By Totals 4 U
Tennessee (1-2, 0-1 SEC) out-gained the Gators on offense last Saturday at Neyland Stadium, but were still stomped 6-30 largely due to 3 critical turnovers, including a pair inside Florida’s 5-yard line, plus a surrendered 78-yard punt return touchdown. Dean of SEC Coaches Phil Fulmer (148-47) has seen too much to panic and has some facets of the Volunteers game to be excited about. On defense, the experienced line of starters 6’4” 265 LDE Wes Brown (9 T, TFL), 6’6” 290 LDT Demonte Bolden (7 T, 2 TFL), 6’3” 310 RDT Dan Williams (10 T, 2 ½ TFL), and 6’3” 270 RDE Robert Ayers (5 T, 2 ½ TFL) plus versatile backup 6’3” 275 Walter Fischer (7 T, S) have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this season (10 in 2007), holding opponents to 94.7 yards per game at just 3.0 yards per carry and just a single rushing score. The pressure they bring hasn’t shown up in sack numbers yet but it has been key to producing 7 picks. Tennessee has always favored quickness over size at the linebacker position with 5’10” 225 senior Ellix Wilson (25 T, 3 ½ TFL, S, INT) the best of the current crop but it is the defensive backs that stand out for us. The crew of 6’2” 195 junior FS Demetrice Morley (11 T, TFL, INT), 5’11” 195 sophomore SS Eric Berry (18 T, S, 2 INT), 6’0” 200 senior LCB DeAngelo Willingham (10 T, TFL, 2 INT), and 5’10” 185 sophomore RCB Dennis Rogan (12 T, 26.9 kick return, 8.4 punt return) lead the deepest and most talented group that the Volunteers have fielded in many years. Offensive Coordinator Dave Clawson’s squad is also plenty talented and it all starts up front. The wall of Scott, Parker, McNeil, McClendon, and Foster (average 6’4” and 307 pounds) have combined for 102 career starts and plough holes for 179.7 rush yards per game at a brisk 5.1 yard clip and 6 scores on the ground while being tagged with just 2 sacks through 3 games. 6’1” 215 senior RB Arian Foster (39 for 233 yards rushing, 7 for 53 receiving) is the prime beneficiary while 6’0” 210 RB Montario Hardesty (24 for 109 and 3 TD) handles the goal and short-yardage work plus 6’1” 210 sophomore Lennon Creer (9 for 97 and 2 TD) has displayed explosive ability. So far, first year starter at the trigger 6’4” 220 junior QB Jonathan Crompton (56 of 100 for 591 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT) hasn’t be phenomenal but has shown some ability outside the pocket and has connected with 8 different Volunteers in each game led by receivers Lucas Taylor (14 for 193 yards) and Gerald Jones (12 for 119 and 2 TD). Don’t let sophomore K Daniel Lincoln’s 1 of 4 field goal mark. A pair of those misses were from 50+ and he hit 21 of 29 in 2007.
Auburn (3-1, 1-1 SEC) suffered a rare 2nd-half collapse last week, spoiling a 14-3 lead at the break, at the hands of LSU in a 21-26 loss at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Defense is still the hallmark for Tommy Tuberville’s (83-34 in 10th season) team but this season they have an offense to nearly match. 1st-year Offensive Coordinator Tony Franklin’s spread offense has piled up 171.0 yards rushing (at 4.1 yards per rush and 5 TD) plus 184.2 pass yards (at 6.2 per attempt and 2 TD) per game to produce a respectable average of 21.2 points. A pair of backs with 1500+ career rush yards apiece in 5’11” 216 junior Ben Tate (67 for 323 yards and 2 TD) and 5’11” 197 senior Brad Lester (42 for 174 yards and TD) keep defenses on their heels and Auburn’s offensive line has matured greatly from 2007. Not big by most standards (6’4” and 288 pounds per man), the crew of Ziemba, Green, Pugh, Isom, and Bosley have benefited from a year under their belts and have been beaten for just 5 sacks over 4 games. In the spread, junior QB Chris Todd (61 of 107 for 722 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT) hasn’t produced a ton of big hookups but has hit 14 different players led by wide receivers 6’2” 186 Montez Billings (9 for 124), 6’1” 195 Rodgerious Smith (13 for 159), and 6’0” 174 Robert Dunn (9 for 118 and TD, 21.4 per punt return including 66-yarder for TD). With the way these guys line up, 6’5” 242 junior TE/WR Tommy Trot (3 for 44 yards) could create major match up problems but we haven’t seen much of it yet. The Southeastern Conference’s best defense in 2007 will push hard for the title again this season. Currently allowing 84.2 yards at 2.7 per attempt rushing, 175.5 yards at 4.9 per attempt passing, and 10.2 points per game, the Tigers haven’t been beaten for a single rushing score yet and have yielded just 3 first half points. Impact players are found at every position, especially in the front 7 where 6’3” 250 junior LDE Antonio Coleman (15 T, 5 ½ TFL, 3 S, FF), 6’2” 296 junior RDT Sen’Derrick Marks (17 T, 7 TFL, 1 ½ S), and 6’0” 216 junior MLB Tray Blackmon (19 T, 2 S) have been simply dominating on 3rd down where Auburn leads the nation at 11.7% of conversions to be made. 1st-year Defensive Coordinator Paul Rhodes also coaches defensive backs and his kids don’t avoid contact – the seek it out. 5’10” 192 junior LCB Jerraud Powers (22 T, INT) actually leads the Tigers in total tackles while safeties Zac Etheridge (17 T, INT) and Mike McNeil (16 T, 2 TFL, S) pack a wallop at 206 and 204 pounds. Freshman P Clinton Durst is averaging 43.7 yards and sophomore K Wes Bynum has already nailed a trey from 52-yards in 2008.
FREE SELECTION: The line-makers have shown Tennessee quite a bit of respect considering they lost by 24 points at home to Florida. We’ll go and take Auburn –6 ½ and keep our eyes out for a “middle” opportunity if the public bites and bets this contest up to 7 ½ or 8.