Etownvol
Fightin' 'em everyday
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This article is on the front page of VN. I just wondered what your thoughts were.....
KNOXVILLE - A roar erupted in Neyland Stadium during the second quarter Saturday night. Thousands of Tennessee fans stood up, cheered and some sang "Rocky Top."
The reason? UT made a first down on a 2-yard run.This is what it's come to.
The Vols offense continued to sputter, stall and stagger during UT's 29-9 loss to No. 2 Alabama, and there are few signs things will get better. Sustained drives are rarities, third-and-outs are the norm and punter Britton Colquitt gets his hands on the ball more than UT's offensive playmakers. Even a small dose of star safety Eric Berry proved futile.
"I haven't quite had this kind of issue that I can recall in my career as a head coach," UT Coach Phillip Fulmer said about the offense. "We've had difficulties from time to time, but not with it being continued like this."
The numbers grow more concerning each week. UT is now 11th in the 12-team Southeastern Conference in total offense with 280.6 yards per game. Only Vanderbilt (254.6) puts up worse numbers. Adding insult to injury, UT has scored only 15 offensive touchdowns, which would rank last in the league if it wasn't for flailing Auburn, which has scored only 13.
The main issue is the run game. UT is No. 11 in the SEC in rushing yards per game (113.5), and the struggles have helped place UT at the bottom of the league in first downs (115) and time of possession (27:05).
"The lack of the running game continues to kill us," Fulmer said. "We got to get it up to speed and consistent."
Perhaps the most disconcerting offensive issue comes at the most important times of games. Inside their opponents' 20-yard line, the Vols have scored touchdowns only 13 times in 27 chances. There have been two lost fumbles and an interception, and while UT was successful on two of three chances in the red zone against Alabama, only one of the scores was a touchdown.
"That has been a theme with our offense," UT offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said. "You go back to our spring scrimmage and our fall scrimmages. We devote more time on red-zone stuff here than anywhere I have been. I think down there you have to take shots. You have to make 15- to 20-yard plays."
Clawson said teams that are good inside the 20 are ones with big receivers who can battle for the ball, or teams that can rely on a strong running back who can power it in on a draw play. It's become apparent through eight games that UT has neither.
"When you are down there the field gets so tight your base offense usually isn't as effective because the field shrinks," Clawson said. "We have not made big plays all year. That is our biggest struggle."
Those struggles almost certainly will continue this weekend. UT plays at South Carolina on Saturday, and the Gamecocks lead the SEC in total defense and allow only 256.1 yards per game.
Does it seem like Clawson is screaming out that we should be spending time on other things or no?
KNOXVILLE - A roar erupted in Neyland Stadium during the second quarter Saturday night. Thousands of Tennessee fans stood up, cheered and some sang "Rocky Top."
The reason? UT made a first down on a 2-yard run.This is what it's come to.
The Vols offense continued to sputter, stall and stagger during UT's 29-9 loss to No. 2 Alabama, and there are few signs things will get better. Sustained drives are rarities, third-and-outs are the norm and punter Britton Colquitt gets his hands on the ball more than UT's offensive playmakers. Even a small dose of star safety Eric Berry proved futile.
"I haven't quite had this kind of issue that I can recall in my career as a head coach," UT Coach Phillip Fulmer said about the offense. "We've had difficulties from time to time, but not with it being continued like this."
The numbers grow more concerning each week. UT is now 11th in the 12-team Southeastern Conference in total offense with 280.6 yards per game. Only Vanderbilt (254.6) puts up worse numbers. Adding insult to injury, UT has scored only 15 offensive touchdowns, which would rank last in the league if it wasn't for flailing Auburn, which has scored only 13.
The main issue is the run game. UT is No. 11 in the SEC in rushing yards per game (113.5), and the struggles have helped place UT at the bottom of the league in first downs (115) and time of possession (27:05).
"The lack of the running game continues to kill us," Fulmer said. "We got to get it up to speed and consistent."
Perhaps the most disconcerting offensive issue comes at the most important times of games. Inside their opponents' 20-yard line, the Vols have scored touchdowns only 13 times in 27 chances. There have been two lost fumbles and an interception, and while UT was successful on two of three chances in the red zone against Alabama, only one of the scores was a touchdown.
"That has been a theme with our offense," UT offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said. "You go back to our spring scrimmage and our fall scrimmages. We devote more time on red-zone stuff here than anywhere I have been. I think down there you have to take shots. You have to make 15- to 20-yard plays."
Clawson said teams that are good inside the 20 are ones with big receivers who can battle for the ball, or teams that can rely on a strong running back who can power it in on a draw play. It's become apparent through eight games that UT has neither.
"When you are down there the field gets so tight your base offense usually isn't as effective because the field shrinks," Clawson said. "We have not made big plays all year. That is our biggest struggle."
Those struggles almost certainly will continue this weekend. UT plays at South Carolina on Saturday, and the Gamecocks lead the SEC in total defense and allow only 256.1 yards per game.
Does it seem like Clawson is screaming out that we should be spending time on other things or no?
