Vols getting ready for next SEC opponent Georgia

Posted 6:50PM on Monday 2nd October 2006 ( 18 years ago )

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - With its final two non-conference games out of the way, No. 13 Tennessee can fully concentrate on making a move in the SEC East division race. The Volunteers (4-1) travel to 10th-ranked Georgia (5-0) on Saturday. After this week, Tennessee is off before a series of games that includes Alabama, South Carolina, LSU and Arkansas. ``I think if we can get this one under our belt, we'll definitely be a step in the right direction. If we can get past Georgia it will be a long stretch, but we'll have a bye week and get everybody healthy,'' defensive tackle Matt McGlothlin said Monday. The Vols need a win over Georgia to stay in the SEC East race after losing to Florida last month in their only SEC game so far. Tennessee has been in this situation before, counting on other teams to beat each other while it has to win out for a chance at the division title. The Vols beat Marshall and then won at Memphis last week to finish their non-conference schedule. ``The speed is going to be real different. Memphis and Marshall are good teams, but the SEC is totally different,'' McGlothlin said. ``It will be back like playing Florida again, seeing that kind of speed. It's a challenge for us.'' Several offensive linemen were hurt during the Memphis game. Tackle Arron Sears has a sprained left ankle and elbow. Guard Anthony Parker has a sprained right ankle, and backup center Michael Frogg has a sprained left ankle. Other players have various injuries, such as McGlothlin's broken finger, that have not kept them from playing. Georgia will be the third top 10 team the Vols have played but first on the road. California was ninth, and Florida was ranked seventh. ``I think it probably does help us that we've played a couple of really good teams, just the speed of the game or the physicalness of it. The downside of that is we have quite a few people banged up,'' coach Phillip Fulmer said. The Vols get only one bye week this year instead of two, and that comes as usual before Alabama. Tennessee's first open date has typically been in early September. But the Vols aren't thinking too much about having a day off. ``You can't look past Georgia. You have to look toward this week just like it's Florida or Alabama or any other week. You have to practice hard and give it all you've got even though you've got a lot of guys banged up, a lot of guys sore. You've still got to push through it,'' receiver Robert Meachem said. It's hard to gauge how much Tennessee improved during the 41-7 win at Memphis. Fulmer pointed out the Tigers had only 37 plays on offense, including only five first downs. ``Defensively we weren't challenged as much as we anticipated. We did a good job controlling their perimeter game and stopping the run,'' Fulmer said Sunday. ``It will be a much bigger challenge for us this week. Fulmer again praised quarterback Erik Ainge and the receivers, and said the running backs and offensive line played well. Fulmer singled out the play of tight ends Brad Cottam and Chris Brown. Brown was second on the team with five catches for 24 yards at Memphis while Cottam had one catch for 11 yards, the first reception he's had since 2004. The Vols started the game on offense with a double tight end formation with Brown and Cottam. On the Net: Tennessee football: www.utsports.com

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