four times: WKU, Ohio U., South Carolina, and Vanderbilt.

Bryce Brown -- 6'0", 215 lb freshman running back: Brown has carried the ball 98 times for 452 yards (4.6 ypc), and three touchdowns. He's also caught 10 passes for 137 yards (13.7 ypr), and one touchdown.

Coming out of high school last year, Brown was rated the No. 1 running back, as well as the No. 1 overall prospect in the nation by Rivals.

David Oku -- 5'10", 186 lb freshman running back: Oku has rushed for 94 yards on 23 carries (4.0 ypc) and two touchdowns. Oku has caught two passes for 13 yards (6.5 ypr). He's also returned 30 kick-offs for 780- yards (26.0 yards per return).

The Oklahoma native recorded 154 all-purpose yards in UT's game versus Ole Miss. Coming out of high school last year, Oku was rated the No. 1 all-purpose back in the nation by Rivals, and the No. 30 running back by SuperPrep.

Gerald Jones -- 6'0", 190 lb junior wide receiver: In 10 games, Jones, UT's top receiver, has caught 36 passes for 497 yards (13.8 ypr) and four touchdowns. Last season versus UK, Jones caught a touchdown pass in the Tennessee victory.

Jones went for over 100 receiving yards versus Georgia -- Five catches for 105 yards, and two touchdowns. He also had strong outings against Auburn (seven catches for 75 yards), and Alabama (seven catches for 72 yards), but he's caught only one touchdown pass in the last three games (versus Memphis).

Denarius Moore -- 6'1", 190 lb junior wide receiver: Moore has made 35 catches for 455 yards (13.0 ypr), and six touchdowns.

Moore has scored four of his six touchdowns in the last three games.

Quintin Hancock -- 6'3", 207 lb senior wide receiver: In only eight games, Hancock has made 27 catches for 298 yards (11.0 ypr), and two touchdowns.

Marsalis Teague -- 5'10", 180 lb freshman wide receiver: Teague has 13 receptions for 147 yards (11.3 ypr), and two touchdowns.

Teague was rated the No. 4 prospect in the state of Tennessee out of high school by Rivals, as well as the No. 28 athlete in the nation, also by Rivals.

Luke Stocker -- 6'6", 240 lb junior tight end: Stocker has been an integral part of the UT offense, catching 22 passes for 292 yards (13.3 ypr), and four touchdowns.

The Tennessee Defense

Eric Berry -- 5'11", 203 lb junior corner back: Berry has made 75 tackles (49 solo), 5.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and six pass breakups.

The First Team All-SEC selection is UT's defensive force in the secondary, although UT defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has been bringing Berry up support the run defense. Don't be surprised if Berry is asked to contain Randall Cobb in tonight's tilt.

Rico McCoy -- 6'1", 220 lb senior linebacker: McCoy leads the Vols with 99 tackles (59 solo). He's also posted 2.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, four forced fumbles.

In 2006 versus UK, McCoy forced the first fumble of his career.

Dan Williams -- 6'3", 327 lb senior defensive tackle: Williams has recorded 56 tackles (28 solo), and he's tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with 8.5. He's also has 2.0 sacks, and a team-leading nine quarterback hurries.

In UT's four overtime victory over UK in 2007, Williams had a game-changing field goal block. Well, it wasn't so much as a block, as the ball being kicked directly into his face mask. There is no doubt that Williams is a defensive force that must be dealt with by the UK offensive line. They must keep him away from Morgan Newton, and run away from him in the ground game.

Chris Walker -- 6'3", 232 lb junior defensive end: Walker has made 34 tackles (16 solo), and he's tied for the team lead with 8.5 tackles for loss. He leads UT with 6.0 sacks, and he's also recorded two interceptions and one pass breakup.

Dennis Rogan -- 5'10", 178 lb defensive back: Rogan is third on the team with 56 tackles (35 solo). He's executed 4.0 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, and five pass breakups. He's also recovered two fumbles. Rogan will also return punts. This season he's returned six punts for 46 yards (7.7 yards per return), and two kick-offs for 52 yards (26.0 ypr).

In 2007 versus UK, Rogan returned three punts for 24 yards (8.0 ypr), and two kick-offs for 48 yards (24 ypr). He had three tackles, including his first tackle for loss.

Chad Cunningham -- Cunningham serves as UT's punter and kick-off artist -- He's punted 44 times for a 41.5 average. He's kicked-off 64 times, and has only four touch-backs.

Daniel Lincoln, Cunningham, and Devin Mathis have all kicked field goals for the Vols this season -- Lincoln is 10-16 (62.5%), Cunningham is 1-2 (50.0%), and Mathis is 1-1 (100%). Lincoln missed last weeks Vanderbilt game.

The three have combined to miss only one field goal under 40 yards.

Tennessee Wins (Teams in bold represent common opponents)

63-7 over WKU, 34-23 over Ohio U., 45-19 over Georgia, 31-13 over South Carolina, 56-28 over Memphis, and 31-16 over Vanderbilt.

Tennessee Losses

19-15 to UCLA, 23-13 to Florida, 26-22 to Auburn, 12-10 to Alabama, 42-17 to Ole Miss.

CliffsNotes Analysis

Tonight's battle represents two teams vying to succeed in the same areas -- Even though UK's two biggest play-makers are banged up (Cobb's shoulder, and both of Locke's knees), after Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster gashed the Vols for 282 yards on 25 carries (11.6 ypc) and four touchdowns, the 'Cats will look to gain the bulk of their yardage on the ground.

Although UT quarterback Jonathan Crompton has proved to be much improved over last year, because of UK's weak run defense, look for a steady diet of UT running backs looking for holes. Hardesty, Brown, and Oku will get a healthy dose of carries in an attempt to control the clock, and bury UK with a ground game suited to do just that.

Look for Randall Cobb to have a big day. Although Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin wasn't in place during Cobb's recruitment, I expect Cobb will be highly motivated to display to his hometown team what they are missing.

It's really pretty simple -- UK must run the ball to the tune of at least 4.5-5.0 yards per carry, and Morgan Newton must continue to come through in the clutch with on-target throws if UK hopes to come out victorious. Recently Newton has been excellent at not turning the ball over ... that trend must continue.

Likewise, UK's defense must find it within themselves to stop the run. UT's three primary ball-carriers are legitimate, dangerous weapons. The Vols rushing for 200 + yards will surely spell doom for the 'Cats.

Field position will also play a big role in tonight's outcome. With UK in possession of two of the best return men in the SEC (Cobb and Locke), this category seems to be a plus for the 'Cats.

Last week versus Georgia, UK saw first-hand the advantage gained by creating turnovers (they were +4). The 'Cats must continue to hit hard, hit often, and hit with a purpose. If the UK defense comes to play, I like the 'Cats chances of partying like it's 1984 -- UK's last victory over the Vols.

Fearless Prediction

Kentucky - 27 Tennessee - 24

For Tru's take on the game, and a listen to a podcast interview we did with the guys from Rocky Top Talk, please scroll down.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats, beat the Vols!

Post-game awards: Tennessee Volunteers vs. Vanderbilt Commodores

Joel — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:15:38 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

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Best are-we-sure-they're-not-conjoined-twins. Cody and Cory Sullins, who were both named the scholar athlete of the week and were pictured together for the sponsored award. They play next to each other on the line, right? Is anyone certain that this is not the case?

Best word for the seniors. Kiffin telling the seniors, specifically Rico McCoy, on Friday night not to say that they hadn't won any championships for the Volunteers because of their contribution to the foundation upon which championships will be built in the near future.

Best start, offense. Lane's guys, who went 60 yards in 7 plays to put 7 on the board on its first series.

Best start, defense. Monte's guys, who forced Vandy into a three and out on its first series.

Best bounty hunter. James Wilhoit, G.A., who, upon being told by Kiffin to go find a place kicker with eligibility, found Devin Mathis, who'd played in a junior varsity game here awhile ago but had only recently returned to Tennessee after studying in Mexico.

Best debut. Mathis, who not only kicked the ball over the scrimmage line, but through the uprights for three points on Tennessee's second possession.

Best TFL. Chris Walker, who graduated from Unblockable to Untouchable, blew through the line unscathed, and swallowed Vandy's running back as soon as he had gotten the handoff, driving the Commodores back to their own two yard line.

Best sarcasm, I. Kiffin, who said of the first pass interference penalty on the Vols, "I thought the refs did a great job all night long, and I'm sure that was a penalty on me, on us right there."

Best drive. Jonathan Crompton, Luke Stocker, and the Volunteer offense, who closed the first half with a 4-play, 61-yard touchdown drive in 30 seconds.

Best catch. Luke Stocker, who closed the Best Drive with an outstanding nab in the end zone, leaping backwards, snatching the ball out of the stratosphere, and securing the thing even as he landed flat on his back in the checkerboards.

Worst timing. David Oku, who turned a catchable pass from Crompton into a tip drill in the third quarter, giving Vandy an interception and denying Crompton's bid for the record of pass attempts without interceptions two shy of Casey Clausen's 143.

Worst news. Linebacker Greg King is out for the season with some sort of cracked bone injury, which I think makes McCoy and Shane Reveiz our only remaining linebackers on the roster. I supposed I should clarify that that's exaggeration, because it's close enough to being the truth that it could be mistaken for fact.

Most insufficient sarcasm. Kiffin, on the second pass interference call to deny the Vols an interception in the end zone, who breathed an audible sigh into his lavaliere, said, "I thought that was a great call by the ref throwing the pass interference there. I'm sure that we were at fault . . ." but then said to Bob Kesling, "You can say whatever you want. He can't fine you. Don't worry. Go ahead. Say what I wanna."

Best tag team hit. Stephaun Raines and Reveiz, on 2nd and goal down by 11 early in the 4th. Raines sent Warren Norman, who'd just hauled in a screen pass, head over heels and into the torpedoing Reveiz.

Best sack. Wes Brown, on the very next play, who threw off the blocker, closed in on the QB, and, just when you'd thought the QB had escaped, dived and shoestring-sacked him.

Best hands. Bryce Brown, who seized control of the ball on Vandy's onside kick by grabbing it at its highest point and covering it up immediately.

Orange-est blood. Wes Brown, who said the night before the game, "I would rather go to Tennessee and lose every game than go to another school and win every game."

Best revenge. Kiffin, who ended his portion of the Lane Kiffin Show by telling Bob Kesling, "Thanks, Bill," which was retribution for Kesling accidentally calling Lane "Lance" last week.

Best play, offense. See Best Catch above.

Best play, defense. Wes B's Knees.

Player of the game, offense. Montario Hardesty, who rushed 32 times for 171 yards and a touchdown.

Player of the game, defense. Tie between McCoy, who had 15 tackles, and Brown, who only had three tackles, but whose stat sheet includes a nine-yard sack, a nine-yard TFL (same play?), a QB hurry, and the 25-yard pick six.

Add yours below.

Post-game awards: Tennessee Volunteers at Ole Miss Rebels

Joel — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:08:07 -0000

by Michael H. Miller - AP

Hey, Ed! Thanks for Dexter!

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Worst where'd-the-wind-go. The first failed fourth down conversion, with the Vols down 21-17 and driving with momentum in their sails. After that, we punted, had a field goal blocked, and failed on another fourth down conversion while Ole Miss scored four additional touchdowns.

Biggest skeptic. Me, when Kiffin said that the team wasn't distracted because when you see a team that's distracted, you see a team that's not ready to play and a team that gets blown out early, and "that wasn't the case at all." Maybe not blown out early, but McCluster certainly blew through early and often.

Best continuation of an argument. Lane Kiffin, who said that the defense simply missed Janzen Jackson that much, because the Tennessee was, prior to the last weeks, No. 1 in the country in least explosive plays given up, and "that was because the guy back there in the middle third hardly every missed a play." Maybe he has a point.

Worst start, I. Tennessee's special teams, who pushed the opening kickoff out of bounds.

Worst start, II. Tennessee's defense, who let Ole Miss take the opening drive 60 yards in four plays in 1:31 for a TD.

Best sack. Ben Martin on a stunt to swallow up Jevan Snead, driving him back into Chris Walker, who was rushing from the other side.

Best coverage. Dennis Rogan, who, on one of Tennessee's early punts, beat everyone down the field and perfectly timed a perfect tackle.

Best run, I. Montario Hardesty, who navigated dense traffic at the line, hurdled over a grounded defender beyond the line, stiff-armed another defender in the secondary, and absorbed a late hit out of bounds for a bonus 15 yards on to what would have been a 23-yard run.

Best potential tongue-biting. Kiffin, who said of McCluster's second touchdown that what we all thought was partially due to a blatant holding penalty that wasn't called, "We've got perimeter issues there as you can see." I don't think this was a veiled shot at the officials, but the beauty of it is that it could be construed that way.

Worst defense. Ours, on McCluster. Pick a play.

Silverest lining. Jonathan Crompton, who went 20-37 for 176 yards and two TDs.

Best second wind. Tennessee, behind David Oku's 41-yard kickoff return to start the second half.

Best trick play. Crompton to Gerald Jones for 14 yards on the first drive of the second half. Crompton faked a hand off to the right, then turned and threw to a wide open Jones on the other side of the field. Where's the trick? Jones got so open by falling down on purpose during the fake handoff.

Worst stall, I. Tennessee's first drive of the second half, which ended with a field goal to make it 21-17 instead of what might have been 21-21.

Best play, defense. Wes Brown, who refused to go down on a cut block and intercepted an attempted screen pass from Jevan Snead, giving the Vols field position, momentum, and a shot at a 24-21 lead.

Best block. Crompton, on a reverse to Jones. Crompton sent the first defender to sniff out the play and start chasing Jones sideways cartwheeling through the air.

Worst stall, II. Tennessee's next drive, which ended on the 37-yard line when the Vols failed to convert on fourth and four.

Best quote, I. Kiffin: "Yeah that was a first for me. I've never thrown a screen and lost ten yards before."

Worst I'm-not-surpised. Daniel Lincoln's blocked field goal attempt from 45 in the fourth quarter.

Worst way to silence the home crowd. Having LaMarcus Thompson carried off the field on a stretcher.

Best quote, II. Kiffin again, who responded to the fan-submitted question of what adjustments one can make against someone like Dexter McCluster by saying that they're sending him to the NFL next year.

Best play, offense. Crompton's TD to Denarius Moore, down the middle and over two defenders.

Player of the game, offense. Crompton, see Silverest lining.

Player of the game, defense. Dan Williams, who had nine tackles (four solo) and two tackles for losses.

Leave yours below.

Tennessee Football: Becoming a Complete Team

Will — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:45 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

This year, there's more than just this guy to celebrate.

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Note from Will, 11:00 AM: Bumped back down to deal with the obvious breaking news of the day.

Let's start with the negative: our special teams play has not been good.

David Oku and Nu'Keese Richardson have done a fairly good job returning kicks: the Vols are 31st nationally in kickoff return average at 23.7 yards per return. But the good news ends there in the all-important third phase of the game. Take a look at Tennessee's position in the national special teams rankings (thanks once again to the fine folks at cfbstats.com):

Kick Returns: 31st
Punt Returns: 60th
Opponent Kick Returns: 103rd (one of only nine teams to allow two for TDs this year)
Opponent Punt Returns: 75th
Punting Average: 63rd (40.5 yards per punt)
FG Accuracy: 97th (10 of 16, 62.5%)

The Vols allowed Brandon James to hurt them in the kicking game again, watched Ohio run a kickoff back for a touchdown, lost to Auburn by four points in a game where Daniel Lincoln missed a field goal and an extra point, surrendered nine points to Georgia on special teams thanks to a kickoff return TD and a blocked punt safety, missed three field goals at #1 Alabama in a two point loss, and continued an unbelievable streak the following week when South Carolina made it three blocked field goals in a row for Vol opponents. Yikes.

Our special teams play has not been good. But nine games into the season, Tennessee has become a good team everywhere else.

The good news also starts with the obvious:

Jonathan Crompton

In Crompton's two starts for the injured Erik Ainge during the 2006 season, he went 11 of 24 against LSU and 16 of 34 at Arkansas, with two touchdowns (thanks, Robert Meachem) and an interception in each game. Last year in seven starts, Crompton completed just 51.5 percent of his passes for only 889 yards, 5 INTs with 4 TDs.

If you set aside the game against the worst team in FBS in the season opener, the numbers in the next four games...well, you remember right? Five interceptions and no touchdowns against UCLA and Florida combined, a pedestrian performance against Ohio, and a first half against Auburn that featured dropped balls aplenty and no hope to be found.

Throwing out Western Kentucky, take a look at the split between the next four games and the last four games:

UCLA, FLA, Ohio, AUB: 61 of 122, 50.0%, 667 yards, 4 TD, 6 INT
UGA, Bama, USC, Memphis: 74 of 114, 64.9%, 1,048 yards, 12 TD, 2 INT

Plenty has been said about Crompton's transformation, and the kid deserves even more. At some point during the first half of the Auburn game, while trying to come to terms with the fact that Kiffin simply wasn't going to pull him, I was imagining Crompton running thru the T on senior day against Vanderbilt as the quarterback of a 3-7 team, being the first Vol in history to get booed in his final run. And now I feel like I owe it to him to be there next week against Vanderbilt, to join in what will be a hero's welcome if the Vols take care of business this week.

Tennessee has made a habit of putting the same quarterback on the field for several consecutive seasons: Casey Clausen started every week he was healthy during his four years, Erik Ainge started for most of his four years, and we've seen Crompton under center for part of 2006, most of 2008 and all of this year. As such, the fanbase builds a long term relationship with these guys that has the ups and downs of a marriage; even Peyton Manning spent a few nights on the couch after long weekends in Florida.

We've tried to divorce Crompton, and more than once. I was going to joke that we've tried to kill him, but at one point the kid received actual death threats. But in these last four weeks, Crompton has changed his ways...and so have we. And now we're like the older couple that's been through the worst of times together only to have a greater appreciation for the best of times. Crompton knows he wasn't playing well, and maybe we feel like we were a little too hard on him at some points, though we both had our reasons.

Point being, now...now Crompton is playing like one of the best quarterbacks in America. When he rolls out, you feel confident. When he releases the ball, you're not braced for the worst, you're expecting the best. Tennessee is becoming a complete team, first and foremost, because our quarterback is becoming a complete player. And all joking aside, after Tim Tebow wins his customary first team All-SEC honors at quarterback...if Crompton outperforms Jevan Snead in a Vol victory on Saturday, who's to say he won't take second?

Montario Hardesty

The more you think about it, the more you realize what a great story this team is becoming. They're not going to win any championships, and they had their lapses early...but the way we're playing now in conjunction with the things some of these guys have gone through to help the team along the way, this is going to end up being a very memorable group.

Hardesty is a guy that just keeps coming to work, with 901 yards in 9 games. And while Crompton's transformation might be the most unexpected surprise in Tennessee Football history (no exaggeration), Hardesty's emergence has been just as important in creating a balanced offensive attack. The Vols are averaging 232 yards in the air and 168 on the ground this season, solid numbers on both counts seeing how they add up to 400 per game. And Hardesty - who sat behind Arian Foster for three years, listened to LaMarcus Coker and Lennon Creer get all the hype during that same span, then heard all about Bryce Brown all summer - has become the best Vol running back in eight years, still has a shot to crack the top ten in the all-time yardage list here, and has ensured that the Vols can also run the ball if and when they want to.

Wide Receivers & Luke Stocker

This may not be the most talented group of Vol WRs in school history, but once everybody got healthy, they've done their job admirably. After the debacle of the first half of the Auburn game, there have been almost no drops. There's an incredible balance amongst this group: Gerald Jones leads with way with 28 catches, Denarius Moore has 26, and Quintin Hancock has 20 in only six games.

This group may be the best example of how well this coaching staff handles player development. Before this year, Denarius Moore was a guy who only caught deep balls, and Quintin Hancock didn't catch a single pass last season. Now Moore is showing playmaking ability all over the field, and Hancock, when healthy, might have the surest hands of the group. The Vols haven't needed superstars at the wide receiver position to excel in the passing game in the last four weeks.

And then there's Luke Stocker, who at 6'6" was always going to draw NFL eyes if he produced. Stocker leads the team in yards per reception (among regular contributors), and has shown the ability to make in-traffic, downfield catches from the tight end spot. Crompton needs to quit throwing it to him so he has fewer reasons to think about leaving early.

Simply put: the Vols are getting good play from every one of their offensive skill positions.

Offensive Line

If I told you on August 1 that Josh McNeil would see no significant action this season and that his career would essentially be over, that both Cody and Cory Sullins would be starters, and that one of our starting tackles would be a guy that had never played the position before, how many wins would you have given this team?

Again, this staff has coached guys up and turned career backups into solid players. The Vols have executed the zone blocking scheme about as well as you could hope for a team in its first year with the system. For the most part, Crompton has had the time he's needed. And while the line hasn't been perfect and was faced with tough assignments early when everyone was stacking the line, this group has played well, and played well over their heads at some points. The way this group has performed makes you more hopeful that next year's group of nobodies will mature quickly as well.

Defense

The numbers are a bit skewed after Memphis had a field day with our backups, but the Vols still rank 16th nationally in total defense at 295.1 yards allowed per game. And at every position, Tennessee has gotten solid-or-better play. Chris Walker has stepped in at end and, despite not being fully healthy, given the Vols 3.5 sacks and 5.0 TFLs, forced a fumble and somehow picked up two interceptions, one for a touchdown, from the defensive end position. No one has missed Robert Ayers because of him.

Inside, Dan Williams could be a first round NFL Draft pick and has anchored a group that hasn't allowed a 100 yard rusher that didn't play in Gus Malzahn's crazy scheme or go against the backups last week. At linebacker, Rico McCoy is 7th in the SEC in tackles and has led the way for a group that's seen more injuries than any unit on the team, yet still performed well every week. LaMarcus Thompson and everyone that's played in the middle have been better than we thought they would be.

Eric Berry may not win the Heisman, but his move up towards the line of scrimmage has made him the SEC's leader in tackles for a defensive back. Berry still has two picks and two fumble recoveries, and his performance this season shouldn't hurt him on Draft Day, where NFL teams have now seen his ability to do it all.

But perhaps the best news in the defensive backfield is that everybody else has played well. Art Evans and Dennis Rogan, best known as a non-contributing wide receiver and a kick returner coming into this season, haven't allowed any breakdowns in the passing game. The Vols haven't been burned by the deep ball all season, the lone TD given up on a long pass coming as the result of a great catch by South Carolina's Moe Brown...and this too is a credit to freshman Janzen Jackson at free safety, who is often left alone back there but has held the line, and delivered his share of huge hits. This defense has produced four stars and an entire unit that rarely bends and never breaks.

Still Improving

The best news is, this team is still improving, and its players have seen enough frustration in the last year and a half to not think they've suddenly arrived at their fullest potential in only four weeks.

This staff has done a tremendous job developing players on both sides of the ball, and while our depth didn't look great against Memphis, when guys have had to step up and become first-teamers, they've done a good job.

And this team is an excellent study in how much things change. When spring practice began, if I told you the 2009 Vols would be without BJ Coleman, Lennon Creer, Brandon Warren, Austin Rogers, Josh McNeil, Demetrice Morley, the starting middle linebacker (because you wouldn't have been sold on Nick Reveiz yet), the backup middle linebacker, plus Vlad Richard and Quintin Hancock for several games...you get the idea.

From day one of spring ball and for the last nine months, these coaches have made these players better. And these players have performed at a higher level than we expected at almost every position. The Vols have become a dangerous offense, capable of hurting you with the run and the pass. And the Vols have always been a great defense, making sure points are a luxury for the offense.

Tennessee is playing well at every position group on offense and defense. The Vols have become one of the nation's hottest teams in the last four weeks, and having stood toe-to-toe with the best team in the country twice, are a team that is capable of beating anyone it faces on any given Saturday. And we got back to the last part of that sentence a lot faster than I thought we would.

When does Michael Palardy get here?

Talking Points: What of Charlie Weis's QB commits?

Joel — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:34:41 -0000

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Football

Worried about a QB for next year? Don't forget about Nick Stephens, and don't miss Hooper's posting of the Tyler Bray video, but also note this: Notre Dame has not one, but two QB commits: Andrew Hendrix and Tommy Rees. Weis's biscuits are burning, and if he's gone after this season, what happens to those guys? I mean besides having Ed Orgeron camped in their front yards, because that's a given.
My prediction? Pain. (/Mr. T voice) I had no idea that Chris Walker's back pain was at times so severe he had trouble getting out of bed. Really hoping they get that under control.
Michael Silence rounds up the first salvos advocating for Lane Kiffin, Coach of the Year.
Tennessee's game against Vandy is set for 7:00 p.m., and will be broadcast on ESPNU.
3SiB on Jonathan Crompton:

I’m sorry for selling you short, Jonathan. You’ve certainly earned your orange jersey and that T on your helmet in my mind. How far you’ve come in a little more than a month is a testament to your work ethic, perseverance and self-confidence. Anybody who has overcome ridicule, benching, hatred and death threats to become what you have is a strong person and one that I’m happy is on my team. Now, let’s go out there and finish your career in style.

Just our luck. The predominant pre-season meme for the Ole Miss Rebels was that although Houston Nutt's teams can play the respect card like no one else, they couldn't handle high expectations. Well, those expectations are gone now, and their holding a flush of respect cards. Sigh.

Basketball

Expectations are tricky things. Bruce Pearl's team will likely start four seniors and returns its top seven scorers from last year's 21-win team and added, among others, the aforementioned Mr. McBee, who may provide the consistent outside scoring threat last year's team lacked. This could be a fun season. Or a disappointing one. Expectations are like that.
Walk-on U? First the football team has Nick Reveiz and the Sullins twins. Now, the basketball team has Skylar McBee, who's been so impressive early that his presence has moved Cameron Tatum from shooting guard to small forward and who is even, according to Bruce Pearl, pushing McDonald's All-American Scotty Hopson for the first-team job at shooting guard.By the way, Renaldo Woolridge has been, for the time being, squeezed out of the 10-man rotation, thanks in part to McBee and fellow freshman Kenny Hall.

Post-game awards: Tennessee Volunteers vs. Memphis Tigers

Joel — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:36 -0000

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Best beginning. David Oku, who took the opening kickoff 69 yards and set the tone for the entire game.

Best stat. Jonathan Crompton, who now leads the ~~lead~~ league and is fourth in the nation in touchdowns. He's thrown more than Tim Tebow. More than Jevan Snead. More than anyone in the best defensive league in the nation.

Best old school. Bryce Brown, for going up over the top of the pile for the team's first touchdown. Kiffin called it "Goal Line Launch."

Worst beginning. Memphis, who failed to connect on its first snap of the game, the ball sailing over the QB's head for a 12-yard loss.

Best film study. Eddie Gran, who noticed during the week that one of of the Tigers doesn't watch the ball on kickoffs, which set up the Vols' onside kick. And we would have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for an exceptionally close offisdes call.

Best return to action. Chris Walker, who played against his hometown team after sitting out for an extended period nursing a sore back.

Worst missed opportunity. A touchdown pass to Walker, which Kiffin said they had planned but didn't get a chance to call because they "didn't get to the right spot." I wonder what that was all about. That would have been special.

Best idea. Kiffin, who avoided a letdown by his players by leading by example and calling an exceptionally aggressive game in the first half.

Best attitude. Nick Stephens, who sometime during the first half went to Condredge Holloway to ask him what the touchdown record was because he wanted to see if Crompton could break it.

Best almost. Eric Berry, who finally got an interception with his legs under him and searched frantically for a hole leading to fifteen yards and the NCAA record for interception return yards. He found only six.

Best overused analogy. Kiffin's comparison of Crompton to a Jugs machine, which must have happened five times on the Lane Kiffin Show.

Best trick that worked. The fake spike play with time winding down, which led to a surprised defense and Crompton's QB sneak for a touchdown.

Best play, offense. Denarius Moore's first touchdown, where he got his fingertips on a laser from Crompton, bobbled the ball, dove for it on the run against coverage, and did a somersaulting dive into the end zone for six.

Best tackle, I. C.J. Fleming on one of Memphis's kickoff returns. The returner looked like he was going to get the corner against several Vols in pursuit with bad angles, but Fleming came out of nowhere with a perfect angle and put him on the ground by taking his legs out.

Best tackle, II. Fleming again on an end around, again taking the ball carrier's legs out from under him and this time treating the guy to a full sprawling head over heels cartwheel through the air.

Worst finish. The backups in the second half, especially the defensive backups, who ended up allowing Memphis a dump truck full of yards and 28 points for the game.

Best play, defense. Berry's interception, one that featured him pulling a tipped ball out of the air on the run and slithering back and forth several times sssssssearching for that elusive record.

Player of the game, offense. Jonathan Crompton, who went 21-27 for 331 yards and five touchdowns, added another TD on the ground, and did it all in one half and one drive.

Worst innovation. The Sunday Sports Sound Off with Jimmy Hyams (or whatever it's called), which decided to try to double its money-making potential Sunday morning by playing two commercials at the same time during one of their breaks. It was actually hilarious.

Whatcha got?

Team chaplain Roger Woods plays important role in Tennessee's turnaround

Joel — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:35:13 -0000

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During his locker room interview with Tim Priest in the post-victory glow of the Memphis game last night, Bryce Brown gave a great deal of the credit for the team's recent turnaround to one particular guy inside the program. It wasn't a member of the coaching staff or member of the team. It wasn't even a paid member of the administration.

It was Roger Woods, team chaplain. Bryce said that the team wasn't just playing better, it was developing chemistry. Diverse personalities were growing together, unifying behind a common purpose.

You may have heard of the emotional meeting the Friday night before the Georgia game at which the recently-injured Nick Reveiz and not-so-recently-injured Inky Johnson both addressed the team. Linebackers coach Lance Thompson called it "one of the best meetings [he's] been in in 24 years of coaching." The Vols went out and pasted the Georgia Bulldogs 45-19 the next day, triggering a string of sensational games and the apparent tipping point of the Kiffin Chimera's turnaround project.

Woods points to that Friday as "a defining moment for UT football across the board in every aspect." Like he does every Friday, Woods held chapel at the team hotel. He spoke of unity, and that Friday, the message extended not only to the players, but to the players' families as well. Earlier in the week, a parent had called and suggested that instead of the parents praying separately, they all assemble and pray together. So that Friday night at the team hotel at 10:00, probably at about the same time the players were cementing their buy-in to each other and to the program, the parents were coming together for their kids. It was a defining evening for the entire program.

When Phillip Fulmer was fired a year ago, one of the major concerns for many of us was whether growing young boys into men would remain a priority. Certainly, we wanted a coaching staff that would get the program back to its winning ways, but how would the balance between winning games and building men be struck in an era of mercenary coaches? When the last remnant of the prior coaching staff was swept away, former team chaplain James "Mitch" Mitchell went with it, and when the new staff lost Memphis recruit Marlon Brown to Mark Richt largely due to Richt's outspokenness about his faith, some were concerned that it signaled the end of an era at Tennessee.

Enter Chris Walker, Nick Reveiz, Anthony Anderson, and Jacques McClendon. Those four guys ran into Roger Woods at an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) "College Advance" event earlier this year, and launched into their own recruiting pitch. Woods, who was at the time the chaplain at UT-Chattanooga, initially resisted, but after talking with Mike Hamilton, a handful of FCA staff, and UT head coach Lane Kiffin, he reconsidered and relocated his family to Knoxville and took the job.

Since arriving in Knoxville, Woods has by all accounts done an excellent job building relationships with UT athletes. 75 people showed up for Woods's first service August 9, 2009, and the weekly meetings are now attended by an average of 150-160 student athletes. The first thing the football players do upon arriving on Shields-Watkins Field on game day is meet Woods at midfield for a team prayer (pictured above), and Woods can often be seen on the sidelines praying with players during games, but most of his impact is behind the scenes interacting with the players on a daily basis. According to Walker, "It's really important to have Roger, just because there are going to be times that we're not feeling too well or are not going to be in the right mind we need to be in. We can just go to Roger, and he'll give us the spiritual leadership and be that dad that we need here. We don't have our fathers here in Knoxville, so he's one of those guys we can just look up to."

I had the pleasure of meeting Roger the afternoon of the South Carolina game, and I could see immediately why the players love him. He was extraordinarily affable and genuine, and he made my shy 13-year-old daughter feel so welcome that she left feeling like he was her best friend. I can't tell you how glad I am that this football staff includes a guy whose sole responsibility is to mentor the players through life's great challenges.

One last thing you may not know: Woods is not employed by the University. His position is funded through the FCA, and he's responsible for raising his own financial support. If you'd like to help ensure that he can stay at UT attending to the spiritual and other non-sport needs of the players, the best thing you can do is commit to a regular gift to him through the FCA. If not that, a one-time gift will also help. Or, you can buy his CD "It's Time," which they apparently play over the Neyland public address system while the players are warming up before games. He's also got a blog, although it looks like that's not his highest priority. And by the way, Roger has not even once asked for my help with any of this. I contacted him earlier this year after learning that he's self-supported, and I just wanted to help get the word out, partly because I know (second-hand) what it's like to have to solicit donations to maintain a staff position with a charity, and mostly because it really matters to me that the program I root for cares as much about developing people as it does developing players.

Don't take my word for it. Take Bryce Brown's.

Jonathan Crompton and other Volunteers slowly climbing national rankings

Joel — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:31:01 -0000

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Tennessee is trending upward, appearing to have successfully navigated the meat of the Kiffin Chimera's learning curve. Despite a pretty big hole they dug for themselves early on, several Volunteers are slowly climbing the national rankings in several major statistical categories. Have a look:

Offense

Jonathan Crompton, tied for 11th in "points responsible for" (1st in the SEC, and behind the likes of Houston's Case Keenum, Boise State's Kellen Moore, BYU's Max Hall, and several players from lower-tier teams)
Montario Hardesty, 25th in rushing yards per game (4th in the SEC)
Crompton 35th in passing efficiency (over Joe Cox, Matt Barkley, Greg McElroy, Terrelle Pryor, Stephen Garcia, and Jevan Snead, among others)
Crompton, 40th in total passing yards (above Joe Cox, Jevan Snead, Matt Barkley, Greg McElroy, Terrelle Pryor, and Tim Tebow, among others)
Jonathan Crompton: 44th in passing (above Ryan Mallett, Joe Cox, Matt Barkley, Greg McElroy, Jevan Snead, Jordan Jefferson, Chris Todd, Tim Tebow, and Terrelle Pryor, among other notables)
Crompton, 44th in passing yards per game (above Joe Cox, Jevan Snead, Chris Todd, Greg McElroy, Jordan Jefferson, Tim Tebow, and Terrelle Pryor, among others)
Montario Hardesty, 56th in all-purpose running

Note that we have no receivers ranked nationally in receptions per game, receiving yards per game, or total receiving yards, which must mean that Crompton is spreading the ball around and the driving force in the passing game.

Defense

Rico McCoy, tied for 7th in forced fumbles
Eric Berry, 9th in fumbles recovered
Dennis Rogan, 25th in fumbles recovered (duplicate link)
Chris Walker, 41st in sacks
McCoy, 52nd in solo tackles
McCoy, 58th in total tackles
Berry, 63rd in passes defended
Walker, 98th in interceptions

Special Teams

Daniel Lincoln, 49th in field goals
David Oku, 50th in kickoff returns
Chad Cunningham, 52nd in punting
Nu'Keese Richardson, 85th in kickoff returns (duplicate link)

Talking Points: Tennessee basketball tips off tonight

Joel — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:23:04 -0000

More photos » by Dave Martin - AP

Alabama's finest, wondering if what Lane Kiffin said to Nick Saban is statutory violation of some sort.

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Lane Kiffin apparently didn't limit his "we'll win next year" to the Alabama post-game quotes to the media, he said it to Nick Saban during the post-game handshake. Reportedly.
Bruceball opens the season tonight at 7:30 with an exhibition game at Thompson-Boling Arena against North Alabama. Yes, we'll have an open thread, as I think the game will be broadcast online. As we've noted here earlier this week, the Vols begin the season ranked 11th and 10th and are getting some good national publicity. Sporting News has a feature on them today noting Pearl's own belief that this is the most experienced team he's had at Tennessee. That experience translates into the players having figured out what they can and can't do. Point guard Bobby Maze for one, after a season of on-the-job training, now understands what Pearl expects from the point guard position ($) and will play a vital role in the return to Pearl's pressure defense. The team's also added a couple of new guys, including Kenny Hall, who Pearl's expecting to be a defensive havoc-wreaker around the basket ($). This should be an interesting and fun season for the basketball team and its fans.

GVX's Mike Griffith elicits some experienced and national perspective on Jonathan Crompton from Todd Blackledge, who knows a thing or two about expectations and disappointment.

Wes Rucker and Seth Emerson take a page out of the blogger's guidebook and exchange Q&As on Saturday's Tennessee-South Carolina game.

Chris Walker, Luke Stocker, Greg King, and Vladimir Richard are apparently all game-time decisions this week. Does that scare anyone else?

Another "official" visitor's list for this weekend, this one from GVX, includes Ken Adams, Demar Dorsey, Chris Dunkley, Christian Jones, Ted Meline, Dequan Menzie, Corey Miller, Terrence Mitchell, and Brandon Willis.