SB Nation - Chad Cunningham

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

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

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

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!

Jonathan Crompton and other Volunteers slowly climbing national rankings

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

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

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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)

Post-game awards: Tennessee Volunteers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

Joel — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:03:23 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

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Best trick. Warming up in all orange and then making the switcheroo right before racing out of the tunnel in black jerseys and orange pants.

Best hit, I. Janzen Jackson, "capping off" on Gamecock tight end Justice Cunningham, knocking the ball loose and treating the guy to an in-air somersault to boot.

Best hustle. Either Dan Williams (official credit) or Ben Martin (Lane Kiffin's credit), who recovered the first fumble nearly fifteen yards downfield from where they started the play.

Best call. Tennessee's second play on offense, a 38-yard Jonathan Crompton to Austin Johnson touchdown pass down the middle. According to Kiffin, most defenses take that play away, but they knew from film study that it would work against South Carolina.

Best rinse and repeat. Two plays after Tennessee had turned a forced fumble into seven points, Rico McCoy forced another fumble, Wes Brown recovered it, and the offense turned it into another touchdown.

Best move. Montario Hardesty on his first touchdown, juking right and making the defensive back utterly whiff on one of the prettiest spin moves I have ever seen on his way to the end zone and six points. Call it The Move.

Longest run. Bryce Brown's 37-yarder in the first quarter, during which he negotiated dense traffic in the middle before breaking outside.

Worst streak. Tennessee's first field goal attempt, which was low again and blocked again, making it the third blocked attempt in a row for the Volunteers.

Best threepeat. Having converted forced fumbles on the Gamecocks' first two possessions, the defense forced another on their fifth when McCoy and Savion Frazier hit a scrambling Stephen Garcia. Dennis Rogan recovered, and the offense took it 22 yards to the checkerboards.

Best block. Hardesty on fourth and goal for Tennessee's third touchdown. Hardesty put a rushing defender on his butt with a perfect cut and gave Crompton enough time to hit Kevin Cooper for the score.

Best post-play move. Cooper, who after crossing into the end zone with the ball, quickly one-hopped and flapped his elbows. It was just residual energy, but it looked like a pole-vaulting chicken.

Best hit, II. Jackson again, on Cedrick Snead, who'd escaped an earlier tackle attempt only to find himself airborn and in the arms of Jackson, who promptly slammed him to the ground.

Best peripheral, I. The Pride of the Southland's Thriller:

Best peripheral, II. A short video on Nick Reveiz, his leadership, his injury, and his pending recovery on the VolTron during the timeout. That guy is inspiring.

Best streak-buster, I. Getting a sack on the quarterback in the second quarter, the first in what seems like forever.

Best streak-buster, II. Chad Cunningham's field goal in the fourth quarter, halting the series of consecutive blocked attempts for the Vols at three.

Best Jack of All Trades. Cunningham, who not only kicked off and punted, but kicked field goals to boot (heh) in relief of Daniel Lincoln, who was still recovering from a quad injury.

Best tough guy. Monte Kiffin, who got mixed up in a tackle that spilled over into the sideline. According to Lane, Monte's hand was cut, and despite the insistence of the rest of the staff, he refused to see a trainer even after the game.

Best hit, III. McCoy this time, who nailed some poor South Carolina receiver with a perfectly-timed jarring bear hug of a tackle in the fourth quarter.

Best hit, IV. Jackson again, who capped off on a tight end again late in the game, preventing him from catching a well-thrown pass.

Play of the game, offense. Hardesty's The Move.

Play of the game, defense. Jackson's magical-somersaulting-now-you-have-it-now-you-don't tackle and forced fumble to win momentum for the team for the duration of the game.

Player of the game, offense. Montario Hardesty, who rushed 23 times for 121 yards, two TDs, caught a pass for 12 yards, and preserved his place in highlight videos for years to come with The Move.

Player of the game, defense. Tie between Rico McCoy, who had ten tackles, two forced fumbles, and a pass breakup, and Janzen Jackson, who racked up seven tackles, a forced fumble, two pass breakups, and continues to challenge Eric Berry for the reputation as the hardest hitter on the team. Thanks to lawvol98, Janzen will forever be known around these parts as Stonewall Jackson.

Best quote (paraphrased). Jim Chaney, who, when asked how he and Lane Kiffin collaborate on the offensive gameplan, explained the process and then, laughing, said something like, "If he's doing something screwy, I'll be like [clears throat] . . . and he'll go right ahead and do it anyway." Jim Chaney knows how Mike Slive feels.

Best picture of discipline. Jim Chaney. I've never heard any stories about this at all, but Chaney looks like he's lost at least 100 pounds:

What have I missed?

Tennessee Volunteers / Georgia Bulldogs Game Stats and Trivia

Hooper — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:00:29 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

Player of the Game. All part of the plan. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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Here are a few points of interest coming out of the Tennessee Volunteers / Georgia Bulldogs tilt.

Jonathan Crompton

20-27 passing for 310 yards, 4 TDs, and 1 INT. Using the NCAA formula, that gives him a passer rating of 212 - his highest ever. (His second-best mark was against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers for a 189 rating.)
8 different receivers caught Crompton passes. None of them were named Montario Hardesty.
Early in the second quarter, when driving in the red zone, hearty cheers of "Let's Go Crompton!" could be heard coming from the stands.

Georgia Offense

Zero plays run within the red zone. The deepest Georgia ever drove the ball was down to the Tennessee 35 for their field goal.
The 53-yard field goal was the only score for the Georgia offense. Considering that no passes were thrown deep within the red zone, it's fair to say that the field goal was the only scoring attempt by the Georgia offense.
Georgia has not rushed for 100 yards since their Arkansas game - a 3-game paucity of rushing.
Georgia's passing game managed a net 20/40 completions/attempts for 3.8 yards per attempt and 2 INTs.
Georgia went 3-13 on third down, and 0-2 on fourth down.

Tennessee Rushing

Montario Hardesty ended the day with 97 yards on 20 carries - just three shy of 100.
Seven Vols carried the ball for a net 162 yards. The 37 carries gave the Vols a 4.4 yards-per-carry average.

Penalties

The Vols were penalized 7 times for 47 yards. Four penalties came in the first quarter, two in the second, and one in the fourth.
The Bulldogs were penalized 9 times for 79 yards. One penalty came in the first quarter, four in the second, one in the third, and three in the fourth.

Special Teams

The Bulldogs scored 16 of their 19 points on special teams or defense: a kickoff return for a touchdown, an interception return for a touchdown, and a punt block for a safety.
Chad Cunningham punted 5 times. Excluding the blocked punt, he averaged 44.8 yards per punt with three landing inside the 20 and one touchback.
For Georgia, Drew Butler punted 6 times for a 49.8 yard average. His long was 61 yards; none were touchbacks and only one landed inside the 20.
Daniel Lincoln made his only field goal attempt (30 yards) and all six of his extra point tries.
Georgia's Blair Walsh made his only field goal attempt (52 yards) and both of his extra point tries.

Odds and Ends

Number of Plays: Tennessee 64 (37 run, 27 pass); Georgia 62 (22 run, 40 pass)
Time of Possession: Tennessee 34:05, Georgia 25:55
Total Yards: Tennessee 472 (previous season average: 376.8 yards); Georgia 241 (previous season average: 340.6 yards)
Number of Times That Rocky Top was played: 247
Length of drive from Knoxville to Athens: feels like 17 hours

Things to Watch for During Tennessee / UCLA

Hooper — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:50:20 -0000

by Wade Payne - AP

It's showtime, Lane. You wanted expectations? You got it. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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This is a potpourri list based partly on my experience at the Western Kentucky game and partly on some of the observations I've made of the Tennessee Volunteers and the UCLA Bruins. But for those at home and for those in the stands, there is a lot of spectacle offered in this game.

If You're in the Stands

You'll be able to see things that the TV stations will never bother showing. Here are a few:

Sideline Energy. The UT sideline will be a hornet's nest of activity. Watch just how much energy the coaches maintain on the sidelines and how the players respond to it.
Sideline Organization. There is a lot of adrenaline flowing off-field, but it doesn't translate into chaos because everything on the sidelines is orchestrated. Players have specific regions to congregate in when they're not a part of the action. Special teams units use those Twister-esque circle boards to ensure the right personnel are ready. The training assistants are constantly looking for ways to get the sidelines from 99% organized to 100% organized.
Sideline-to-Field Communication. It's easiest to see on offense when the play is called in, but it applies to the defense as well; the procedures are well-rehearsed and the signals very rarely need repeated. Remember, this was an offense that had Lane Kiffin calling plays in the huddle well into fall camp; keep that in mind and you'll be impressed.
Timeout Activity. When the timeout guy in the red jacket stands on the field and the crowd dies down, the sideline doesn't relax. There's nothing else happening on the field, so take a gander and watch.
Communication with the Fans. This team gives fans feedback. More accurately, they'll be calling on fans for noise and support throughout the game. They're very aware of the hometown faithful and are waiting to see what the fans in attendance do in response to their efforts.

Everybody (at Home and in the Stands)

Playclock. I do not expect any delay of game issues from Tennessee on Saturday. They move quickly - very quickly - between plays.
UCLA's Tight Ends. I firmly believe that UCLA sandbagged their tight ends against the San Diego St. Aztecs. Despite having two returners (Ryan Moya and Logan Paulsen) who had 8 receptions for 83 yards against Tennessee last year, the tight ends only managed 3 catches for 18 yards against SDSU. In the all-familiar game of hiding your playbook for a future opponent, UCLA hid their tight ends. And as you remember from last year, tight end passes are one easy way to keep an inexperienced quarterback in the game. If UT can shut the tight end down, Kevin Prince will have to look elsewhere for receivers.
Linebackers. Neither team showed their stuff with the linebackers last week. Watch for blitzes from both defenses; UT must believe they can get in Prince's head while UCLA will want to find out if Jonathan Crompton is indeed for real this year.
The First Step. In a zone blocking scheme, the critical element is to get position on the defender. Watch Tennessee's offensive line; if they come off the snap of the ball as a crisp, decisive unit, expect success. If there are miscommunications that lead to false starts or slow reactions to the snap, the zone blocking battle may be lost before it begins.
Punting Speed. We didn't see either the punting or the field goal games from Tennessee last week (nor did we see any field goal defense from Tennessee), but I'm not so optimistic as to assume we won't see UT punt once or twice this week. Chad Cunningham claims to have sped up his punting delivery from last year; watch and see if it's true. (If so, then Eddie Gran needs a street named after him for all he's done for UT already.)
Interception Defense. I am going to assume we'll see UT intercept at least one ball. One of their strengths last year was their ability to convert from pass defense to interception return blocking in the blink of an eye. Watch for it again this week. (You can catch it on the inevitable replays.)
When Things Go Wrong. Things will go wrong. Watch the coaches and the players to see how they respond. You'll see disappointment but never despair.
When Things Go Right. After big plays, watch the focus. How fast does the team get back into the game? This is a key indicator of whether the team is developing the killer instinct.

The Tennessee Volunteers Football Depth Chart is Out

Hooper — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:38:34 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

He's been patiently waiting to find out who the other 21 would be. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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The first real, comprehensive depth chart (pdf) of the Tennessee Volunteers was released yesterday, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press (h/t to Home Sweet Home of Gate21). As expected, freshmen players litter the field, including a listing or two that are surprising even to those following the practices.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

#1 - Jonathan Crompton This we knew, as it was announced on Monday.
#2 - Nick Stephens

Fullback

#1 - Kevin Cooper Cooper is a little shorter and stouter than Johnson, which should help in blocking situations. I don't know how the receiving comparison works out, but protection for the quarterback is probably a high priority until we know how well Crompton performs with the new offense against actual opponents.
#2 - Austin Johnson I'm a little surprised not to see Sam Edgmon given a nod, considering how well he seemed to be catching passes.

Tailback

#1 - Bryce Brown and Montario Hardesty The first surprise to me is the cop-out of listing co-#1s. Even if the very first play against Western Kentucky has both of these players in (and one fullback out), one of the two is still the #2 option for the staff. I still think that, at the moment, Hardesty is the "first-option tailback", but this might be a way to add some publicity for Bryce Brown.

Wide Receiver

#1 - Nu'Keese Richardson Nuke is the only true freshman to have unquestioned ownership of a #1 slot on the offense. Getting the nod over Warren is a testament to his work ethic and his ability to stay healthy through the preseason. I wonder, though, how much of this was influenced by the injury to Gerald Jones and the need to add a little more speed and maneuverability on the field.
#2 - Brandon Warren Stay healthy and practice hard, young man. Coaches don't evaluate training table etiquette when choosing starters.

Wide Receiver

#1 - Quintin Hancock In his senior year, Hancock has a golden opportunity to show Vol Nation that he's as good as he can look in practice. That he is the tall receiver on the field (and not Brandon Warren) is a statement about the premium that the coaching staff placed on practice time.
#2 - Marsalis Teague I wouldn't expect Teague to be far behind right now, with Hancock having the advantage of spring practice to learn more of the playbook. By the time Jones gets back, Teague may very well have moved up (back) to send on the depth chart here.

Tight End

#1 - Luke Stocker Stocker's the better receiver, and Cottam's the better blocker. This may be more informative of the staff's offensive tendencies than the actual comparison between the two.
#2 - Jeff Cottam I have to wonder: if he hadn't been injured all last year, where would Cottam be as a player right now?

Left Tackle

#1 - Chris Scott No surprise here.
#2 - Dallas Thomas The redshirt freshman is the heir apparent and should get some live fire time here and there throughout the season.

Left Guard

#1 - Vladimir Richard I like Vlad, he's a fun guy.
#2 - Cody Pope Another heir apparent, it's notable that Vlad is listed at 300 lb and Pope at 288. This offensive line is going to be much lighter and quicker than last year's, courtesy of a different zone blocking concept.

Center

#1 - Cody Sullins Who might have been #1 even if McNeil hadn't been injured.
#2 - Cory Sullins Learn quickly, young man. Please learn quickly.

Right Guard

#1 - Jacques McClendon where experience again made the difference. The right guard will be critical in the new running game, as he both assists the center in blocking and is the primary blocker to open up most cutback lanes on zone sweep plays. If you're inclined to watch line play, watch him.
#2 - William Brimfield Note, though, that the beef is apparent on the right side of the line. McClendon is 324 and Brimfield is 346. Run blockers, yes.

Right Tackle

#1 - Aaron Douglas and Jarrod Shaw Even more transparent than the co-number 1 running backs - we're not going to see two right tackles on the first play against Western Kentucky. I'm guessing that Douglas has more potential, but Shaw is more polished.

DEFENSE

(Note: I think that the defensive line terms of 'left' and 'right' refer to the left and right as the offense sees them, so the left end lines up against the offense's left tackle, and so on.)

Left End

#1 - Gerald Williams Raise your hand if you saw this coming at the beginning of spring camp, when GW was begging Kiffin to let him play linebacker. It's good to be unblockable.
#2 - Willie Bohannon and Ben Martin Sigh. Another co-listing. I'll stop that now, as you know my feelings.

Left Tackle

#1 - Wes Brown - at 257 pounds, he's one of the lighter starting tackles you'll ever see. This feels much like a pass-rushing tackle, similar to the way the New York Giants line up.
#2 - Andre Mathis - I think Mathis will be in for short-yardage situations.

Right Tackle

#1 - Montori Hughes and Dan Williams Talk of Dan Williams not being the exclusive starter did not begin for a while, and even when Hughes came on strong earlier in the fall camp, it was thought he'd be at left tackle. The staff really like what they see in this new kid, and so do I.

Right Guard

#1 - Chris Walker who has also had a really nice fall, though you don't tend to hear about it as much because of Williams and Hughes.
#2 - Steven Fowlkes The consensus on Fowlkes appear to be that he has a really, really high ceiling but is still developing. If he stays on course, then next year's presumed lineup of Gerald Williams, Hughes, and Fowlkes may be special.

Strongside Linebacker

#1 - LaMarcus Thompson This is not a surprise.
#2 - Greg King That Thompson was the obvious #1 is not a slight on King, though. You don't hear much of him, but it's always been very complimentary. I think he should be at full speed next year.

Middle Linebacker

#1 - Nick Reveiz Even less surprising. The staff loves this guy, and his attitude should be a real emotional boost for the whole defense.
#2 - Herman Lathers It's hard to find information on Lathers, both because the news coverage on linebackers has been almost nonexistent and because Shorty Reveiz has made a better story whenever they did bother mentioning these guys.

Weakside Linebacker

#1 - Rico McCoy Injury didn't keep him from losing his slot. Healthy, he's one of our best and I look forward to seeing him play.
#2 - Savion Frazier I'm curious how close Frazier came to taking the slot when McCoy was hurt. Unfortunately, the lack of news drama here suggests it wasn't as close as I'd hoped.

Left Cornerback

#1 - Anthony Anderson and Mike Edwards I think this really means that Anderson is the #1 for the first couple of games, but Edwards could take it so long as he keeps learning the system.

Right Cornerback

#1 - Art Evans No real surprise here. His name has come up quite a bit during practices, particularly for his interceptions.
#2 - Marsalous Johnson The depth is really nice in the secondary.

Strong Safety

#1 - Eric Berry
#2,436 - Darren Myles, Jr. and Prentiss Waggner Welcome to the competition for the guy that gets to replace Eric Berry next year. Don't worry; we won't be judging you according to Berry. Sure.

Free Safety

#1 - Janzen Jackson and Dennis Rogan I'm still a little surprised that Rogan gets moved around between corner and safety as much as he does. Jack of all trades, master of none? However it works out, I'd like him to have a more permanent home on the roster.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker

#1 - Daniel Lincoln
#2 - Chad Cunningham

Punter

#1 - Chad Cunningham His kicking strength is supposedly much better this year.
#2 - David Harrington
#3 - The Ghost of Colquitts Past

Kickoffs

#1 - Chad Cunningham
#2 - Daniel Lincoln

Punt Returner

#1 Nu'Keese Richardson I guess those worries about ball-catching weren't enough to sway the staff. Hopefully that means he's been catching better.
#2 - Dennis Rogan

Kick Returner

#1 - David Oku
#2 - Dennis Rogan

Deep Snapper

#1 - Morgan Cox
#2 - Nick Guess

Holder

Bram Cannon

Talking Points: Gerald Jones out, freshmen in

Joel — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:51:41 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

Where'd all the receivers go?

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Back in the saddle with minimal sunburn after a fine vacation of doing absolutely nothing. Ready for the season, and ready for this morning's Talking Points:

Sigh. Another receiver goes down, and this time it's No. 1 target Gerald Jones for four to six weeks. Hooper's all over the injury and it's impact on the team. As hooper notes, this means that Tennessee will be relying even more on freshmen than we had anticipated, which in turn means that we're likely to see a lot of the following guys early in 2009, which thrills my heart, which makes one too many "whiches" for this sentence: DTs Montori Hughes and Marlon Walls, RBs Bryce Brown (assuming he gets eligible . . . please!) and David Oku, WRs Nu'Keese Richardson and Marsalis Teague, DBs Janzen Jackson, Darren Myles, and Mike Edwards, and LB Jerod Askew, among others. John Adams is already in love with Bryce Brown, by the way, but who isn't? And Adams is also wondering when August will end, but who isn't?

It's huge! Team Speed Kills augments CBS's SEC Preview with its own ultimate, comprehensive, encyclopedic SEC Preview. Florida's the team to beat. Oh, I'm sorry, did I spoil the ending? ;-)

And bonus, embeddable video from CBS. See, SEC? This is how it works. Make it available and people will pass it around. I just used CBS's brand three times in one paragraph.

Remember Jesse Scroggins? Yeah, well, we're not giving up on him.

Kicks. With all of the talk about quarterbacks and freshmen and those huge concerns for the Vols, the concerns about the kicking game have sort of gotten lost. But that's improving as well. Daniel Lincoln was three of three at Saturday's scrimmage (from 23, 40, and 47 yards), and coaches are pleased with Chad Cunningham's progress, too. We still don't have anyone who can get the ball into the end zone on kickoffs, though (not until next year), so we'll have to see how coverage is before we get too comfortable.

Goodbye . . . what's that awful smell? Spencer Hall of EDSBS.com says goodbye to his friends and enemies at Sporting News.

Woo! In other fine news, Bruce Pearl says that his team is going to press this year. Somebody give me a woo.

Guilty. Geoff Calkins says John Calipari has no defense for one of Memphis's entire season getting sucked into the black hole with the NCAA logo on it.

This bullet point sponsored by Home Depot. Nice feature on the Sullins' boys, whose antics taught their parents the fine art of drywalling. Public service, you know.

Good news for the Tennessee defense and special teams

Joel — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:11:59 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

4 months ago: Tennessee defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin runs to the sideline at Neyland Stadium during practice Saturday, Aug. 8 2009 in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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It was all good news for Tennessee's defense on Thursday. The defense made it difficult for the offense to run the ball most of the day and forced two Nick Stephens' interceptions. Not coincidentally, Dan Williams, Wes Brown, and Chris Walker all returned to practice after missing some time earlier in the week. Oh, and Marlon Walls - whom DACOACHO recruited as a 215-pound LB - has been cleared to play and will likely help at DT now that he's 290 pounds. Dude's putting on weight like me.

Janzen Jackson had one of the two interceptions and is really making a case to be the first freshman to play ($) this season. Jackson's a coach's son and, in addition to fantastic "flip his hips" action has the knowledge and terminology to pick up the scheme quickly.

But . . . gasp! Monte didn't invent the T-2? Thank you, Mr. Rucker. Next you're going to tell us that Tennessee didn't invent football or some crazy nonsense like that. ;-)

Tennessee fans also got some positive news on the special teams front. Dave Hooker reports that the team devotes a segment of practice to special teams and that during that time, players will do whatever they can to attempt to distract the kickers and then cheer for whichever guy wins that particular competition.

It seems to be working. I think I heard the Daniel Lincoln interview that hooper referred to yesterday. In any event, Lincoln was very candid in the interview I heard, basically validating the fact that having one guy, Eddie Gran, responsible for special teams is going to pay major dividends in 2009. At one point it almost sounded like he didn't receive any coaching at all last season, which I'm sure isn't true, but it's evident that he and the rest of the special teams units are getting a lot more attention this fall.

Chad Cunningham agrees, saying that he's a "totally different punter" ($) than he was last year. He's apparently been much more consistent and with great hang times. Cunningham says that "[t]his is the best camp that I've ever hand."

Other stuff . . .

Josh McNeil's not only changed his body, he's changed his attitude. Triggered in part by seeing Cody Sullins run out with the first team at the Orange and White Game in the spring.
Oku okay with competition ($). This guy sounds like a lot of fun to talk to.
ESPN decides to use its front page today to compare Eric Berry and Taylor Mays. Fortunately for us, we've already done that.

Talking Points: The new era of Tennessee football begins at 2:45

Joel — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:24:27 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

8 months ago: Tennessee runningback Montario Hardesty (2) is tackled by Art Evans (25) while crossing the goal line during the first half of the spring Orange and White game Saturday, April 18, 2009, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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Announcing the RTT Mining the Archives Email Newsletter. Sign up here.
Later today on RTT: (1) Eric Berry vs. Taylor Mays. Who's better? (2) Hooper's recruiting update. (3) RTT#20 in 2009. (4) Around the SB Nation.
Tennessee kicks off fall camp with a 2:45 p.m. practice this afternoon. Kiffin's preseason mission statement, according to GVX: "Unless your name is Eric Berry, you're in a fight for your job." Wes Rucker says that Nick Reveiz, Aaron Douglas, Chad Cunningham, and Art Evans need to have a good camp.

The SEC's best champions since expansion - SEC - ESPN

Who's my pick as the best SEC champ since the advent of the championship game in 1992? I'm sorry. I can't pick just one, but I will pick the five I would attempt to choose from (listed in chronological order): . . . 1998 Tennessee -- The last unbeaten national champion from the SEC. . . .

Football Bowl Subdivision needs a makeover and ESPN.com has the downsizing plan - ESPN

It starts with a live draft Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET. When colleagues Ivan Maisel, Mark Schlabach and I are finished with our cut list, we'll be down to a fast and furious 40 power programs in the newly renamed Gordon Gekko Subdivision. (Motto: "Greed is good.")

Cairo Syrupmakers headline America's best high school nicknames - Andy Staples - SI.com

Go Nimrods!

Adams: ESPN will make it hard to miss SEC : govolsxtra.com

In fact, my guess is the rest of college football is in for a shock. It’s one thing to hear about how extensive the SEC’s 15-year television package is with ESPN. It’s another thing to see it.

Urban Meyer got a raise. Does that mean Les Miles gets one too? - Dr. Satur... - NCAA Football - Rivals.com

Not so fast, says LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette, who I called up for the fine print: Miles will only get the $1,000 bump "if he wins the national championship this year," Bonnette said, which corresponds with the AP's widely disseminated accounts then and now. (Go AP.)

Post-Spring Previews: Tennessee Volunteers

Gamecock Man — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:43:57 -0000

More photos » by Butch Dill - AP

5 months ago: Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin talks about the upcoming season during the Southeastern Conference football Media Days in Hoover, Ala. on Friday, July 24, 2009. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)

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After hosting Vanderbilt the week before, the Gamecocks travel to Knoxville to take on Lane Kiffin's Tennessee Volunteers. (Remember last time we went there? Yeah, I didn't want to think about that, either. I'd rather remember blowing them out last year. It's still hard to believe that happened. And perhaps even harder to believe that it didn't seem to mean very much.) The Vols, in my estimation, are one of the hardest teams to call this year. For one thing, of course, they have a brand new coaching staff. Personally, I tend to believe that there are lots of indications that Kifin and company, for all their strange antics, will be at least mildly successful in Knoxville. Why not? Kiffin has put together an all-star cast of coaches and managed to bring in a very impressive recruiting class with limited time. Will it be enough to get back to late-90s / early-2000s levels? That's still to be seen. However, I don't see many more 5-7 seasons in store for the Vols. The turnaround may not come immediately, though.

The new coaching staff isn't the only reason this team confuses me. The 2008 version, quite frankly, looked better on paper than it played on the field. Hell, Jonathan Crompton, one of the centers of criticism, was once considered one of the best prep quarterbacks in the country and a sure-fire bluechip prospect. Were the problems the program encountered last year simply owing to misuse of talent by Phil Fulmer and his staff (notably maligned offensive coordinator David Clawson), or were there deeper talent-evaluation issues involved? Perhaps we'll find out this year.

All of this is to say that you can take these comparisons with a grain of salt. I have no idea how good the Vols will be this year, but the following is an indication of how good I think they will be based on somewhat confusing evidence. Let's take a look at the offense first.

Offense

The Vols aim to go back to a more traditional offense after the failed experiment with Dave Clawson's offensive "system" this past season. That should work well for the Vols, who have a backfield built for success running the ball. The passing game, though, still has some questions, as the Vols return embattled quarterbacks Jonathan Crompton and Nick Stephens and an unproven if talented receiving corps.

Quarterbacks

After having a good spring, Jonathan Crompton appears to be ready to take the starting role he lost midway through last year. Needless to say, 2008 was a disaster for Crompton. He threw for an abysmal 98.13 rating, more INTs than TDs, and he generally looked lost in a number of notable games, such as when he went 8-23 in an offensive clunk-fest loss against Auburn. Crompton did redeem himself somewhat in the season finale against Kentucky. Talent is not the issue for Crompton, who was once one of the nation's most highly sought recruits and who has shown flashes of brilliance at times in his career. Crompton has a cannon of an arm, and you can expect to see the Vols use that to their advantage by occasionally going deep. If Crompton fails, expect for the Vols to go back to Nick Stephens, who was somewhat effective at times in Crompton's relief midway through last year. Some previews I've seeen think Stephens is the guy the Vols should go with, but I'd have to disagree. I'd have to imagine that Vols fans are hoping the Mountain Messiah comes through; Crompton appears to be the better player, and the fact that Stephens didn't really play better than Crompton suggests that the problem may have been as much the system as the players, which would in turn suggest that Crompton might be able to show off his considerable skills if he gets in the right system.

I'm going to give Stephen Garcia the slightest of edges in this one. Garcia had a slightly better 2008 than Crompton. However, although the two have different skill sets, they both had similar 2008s: lots of promise followed by lots of disappointment. It will be interesting to see what kind of year these two are having when the game rolls around; my guess is that both will surprise and be in the top half of the quarterbacks in the SEC. It is worth noting that the Vols, who project to have a strong running game and problems at receiver, will probably try to pound the ball most of the time. Even still, I expect Crompton be much better statistically this year.

Verdict: Slight advantage South Carolina

Running Backs

The Vols finished 88th in the nation in rushing offense last season, good for ninth in the SEC. That's not going to happen again. Arian Foster is gone, but the Vols have a solid group of experienced backs, including Montario Hardesty and Taureen Poole. However, the big names in this group are the newcomers: Bryce Brown, 2009's top prep prospect by most measures, and David Oku, a top multi-purpose back. These two could form an impressive thunder and lightening duo for years to come. (Actually, it doesn't really make sense to call Brown "thunder" considering that he can really do just about anything--he's 219 and runs a 4.4.) All in all, the Vols have a lot of options in the backfield. If Brown and Oku can learn to produce quickly--and that is an "if" when it comes to freshmen--this could be one of the best backfields in the conference.

I give Tennessee a slight to strong advantage here. Neither of these teams had great running games last year, but both recruited some good players in their recruiting classes and should be much better this year. The Vols, though, brought in the biggest fish of them all in Brown, who, athletically at least, looks like the prototype of the classic SEC back. Tennessee could very well have a Bo Jackson- / Herschel Walker-type on their hands.

Verdict: Slight to Strong advantage Tennessee

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Wide receiver was another sore spot for the Tennessee offense last year. Tennessee graduates top receiver Lucas Taylor and hopes that Gerald Jones, who caught for over 300 yards a year ago, can step up and become the go-to guy. Jones is very talented and could be poised for a breakout year. The Vols hope that Denarius Moore can be the deep-ball threat. (Moore will be out early in the season but should be back for our game.) Austin Rogers, who was supposed to be part of the rotation, is out for the year with a knee injury. It's also possible that star recruit Nu'Keese Richardson might see time on the field, but Richardson's small stature may prohibit him from making an impact until he puts on some weight.

I give us a slight advantage here. Both teams are looking for identity at receiver, but Jason Barnes, Moe Brown, Dion LeCorn, and Weslye Saunders have shown a bit more than UT's group.

Verdict: Slight advantage South Carolina

Offensive Line

Tennessee needs better play out of its line if it wants to take advantage of all the talent in the backfield. The interior looks solid with Jacques McClendon and Vlad Richard at guards and Josh McNeil at center. However, tackle is a bigger question mark, with uncertainty at both positions. The left tackle will be either Chris Scott or Dallas Thomas. I have no idea who the right tackle will be.

This is a push. Both teams are looking for better line play and will probably get it, but question marks linger. Both teams also have to be worrying about injuries that could reveal depth issues.

Verdict: Push

Let's look at the defense after the jump.

Defense

While I'd say we overall look a bit better on offense than the Vols, they may have the advantage over us on defense. Moreover, Kiffin brings in his pops Monte, one of the NFL's all-time great defensive coordinators. The Vols will run Kiffin senior's famed 4-3 Tampa 2 defense. (The meeting between Kiffin senior and Ellis Johnson will certainly be a battle between two of the SEC's best defensive minds.) Despite the atrocious record, Tennessee's defense was very good last year, and it will probably be good this year despite losing some star power at line and linebacker.

Defensive Line

Tennessee graduates star end Robert Ayers to the NFL. However, this should still be a very good unit for Tennessee. The Vols have two speedy ends in Chris Walker and Ben Martin, both of whom will rack up a number of sacks this year. They also have depth at the position, so expect to see frequent rotation to keep everyone fresh. There's some concern about the effectiveness of the inside linemen; Dan Williams appears to be a solid, but Wes Brown looks a little small for the position. Kiffin is high on freshman Montori Hughes, who may take Brown's spot sooner than later.

I'm going to call this a push. Defensive line should be our strength on defense this year, and I think our starters may be a little better and more seasoned than UT's. However, the Vols have depth on their side, whereas we could be in trouble by this point in the season if we have multiple guys go down.

Verdict: Push

Linebackers

The Vols have one of the conference's better outside linebackers in Rico McCoy. After McCoy, though, they have some more question marks. Nick Reveiz, LaMarcus Thompson, Savion Frazier, and a group of freshmen will likely fill the other positions. This group has the talent to be good but has a lot to prove.

I give us a slight advantage here. We have an All-SEC linebacker in Eric Norwood, an experienced talent in Rodney Paulk, and a group of younger guys that at least have some experience. The Vols, while talented, will have to hope their guys can grow up really fast.

Verdict: Slight advantage South Carolina

Secondary

Tennessee boasts the nation's best safety in Eric Berry. Hell, Berry might very well be the best defensive player in the country, period. He's getting some Heisman hype, a rarity for a defensive player. Berry can do it all; he can knock you silly with a bone-rattling hit, he can come down with a tough interception and then take it to the house, whatever you want. He's essentially a one-man wrecking crew. What's more, Berry has been vocal about believing that his skills will be maximized in Monte Kiffin's Tampa 2 scheme. I don't doubt he's right; this guy knows when to be confident. Highly regarded freshman Darren Myles appears to be the other starter at safety. Tennessee will start Dennis Rogan at one of the corners but is uncertain about the other. However, they have plenty of talented options. This should be a good secondary once the coaching staff figures out how to work the rotation.

Strong advantage Tennessee here. I have serious doubts about our secondary this year (although signing Darrell Givens would ease those a bit). While Tennessee does have some questions of their own, they're mostly the "good" sort of questions: too much talent to know what to do with. And Eric Berry just scares me. You never know when he's going to take one of your guys out of the game or pull in a pick six.

Verdict: Strong advantage Tennessee

Special Teams

Junior Daniel Lincoln returns hoping to improve on his 2008 campaign. Lincoln was one of the conference's best kickers in 2007 (Gamecocks fans know this) but struggled last year. Star punter Britton Colquitt graduates, but Chad Cunningham played well while Colquitt was injured last year and should be a serviceable replacement. The coverage units look solid. The Vols have a number of potential contributors in the return game. Dennis Rogan was a good kickoff returner last year, and freshmen David Oku and Nu'Keese Richardson have the speed to play right away as well.

I'll give the Vols a slight advantage here. Lincoln, who along with Auburn's Wes Byrum stangely got much worse in 2008 after stellar freshmen campaigns, is a cause for concern. However, we also have questions in that department with Ryan Succop gone, and the Vols' talent in the return game is scary.

Verdict: Slight advantage Tennessee

Head Coaches

How good can Lane Kiffin be in the SEC? That's the question that's on many minds around the SEC coming into this year. While some are predicting Kiffin will either achieve great success right away or will bust, I think we'll see something in between for the Vols this year. While the true believers on Rocky Top might not be happy with an eight-win season, in actuality that would be a success for this team. The problem, of course, is that the Vols don't project to have the kind of passing game they'll need to compete with Florida and 'Bama this year. That's not Kiffin's fault, though; if he can get this team on the right track, the quality skill-position players will come. I think Kiffin is capable of getting those eight or nine wins, and if he does that, he'll have proven that he has the potential to bring Tennessee back to the conference's upper echelon. He's already proven that he can do two important things: recruit and compete in the brutal SEC assistant-coaches arms race.

That said, though, Kiffin has yet to prove that he can do those things. Steve Spurrier, on the other hand, has, even if his star has been fading a bit over the past couple of years.

Verdict: Slight advantage South Carolina

Overall

These are fairly evenly matched teams, a notion confirmed by the fact that most previews I've looked at see both teams going anywhere between 5-7 to 9-3. This game, of course, is one of the toss ups the previews point to. A lot is going to come down to how far along both teams have gotten in terms of answering the questions on offense. Injuries could also be a problem for both teams; offensive injuries in general could devastate Tennessee, whereas injuries to (heaven forbid) Garcia or someone in the secondary could be rough for us. All of this points to a game that's almost impossible to call right now. One thing I do like is that our strengths would seem to play to theirs; we project to have a strong rushing defense this year, they plan to run the ball, we'll probably run more than in years past, whereas their defensive strengths are in the secondary. I'm going to go with a close Carolina victory here, but again, I'm not sure about this one. Tennessee is a wild card; they could be a team that's average, or they could end up being a nine-or-so win team. We'll have to wait and see.

Prediction: Three-point victory USC

Poll

The Tennessee game will be a...

Blowout USC victory

19 votes

Close USC victory

52 votes

Close UT victory

31 votes

Blowout UT victory

26 votes

128 votes | Poll has closed