Read his comments below. Sounds like the whole team is frustrated.
UT offense struggles to get untracked
Vols didn't think points would be problem
By CHRIS LOW
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE Tennessee's offense might give a grade-school defense some problems, but that's about it.
At least, that was junior receiver Jayson Swain's scathing assessment yesterday in the aftermath of one of the Vols' most ineffective offensive performances in a marquee Southeastern Conference game of the Phillip Fulmer era.
"It's a shame that my middle school team could probably defend this offense right now," said Swain, summing up the frustration swirling in the Tennessee camp from Saturday's 16-7 loss at Florida.
"It's just a shame with all the talent that we have. We need to sit down and figure it out."
Fulmer said he's as surprised as anybody that the Vols have had so much trouble scoring points in their first two games. This despite having virtually everybody back from an offense that dissected Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl last season.
He's not standing pat, though.
Fulmer said yesterday that he's ditching the two-quarterback system and that Erik Ainge would be his quarterback for the duration this Saturday against LSU.
"That's absolutely no reflection on Rick (Clausen), because certainly he can help our football team win," Fulmer said. "He's validated himself as a quarterback. We've got to get on the same page from a timing standpoint, from nobody looking over their shoulder all the time, and go on about our business as a team.
"I've addressed (Ainge and Clausen) about it. I've addressed the seniors and the leadership on this football team, and the team is looking forward to going on about our business that way and being a better team."
Fulmer made it clear that he thinks LSU will be the toughest test yet for his team, which managed just 213 yards of total offense against Florida.
The Vols, who rank last in the SEC and 107th nationally in scoring offense, have been shut out in the second half in each of their first two games.
The 24 points scored in those two games are their fewest in the first two games of a season since being blasted 44-0 by Georgia and 43-7 by Southern Cal to open the 1981 season.
For those with short memories, the Vols played in the Garden State Bowl that season.
"We're playing a much-better football team this week than UAB or Florida," Fulmer said. "We've got our work cut out for us to be able to effectively run the football, protect, defend or whatever."
Swain said communication lapses killed the Vols in the first two games. He said there was no other way to describe the offense right now than underachieving.
"Anybody in kindergarten can watch the game and see there was a lot of miscommunication in the game," Swain said. "So there's a lot of work the receivers need to do and a lot of work the quarterbacks need to do.
"It's not all on the receivers, because there were times when we were one or two steps behind the defensive backs. We were really excited to have press man-to-man coverage, and the quarterback didn't get it to us. Then the quarterbacks rely on us, and for whatever reason, we did not get open to complete the pass."
Sophomore receiver Robert Meachem refused to weigh in on what effect shuffling two quarterbacks in and out of the game had on the Vols' timing and continuity.
"You'd have to talk to Coach Fulmer and the coaches about that situation," said Meachem, who was slowed against the Gators by an ankle injury.
That said, Meachem said it's time the Vols get on the "same page" offensively and live up to their grandiose preseason billing.
"I think we all need to come together and just have fun," he said. "A lot of people were too uptight. I don't know if the magazines were getting to them or what, but I don't think their heads were in it at the time."
LSU gave up 461 passing yards to Arizona State in its 35-31 win over the Sun Devils two weeks ago in Tempe, Ariz.
On the surface, that sounds enticing for the Vols, but their longest play from scrimmage thus far is just 19 yards.
They appeared to find a rhythm running the ball against Florida in the second quarter.
In fact, eight of their 15 running plays by the tailback in the first half went for
8 yards or longer. But they drifted away from the running game in the second half, when Gerald Riggs Jr. got just six carries after rushing for 73 yards on 11 carries in the first half.
Finding an identity offensively would seem to be critical if the Vols are going to get back into the Eastern Division race.
Right now, after an entire preseason and two games, Fulmer conceded that they don't have one.
"I don't think we've established ourselves as to what we want to be yet," Fulmer said.
UT offense struggles to get untracked
Vols didn't think points would be problem
By CHRIS LOW
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE Tennessee's offense might give a grade-school defense some problems, but that's about it.
At least, that was junior receiver Jayson Swain's scathing assessment yesterday in the aftermath of one of the Vols' most ineffective offensive performances in a marquee Southeastern Conference game of the Phillip Fulmer era.
"It's a shame that my middle school team could probably defend this offense right now," said Swain, summing up the frustration swirling in the Tennessee camp from Saturday's 16-7 loss at Florida.
"It's just a shame with all the talent that we have. We need to sit down and figure it out."
Fulmer said he's as surprised as anybody that the Vols have had so much trouble scoring points in their first two games. This despite having virtually everybody back from an offense that dissected Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl last season.
He's not standing pat, though.
Fulmer said yesterday that he's ditching the two-quarterback system and that Erik Ainge would be his quarterback for the duration this Saturday against LSU.
"That's absolutely no reflection on Rick (Clausen), because certainly he can help our football team win," Fulmer said. "He's validated himself as a quarterback. We've got to get on the same page from a timing standpoint, from nobody looking over their shoulder all the time, and go on about our business as a team.
"I've addressed (Ainge and Clausen) about it. I've addressed the seniors and the leadership on this football team, and the team is looking forward to going on about our business that way and being a better team."
Fulmer made it clear that he thinks LSU will be the toughest test yet for his team, which managed just 213 yards of total offense against Florida.
The Vols, who rank last in the SEC and 107th nationally in scoring offense, have been shut out in the second half in each of their first two games.
The 24 points scored in those two games are their fewest in the first two games of a season since being blasted 44-0 by Georgia and 43-7 by Southern Cal to open the 1981 season.
For those with short memories, the Vols played in the Garden State Bowl that season.
"We're playing a much-better football team this week than UAB or Florida," Fulmer said. "We've got our work cut out for us to be able to effectively run the football, protect, defend or whatever."
Swain said communication lapses killed the Vols in the first two games. He said there was no other way to describe the offense right now than underachieving.
"Anybody in kindergarten can watch the game and see there was a lot of miscommunication in the game," Swain said. "So there's a lot of work the receivers need to do and a lot of work the quarterbacks need to do.
"It's not all on the receivers, because there were times when we were one or two steps behind the defensive backs. We were really excited to have press man-to-man coverage, and the quarterback didn't get it to us. Then the quarterbacks rely on us, and for whatever reason, we did not get open to complete the pass."
Sophomore receiver Robert Meachem refused to weigh in on what effect shuffling two quarterbacks in and out of the game had on the Vols' timing and continuity.
"You'd have to talk to Coach Fulmer and the coaches about that situation," said Meachem, who was slowed against the Gators by an ankle injury.
That said, Meachem said it's time the Vols get on the "same page" offensively and live up to their grandiose preseason billing.
"I think we all need to come together and just have fun," he said. "A lot of people were too uptight. I don't know if the magazines were getting to them or what, but I don't think their heads were in it at the time."
LSU gave up 461 passing yards to Arizona State in its 35-31 win over the Sun Devils two weeks ago in Tempe, Ariz.
On the surface, that sounds enticing for the Vols, but their longest play from scrimmage thus far is just 19 yards.
They appeared to find a rhythm running the ball against Florida in the second quarter.
In fact, eight of their 15 running plays by the tailback in the first half went for
8 yards or longer. But they drifted away from the running game in the second half, when Gerald Riggs Jr. got just six carries after rushing for 73 yards on 11 carries in the first half.
Finding an identity offensively would seem to be critical if the Vols are going to get back into the Eastern Division race.
Right now, after an entire preseason and two games, Fulmer conceded that they don't have one.
"I don't think we've established ourselves as to what we want to be yet," Fulmer said.
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