After 9 tough games in 2006, the Tennessee Volunteer football team only has one more hurdle remaining to speak of, at Arkansas in Fayetteville this coming Saturday. They have far exceeded expectations in turning things around after a rare losing season last year, even after this weekend's heartbreaking loss. Here are the grades they have earned so far:

QUARTERBACK (A)

Erik Ainge's improvement under Offensive Coordinator David Cutcliffe has been remarkable. He has the confidence of his teammates and coaches, and his receivers are sure-handed, with an offensive line that protects him well. He is a leader in the SEC in passing offense. Crompton stepped up & did well with 2 great TD throws vs. LSU.

RUNNING BACKS (C)

Injuries to both LaMarcus Coker and Arian Foster have left this unit decimated. Montario Hardesty combines power & speed nicely & has potential, but he is recovering from past injuries, too.

WIDE RECEIVERS (A)

Robert Meachem is a gifted athlete who is far more menacing after the catch. He is a leader nationally in receiving yards. He will most likely go to the NFL early. Jayson Swain is a money man. Bret Smith is a notch below them, but is sure-handed, too.


OFFENSIVE LINE (C)

While they give good pass protection, their run blocking is abysmal. Is that because they are more mobile & less beefier, something everyone cried out for them to be last year? They had minus rushing yardage vs. Florida for that game & minus rushing yardage for LSU for a good part of that game, both losses, of course. If Ainge didn't have such a quick release, there would've been more sacks this year. Crompton is more mobile & rolls out & moves the pocket or he would've been sacked more, too. Sears is great & McNeil is good, but the others are just average.

DEFENSIVE LINE (C)

The Vols' front 4 is weak now that Justin Harrell is gone, and they give up too many 3rd down conversions to opponents. They also don't get enough sacks. They have given up far more rushing yards than Chavis' units usually do. LB Ryan Karl is having to make tackles that ends Xavier Mitchell and Antonio Reynolds should be making. The youth of the line means it will be much better in 2007.

LINEBACKERS (B)

Ryan Karl, Jerod Mayo and Marvin Mitchell have all stepped in to fill the shoes of 3 stars who are gone from last season & done very well for themselves. Mitchell & Mayo are among leading tacklers in the SEC. Rico McCoy is also a rising star-to-be in this corps.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (C)

Inky Johnson's injury forced Antwan Stewart and Demetrice Morley to both step up, but their weaknesses have been exposed. Talent is there, but no depth, resulting in spotty play when the starters tire. Jonathan Wade is a star and Morley is becoming one after his LSU game heroics. Jonathan Hefney had a big INT in that game & is a great tackler, too, but he is making tackles the DL should be making.

SPECIAL TEAMS (C)

Place-kicker James Wilhoit & punter Britton Colquitt are at the top of the SEC in talent. Kick coverage has improved somewhat but is still poor, and return yardage is still not good, either. Wilhoit is doing well on FG's, but missed a key one vs. LSU. Colquitt has a great average, but his net average is just average due to the fact that we can't cover.

COACHING (B)

They didn't keep enough fresh players rotated throughout the game against either Florida or LSU, resulting in blowing 10-point second-half leads in both games & bitter league home losses. Credit Fulmer for bring back Cutcliffe, who has certainly turned around the offense, doubling its output. Inexperience and injuries make Chavis' job very tough.

OVERALL (B)

No question this group is talented & capable of ringing up points if Ainge recovers from his injury, or even if he doesn't. Scoring 3 TD's on LSU is impressive. It's as much as Florida did & far more than Auburn did. Putting up 51 points on Georgia was no fluke, either. This team has improved markedly over last year but for the 8th year in a row, UT won't be playing for a championship of any kind. They will be a decided underdog at Arkansas. However, with a bowl win, they can lose to the Hawgs & still finish 10-3, doubling their win total in 2005. Fans will expect even more improvement for 2007, though, as it is time for UT to get back to Atlanta for sure.

After 9 tough games in 2006, the Tennessee Volunteer football team only has one more hurdle remaining to speak of, at Arkansas in Fayetteville this coming Saturday. They have far exceeded expectations in turning things around after a rare losing season last year, even after this weekend's heartbreaking loss. Here are the grades they have earned so far:

QUARTERBACK (A)

Erik Ainge's improvement under Offensive Coordinator David Cutcliffe has been remarkable. He has the confidence of his teammates and coaches, and his receivers are sure-handed, with an offensive line that protects him well. He leads the SEC in passing offense. Crompton stepped up & did well with 2 great TD throws vs. LSU.

RUNNING BACKS (C)

Injuries to both LaMarcus Coker and Arian Foster have left this unit decimated. Montario Hardesty combines power & speed nicely & has potential, but he is recovering from past injuries, too.

WIDE RECEIVERS (A)

Robert Meachem is a gifted athlete who is far more menacing after the catch. He leads the nation in receiving yards. He will most likely go to the NFL early. Jayson Swain is a money man. Bret Smith is a notch below them, but is sure-handed, too.


OFFENSIVE LINE (C)

While they give good pass protection, their run blocking is abysmal. Is that because they are more mobile & less beefier, something everyone cried out for them to be last year? They had minus rushing yardage vs. Florida for that game & minus rushing yardage for LSU for a good part of that game, both losses, of course. If Ainge didn't have such a quick release, there would've been more sacks this year. Crompton is more mobile & rolls out & moves the pocket or he would've been sacked more, too. Sears is great & McNeil is good, but the others are just average.

DEFENSIVE LINE (C)

The Vols' front 4 is weak now that Justin Harrell is gone, and they give up too many 3rd down conversions to opponents. They also don't get enough sacks. They have given up far more rushing yards than Chavis' units usually do. LB Ryan Karl is having to make tackles that ends Xavier Mitchell and Antonio Reynolds should be making. The youth of the line means it will be much better in 2007.

LINEBACKERS (B)

Ryan Karl, Jerod Mayo and Marvin Mitchell have all stepped in to fill the shoes of 3 star who are gone from last season & done very well for themselves. Mitchell & Mayo are among leading tacklers in the SEC. Rico McCoy is also a rising star-to-be in this corps.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (C)

Inky Johnson's injury forced Antwan Stewart and Demetrice Morley to both step up, but their weaknesses have been exposed. Talent is there, but no depth, resulting in spotty play when the starters tire. Jonathan Wade is a star and Morley is becoming one after his LSU game heroics. Jonathan Hefney had a big INT in that game & is a great tackler, too, but he is making tackles the DL should be making.

SPECIAL TEAMS (C)

Place-kicker James Wilhoit & punter Britton Colquitt are at the top of the SEC in talent. Kick coverage has improved somewhat but is still poor, and return yardage is still not good, either. Wilhoit is doing well on FG's, but missed a key one vs. LSU. Colquitt has a great average, but his net average is just average due to the fact that we can't cover.

COACHING (B)

We didn't keep enough fresh players rotated throughout the game against either Florida or LSU, resulting in blowing 10-point second-half leads in both games & bitter league home losses. Credit Fulmer for bring back Cutcliffe, who has certainly turned around the offense, doubling its output. Inexperience and injuries make Chavis' job very tough.

OVERALL (B)

No question this group is talented & capable of ringing up points if Ainge recovers from his injury, or even if he doesn't. Scoring 3 TD's on LSU is impressive. It's as much as Florida did & far more than Auburn did. Putting up 51 on Georgia was no fluke, either. This team has improved markedly over last year but for the 8th year in a row, UT won't be playing for a championship of any kind. They will be a decided underdog at Arkansas. However, with a bowl win, they lose to the Hawgs & still finish 10-3, doubling their win total in 2005. Fans will expect even more improvement for 2007, though, as it is time for UT to get back to Atlanta for sure.