No-huddle highlights Tennessee's spring practice

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Starting spring practice several weeks earlier than usual, Tennessee rolled out a new wrinkle for its offense Thursday.<br> <br> Coach Phillip Fulmer said the Vols will experiment with a no-huddle offense this spring, hoping to take advantage of the experience of quarterback Erik Ainge, who will be a senior in the fall.<br> <br> ``He threw 67 percent completions during the course of the year, and we&#39;re going to try to use his talents any way we can,&#39;&#39; Fulmer said. ``The kids are pretty excited about it.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The Vols would like to go without a huddle for more than just a few series here and there.<br> <br> ``It&#39;s an attempt to see where we are with it, and it would be basically how we would manage the offense,&#39;&#39; Fulmer said. ``We&#39;re going to take our shots at seeing what we can do with it as an offense.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Ainge said he&#39;s looking forward to the change.<br> <br> ``We&#39;ve caught ourselves in games the way we used to do it, running out of time, pushing the limits with the 25-second clock. This will really give us an opportunity to see at the line and make decisions and put us in the best possible play,&#39;&#39; Ainge said.<br> <br> The Vols will have 14 practices and end spring drills with the annual Orange and White scrimmage on March 31. Admission this year will be free; tickets were $5 last year.<br> <br> ``To me, this is probably the most exciting time of the year,&#39;&#39; Fulmer said. ``I&#39;m anxious to see how it works out. I hope the weather holds for us good.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The temperature reached an unseasonably warm 60 degrees under sunny skies by mid-afternoon on Thursday.<br> <br> Fulmer said the team needs to develop new players for the defensive line, secondary, offensive line and receiver. The Vols also have a competition at place kicker after the departure of four-year starter James Wilhoit.<br> <br> Attitude&#39;s also an important part of spring practice, Fulmer said.<br> <br> ``During the course of the offseason we took on the theme of being totally committed to what we&#39;re trying to get done. I&#39;m anxious to see who&#39;s really going to do that once we get to pads,&#39;&#39; Fulmer said.<br> <br> Fans can go to the Vols Web site starting March 12 and vote on the starting lineups for the Orange and White game. They can also vote on the first play and submit a play to be used in the scrimmage.<br> <br> ``I can tell you all it&#39;s going to be some deep halfback pass or something,&#39;&#39; Fulmer said.<br> <br> The defensive front is Fulmer&#39;s biggest concern with the losses of Justin Harrell, Turk McBride and Matt McGlothlin. Last year&#39;s line had only 17 quarterback sacks.<br> <br> Fulmer wants junior tackle Demonte Bolden to step up, but ``he has yet to take that full step to be that kind of football player.&#39;&#39; The Vols also return J.T. Mapu and ends Xavier Mitchell and Antonio Reynolds. Robert Ayers, Walter Fisher and Chase Nelson will be limited because of injury.<br> <br> ``The pressure is on us to get more pressure on the quarterback,&#39;&#39; Mitchell said.<br> <br> Jonathan Hefney is the lone returning starter in the secondary after the departure of seniors Jonathan Wade and Antwan Stewart and the dismissal of Demetrice Morley. Inky Johnson, who was severely injured in his shoulder and arm in the Air Force game, will no longer play football.<br> <br> Fulmer said eight players are competing for cornerback and safety.<br> <br> The offensive line has to replace Arron Sears and David Ligon, but two probable starters, Eric Young and Anthony Parker, will sit out this spring because of injury.<br> <br> At receiver, Tennessee loses Robert Meachem, Jayson Swain and Bret Smith, and will turn to a number of sophomores and juniors with ability but little experience, such as Austin Rogers, Lucas Taylor, Josh Briscoe and Quintin Hancock.<br> <br> Tailback Montario Hardesty will be limited in the spring, and the Vols continue to look for a featured running back among the trio of Hardesty, Arian Foster and LaMarcus Coker.<br> <br> As for kicking, punter Britton Colquitt is penciled in for field goals and extra points, but he will compete with freshman Daniel Lincoln to replace Wilhoit.<br> <br> Similar to last spring, the scrimmages will be live and no green non-contact jerseys for the players, including quarterbacks.<br> <br> A quirk of the pre-spring lineup passed out Thursday was the omission of the fullback position. Fulmer said he hasn&#39;t eliminated fullbacks but wanted to group them with the tight ends or H-backs.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/2/94323