Players have lost weight and toughened up, coach Phillip Fulmer has hired new assistants, and the Vols are optimistic about a turnaround, despite lingering questions at quarterback and an inexperienced defensive front.
``We're looking for great effort, great passion and great intensity finishing every block, finishing every run and finishing every tackle. We've got a very serious attitude about being that kind of football team,'' Fulmer said after the start of preseason practice.
Tennessee will get an early indicator of its progress when it opens the season at home against California on Sept. 2.
It is the first of four consecutive home games to start the season, followed by Air Force, Florida and Marshall. Southeastern Conference opponents include Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, LSU and Arkansas.
Toward the end of last year's 5-6 campaign, the Vols lost to Vanderbilt for the first time since 1982. After the game Fulmer said, ``Before you start building back anything, you have to hit rock bottom. This is rock bottom.''
Tennessee's last losing season and year without a bowl game was in 1988.
The Vols' offense was one of the worst in the nation, ranking 101st in scoring and 90th in total offense. Rotating between sophomore quarterback Erik Ainge and senior Rick Clausen was a problem, and offensive coordinator Randy Sanders resigned mid-season.
Fulmer hired David Cutcliffe, who left in 1998 to be head coach at Mississippi. The coaches believe they solved the QB shuffle in the spring by naming Ainge the starter while allowing for competition from redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton.
``Obviously, quarterback play last year was not nearly what we thought. We all saw the potential of a young Erik Ainge as a freshman that led us to the Eastern division championship. Certainly looking back I could have managed that differently,'' Fulmer said.
Vol faithful are looking to Cutcliffe to make a big difference in his first year back. He is the man who coached Peyton Manning in the late 1990s, and Cutcliffe is known for being a stickler for details.
``The biggest difference with me right now is just understanding football. I understand the game of football now. I'm not worried about calling the play right or getting the right formation or remember what that play is like I was last year,'' Ainge said.
Quarterback wasn't the only problem with the offense. Receivers had trouble catching passes, and the offensive line wasn't blocking well. Both groups were asked to lose weight. One lineman, redshirt freshman Chris Scott, lost 60 pounds.
The receivers have a new coach, Trooper Taylor, who moved over from running backs after Pat Washington was fired. After a recent practice, receivers stayed late to catch tennis balls shot out of a machine at close range. Seniors Jayson Swain and Bret Smith, junior Robert Meachem and sophomores Lucas Taylor, Josh Briscoe and Austin Rogers will push for playing time.
Tackle Arron Sears is a fixture on the offensive line that's being revamped after losing most starters. David Ligon, who finished last year as the starting center, is moving over to guard. Walk-on Michael Frogg, who was just awarded a scholarship, and redshirt freshman Josh McNeil are candidates at center. Greg Adkins was made the head offensive line coach after Jimmy Ray Stephens was fired, and Matt Luke is his assistant.
Running back would appear to be solid if the top three players weren't coming off injuries. Sophomore Arian Foster became a starter in the middle of last season when Gerald Riggs was hurt. He finished with 879 yards rushing, ending the season by racking up more than 100 yards in each of the last five games.
Foster then had knee and shoulder surgeries. Montario Hardesty and LaMarcus Coker also had surgeries. Their new coach is Kurt Roper, a former UT graduate assistant who left with Cutcliffe for Ole Miss.
Defense was the bright spot on the team last year, ranking second in the nation in stopping the run.
The secondary figures to be the strength of the defense by returning all four starters safeties Jonathan Hefney and Antwan Stewart and cornerbacks Jonathan Wade and Inky Johnson. Roshaun Fellows started at times last year, and Demetrice Morley played in every game.
Tackle Justin Harrell is the lone returning starter on the defensive line, but there is experience among other players like Turk McBride.
Linebackers Marvin Mitchell and Jerod Mayo started three games combined last season, but the coaches believe there is plenty of talent among the candidates for starters.
The special teams are under new management with each coach taking over the different return and protection units. Fulmer says the Vols will be more aggressive on special teams.
Senior kicker James Wilhoit is the Southeastern Conference's active scoring leader with 229 points, and punter Britton Colquitt is back as a sophomore.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/8/106164