Arclight
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 23, 2005
- Messages
- 4,259
- Likes
- 858
One QB settles uncertain Vols
By Darren Epps Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE Aware Erik Ainge was the starting quarterback and the rotation with Rick Clausen was over, members of Tennessees offense expressed their relief Tuesday.
No more timing issues with Ainges sharp passes compared to Clausens soft throws. No more looking to the sideline and wondering which quarterback would call the next play. No more splitting the reps evenly in practice.
Just one offensive package. One quarterback. One player to communicate with during the game. "We dont have to worry about, If Erik messes up this play, then Ricks going to come in and if Rick messes up this play, then Eriks going to come in," tight end Chris Brown said. "Im glad they finally made a decision. Its great to be settled. I think youll see everybody rally around more because we know theres one definite quarterback we can rally around and get things done with."
As Ainge and Tennessees receivers applauded the decision, at least one member of the offense waits for the results. Ainges performance in his new role will dictate how effective Gerald Riggs Jr. can be when No. 10 Tennessee meets No. 3 LSU on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La.
For two quarters against Florida, Riggs barreled over safeties, juked past linebackers and ran through gaping holes on the left side provided by Arron Sears and Rob Smith. He gained 73 yards on just 11 carries, signaling the return of a Tennessee running game deemed bland following a mediocre performance against UAB.
With star Florida defensive end Ray McDonald sidelined with a knee injury, Riggs poised himself for a big second half that never came. As the Gators stuffed the line of scrimmage with linebackers and safeties, Riggs carried the ball just six times for 13 yards in the second half. He admitted feeling "a little bit" of frustration as he spent all of the fourth quarter pass blocking while Tennessees offense spiraled in a 16-7 loss.
"I honestly thought that we were just better," Riggs said. "I thought we were a lot better, a lot more physical. I really think that we beat them up pretty good in the running game. We were very physical with them. I thought if we could have kept that going throughout the game that it would have gone in our favor. But obviously you go back and look at the tape and some things happened, and we had to start playing catch up."
The Vols had the ball for just over 10 minutes in the second half Jonathan Hefneys fumbled punt cost them one drive and abandoned the run because easy plays in the passing game seemed so readily available as the Gators played man coverage.
"They were daring us to throw the football," Fulmer said.
But the Vols wanted to dare Florida to stop the run.
"We werent upset with the play-calling or anything like that," center Richie Gandy said, "but we felt like if they wanted to put it on our backs, we could have gotten it done."
Now its on Ainges arm. The sophomore acknowledged the Vo ls will likely see a similar defense from the Tigers, who allowed 461 yards in the season opener to Arizona State but blamed their struggles on simple busts in a new scheme. With all-SEC players like LaRon Landry in the secondary, LSU will likely play the Vols manto-man and dare them to throw the ball. Riggs will only see a normal defense if Ainge makes the Tigers pay.
"Theyre going to flip on that tape and see Floridas corners beating up the receivers and us not getting the ball completed down field," Ainge said. "Were a lot better than that. If teams are going to think thats the answer, then I predict well have a lot of success."
And theyll do it behind Ainge, who says he much more relaxed now that he doesnt have to look over his shoulder anymore after making a mistake, wondering if Clausen will replace him.
"I finally feel like a football player again," said Ainge, who acknowledged he lost his confidence after the demotion. "I feel like Im back to where I was finally again and not being so much of a robot in the offense."One whose job is to fix a short-circuited offense.
By Darren Epps Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE Aware Erik Ainge was the starting quarterback and the rotation with Rick Clausen was over, members of Tennessees offense expressed their relief Tuesday.
No more timing issues with Ainges sharp passes compared to Clausens soft throws. No more looking to the sideline and wondering which quarterback would call the next play. No more splitting the reps evenly in practice.
Just one offensive package. One quarterback. One player to communicate with during the game. "We dont have to worry about, If Erik messes up this play, then Ricks going to come in and if Rick messes up this play, then Eriks going to come in," tight end Chris Brown said. "Im glad they finally made a decision. Its great to be settled. I think youll see everybody rally around more because we know theres one definite quarterback we can rally around and get things done with."
As Ainge and Tennessees receivers applauded the decision, at least one member of the offense waits for the results. Ainges performance in his new role will dictate how effective Gerald Riggs Jr. can be when No. 10 Tennessee meets No. 3 LSU on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La.
For two quarters against Florida, Riggs barreled over safeties, juked past linebackers and ran through gaping holes on the left side provided by Arron Sears and Rob Smith. He gained 73 yards on just 11 carries, signaling the return of a Tennessee running game deemed bland following a mediocre performance against UAB.
With star Florida defensive end Ray McDonald sidelined with a knee injury, Riggs poised himself for a big second half that never came. As the Gators stuffed the line of scrimmage with linebackers and safeties, Riggs carried the ball just six times for 13 yards in the second half. He admitted feeling "a little bit" of frustration as he spent all of the fourth quarter pass blocking while Tennessees offense spiraled in a 16-7 loss.
"I honestly thought that we were just better," Riggs said. "I thought we were a lot better, a lot more physical. I really think that we beat them up pretty good in the running game. We were very physical with them. I thought if we could have kept that going throughout the game that it would have gone in our favor. But obviously you go back and look at the tape and some things happened, and we had to start playing catch up."
The Vols had the ball for just over 10 minutes in the second half Jonathan Hefneys fumbled punt cost them one drive and abandoned the run because easy plays in the passing game seemed so readily available as the Gators played man coverage.
"They were daring us to throw the football," Fulmer said.
But the Vols wanted to dare Florida to stop the run.
"We werent upset with the play-calling or anything like that," center Richie Gandy said, "but we felt like if they wanted to put it on our backs, we could have gotten it done."
Now its on Ainges arm. The sophomore acknowledged the Vo ls will likely see a similar defense from the Tigers, who allowed 461 yards in the season opener to Arizona State but blamed their struggles on simple busts in a new scheme. With all-SEC players like LaRon Landry in the secondary, LSU will likely play the Vols manto-man and dare them to throw the ball. Riggs will only see a normal defense if Ainge makes the Tigers pay.
"Theyre going to flip on that tape and see Floridas corners beating up the receivers and us not getting the ball completed down field," Ainge said. "Were a lot better than that. If teams are going to think thats the answer, then I predict well have a lot of success."
And theyll do it behind Ainge, who says he much more relaxed now that he doesnt have to look over his shoulder anymore after making a mistake, wondering if Clausen will replace him.
"I finally feel like a football player again," said Ainge, who acknowledged he lost his confidence after the demotion. "I feel like Im back to where I was finally again and not being so much of a robot in the offense."One whose job is to fix a short-circuited offense.
