Volitics
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UT's Abysmal Kicking Game Not Improving, Fulmer Neglects Despite Complaints
Last year's 5-6 record for UT was blamed, in large part, on poorly executed special teams play - notably pourous and spotty kick return coverage and below average return yardage from the Vols' kick receiving teams.
Tennessee's head football coach, Phillip Fulmer, had to be well aware that there were problems with the kicking game. Sports media experts discussed the issue on the local sports talk shows. Fans called in and complained about the poor special teams play.
There were reports that came from the UT football camp a year ago that were saying that the coaches were working on improving the kicking game.
This year Tennessee was supposed to be entering the season with a new outlook. But what has been happening? In the Air Force game last week a UT receiver fielded a kickoff in the end zone, was hesitant, stepped one yard outside the end zone, and then touched his knee to the ground to down the ball. It looked like he hadn't been coached. UT's offense had to start at its own one yard line.
Then, yesterday in the Florida game, a UT receiver fair caught a punt at Tennessee's five yard line. UT Sports Network radio commentator and former UT defensive back Tim Priest said a receiver was never supposed to catch a ball inside his own ten yard line.
He was supposed to let the ball bounce into the end zone so UT could have the ball at the 20-yard line. Instead UT's offense was backed up deep in it's own territory.
Wait a minute now! Didn't UT's coaching staff say that they were putting more emphasis on the kicking game?
In the Florida game the kicking portion of Tennessee's game got worse. A Florida receiver ran a punt back 89 yards for a touchdown. The play was called back by a clipping penalty.
There was at least one other punt where the Florida receiver got big yardage. By contrast, Tennessee's kick return yardage was average at best.
The kicking game is 1/3 of the football game. You've got the offense, the defense, and the kicking game. Tennessee has always placed great emphasis on the kicking game - that is until the recent years of the Fulmer regime.
Fulmer has said that UT is working on improvement in the kicking game. Former UT head coach Johnny Majors often said "the proof is in the pudding" meaning that you can see how much effort has went into the football teams' preparation by the game day execution on the football field.
Considering the UT special team's poor performance, and the UT coaching staff's apparent neglect, it's reasonable to wonder if Coach Fulmer has any intent of placing any emphasis on improvement of the kicking game. If his actions are any indicator of his intent, and I believe they are, then clearly he doesn't have any intent of making the kicking game a priority.
Last year's 5-6 record for UT was blamed, in large part, on poorly executed special teams play - notably pourous and spotty kick return coverage and below average return yardage from the Vols' kick receiving teams.
Tennessee's head football coach, Phillip Fulmer, had to be well aware that there were problems with the kicking game. Sports media experts discussed the issue on the local sports talk shows. Fans called in and complained about the poor special teams play.
There were reports that came from the UT football camp a year ago that were saying that the coaches were working on improving the kicking game.
This year Tennessee was supposed to be entering the season with a new outlook. But what has been happening? In the Air Force game last week a UT receiver fielded a kickoff in the end zone, was hesitant, stepped one yard outside the end zone, and then touched his knee to the ground to down the ball. It looked like he hadn't been coached. UT's offense had to start at its own one yard line.
Then, yesterday in the Florida game, a UT receiver fair caught a punt at Tennessee's five yard line. UT Sports Network radio commentator and former UT defensive back Tim Priest said a receiver was never supposed to catch a ball inside his own ten yard line.
He was supposed to let the ball bounce into the end zone so UT could have the ball at the 20-yard line. Instead UT's offense was backed up deep in it's own territory.
Wait a minute now! Didn't UT's coaching staff say that they were putting more emphasis on the kicking game?
In the Florida game the kicking portion of Tennessee's game got worse. A Florida receiver ran a punt back 89 yards for a touchdown. The play was called back by a clipping penalty.
There was at least one other punt where the Florida receiver got big yardage. By contrast, Tennessee's kick return yardage was average at best.
The kicking game is 1/3 of the football game. You've got the offense, the defense, and the kicking game. Tennessee has always placed great emphasis on the kicking game - that is until the recent years of the Fulmer regime.
Fulmer has said that UT is working on improvement in the kicking game. Former UT head coach Johnny Majors often said "the proof is in the pudding" meaning that you can see how much effort has went into the football teams' preparation by the game day execution on the football field.
Considering the UT special team's poor performance, and the UT coaching staff's apparent neglect, it's reasonable to wonder if Coach Fulmer has any intent of placing any emphasis on improvement of the kicking game. If his actions are any indicator of his intent, and I believe they are, then clearly he doesn't have any intent of making the kicking game a priority.
