Tinsley finds niches at Tennessee running and catching

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Posted 7:09AM on Thursday, October 3, 2002

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - Tennessee sophomore Derrick Tinsley isn't a starter but he sees plenty of playing time as a tailback, receiver and blocker on special teams. He's even handled a kickoff return. The No. 10 Volunteers (3-1, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) started putting Tinsley in the receiver's slot this season. He's caught 11 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, fourth on the team behind Kelley Washington, Tony Brown and Jason Witten. As a tailback, he hasn't been as effective with nine carries for 19 yards. Tinsley has had a reception and a rushing attempt in each game. ``I feel like I'm doing pretty good at tailback and wide receiver. I'm still learning, trying to get better,'' Tinsley said. On special teams, he's made two tackles and returned a kickoff 13 yards against Florida. At 6-feet, 195 pounds, Tinsley may be best suited for a receiver. More than that, Tennessee needs another reliable receiver to help when Washington and Witten are surrounded by defenders. Tinsley has provided some relief. ``It's another dimension for our offense. I think I'm going to keep on improving,'' Tinsley said. ``It's another opportunity for me to get in the field, and that's all I'm trying to do.'' Tinsley didn't play any at receiver last season or in high school. He believes route running is where he needs the most improvement. ``I think I have a God-given ability to catch the ball,'' he said. GERALD'S TURN?: Tennessee fans may get to see Gerald Riggs play this week. With starting tailback Cedric Houston out this week against Arkansas, the freshman moves up the depth chart to second-string. Riggs falls behind sophomore Jabari Davis, who makes his second straight start. Houston, who had surgery Monday to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, could return for the Georgia game Oct. 12. Riggs, a 5-foot-11, 217-pounder from Red Bank High School in Chattanooga, was highly touted as a Parade All-America last year. Coach Phillip Fulmer said Riggs will play some this week. He hasn't gotten into the last three games because he's been slow to learn pass protection blocks. Riggs had five carries for 10 yards in the season opener against Wyoming. Riggs' father, Gerald, ran for 8,188 yards in a 10-year NFL career for Atlanta and Washington. Riggs says he hasn't been discouraged about not getting to play. ``I knew what I was coming into. Cedric, Derrick, Jabari and Keldrick (Williams) were all elite backs in high school. So you have to wait your turn. Sooner or later you get your chance and when you get your chance you have to make the best of it. That's my mindset right now,'' he said. He believes that he'd do a good job if he played in a game, but he wants to make sure the coaches feel the same way. ``I'm just going to make it a point to go out there in practice and do the best I can and make sure I have everything down so that when it comes time to make a decision on who's going to play or who they're going to put in that I give them the confidence to put me in,'' he said. As for the protection learning problem, Riggs says it's a little overblown. ``It's not as much as people make it seem. You have to be able to think quickly,'' he said. ``I can sit down and write out and show you what I have to do but when it's on the field it's a different story because things are moving so fast.'' ``You can be hesitant at times without experience. Right now I don't have that experience.'' Offensive coordinator Randy Sanders thinks Riggs' predicament isn't anything new. ``There's a lot to learn. It's the same thing that happened last year with Cedric, Jabari and Derrick,'' Sanders said. ``You guys were all wondering when they're going to play. By the time they figured it out, Travis (Stephens) was playing great. It never worked out.'' FOR KICKS: Placekicker Alex Walls is listed as questionable for Saturday with a pulled quadriceps muscle he suffered in warmups for the Middle Tennessee game. Fulmer said this week junior Phillip Newman will likely take over. Walls has made only four of seven field goal attempts this season, missing attempts of 40 and 41 yards last week. He kicked three extra points last week but Newman kicked the final two. Newman, who transferred from Georgia Tech, has been very good at kickoffs, sending nine of 19 into the endzone for touchbacks. His field-goal range isn't as good. So far, he's only made a 35-yarder and missed one from 38 yards. A 42-yard try was blocked. The Vols were trying to redshirt freshman James Wilhoit, but Fulmer said they would speed him along in practice in case he is needed in a game. BIG, BAD SEAN: Offensive lineman Sean Young started for the first time this season at left guard last week against Rutgers. Young, a 6-7, 300-pound junior wanted to redshirt this year but the coaches asked him to start due to injuries on the offensive line. He started two games last season at offensive tackle. Sanders said Young played well for his first time at guard. ``He is pretty physical in there. He knocked some people back,'' Sanders said. ``He brings more size. When you get somebody that big leaning on you, eventually something is going to give. I don't know if the other guards have been physical enough.'' In addition to size, Young leaves his happy, smiley personality on the sideline. ``Sean is a great guy, but he wants to get it done on the field. He's not always great guy on the football field,'' Sanders said. ``My high school coach always told me God doesn't hold anything against you that happens on the football field. You don't really want to coach a guy that believes he does either.''