Alabama-Tennessee: Vols Hope to Salvage Season Against Tide

Before the 2008 season started, I didn’t think Tennessee would have a great year on the gridiron.  I suspected when David Cutcliffe took the Duke head coaching job that the Volunteer offense would feel the effects.

When I added in things like the loss of Ainge at quarterback, along with a few of their other coaches moving on to other teams, I could easily see the recipe for a mediocre season.

In Tennessee’s case, a mediocre season is defined by not competing for the SEC Eastern Division.  It’s emphasized by games like their losses to divisional rivals Georgia and Florida.

However, when you have a good majority of the fanbase calling for a head coaching change, and when you have an abundance of tickets still available the week of the Alabama game, you know things aren’t going well.

In fact, they are going so badly that using the adjective “mediocre” to describe their season is being complimentary.

The fact is the Volunteers' season to date has been horrid.  We could look at their record after seven games and note that their three wins came against teams like Northern Illinois (who they scraped by), UAB, and just recently, Mississippi State.

Yes, they do have one SEC win, so one might start to think, “maybe this Volunteer team isn’t as bad as their record indicates.”  That notion is quickly forgotten when one realizes the only team they have beaten with a winning record is Northern Illinois (4-2), whose biggest win is against Toledo.

With the departure of Erik Ainge, the eyes of the Vol nation turned to Jonathan Crompton to lead the 2008 team.  Led by newly hired offensive coordinator Dave Clawson, the expectations were high in Knoxville. It wasn’t long before the thoughts of Tennessee having a mediocre season were quickly dismissed.

The offense wasn’t mediocre.  It was vile.

The passing game was filled with “incrompletions.”

The play calling, while excruciating to Volunteer fans, wasn’t just dreadful.  It was “incrompetent.”

Efforts to steeve this sinking ship were sought, and thought to be found, when the staff decided to replace Crompton with Nick Stephens.  Yet despite the changes, the Tennessee fan base found more of the same: stagnation.

If things continue the way they are going in Knoxville, this Tennessee group, who is in the middle of their “Perfection Gala” celebrating the 1998 National Championship year, has a very good chance to conclude this season without a dance partner in the Bowl season.

There are several areas of the Volunteer team that have to be commended.

Eric Berry has been not only a bright star on their roster, but very well could be the best defensive player in the SEC this season.  There is no question he looks to be among the best defensive backs in the nation.  UT has intercepted the ball 11 times this season, and Berry has close to half of those.

This season, Alabama has seen one opponent show different schemes that have served as preparation for their next contest.  Last week’s game against Ole Miss is just such an example.

With the loss of Gerald Jones (high ankle sprain) during the Mississippi State game, the Vols will be looking for another playmaker to fill the role he had taking direct snaps on offense.  Some have pointed to Eric Berry as possibly being “just that man.”

Ironically, Ole Miss’ McCluster was “just that man” last week when the Tide contained that offensive threat with relative ease.

Quite frankly, the keys to stopping the Volunteer offense this week are elementary in terms of football strategy.

Out of the 21 scoring drives the Volunteers have had this season, only seven of them have been a drive any offensive coach would be proud of.  They have managed to drive the “length of the field” three times (two drives for 80 yards, one for 77.)  Out of those 21 scoring drives, 14 of them have the Vols starting with very good field position (around the 50-yard line or closer.)

It would be easy to look at those figures and say, “at least that has led to the Vols putting points on the board.  A field goal, at least!”  Yet the facts of the matter mirror their drives.  They haven’t been spectacular, or even mediocre, with their kicking game, converting just over 60 percent of their field goal attempts.

If it isn’t obvious to you yet—glaringly obvious—if Bama wins the field position battle they win the ball game.

That's just the tip of the iceberg when looking at their inadequacies on offense.

They are averaging 15 first downs a game.  They are averaging less than 20 points per game.  Their quarterbacks almost have a symbiotic relationship with their punters: For every two passes they complete, they punt the ball once.

If the struggles on offense weren’t enough for Tennessee to handle, their defense is enduring their share of problems as well.  There are abundant signs that the Vol staff is looking for answers.  Any answers.  Anywhere they can find them.

John Chavis, Tennessee defensive coordinator and veteran of 19 years on the Volunteer sideline, has recently decided to move from the sidelines to the press box with hopes of having a better grasp on what teams are doing while having success against the Vols.

One glaring thing that jumps out when looking at this defense is where the leaders are, specifically in number of tackles on the season.

Coaches will look at the UT numbers and see where five of their leading eight tacklers are located in their defensive secondary.  They’ll also be quick to point out, “when you have a cornerback leading the team in tackles, you have problems with your front seven on defense.”

Like Georgia earlier this year, Vol fans can point to their ranking in rush defense and claim their place as one of the best rushing defenses in the SEC.

They’ll also have to admit those rankings have come by way of facing some of the worse rushing offenses this season as well, save Georgia and Florida, who have close to 40 percent of the yards gained running the ball against UT this year (both with just under 150 yards rushing per game.)

The bottom line for Alabama is the last two games they have played have been against better defensive competition than the Volunteers will field this Saturday night.

When we look at what Alabama takes to Knoxville Saturday, one automatically wonders if we’ll see that “complete game” out of the Tide this week—finally.

If there is one constant we can pull from this season so far, it’s been our defensive efforts.  Even though they have given up a few big plays per game, just as UT has gained a few per game, this unit has come through in the clutch time and time again.

They continually held opposing offenses to less than what they normally produce against other opponents.  When you consider names like C.J. Spiller, James Davis, and Georgia’s Moreno and weigh them against players like Arian Foster of the Vols, you might say we’ll face an equally dangerous running opponent this week as well.

Then, with the consideration of how those aforementioned running backs have succeeded against Alabama, it’s easy to assume UT will try to establish a strong running game against Alabama but to no avail. They likely will try to establish their running game—and like the others, likely won’t have enough success to impact the game dramatically.

In fact, if Tennessee matches their average for points scored against the Alabama defense it’ll be a successful day for the Vols, despite its mundane appearance on Sunday’s stats sheets and another “L” in the win/loss columns.

The focus for Alabama, the area where the questions lie and need answering, is found on the offensive side of the ball this week.

With the play of Eric Berry, it will be vitally important for John Parker Wilson to not “lock on” to an individual receiver and “look off” the safeties in Tennessee’s defensive secondary.  If Berry is able to read where John Parker is going with the play, look for the Vols to have a couple of interceptions, which should lead to at least one scoring opportunity.

Of equal, or perhaps greater importance, is the offense being able to “move the chains” in the second half of this ball game.  If Alabama holds true to its form, they’ll establish a lead early, and the Vols will look to cut into that lead in the second half of the contest.

Last season, a 41-17 win in Tuscaloosa, was a game where Alabama “punched UT in the mouth” on the first play and the Vols found themselves reeling for the majority of the remaining minutes.   This season, if the same holds true, Alabama has a good chance to win in a dramatic fashion.

If the Vols play Alabama tough, that competition coming from an emotional drive to salvage a disappointing season to date, this game very well may feature a Tide team pulling away late.

Most look at this contest and see Tennessee giving Alabama a run for their money because Coach Phil Fulmer will pull out “all the stops” in order to get a win.

Been there, done that, from a more challenging team last week in Ole Miss.

Those same people look at this game and point to the home field advantage UT should have as a reason the Vols will keep it close.

Yet Alabama has been twice the team on the road this season as it has been at home.

In road contests this season, Alabama has outscored their opponents by more than a two to one margin.  They’ve had a scoring average differential of 41-17 in the Tide’s favor.

41-17.

Hmmm?  Ironic, yes?

Alabama 34, Tennessee 15