Vols begin preparing for Auburn

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Posted 5:38PM on Tuesday, September 30, 2003

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - The seventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers are undefeated with plenty to prove heading into a tough stretch against Auburn, Georgia and Alabama. Coach Phillip Fulmer sees holes to fill on defense and thinks the offense needs some pep. Cutting down on penalties is another area the Vols (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) hope to fix by Saturday when they travel to Auburn. ``Auburn is no different than us. They're fighting for position in the conference and position from a national standpoint and respect,'' Fulmer said Tuesday. ``They're going to want to defend their turf. It'll be a humdinger.'' In the first game after an emotional win at Florida, Tennessee needed overtime last weekend to beat South Carolina 23-20 after the Gamecocks had their way running the ball. ``We're happy to be 4-0, but at the same time, we feel as a team we haven't played our best yet,'' quarterback Casey Clausen said. ``We're still looking for that full game four quarters where we come out and pretty much dominate the whole game.'' Against South Carolina, the offense got off to a good start, scoring 17 to lead the Gamecocks by three at halftime. Tennessee's running game struggled in both halves, while the defense picked it up in the second half. The Vols had seven penalties for 83 yards that included three pass interference calls against the defense and three holding. South Carolina freshman Demetris Summers had 115 yards rushing on 12 carries in the first half but managed just 43 yards on 15 attempts in the second half. The Vols went into the game allowing opponents an average 53 yards on the ground. Tennessee will face another rushing juggernaut at Auburn (2-2, 1-0) with tailbacks Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown. ``Typically, we don't give up too many yards rushing,'' Fulmer said. ``We've got to get back down behind our pads, making sure we're taking care of our responsibilities, tackling well and taking proper pursuit angles all those things that keep you from giving up 200 yards.'' Punter Dustin Colquitt kept the Vols in the game by pinning South Carolina deep with bad field position. He averaged 52 yards on seven punts, and was named the SEC special teams player of the week for the second time this season. The Vols also didn't turn over the ball and scored on each of their four visits inside the Gamecocks 20. ``I really never felt like we were going to lose the game because we were always in such good field position,'' Fulmer said. ``We just didn't do everything that we would have liked to have done. As the team has done before, I would expect it would respond to those challenges.'' Predictably, Fulmer said Auburn is his team's biggest challenge to date, particularly the Tigers' defense ranked second in the nation. That comes after he said last week South Carolina's defensive front was going to be better than Florida's. The Gamecocks proved he was right. After the Vols play at Auburn, they host No. 11 Georgia, have a week off and then travel to Alabama. A trip to No. 2 Miami looms on Nov. 8. ``They all just get bigger,'' Fulmer said.