Is Tennessee a second tier SEC team as many seem to be enjoying saying this year? I am not sure of that yet.
I wasn't that impressed with Kentucky last night.
Let's see how Georgia and Tennessee goes. Then we will know more.
The Bulldogs have won their last three visits to Neyland Stadium. UT rallied for a 51-33 triumph a year ago in Athens—the Vols second straight win at UGA’s Sanford Stadium. The visiting team has won the last five games in this series.
“We have to play the run well, better than we have done to this point," said Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer. "Their two backs are quality backs, hard to tackle and certainly a challenge for anyone that plays them. We can’t forget about the past, obviously, but the first order of business will be to take on their run game and try to get the downs and distances in our favor. Defensively, our challenge is to be consistent in our gap patrol, playing off blocks and making the tackle. The big plays that we have given up have come from these areas that we have addressed during the open date.
The Vols won two of their last three contests in “The Swamp,” claiming a 34-32 win in 2001 and a 24-10 triumph in 2003.
This series recently has been dictated by the running game, as the team with the most rushing yardage has won 15 of the last 17 meetings (UF won in 2000 and 2002 despite being outgained on the ground).
Junior tailback Arian Foster has played extremely well in Tennessee’s two opening games this season, evoking memories of his breakout 2005 campaign, during which he rushed for at least 100 yards in each of his five starts. Foster leads the Vols deep corps of tailbacks this year, averaging 107.0 rushing yards per game. He is averaging 5.9 yards per carry and has a pair of rushing touchdowns so far.
"The running game, as I said, is crucial," Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer said.. "You go back and see that the team that has rushed the best has won the most games, We are working diligently to continue to find our balance from an offensive standpoint. I thought the second half of the Southern Miss game was more like we would like to look"
The biggest question mark for the Vols has not been the offense, however, as the defense has struggled in the season's opening two games. After giving up 471 total yards against Cal, 230 of which came on the ground, Tennessee once again came out flat against Southern Miss giving up 16 points and over 250 yards in the first half.
"We've got to tackle well," said Fulmer. "We've got to play good assignment football because of the potential for the option and the other things that we will see."
The key to the option, and the entire Florida offense, will be quarterback Tim Tebow who was a main contributor to the victory over the Vols last season in Knoxville.
"Their offense centers on their outstanding quarterback, Tebow," Fulmer said. "He is a really special football player, a big guy that can run and throw it."
For the sixth time in the last nine seasons, a September loss has forced the University of Tennessee's football team to redirect its goals.
Edited from: Vols regroup after loss, Monday, September 03, 2007
By Stephen Hargis, Assistant Sports Editor, Chatanooga Times Free Press
"As far as tackling, we did not have a good day at all," UT Coach Phil Fulmer said. "It wasn't just up front. The front played reasonably well. It was our tackling. It was some at linebacker and a lot at safety. Jonathan Hefney has made a lot of plays for us here and will make a lot more, but he did not have his best game at safety.
"Stopping the run remains a concern. They're very skilled and quick at tailback, and they made us miss. Cal has good backs, but they're not that good."
Tennessee's inability to wrap up allowed Cal to rush for 230 yards. Fulmer said after watching game film that he counted 22 missed tackles.
Last year Tennesse put a big whooping on Cal that was much worse than the final score indicated as Cal managed late meaningless scores. Unfortunately, this years Cal team probably has revenge on its mind.
From: UTSPORTS.COM
Tennessee and California have met three times previously on the gridiron, with all meetings taking place in Knoxville. The Bears posted a 27-17 win in 1977, and the Vols triumphed over Cal by a score of 38-12 in 1987. Most recently, in last year’s season-opener, UT defeated California 35-18 in Neyland Stadium.
One of Tennessee’s biggest special teams challenges heading into the 2007 season is the effort to replace departed placekicker James Wilhoit. A four-year starter for the Vols from 2003-06, Wilhoit ranks second on the school’s all-time scoring chart with 325 career points.
Junior punter Britton Colquitt earned first-team All-SEC honors a year ago and enters 2007 as the SEC's top punter according to the league's head coaches.
Following Tennessee’s practice on Friday, Aug. 24, head coach Phillip Fulmer announced that seniors Erik Ainge, Jonathan Hefney, Xavier Mitchell and Eric Young would serve as the Vols’ captains for the California game.
Quarterback Erik Ainge enjoyed a tremendously productive junior year in 2006 that saw him rank among the national leaders in numerous passing categories and climb in the UT records book.
Tennessee’s defense has allowed just six opposing ballcarriers to rush for at least 100 yards in the last 37 games. During that span, the opponents’ top rusher has averaged 77.2 yards per game.
Senior free safety Jonathan Hefney has a chance to stand atop Tennessee’s all-time list for starts by a position player,* as he enters 2007 with a streak of 36 consecutive starts.
Cornerback Eric Berry is one of the top three cornerbacks on the Vols’ defensive depth chart coming out of summer camp and could join select company if he is given the start at California. Berry would be the first defensive player and only the third player overall in the Philip Fulmer era to start a season-opener as a true freshman.
It always scares me when our pre-season press is talking about our kickers. Sure General Neyland made it plain that football is a game that consists of controlling territory . And the kicking game is a huge part of that. But is that all we have?
We couldn't stop Penn State's running game back on January 1st. Have we gotten that figured out now?
Is Berry that good at cornerback? Or are our other cornerback's that bad?
Tune in Saturday night and we will see if any of these questions are answered.
Athlete (Cornerback, Quarterback) Eric Berry 5-11,195 Fairburn, Ga. (Creekside)
The Vols picked up the commitment of Eric Berry, a multitalented, five-star prospect out of Creekside High School in Fairburn, Georgia.
Sorry Bulldogs, read it and weep.
The most-touted overall prospect to select UT in years, Berry boasts legitimate 4.3 speed, will likely return kicks and could play cornerback, receiver, running back or quarterback for the Vols as early as next season. UT coaches presented him an offensive plan similar to Heisman runner-up Darren McFadden at Arkansas. Berry is the nation's No. 3 prospect, according to Rivals.
A quarterback in high school, Berry glides effortlessly around the field. He is a superb athlete that will translate to a corner or wide receiver on the next level. All he is lacking is experience.
Eric Berry played quarterback during his senior season and finished with over 2000 total yards and 22 touchdowns; Berry benches 315 pounds, squats 560 and has a vertical jump of 37.5-inches. Partial senior season (5-0) stats: 1100 total yards/15 touchdowns/1 interception. He reports a 3.2 GPA and a 970 SAT. Berry, son of former Vol running back James Berry, checks in at No. 7 on Scout's top 100 list.
Eric Berry is the top cornerback prospect in the country. He is a U.S. Army All-American.
After putting distance between itself and a losing 2005 season with a successful 9-4 record this past season, Tennessee is now wiping out memories of a disappointing 2006 signing class with Class of 2007 that is looking better by the day.
“Eric called me and said he committed,” Creekside Head Coach Kevin Whitley told Scout.com’s Jamie Newberg. “I always encouraged him to take all five of his official visits but I think in the end things just got too hectic for him. You know Eric and his family have a history with Tennessee and that’s a place where I know he feels comfortable. He will also play early for the Vols.”
The announcement by Berry brought to an end a recruiting battle that had been brewing for years between Tennessee and Georgia for what is perhaps the best prospect grown in the Peach State since Champ Bailey. Ohio State, Auburn, USC, Florida and Miami were among the other schools he considered from a collection of over 50 offers.
However in the end Berry followed the same path blazed by his father James Berry, a former Parade High School All-American who started at tailback for two years (1980-81) at UT under Johnny Majors. "Dad going there was a factor,” Berry said. “And I wanted to fill his shoes. I have some pretty big shoes to fill, but it should be fun."
"I'm going to Tennessee" said the U.S. Army All-American from Creekside High in Fairburn, Georgia. "The guy you just got off the phone with is like a brother to me. We sat down and he just talked to me about my life and where I wanted to go with it. That just put me over the fence."
Berry who was close to setting up all his visits decided he did not want to take those knowing he was just leading the coaches on when his mind was made up. "I just felt it. It was a lot of factors, the coaches they are genuine and straight-forward. In committing to Tennessee, Berry becomes a legacy.
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