University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Concludes Spring Practice With Orange & White Game
April 13, 2002 | Football
April 13, 2002
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Coach Fulmer's Postgame Press Conference
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Tennessee wrapped up spring practice Saturday with their annual Orange & White Game at Neyland Stadium. The game pitted the first team offense versus the first team defense and second team offense versus second team defense, and was marked by the stellar play of the defensive units.
"It was good to see the defense get the stops, but the jury is still out on closing the gap on last year's defensive front," Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "We need to have every-down players. Rashad Moore needs to have a great summer and be a leader. We will put Constantin Ritzmann in there and see what happens."
The defensive units did not allow an offensive touchdown and produced 16 lost-yardage tackles for 73 yards, including 10 sacks for 59 yards.
"We are not where we need to be on the defensive front, but the defense made a lot of strides during the spring," Fulmer said.
Andre Taylor led the defensive charge with five tackles, including four for losses. Mondre Dickerson and Wesley Holmes each had three lost-yardage tackles, while Gibril Wilson led all tacklers with seven stops.
The defense produced the only touchdown of the day when safety Shannon Benton scooped up a fumble on a bobbled snap and scampered 32 yards for a score. The other scores for the day were the results of field goals. One was a 36-yarder off the foot of Alex Walls, and Phillip Newman connected on a 32-yarder. Newman also distinguished himself with his kickoffs.
"I thought his kickoffs were good," Fulmer said. "He may have made a place for himself, but we will see how he manages it in the fall."
The first team offensive unit had the ball for the scrimmage's first three possessions. It put together drives of 14 plays, 15 plays and 11 plays.
"We got the extended drives but getting touchdowns were a real negative," Fulmer said. "That is a place we will have to build and work.
"We are working to have a cohesive unit on offense but we are not where we need to be in terms of offensive depth and depth at wide receiver. There is a great drop-off between our first and second offensive lines. That will be a real challenge for us."
Casey Clausen completed 11 passes in 18 attempts for 98 yards, but lost one drive due to an interception by freshman linebacker Jason Mitchell. C.J. Leak then guided the offensive for the remainder of the scrimmage. Keldrick Williams carried 14 times for 69 yards and Kelley Washington caught four passes for 47 yards to lead the offense.
