University of Tennessee Athletics
TENNESSEE-MEMPHIS PREVIEW
September 29, 2006 | Football
Sept. 29, 2006
Tennessee's receiving corps are among the most productive in the SEC. The Vols' running backs are beginning to hold their own as well.
The No. 15 Vols (3-1) hope those backs can build on last week's strong game when they face Memphis in their final non-conference matchup of the season.
After a 216-yard effort in a season-opening win over then-No. 9 California, the Vols' rushing attack went stagnant, totaling 68 yards over the next two games. Tennessee was held to minus-11 yards on the ground in a 21-20 loss to then-No. 7 Florida on Sept. 16.
Redshirt freshman LaMarcus Coker revived the running game last week, however, carrying the ball eight times for a career-high 146 yards in a 33-7 victory over Marshall. Coker had an 89-yard touchdown run - the third-longest in school history - in the fourth quarter and helped Tennessee rush for 176 yards.
Coker hadn't gotten any touches the previous two games, but saw his role increased as starting tailback Arian Foster missed last week's contest with a sprained left ankle.
Vols coach Phillip Fulmer is hoping Foster will be ready to go this week - but feels he has plenty of options if the sophomore is still not able to contribute. Fulmer can also turn to Montario Hardesty, who started at tailback last week and has run for a TD in all four games this season.
"We are excited about LaMarcus' progress," Fulmer said. "He will play a lot against Memphis and could even be our starting tailback. If we get Arian Foster healthy and Montario Hardesty keeps coming along, we will have three good tailbacks against Memphis."
That alleviates some of the pressure on Tennessee's top receiving tandem of Robert Meachem and Jayson Swain, who have combined for 42 catches, 734 yards and seven touchdowns. Quarterback Erik Ainge has completed 66 percent of his passes for 1,065 yards and eight TDs.
The Vols defense has been depleted by injuries but put together an improved effort last week, shutting out a team in the second half for the first time this season. Tennessee held the Thundering Herd to 236 total yards, the Vols' best mark of the season, and gave up their lowest point total in nine games.
Tennessee allowed 23.0 points per game in its first three contests and was outscored 35-10 in the fourth quarter. The defense may get a boost Saturday, as defensive back Marsalous Johnson is eligible to play after serving a four-game suspension.
"While the suspension has been hard on our team, we needed to make a point to Marsalous and the rest of the team that we expect them to conduct themselves at a high standard and be good representatives of our great university," Fulmer said.
The suspension was especially tough since Tennessee's secondary has been plagued with injuries. Cornerback Inky Johnson is out for the season after surgery to repair damaged blood vessels in his arm and shoulder suffered on a hit against Air Force.
Roshaun Fellows, a reserve defensive back, is sidelined following surgery to fix a torn pectoral muscle. Tennessee is also without starting defensive tackle Justin Harrell, who had surgery on a ruptured tendon in his left biceps.
After playing their first four games at home, the Vols head out on the road, where they went 2-3 last season. Location hasn't mattered much for Tennessee against its in-state rival, however, as it holds a 19-1 series advantage over Memphis. The Vols beat the Tigers 20-16 in the teams' last meeting Nov. 12, 2005.
Memphis (1-2), coming off a bye week, lost 35-20 to East Carolina two weeks ago. The Tigers led 20-7 at halftime before giving up 28 unanswered points.
The following week, Memphis coach Tommy West assumed the defensive coordinator responsibilities after relieving Joe Lee Dunn of his duties. West has implemented a new scheme over the last two weeks which he thinks may keep Tennessee guessing.
"I don't think there's any question that they're not going to know exactly what we'll do," West said. "I like mixing things up. We'll keep a little bit of what we've had and add a little bit to it."
Junior tailback Joseph Doss has been the Tigers' biggest offensive threat, rushing for 227 yards on 52 carries. Memphis relies more heavily on its passing game, led by receivers Duke Calhoun (eight receptions, 178 yards), Ryan Scott (nine, 149) and Earnest Williams (nine, 116).
