University of Tennessee Athletics
COACH FULMER'S COMMENTS ON MEMPHIS GAME
November 08, 2005 | Football
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Nov. 8, 2005
"Well it's been a very challenging season for everybody to say the least. And I know our football team and staff are anxious to get back to the playing field and play again for a chance to get this season on track.
"(We're obviously facing) a tough team in Memphis coming here. We've got three games left to put ourselves into the bowl picture. But much more than that, this is about pride and respect and finishing well as a football team. So I'm anxious to see us play.
"We've won lots of games around here and we will again, but I don't want to give up on this season, this senior group or this football team whatsoever. We have continued to fight through the adversity of the tough losses and some injuries along the way. We've had a very, very tough schedule that we've played, but I'm anxious, as I said, to finish this season up well. I don't believe there's any quit in this football team or this staff. I've watched them closely in practice and how they've gone about their business, and they've worked really hard.
"(We're) getting ready for Memphis right now. Obviously they're offensive football team centers around a great football player in DeAngelo Williams. He's just as good a back as we have played against. He's likely a top draft choice next year. He does a great job with his vision and speed. He's a strong back and a tough guy. They get the ball to him in a lot of different ways. (It will be) a real challenge for our defensive football team.
"(Memphis is) also multiple from a quarterback and wide receiver standpoint. They're going to use those guys. The quarterback is very athletic. He runs around really well and runs the option. They through back, naked screens, (bootlegs), waggles ... they do a lot of things to move the pocket and spread the field out. Basically they spread it out for Williams to play. So (there's) a lot of work to do there to prepare for that during the course of the week here.
"Defensively we've played against this defensive scheme several times since I've been here. Joe Lee Dunn is the guy that's their defensive coordinator. (They're) very multiple. We're going to get lots of different things from the blitz looks and all that business. It's going to be important that the offensive line, the tight ends, the running backs, quarterbacks and the receivers are all on the same page in handling the multitude of pressures that we'll face.
"It's a good, solid kicking game that they have. The punter is averaging about 44 yards per punt. He's a good punter. And their kicker is 11-of-14 and a guy that were certainly going to have to be aware of. He's kicked one (field goal) - I think - that was 51 yards.
"So we're going to have to play great defense in this ballgame. I think (we'll need to) be balanced on offense, but make our plays in the passing game when they jump into man-to-man coverage. We'll obviously have to play sound in the kicking game - and hopefully make a play in the kicking game. We've really, really been close on a couple occasions to breaking a long punt return. Saturday (at Notre Dame) we almost had a long kick return there. So we're due some things to happen with the time that we've spent working on special teams."
