Caleb Troop

Inside Look: @ Tennessee (Sept. 26)

-  I checked in with Drew Edwards of the Knoxville News Sentinel.  Read his blog at GoVolsXtra.com here.

-  Ohio catches the Vols at a good time, a week after their highly anticipated game at Florida.  If there is a trap game for Tennessee on the schedule, the game against the ‘Cats is it.

-  Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin, like Solich, is a Nebraska guy.  The elder Kiffin graduated from Lincoln in 1963 and spent the previous 13 seasons in the NFL with Tampa Bay.  Solich earned a degree from Nebraska in 1966.

-  The Volunteers were just 5-7 last year, and Northern Illinois almost pulled off the upset in Neyland Stadium before falling in a battle of field goals, 13-9, back on Oct. 4.  About a month earlier, Wyoming—a team ‘Cats fans know well from consecutive one-point defeats—went scoreless in the second half, but still quieted 99,489 fans in Tennessee with a 13-7 shocker on homecoming.

-  New Bowling Green coach Dave Clawson lasted just one year in Knoxville as the offensive coordinator in 2008 and temporary replacement as head coach.  Phillip Fulmer, who hired Clawson, lasted just three games of the 2009 season.  BG hired Clawson two weeks after his dismissal from the Vols.

-  For the first time in several years, the spring practices were open to the public.  That’s just one of the many changes under new head coach Lane Kiffin.

-  Neyland Stadium is undergoing phase three of a five-phase renovation plan.  The biggest and most expensive phase under construction right now includes concourse, media center and sky box changes.

-  Tennessee struggled to score in 2008, finishing tied for 111th in scoring offense (17.3 ppg) and 116th in FBS in total offense.

-  At quarterback, the consensus is that Jonathan Crompton (52% comp., 5 INT/4 TD in 8 games) will win out the starting spot, although there was not much confidence built from spring ball.  Nick Stephens is trying to grab the job, but a wrist injury made him a non-factor this spring.  Some believe Stephens gives the Vols a better chance to win.

-  It will be a tailback-by-committee in 2009 for Tennessee.  Gone is leading rusher Arian Foster.  Sophomore Lennon Creer (6-1, 210) has good size and saw time last year, but the nation’s number one overall prospect in the 2009 recruiting class, Bryce Brown, could step in and play from day one.

-  The offensive line is expected to be serviceable—and it will need to be.  The game plan, at least early on while the passing game is defined, is to run, run and run.  New for the o-line will be a switch to a zone blocking scheme in the run game.

-  The biggest area of concern up front is at right tackle.  Converted tight end Aaron Douglas could get the nod as several potential suitors at right tackle were dismissed from the team.  The local kid won four straight high school state titles in Tennessee.  His father, Davis, played in the NFL and mother played hoops for Pat Summit at UT.  However, he is just a redshirt freshman.

-  At center is undersized Josh McNeil, but he’s started every game since the third outing of his freshman year (35 starts).  The guard spots are solid.  Vlad Richard at left guard is the anchor.  He could be a solid mid-round NFL prospect.  Jacques McClendon at right guard is the strongest player in the program and one of the biggest.  Chris Scott is expected to be at left tackle—he’s started 26 games in a row.

-  At wide out, Florida State transfer and converted tight end Brandon Warren (6-2, 216) could be a big time target.  Junior Gerald Jones is the utility infielder out of the slot position.  The Vols get creative with Jones, and he is great after the catch.  He led the team with four scores and 30 catches in ‘08.  Jones was used in a wildcat-type formation last year (known as the “G-Gun”) but it’s unclear if Kiffin’s staff will integrate that again this fall.

-  Wide out Quintin Hancock (6-3, 207) is the biggest of the bunch but is labeled a practice field all-star—he’s yet to prove anything come game time.  He had a tremendous spring and could emerge among a deep group of pass catchers.

-  On defense Ohio will attempt to do everything it can to avoid All-American strong safety Eric Berry.  The new “Tampa 2” 4-3 defense brought over by Kiffin focuses on speed over size.

-  It will be a change defensively for the Vols, but it’s not as if they need one.  They surrendered 16.8 ppg last season, 10th best in FBS, and their 263.5 yards per game allowed was third best in the nation.  They allowed the fewest first downs in the SEC, too.

-  Berry has both that size and speed and will fit into the role of former Bucs pro bowler John Lynch in the new scheme.  Berry, though, took it easy during spring drills as he recovered from a shoulder injury.

-  The mindset is different up front under Kiffin.  The previous staff focused more on size at the rush end spot with guys like Robert Ayers (18th overall to Broncos) and was concerned primarily with containment,  But the new coaches want smaller, faster players off the edge.  Chris Walker (6-3, 232) fits the mold.  While he has never started, he could emerge at end this year.  Cincinnati native (LaSalle H.S.) Ben Martin will be asked to provide more as well.

-  Ohio will need to be prepared for beef up the gut.  Tackle Dan Williams (6-3, 327) was one of just two Vols to record at least three tackles in each game last season, and could be an All-SEC player in 2009.  Wes Brown, of Athens H.S. (in Alabama), is versatile at both tackle and end.  He made 12 starts last year.

-  Rico McCoy (6-1, 220) is arguably the second best player on defense at the weak side linebacking spot (87 tackles in 2008).  Bobcats safety Gerald Moore and McCoy both attended St. John’s College in D.C.

-  True freshman Jerod Askew could compete for time at middle linebacker, a position that is in much question heading into the fall camp.

-  In the special teams department, kicker Daniel Lincoln struggled at times last year (10-19 on FGs), and while he doesn’t have the strongest leg (career long of 47), he is relatively accurate from the 35-45 yard range.  Over the years, the Vols coverage units have been susceptible to long returns.

-  Returning cornerback Dennis Rogan was second in the league in kickoff return yardage, averaging 24.9 yards per return last fall.

-  Suggested dining area for Bobcats fans visiting Knoxville: The Yee Old Steakhouse about 5-6 miles outside of town.

Consensus: Ohio has been able to play well in the road “money” games the last two years, pressing Virginia Tech into a halftime tie and leading Ohio State midway through the second half.  That’s a credit to Frank Solich, who’s used to the big stage.  But that won’t matter if Ohio’s run defense is not better than it was in ‘08 against a talented Tennessee front five on the line.

-  Sunday the conference season begins with a road contest at Bowling Green.  Check back for a look at the Falcons.

Filed under: 2009 Bobcat Blog, August '09 Blog Notes |