Spring Break
Fulmer: Vols need offensive consistency
JASON BUTT
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: First & Goal
It's been a rocky start in Rocky Top.
While Tennessee's defense has played well, its offense has made many mistakes and has its head coach searching for an identity. Tennessee, who entered this season as a sleeper to contend for the SEC East, is now at the bottom looking up after losing its first two SEC contests.
To make matters worse for woeful Tennessee, rival Vanderbilt is sitting at the top of the East.
After losing to UCLA two weeks before the Bruins were embarrassed 59-0 to BYU, Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer has come under a lot of heat about whether or not he should remain as head coach of Tennessee next year.
It didn't help Fulmer's chances after the Volunteers were embarrassed for the second straight year to Florida and lost a close 14-12 decision to Auburn.
However, Fulmer said his team has to focus in on digging itself from the grave it has buried itself in instead of dwelling on what they can no longer control.
"Our focus continues to be on us and in our improvement, particularly offensively to a point where we are more consistent and more efficient with what we do," Fulmer said in a teleconference this week.
Consistency and efficiency are two things Tennessee has lacked this season. The Volunteers opened the season with Jonathan Crompton at quarterback but Fulmer benched him after the signal caller only completed 52 percent of his passes for 658 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions in four games.
Looking for a spark, Fulmer turned to backup Nick Stephens last week against Northern Illinois - a game the Volunteers tried to give away.
"He's seeing things better and understanding better and Nick's got an heir of confidence about him," Fulmer said. "He's handled himself pretty well in the one game against a fairly good Northern Illinois defensive football team at home."
Against Northern Illinois, Stephens was 10-of-17 for 156 yards a touchdown. While Stephens may have taken baby steps against Northern Illinois, he will need to take a giant leap against Georgia this Saturday if Tennessee is going to have a chance at pulling off the upset.
One thing that hurts Stephens is that the running game has failed to get going. Through five games, Tennessee has only had Arian Foster rush for 100 yards once, in a 35-3 route over UAB.
With Stephens making his second start against Georgia, which is second in the SEC in rushing defense, this could be a tall order.
"We certainly realize going on the road in the Southeastern Conference against a much better football team than he played the last time will be an even bigger challenge for him," Fulmer said.
While Tennessee's defense has played well, its offense has made many mistakes and has its head coach searching for an identity. Tennessee, who entered this season as a sleeper to contend for the SEC East, is now at the bottom looking up after losing its first two SEC contests.
To make matters worse for woeful Tennessee, rival Vanderbilt is sitting at the top of the East.
After losing to UCLA two weeks before the Bruins were embarrassed 59-0 to BYU, Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer has come under a lot of heat about whether or not he should remain as head coach of Tennessee next year.
It didn't help Fulmer's chances after the Volunteers were embarrassed for the second straight year to Florida and lost a close 14-12 decision to Auburn.
However, Fulmer said his team has to focus in on digging itself from the grave it has buried itself in instead of dwelling on what they can no longer control.
"Our focus continues to be on us and in our improvement, particularly offensively to a point where we are more consistent and more efficient with what we do," Fulmer said in a teleconference this week.
Consistency and efficiency are two things Tennessee has lacked this season. The Volunteers opened the season with Jonathan Crompton at quarterback but Fulmer benched him after the signal caller only completed 52 percent of his passes for 658 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions in four games.
Looking for a spark, Fulmer turned to backup Nick Stephens last week against Northern Illinois - a game the Volunteers tried to give away.
"He's seeing things better and understanding better and Nick's got an heir of confidence about him," Fulmer said. "He's handled himself pretty well in the one game against a fairly good Northern Illinois defensive football team at home."
Against Northern Illinois, Stephens was 10-of-17 for 156 yards a touchdown. While Stephens may have taken baby steps against Northern Illinois, he will need to take a giant leap against Georgia this Saturday if Tennessee is going to have a chance at pulling off the upset.
One thing that hurts Stephens is that the running game has failed to get going. Through five games, Tennessee has only had Arian Foster rush for 100 yards once, in a 35-3 route over UAB.
With Stephens making his second start against Georgia, which is second in the SEC in rushing defense, this could be a tall order.
"We certainly realize going on the road in the Southeastern Conference against a much better football team than he played the last time will be an even bigger challenge for him," Fulmer said.
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