VolNotes:Onward

[orange+white=heaven]

So now we look ahead to the crisp autumn saturdays that remain. Nine more chances to watch the orange and white take the field. I'll refrain from commentary on head coaches and gut wrenching losses today.


VolNotes:Arkansas State, volume I

TFP:Erik Ainge stuff

Erik Ainge has seen Tennessee go both ways from this point.
When he was a freshman in 2004, then-senior linebacker Kevin Burnett said moments after a 34-10 home loss to Auburn that the Vols would regroup, win the SEC East and get a rematch in the conference championship game.
Burnett was right.
The Vols won their final six SEC games before falling 38-28 to Auburn in the title game.
The Vols collapsed the next season, losing four consecutive conference games and finishing with their first losing record since 1988.
The difference?
"In '05, a lot of the best players were worried about the NFL," Ainge said. "That attitude killed us."

Regardless, Ainge said the Vols' locker room won't deteriorate like if did in 2005. But he stopped short of making any Burnett-like guarantees.
"I can't tell you that we're going to win the next nine games in a row, and we end up being 10-2," Ainge said. "You don't know that. I know that we're going to be as prepared as we can, and we're going to play as hard as we can, and we're going to play as smart as we can."

On that gnarly finger

Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said Tuesday morning there's "a good chance" Ainge might have to keep his broken right pinky taped to his ring finger all season.
"I hear a lot of talk about, 'Oh, it's just a pinky injury,' " Cutcliffe said. "It's a significant injury."

Ainge's Tuesday description was a little less optimistic, probably more realistic.

"They say three to five weeks," he said. "That's if you've got it in a splint and you're hanging out all day at home or going to class; not if you're slamming stuff against it all day long.
"After the game Saturday, we don't play for two weeks. Having some of that time to rest and get treatment and do all that kind of stuff will help it get better, but as long as I'm taking snaps and handing the ball off and getting tackled and throwing the football, it's not (going to heal)."

Handoffs to be done right...

Tuesday, he said he needs to resume handing off with his right hand when a play is designed to go that way.

"I refuse to let something like that happen again just because I can't hand the ball off with my right hand," Ainge said. "That's unacceptable."

Cut talks offense

"For various reasons, we haven't been able to take the ball very far down the field," Cutcliffe said. "People I don't think really realize this. They may challenge us underneath a little bit more, but we've got plenty of stuff we can do and respond to coverage.
"I still believe we have the best dropback protection package and dropback package in college football. We'll find a way to get it done, particularly if we protect the way we did at Florida, which is outstanding."

Cutcliffe said the Vols probably have 300 percent more plays than most college offenses, but every playbook is squeezed when offenses can't or don't run the ball.
"If they know you're going to throw it, you can still throw and make first downs," Ainge said. "But to make five in a row and to get in field-goal range or score a touchdown, that's tough.
"Obviously, yes, we need to run the football better."

I'm a little pressed for time this morning kids, so let me just drop a few links on you...

TNsean: passing trend brings trouble

TNsean:Cutcliffe/various notes

GVX:James White Parkway to open for game

GVX:Offense and execution



Make the most of the day friends, it's a beautiful one here.

Go Vols!!!

 

[Plano Vol]

I'm glad they are still willing to try....lots of football left to be played.......but Jeez, I'm tired of "Obviously,yes, we need to run the football better."

 

[cd12]

funny the pinky was downplayed until ........