Vols favored in tough East: Fulmer Pushing team to run harder

#5
#5
ahh...

What to watch: Tennessee usually has a stellar running game, but last season the ground attack was abysmal. Last year’s offense earned 71 percent of its yards through the passing game, the highest percentage since 1997 when Peyton Manning was quarterback.

“I’ve challenged our team to be a better running football team,” coach Phillip Fulmer said.

Last season, the Vols averaged 108 rushing yards a game, the lowest since 1964. Tennessee will lean on sophomore running back LaMarcus Coker, who averaged 6.4 yards a carry last season but missed two games because of injury. With the top three receivers gone, the Vols must solidify a running attack to take some pressure off of quarterback Eric Ainge.

Who to watch: Quarterback Ainge.

With loads of experience and a powerful, accurate arm, Ainge seems to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league if not the nation. He completed a school record 67 percent of his passes last season and threw only nine interceptions to 19 touchdowns.

But Ainge loses his three top receivers, two to graduation and one to the NFL.

It will be interesting to see how a new receiving corps progresses through the season.

Quotable: It’s been two years since Tennessee ended that tumultuous season, but Fulmer still hears about it.

The 2005 season, in which the Vols went 5-6, was his worst in 15 seasons at Tennessee. It was the first losing season for a Tennessee team since 1988.

“ ’05 was a shocking football season to me as a head football coach and to our program,” Fulmer said. “To our credit, the selfishness that had creeped in, the distractions that had come up, we have eliminated those things.”

UT went 9-4 last season.

Prediction: An SEC East crown.

If Ainge can stay healthy, the Vols will be back in Atlanta for the first time since 2004 with a shot at a Bowl Championship Series game on the line.
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#8
#8
I can't help but think this article is a bit biased toward the Vols. Still a good read though. :good!:
 
#12
#12
UT, watch and see if they can run more effectively. Florida, watch and see how Tebow does with the full spread option. South Carolina, close last year and could be better this year.

I'm breathless with this news.

:boredom:
 
#13
#13
lawgator1 said:
UT, watch and see if they can run more effectively. Florida, watch and see how Tebow does with the full spread option. South Carolina, close last year and could be better this year.

I'm breathless with this news.

:boredom:
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I know! It's about as surprising as you being a smart ass.
 
#14
#14
lawgator1 said:
UT, watch and see if they can run more effectively. Florida, watch and see how Tebow does with the full spread option. South Carolina, close last year and could be better this year.

I'm breathless with this news.

:boredom:
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have we seen tebow do anything that would lead us to fear him as lead signal caller?
 
#19
#19
Sheik Yerbouti said:
You could have said the same thing about Tee Martin in, say, August 1998.
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I would agree with it from an offensive perspective. But the weight on the offense of UF is much heavier next year. In 1998, Tee had the best D in the country keeping opposing teams off the scoreboard and setting up great field position. Tebow and co. will not have that luxury. They will more than likely get into situations where they must score alot. Tee played with the lead all year. Tebow likely will be playing from behind in several games.
 
#20
#20
Sheik, don't bother debating UT IE about Tebow and the Gators. He lives to minimize both and is perhaps the least objective person on the site when it comes to Florida football.
 
#21
#21
lawgator1 said:
Sheik, don't bother debating UT IE about Tebow and the Gators. He lives to minimize both and is perhaps the least objective person on the site when it comes to Florida football.
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If it's possible, he's even less objective about UT football.
 
#22
#22
lawgator1 said:
Sheik, don't bother debating UT IE about Tebow and the Gators. He lives to minimize both and is perhaps the least objective person on the site when it comes to Florida football.
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So you think the UF defense will give Tebow the support the 98 defense gave Tee Martin??? How is that not objective?
 
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