Is Kiffin All Talk, Or All Action?

The bravado of new Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin has had several different effects on the Volunteer fan base.

But, can the brash Kiffin – who has yet to prove anything as a head coach on any level – parlay all of the hype, build-up and general circus-like atmosphere into wins on the field? That’s what most Tennessee football fans care about and why Kiffin has been given a pass on all the minor recruiting violations and trash talk that he has become known for since arriving in Knoxville.

We know the man – or maybe more importantly the man’s staff – can recruit, now we want to know if he can win, in a conference that most feel has surpassed the Vols, which with Alabama’s recently vacated victories, has the Southeastern Conference’s most football wins.

One other thing is certain; all that has happened during the off-season is a raising of expectations – maybe not for this season, but certainly in the very near future.
As for 2009, the Vols will improve upon last year but still lack the talent and depth to be a real contender in the brutal SEC East. But a soft non-conference schedule and some conference wins should set the table for the next two or three seasons under Kiffin and his all-star coaching staff.

Five regular starters return to the offensive side of the football for Tennessee, along with four reserves that saw quality playing time, It’s not much better on defense, with just four starters returning, along with that group just 12 additional starts from last year return. So the coaching staff has quite a challenge in front of it.

Of all the starters coming back, none has the hype that defensive back Eric Berry has. Berry’s 2008 season will be tough to follow up, piling up 265 yards in interception return yards, along with a pair of touchdowns. Berry needs just 14 interception return yards to break the NCAA mark of 501 yards, set by Terrell Buckley of Florida State. The junior had seven picks and 12 for his career, finishing up the season as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.

He heads a secondary that should be a strong point for the Vols’ and new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.

The Vols were fourth in the nation last year in pass defense, and bring the bulk of that group back. Look for Dennis Rogan to have a fantastic season as well, starting 10 games at corner back.

On offense, the most talked about player hasn’t suited up yet.

The late recruitment of Bryce Brown, the top-rated running back in the nation, gave Lane Kiffin instant hero status to many Vol fans. Brown is a stud, and could be a key part of the offense in his freshman season, as could fellow recruit David Oku.

Kiffin says he isn’t afraid to play freshmen, so the Vols could use a heavy dose of these diaper dandies from the very beginning of the season. Tennessee has Montario Hardesty at starting tailback right now, with sophomore Tauren Poole listed behind him.

Next Week: We take a look at the overall offense for Tennessee, including the much-maligned offensive line. In addition, we talk about the coaching staff; how long will they be at Rocky Top, is this a way to get to the NFL, or are they dedicated for the long term?