News Article: Tennessee preview: 2009 Vols are a mixed bag

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Tennessee preview: 2009 Vols are a mixed bag
By Jess Nicholas
TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief
Oct. 20, 2009

When Lane Kiffin took over as Tennessee head coach last offseason, he did so in brash fashion, promising a win over Florida and accusing opposing head coaches of cheating on the recruiting trail.

Unfortunately, he failed to check with the bank first before letting his mouth write those checks. So far in 2009, more of them have bounced than not.

Tennessee is coming off an off-week (before the Alabama game – does this surprise anyone who is familiar with the SEC Office’s scheduling habits over the years?), but prior to that the Vols played undoubtedly their best game of the season by absolutely dismantling Georgia. The lopsided win over Georgia probably meant more good things for Alabama than bad, as it reminded Alabama that even though Tennessee is down at the moment, the Volunteers aren’t doormats. This team still has talent.

In fact, in terms of pure talent, Tennessee easily matches a South Carolina team that just finished giving Alabama all it wanted during a 20-6 slugfest in Tuscaloosa. The biggest question regarding Tennessee is which Volunteer team will show up – the one that blitzed Georgia, or the one that lost to middling teams from Auburn and UCLA.


OFFENSE

Tennessee operates from a pro-set attack that Kiffin brought straight from Southern Cal. It implements several facets of the West Coast offense as passed to Kiffin and current Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian from Norm Chow. Unfortunately for Tennessee, the Vols don’t possess the offensive talent to run the offense to its potential. A patchwork offensive line has made things difficult, and Tennessee has suffered from inconsistency at both quarterback and in the receiver corps. Still, UT has managed to rank 26th in scoring offense and put up respectable numbers in most areas. Alabama counters with its multiple offense that has begun to lean heavily towards the run as of late. Alabama uses a myriad of offensive sets, including the Pistol and the Wildcat, along with operating a great deal of time out of the shotgun. Production has dropped off the last two weeks, however.

QUARTERBACKS
For all the grief directed at UT’s Jonathan Crompton, the fact is he’s managed to put up respectable numbers. Crompton is 102-of-177 (57.6%) for 1,210 yards, 13 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Those numbers aren’t terribly far off those of Alabama’s Greg McElroy (103-of-173, 59.5%, 1,325 yards, 9 TD, 3 INT) other than in terms of interceptions. Crompton has a stronger arm than McElroy, but doesn’t make good decisions all the time, or even most of the time. He’s also failed to prove himself as a leader, frequently glossing over discussion of his own shortcomings in postgame interviews – despite being almost entirely responsible for two UT losses on his own. To top it off, Crompton lacks consistency. As for the backups, Tennessee’s Nick Stephens holds a significant edge in experience over Alabama’s Star Jackson, but Stephens isn’t highly regarded. While Crompton looked better against Georgia than he had up to that point, McElroy has been more consistent. Advantage: Alabama

RUNNING BACKS
Tennessee’s tandem of Montario Hardesty (152 carries, 672 yards, 5.4 avg., 6 TD) and Bryce Brown (55 carries, 250 yards, 4.5 avg., 2 TD) have played solid football this year and have put up better numbers than most people probably realize. Hardesty has also turned up his game in recent weeks and consistently runs hard. Fullback Austin Johnson isn’t quite up to the level of some recent Tennessee fullbacks, but he’s an adequate blocker and is a receiving target out of the backfield. David Oku and Tauren Poole add depth at running back. For Alabama, Mark Ingram has suddenly jumped into the Heisman Trophy discussion. He has carried 135 times for 905 yards (6.7 avg.) and 8 touchdowns. He has also established himself as a receiving threat and as a key pass protector for Tide quarterbacks. Trent Richardson (66 carries, 359 yards, 5.4 avg., 4 TD) and Roy Upchurch (16 carries, 147 yards, 9.2 avg., 1 TD) offer depth, while Terry Grant and Demetrius Goode are also available. Alabama uses no full-time fullback, although H-backs Preston Dial and Baron Huber often line up there. Hardesty and Brown are good backs, but Alabama holds a depth advantage and Ingram is in a different league altogether. Advantage: Alabama


WIDE RECEIVERS
Production-wise, there isn’t much difference between the two programs. Both teams have four receivers with double-digit reception totals, and both teams have receivers who have yet to live up to billing in 2009. For Tennessee, that player is Gerald Jones (15 catches, 209 yards, 13.9 avg., 2 TD), while for Alabama, it’s Julio Jones. Both teams have struggled to get the ball to their playmakers. Tennessee supplements Jones with Quintin Hancock (17 catches, 194 yards, 11.4 avg., 1 TD), Denarius Moore (12 catches, 168 yards, 14.0 avg., 2 TD) and tight end Luke Stocker (10 catches, 147 yards, 14.7 avg., 2 TD). Hancock is the player Vol coaches would like to see excel, but he has had several untimely drops this season. Marsalis Teague, Nu’Keese Richardson and H-back Kevin Cooper add depth. For Alabama, Marquis Maze leads all Tide receivers (14 catches, 261 yards, 18.6 avg., 2 TD), while tight end Colin Peek (19 catches, 213 yards, 11.2 avg., 1 TD) has become McElroy’s go-to receiver of late. Darius Hanks, Mike McCoy and Earl Alexander add depth, along with Brandon Gibson. True freshman Michael Bowman, who had worked his way into the rotation, suffered a knee injury last week. Preston Dial and Michael Williams add depth at tight end. Neither group has really set the world afire, but Peek is a better option than Stocker and Alabama has more depth overall. Advantage: Alabama

OFFENSIVE LINE
To be starting one walk-on and have another in its top rotation, it’s fairly amazing just how much total offense Tennessee has been able to put up. The tackle combo of Chris Scott and Jarrod Shaw have been solid, while Jacques McClendon has been a quality guard. Center Cody Sullins is the walk-on in question, although his brother Cory Sullins, or either Cody Pope or William Brimfield, could be pressed into action again this week at guard if Vladmir Richard continues to be hampered by a knee injury. Alabama counters with James Carpenter and Drew Davis at the tackles, Barrett Jones and Mike Johnson at guard and William Vlachos at center. Depth strongly favors Alabama, as the Tide has an entire second platoon that can play behind the starters, plus one or two others available. Tennessee actually hasn’t played that badly as a group, but Alabama has been able to move the ball more consistently on the ground, and the depth edge can’t be overlooked. Advantage: Alabama

DEFENSE

Tennessee’s defense has done a very good job in 2009 despite being thin. The Volunteers are ranked 13th in total defense, 10th in pass defense and 31st in rushing defense. Injuries have claimed key players from the linebacker corps, and the defensive line is practically one platoon deep. A solid secondary led by arguably the nation’s best defensive back, safety Eric Berry, has been the key to UT’s success. Monte Kiffin coordinates the defense, known widely as the “Tampa 2” scheme, which is similar in style to Nick Saban’s pressure-filled defense at Alabama. The difference is in alignment; Tennessee is a pure 4-3, while Alabama’s 3-4 over/under scheme allows for more multiple looks up front. Neither team figures to give up much ground.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Dan Williams is having a solid senior season for Tennessee, and is third on the team in tackles despite being an interior defensive lineman. That’s almost unheard of. But the rest of the starting unit is smallish and has problems with physical run-blocking offensive lines. Wes Brown is an end trying to play tackle, while the starting ends (Chris Walker and Gerald Williams) are almost linebackers in size. Walker has been a good pass rusher, however. Willie Bohannon and Ben Martin provide depth outside, but again, they’re on the small side for SEC defensive ends. Big Montori Hughes helps clog the middle off the bench along with Andre Mathis. Alabama counters with Terrence Cody in the middle and Lorenzo Washington, Marcell Dareus, Brandon Deaderick and Luther Davis outside. Josh Chapman and Kerry Murphy provide depth behind Cody. While Williams is having a career year for Tennessee, Alabama is currently 1st in total defense and 3rd in rushing defense for a reason, and it all starts up front. Plus, Alabama has a big edge in depth. Advantage: Alabama

LINEBACKERS
Until Nick Reveiz went down with a season-ending knee injury, the Tennessee linebackers had developed into a playmaking unit, and Reveiz was like a quarterback of the defense. Now, things aren’t so clear. Rico McCoy is the unquestioned leader of this unit and is the team’s leading tackler, but hasn’t made many big plays. LaMarcus Thompson and journeyman Savion Frazier get the other two positions. Think Tennessee misses Reveiz? Even though he’s been on the bench the last two games, he’s still the team’s fourth-leading tackler. Top reserve Greg King may also miss this game with a knee injury. King was just a true freshman, but so are Herman Lathers and Nigel Mitchell-Thornton, who are now the top reserves along with junior Daryl Vereen. Alabama counters with the country’s best linebacker in Rolando McClain, who will be flanked by Cory Reamer and Nico Johnson, along with Jack linebacker Eryk Anders, who has made Alabama fans forget Brandon Fanney. Jerrell Harris didn’t play against South Carolina and his status is also uncertain for this game. Courtney Upshaw adds depth outside while Chris Jordan bolsters the inside linebacker depth. Tennessee’s linebackers haven’t played badly, but the loss of Reveiz was crushing. Advantage: Alabama

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Alabama’s secondary may be the surprise of the year. The Crimson Tide ranks 1st in pass efficiency defense and 12th in raw pass defense. But a lot depends on the health of cornerback Javier Arenas. Arenas has either a bruised or cracked rib, and didn’t play against South Carolina. Alabama made do with a combination of Marquis Johnson, Robby Green and Tyrone King Jr., but would much prefer to have Arenas available for this game. If he can’t go, Johnson will start again opposite Kareem Jackson, with Green and King bolstering starting safeties Mark Barron and Justin Woodall. On the other side of the ball, you’ll find superstar safety Eric Berry, who in addition to having gobs of raw talent, is also an effort player and team leader. Dennis Rogan and Janzen Jackson round out the safety group, while Art Evans leads the corners. Tennessee uses a cornerback-by-committee opposite Evans, with the names available including Marsalous Johnson, Stephaun Raines, Mike Edwards and Anthony Anderson. Darren Myles adds to the depth at safety. Ordinarily, Alabama would take this category even with the presence of Berry for UT, but with Arenas either slowed or out, give Tennessee the nod in a close call. Advantage: Tennessee

SPECIAL TEAMS
Again, Alabama finds itself having a solid edge in most facets of the kicking game until kickoff return coverage is discussed. Alabama’s Leigh Tiffin is having a slightly better year at placekicker than is Tennessee’s Daniel Lincoln. Alabama punter P.J. Fitzgerald is a tick better than Tennessee’s Chad Cunningham. Alabama is 13th in punt returns and 45th in kickoff returns, while Tennessee ranks in the 60s in both categories. But again, Alabama might not have Javier Arenas on returns. Trent Richardson stepped in as a kick returner last week and did well, while Julio Jones was reliable as a punt returner. Arenas’ absence probably makes this one a draw, but since there are no ties in these previews, give Tennessee the edge based on health. Advantage: Tennessee



OVERALL

Alabama leads in six categories, Tennessee in two, and both of UT’s leads could easily go Alabama’s way if Javier Arenas’ rib allows him to play at full speed Saturday. Both teams’ defensive lines lead the other team’s offensive line in head-to-head matchups.

The big issue for Tennessee is that this is only the Vols’ second road trip of the season, and they will have had the honor of playing the No. 1-ranked team in the AP poll both times. Tennessee fared well in its previous matchup with a No. 1 team, falling 23-13 against Florida Sept. 19 – largely the result of a deliberate attempt to manage the game and minimize the margin of defeat.

Tennessee made a quantum leap forward against Georgia two weeks ago, but that probably won’t be enough to topple the Tide. Crompton has a career history of following up a great game with a sorry game, and Alabama’s pass defense is eons better than Georgia’s. Given the difference in defense between the Bulldogs and the Tide, expect Crompton to struggle in this game.

The key for Alabama will be managing, for just one more week before a needed bye week appears on the schedule, the Tide’s various bumps and bruises. Alabama might have to play this game without Javier Arenas, and is already short Dont'a Hightower. Offensively, Ingram and Upchurch could use a week off at tailback, as could Julio Jones.

In the final analysis, Tennessee just doesn’t have the horses. A patchwork offensive line could be the Vols’ undoing, as Alabama has a defensive line good enough to exploit that weakness. And if Alabama puts together a few sustained drives early on, the Tide will run Tennessee to the brink of exhaustion given the Vols’ depth chart shortcomings.

Look for a very similar game to the Ole Miss and South Carolina wins. Tennessee really shouldn’t be in this game, although it might take the scoreboard awhile to reflect that fact.

Alabama 27
Tennessee 13