Saturday Scrimmage: Vols Need to Finish

August 22, 2009 | Football

Aug. 22, 2009

The Tennessee football team held its final major scrimmage of the fall Saturday, kicking off at 12:21 p.m. inside Neyland Stadium in hopes of staging a dry run for the season opener Sept. 5 vs. Western Kentucky. Seeking to simulate as much of game day as possible, the Vols played full four quarters and worked in every facet of the game.

Kiffin's assessment was that the team was ready for the first two quarters but not the second two.

"We're going to have to work on continuing to finish," Kiffin said. "I don't think it was a conditioning issue, I thought we had them ready to go in the first half and not as good in the second."

The offensive story of the day was the continued emphasis on the run game. The tailbacks carried a combined total of 49 times for 159 yards. On defense, it was a day for the youngsters as freshmen Mike Edwards, Eric Gordon and Steven Fowlkes tied for the team lead in tackles.

Those earning starts on offense were quarterback Jonathan Crompton, running back Tauren Poole, wide receivers Gerald Jones and Quintin Hancock and tight ends Luke Stocker and Ben Bartholomew. Cody Sullins, Vladimir Richard, Jacques McClendon, Jarrod Shaw and Chris Scott played the opening snap on the offensive line.

On defense, it was Wes Brown, Montori hughes, Chris Walker and Gerald Williams at the line of scrimmage, Nick Reveiz, LaMarcus Thompson and Rico McCoy at linebacker and Anthony Anderson, Marsalous Johnson, Eric Berry and Prentiss Wagner in the secondary.

The scrimmage was scored using regular offensive point totals and a defensive system that awarded three points for a stop, five for a turnover and seven for a touchdown.

Offensive scoring plays were a six-yard strike from Crompton to Hancock, an 11-yard run from Bryce Brown and a six-yard touchdown pass from Crompton to Brandon Warren. Daniel Lincoln also converted on three field goals with his longest being from 47 yards.

Defensive scoring plays included interceptions from Gordon and Nyshier Oliver and a forced fumble by Jerod Askew along with eight other defensive stops.

UT practices Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week before resting Thursday and beginning game preparation on Friday.

Brown Returns: Bryce Brown appears to have cleared one of two hurdles preventing him from playing in the season opener vs. Western Kentucky. The Wichita, Kan., native returned from a hip injury and carried four times on Saturday. He still awaits word from the NCAA on his eligibility for the season opener.

"We didn't know if he was going to go," Kiffin said. "He was questionable still. Warming him up, he felt about 85 percent. We talked to him right before. We went ahead and gave him a little bit of action."

Special Teams Focus: The Vols took several breaks throughout the scrimmage to focus solely on special teams. Dennis Rogan returned two kickoffs and two punts, while Nu'Keese Richardson, Edwards and Gordon also got in on the return action.

"Its major concern anytime you put young guys in the return game," Kiffin said. "There's always a fear because it is such a big play. That's why we gave them some live ones."

Where's Coach?: For the first time in his Tennessee career, Lane Kiffin left the game management to the quarterbacks, choosing to call plays from the sidelines rather than the huddle. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and defensive backs coach Willie Mack Garza also took in the scrimmage from the press box.

"I thought we were pretty good for the first time out doing it," Kiffin said. "I thought the quarterbacks handled it well and managed it, getting the signals in and getting it called. We had coaches in the press box today as well. So there were a lot of first things today that were good to have. We'll do it again a week from today."

Students Show: Kiffin invited the UT students to attend Saturday's scrimmage, and 1,132 of them took him up on the offer, scattering throughout the east side of Neyland Stadium.