|
DB
Eric Berry |
2009
SCHEDULE
|
9-5-09 |
WESTERN
KENTUCKY |
9-12-09 |
UCLA |
9-19-09 |
at
Florida |
9-26-09 |
OHIO |
10-3-09 |
AUBURN |
10-10-09 |
GEORGIA |
10-24-09 |
at
Alabama |
10-31-09 |
SOUTH
CAROLINA |
11-7-09 |
MEMPHIS |
11-14-09 |
at
Mississippi |
11-21-09 |
VANDERBILT |
11-28-09 |
at
Kentucky |
|
Coach:
Lane Kiffin
1st
year |
2008
Statistics |
2008
RESULTS: 5-7 |
at
UCLA |
LOST
24-27 (OT) |
UAB |
WON
35-3 |
FLORIDA |
LOST
6-30 |
at
Auburn |
LOST
12-14 |
NORTH.
ILLINOIS |
WON
13-9 |
at
Georgia |
LOST
14-26 |
MISSISSIPPI
ST |
WON
34-3 |
ALABAMA |
LOST
9-29 |
at
South Carolina |
LOST
6-27 |
WYOMING |
LOST
7-13 |
at
Vanderbilt |
WON
20-10 |
KENTUCKY |
WON
28-10 |
|
|
2008 Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2009
Outlook |
The
hiring of young head coach
Lane Kiffin is the obvious
story for 2009 in Knoxville.
Kiffin came in like a
tornado, verbally dogging
fellow SEC coaches, hiring
a much-ballyhooed coaching
staff, signing prized
recruits, and ultimately
getting reprimanded by
the NCAA. Needless to
say, a new buzz has been
created on this campus
which is something far
removed from the conservative
approach of predecessor
Phil Fulmer.
This
is a totally new coaching
staff. To name a few...one
of the better NFL defensive
coordinators of the last
20 years - Lane's father,
Monte Kiffin - joins his
son to take charge of
the defense. Jim Chaney
takes over as the offensive
coordinator after spending
the last three seasons
as an assistant offensive
line and tight ends coach
with the St. Louis Rams.
Ed Orgeron has long been
regarded as a premier
defensive line coach and
recruiter; he will be
those same things here.
He stockpiled amazing
talent during his three
years as the head coach
at Ole Miss and as an
assistant at USC under
Peter Carroll. This is
a solid brain trust.
So
what other changes are
in store? Losing B.J.
Coleman now makes nine
players thus far (through
April) that either voluntarily
left the program or have
been dismissed. Obviously
and respectably, Kiffin
wants to coach his types
of players and isn't afraid
to make the necessary
personnel changes. The
biggest schematic changes
involve the offense, and
for good reason seeing
how poorly this group
performed last year (9th
in SEC rushing, 11th in
SEC passing). Look for
Tennessee to brandish
a more punishing ground
game in a pro style set...fullback,
tight end and two receivers.
Last
season, horrible quarterback
play and poor execution
by the line made this
offense hard to watch.
Simplified blocking schemes
and a large stable of
quality ball carriers
should enable the ground
attack to be more successful.
But unless someone significantly
improves the QB play with
lettermen Crompton and
Stephens still sharing
the snaps, UT will have
a hard time against usually
stingy SEC defenses. Barring
a miracle here, Kiffin’s
first year looks to be
modest at best. If the
offensive line does not
start to gel, it will
be another long, boring
offensive season.
If
Kiffin can bring in more
recruiting classes like
the one he signed this
year on short notice,
the Vols may just have
something to be excited
about sooner than later.
This staff is stressing
competition, competition
and more competition within
the current players units.
Expect this to afford
a new attitude towards
the better; the old coaching
regime seemed to lose
touch with the excitement
and competitive heartbeat
in these young men.
The
defense was more than
fine in 2008. It's amazing
to believe this was the
top ranked defense in
the conference with the
aforementioned hideous
offensive numbers, which
ultimately meant they
were on the field an awful
lot. Safety Eric Berry,
linebacker Rico McCoy
and defensive tackle Dan
Williams represent the
best opportunities for
garnering post-season
awards. Defensive end
Chris Walker has demonstrated
all spring that he, too,
is primed to make a name
on the national stage
now. The defense will
again have to “hold
the rope” while
the offense attempts to
prove it can keep up.
Competing
for an SEC East title
right now seems impossible
with Florida’s and
Georgia’s programs
surging. The Vols are
likely to get grouped
somewhere in the middle
with Kentucky, South Carolina
and Vanderbilt...nothing
new to the veteran players
and their fans, but maybe
something new for this
coaching staff. Finishing
league play at .500 is
a modest-but-worthy goal
and would reestablish
Tennessee back on the
road to seriously competing
for their SEC half by
2010.
Projected
2009 record: 6-6
|
|
|
WR
Gerald Jones |
TENNESSEE
2008 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
88 |
9 |
Passing: |
107 |
11 |
Total
Off: |
115 |
11 |
Sacks
Allow: |
71 |
8 |
|
DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
12 |
3 |
Passing: |
4 |
2 |
Total
Def: |
3 |
1 |
Sacks: |
58 |
8 |
|
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Jonathan Crompton, 86-167-5,
889 yds., 4 TD
Rushing: Montario
Hardesty, 76 att., 271
yds., 6 TD
Receiving: Gerald
Jones, 30 rec., 323 yds.,
4 TD
Scoring: Daniel
Lincoln, 10-18 FG, 22-22
PAT, 52 pts.
Punting: Chad Cunningham,
25 punts, 39.5 avg.
Kicking: Daniel
Lincoln, 10-18 FG, 22-22
PAT, 52 pts.
Tackles: Rico McCoy,
87 tot., 38 solo
Sacks: Eric Berry,
Chris Walker - 3 each
Interceptions:
Eric Berry, 7 for 265
yds., 2 TD
Kickoff Returns:
Dennis Rogan, 28 ret.,
24.9 avg., 0 TD
Punt Returns: Gerald
Jones, 15 ret., 10.0 avg.,
0 TD
|
TENNESSEE
TOP NEWCOMERS |
DT
Montori Hughes
- The biggest
surprise story
of the spring
as defensive
tackle was a
huge area of
concern. The
312-pound former
two-star rated
lineman is going
to be a part
of this rotation.
DB
Janzen Jackson
- With Demetrice
Morley being
dismissed
from the team,
this five-star
rated prepster
has already
been told
by coaches
he will get
an immediate
chance to
help fill
a big void
at free safety.
RB
Bryce Brown
- Can the
No. 1 rated
high school
running back
in the nation
go from playing
on the wheat
fields of
Wichita to
the bright
lights of
Neyland Stadium?
He will likely
be given that
chance in
this running
back by committee
approach.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TENNESSEE
2009
College Football Preview
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 8 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 5 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Arian Foster-TB, Lucas Taylor-WR,
Josh Briscoe-WR, Anthony
Parker-OG, Ramon Foster-OT,
Lennon Creer-RB |
DEFENSE:
Demonte
Bolden-DT, Walter Fisher-DT,
Robert Ayers-DE, Nevin McKenzie-SLB,
Adam Myers-White-SLB, Ellix
Wilson-MLB, DeAngelo Willingham-CB,
Britton Colquitt-P, Demetrice
Morley-FS |
|
|
2009
OFFENSE |
QUARTERBACK
Three different players received
time under center last year.
None of them proved worthy of
locking down the star role,
and that is putting it kindly.
In short, they were horrible.
Those same three guys are back
and the excitement in Knoxville
that came with the fresh hiring
of young NFL coaching talent
Lane Kiffin quickly gets shifted
back to reality when dissecting
the signal callers. Jonathan
Crompton got the bulk of the
work last fall, and if the season
were to commence this week,
he would still be the first
choice. Most of the first team
reps have been doled out to
the senior this spring, but
B.J. Coleman - last season's
rare No. 3 option - started
to perform better and was making
a great case all the way through
the Orange & White Spring
Game. Afterwards, he announced
his intentions to transfer.
Ugh! Nick Stephens started the
spring handicapped by a broken
wrist that kept him out of the
first two weeks entirely. He
returned in time to finish spring
drills but was obviously hampered
by the injury. Despite being
a starter for a portion of 2008,
Stephens has mostly been considered
the second option. No one else
currently on the roster has
entered the competition, and
not much should change heading
into the fall unless an incoming
walk-on or one of the current
receivers can suddenly make
a move under center. The Vols
did not sign a QB in this year's
recruiting class either. Like
it or not, it's going to be
the same two quarterbacks of
a year ago.
RUNNING
BACK
The team's second leading rusher
in ‘08, Lennon Creer,
decided to leave the team in
April. Thank goodness this unit
is blessed with depth. In essence,
five different guys have the
possibility of seeing the field
next season. Even without Arian
Foster, the remaining resources
are still the best set of playmakers
on this side of the ball. Montario
Hardesty now inherits first
honors. The powerful senior
with a straight-ahead running
style teams with Tauren Poole;
both have limited experience
that has proven each can get
the job done. The three biggest
impact backs are all guys that
were playing high school ball
less than a year ago. Georgia
native Toney Williams enrolled
in January in order to make
spring drills. Wichita (KS)
native Bryce Brown and Oklahoma
product David Oku were two of
the top prep running back prospects
in the nation when they signed
back in February. Fullback returnee
Kevin Cooper is a junior on
a blocking mission (started
all but one game last year).
He will continue since the new
offensive approach is going
seriously max out the running
game, with pro sets being the
predominant base. RB is arguably
the Vols' deepest unit, though,
foes will predictably know that
the weekly game plan starts
here.
RECEIVER
/ TIGHT END
The passing game was awful last
year...the second worst in the
SEC and sixth worst nationally.
The receivers are not exempt
from responsibility for last
year’s poor showing, despite
their credible talents on paper.
The most explosive Vol offensive
player is Gerald Jones. Jones
should be hauling down double
the amount of catches (30 receptions
last fall). He also has to be
a solution for the deep passing
game’s scant ability (of
late) to stretch the field.
This lacking dimension killed
UT last season as the running
game became "boxed-in"
by cheating DBs. Former Freshman
All-American TE Brandon Warren,
a Florida State transfer, has
now been moved to receiver in
an effort to locate a possession
type and stronger route runner.
The learning curve was tough
on the larger framed Warren
(as expected), but this stout
junior hauled in four receptions
for 50 yards at the spring game
to prove he’s arrived
here in Knoxville. Also on the
rise is Quintin Hancock emergence
as that rangy, physical receiver
to which Kiffin became accustomed
while on the west coast. Hancock
is making the tough catches
and his downfield blocking has
really been special all spring.
The abundance of talent at tight
end is well established, enough
so to merit the relocation of
two of the guys lower down the
depth chart to help fill other
needs. Incumbent Luke Stocker
is a big time third-down option
with his soft hands. The person
sharing time at his position
is best friend Jeff Cottam.
Both are vets and are expected
to play a major role in this
new power offense.
OFFENSIVE
LINE
Unfortunately, even with the
iffy QB situation, the biggest
unknowns are found within this
line. The unit had major difficulties
last season both in protecting
the quarterbacks and in opening
holes; the same question marks
still linger. New offensive
coordinator Jim Chaney also
oversees the OL. His job this
spring has been as difficult
(or more so) as that of any
other position coach. An already
thin group loses both Anthony
Parker and Ramon Foster on the
right side, and a few key players
also departed this off-season
(Ramone Johnson and Preston
Bailey). Shaw, Pope, Douglas,
Sullins, Thomas, etc., represent
the kind of untested talent
with which Chaney is working.
One of the improved changes
with the new system will be
the fact the linemen are no
longer flipping sides (weak
and strong) depending on the
play. This should at least simplify
the process, and the players
seem to appreciate this factor.
Center Josh McNeil is the leader
and has started every game since
2006. Despite this, he is getting
pushed hard by former walk-on
Cody Sullins. Chris Scott has
(at least) secured one of the
tackle spots. Richard and McClendon
have earned their share of starts.
The youthful depth is the biggest
concern, combined with the group’s
nominal efforts of a year ago.
The line is certainly still
a work in progress.
|
|
C
Josh McNeil
|
|
|
TENNESSEE
2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Jonathan
Crompton-Sr (6-4, 228) |
Nick
Stephens-Jr (6-4, 227) |
FB |
Kevin
Cooper-Jr (6-0, 245) |
Austin
Johnson-So (6-2, 234) |
TB |
Montario
Hardesty-Sr (6-0, 215) |
Tauren
Poole-So (5-10, 203) |
WR |
Quintin
Hancock-Sr (6-3, 207) |
Denarius
Moore-Jr (6-1, 190)
Brandon Warren-Jr (6-2,
216) |
WR |
Gerald
Jones-Jr (6-0, 199) |
Austin
Rogers-Sr (6-2, 190) |
TE |
Luke
Stocker-Jr (6-6, 245) |
Jeff
Cottam-Sr (6-8, 260) |
OT |
Chris
Scott-Sr (6-5, 346) |
Dallas
Thomas-RFr (6-5, 268) |
OG |
Vladimir
Richard-Sr (6-4, 300) |
Cory
Sullins-Sr (6-1, 270) |
C |
Josh
McNeil-Sr (6-4, 280) |
Cody
Sullins-Sr (6-1, 260) |
OG |
Jacques
McClendon-Sr (6-3, 324) |
Cody
Pope-So (6-6, 288) |
OT |
Jarrod
Shaw-Jr (6-4, 332) |
Aaron
Douglas-RFr (6-6, 282) |
K |
Daniel
Lincoln-Jr (6-0, 203) |
Ethan
Ingham-RFr (6-0, 195) |
|
|
2009
DEFENSE |
DEFENSIVE
LINE
This unit is young and inexperienced.
However, unlike their counterparts
on the offensive front, the
youth here has showcased signs
of being better than expected.
Defensive line coach Ed Orgeron
(former Ole Miss head coach)
is a big reason for the improvement,
especially in the pass rush.
Much of this development can
be seen in the improved play
of DE Chris Walker, who made
enough significant noise this
spring that coaches selected
Walker as the most improved
defensive player. The phrase
"unblockable" could
be heard at spring press conferences.
At only 235 pounds, Walker is
proving to be the most dominant
player since 2009 camp opened.
Ben Martin is working hard on
the other side, but he has yet
to develop the untapped talent
into another pass rushing artist.
The top surprise is redshirt
freshman Montori Hughes at tackle.
Hughes has been given quite
a few opportunities with the
first group after making huge
strides since February. Tackle
Dan Williams has become a rock
and is proving to be of All-SEC
quality as a senior. Wes Brown
has slid inside from his end
position. Early results are
showing that Brown seems equipped
and experienced enough to handle
the switch after spending three
seasons on the outside. He never
was considered a top rated pass
rusher, so the move hopefully
pans out. The tackles have a
great shot at being way better
than expected. There is now
some guarded optimism concerning
this group, more than what existed
heading into the spring. Only
time, and better competition
in front of them, will tell
the true story.
LINEBACKER
Rico McCoy packs quite a punch.
He is the lone returning starter
in this pack, which has been
weakened by the departures of
Ellix Wilson and Nevin McKenzie.
McCoy is a seasoned defensive
star that can play any one of
these linebacker positions,
if need be. McCoy should be
the heartbeat of a front seven
that scored well statistically
last season. In the Tennessee
tradition, linebacker has been
the home for some of UT's most
productive players. When all
is said and done, McCoy may
rank with the best of them.
A bright spot this spring has
been Nick Reveiz in the middle.
He stands at only 5'10, and
some new coaches actually were
jokingly referring to him as
a kicker when they arrived.
They soon found out that he
plays much bigger. Find the
ball and you can find Reveiz.
Out of the rest of the youngsters
vying for time, somebody needs
to step up to complete a starting
three worthy of SEC level play.
Former five-star recruit Chris
Donald is still teetering on
the back end of the depth chart.
UT signed four linebackers in
this year's recruiting class,
hence the freshmen and sophomores
are providing the rest of the
depth. Overall, this unit appears
to be behind a notch when compared
to the front line and secondary.
Outside of McCoy, they just
have not played much.
DEFENSIVE
BACK
This was the nation's fourth-rated
pass defense to close ‘08.
The only player lost was supposed
to be CB DeAngelo Willingham,
but that was before free safety
Demetrice Morley was booted
off the team. As we now look
at the season, this secondary
is only likely to be great when
consensus All-American safety
Eric Berry is in. He was limited
from full-speed contact this
spring after shoulder surgery,
and the difference was like
night and day with him out.
Berry has to be considered the
top candidate to win the 2009
Jim Thorpe Award after just
two seasons of play. He already
boasts gleaming statistics:
158 tackles, 10.5 tackles for
loss, three sacks, 3 fumble
recoveries, 22 passes broken
up and 12 interceptions. He
was the Associated Press Defensive
Player of the Year in the SEC
and is on course to break NCAA
records for interceptions and
interception return yardage.
But the departure of Morley
leaves a big hole now at the
other safety spot, and Berry
is still human. Dennis Rogan
brings star quality to the cornerback
position, but the primary order
of business will be finding
another corner to command the
spot Willingham operated. Brent
Vinson is expected to make a
case, but off-season shoulder
surgery has hampered his standing.
Art Evans ended the spring with
top honors, yet still has a
ways to go - as do the others
– if he is to help this
secondary repeat with another
superior performance. New secondary
coach Willie Garza inherited
a backfield that was to be the
strength of the team, at least
on paper, heading into the new
year. Three starters were coming
back and Berry was still here.
This should still be one of
the team's strongest units,
but with Morley gone and Vinson
now facing summer rehab, the
new faces will have to be counted
on much more than originally
thought.
|
|
LB
Rico McCoy
|
|
|
TENNESSEE
2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Ben
Martin-Jr (6-3, 239) |
Willie
Bohannon-RFr (6-2, 230) |
DT |
Wes
Brown-Sr (6-4, 257) |
Montori
Hughes-RFr (6-4, 312) |
NT |
Dan
Williams-Sr (6-3, 327) |
Chase
Nelson-Jr (6-4, 292) |
DE |
Chris
Walker-Jr (6-3, 232) |
Steven
Fowlkes-RFr (6-4, 229) |
SLB |
LaMarcus
Thompson-Jr (6-1, 221) |
Shane
Reveiz-So (5-11, 210) |
MLB |
Nick
Reveiz-Jr (5-10, 220) |
Herman
Lathers-RFr (6-1, 213) |
WLB |
Rico
McCoy-Sr (6-1, 220) |
Savion
Frazier-Jr (6-2, 221) |
CB |
Dennis
Rogan-Jr (5-10, 178) |
Brent
Vinson-Jr (6-0, 201) |
CB |
Art
Evans-So (6-1, 173) |
Marsalous
Johnson-Sr (5-9, 184) |
SS |
Eric
Berry-Jr (5-11, 203) |
Derrick
Furlow-Sr (6-1, 190) |
FS |
Stephaun
Raines-So (5-10, 179) |
Prentiss
Waggner-RFr (6-2, 177) |
P |
Chad
Cunningham-Jr (6-3, 198) |
Steven
Hensley-Sr (5-10, 177) |
|
|
|
2009
SPECIAL TEAMS |
This
will be the first time since 2000
that someone from the Colquitt family
has not handled the punting duties.
Chad Cunningham served as the temporary
punter (five games while Britton Colquitt
was suspended) and struggled early,
but Cunningham continues to show steady
improvement. He regularly places the
ball inside the opponent's 20-yard
line and gets decent hang time, but
still needs work on consistency and
distance (39.5 yard average). Gone
are the gimmick type spread formations
utilized the past couple of seasons
since the coverage unit struggled
in this scheme. Daniel Lincoln continues
to handle the place kicking duties
after a major drop-off in '08 (10-for-18
FGs). The prior year, Lincoln was
tabbed as a Freshman All-American,
so consistency is also a concern here.
Dennis Rogan and explosive receiver
Gerald Jones are still first in line
to handle both punt and kick return
duties. Neither has yet made a name
for being a dangerous weapon.
|
|