Tennessee's tailbacks didn't get much of an opportunity to pound the ball in the season-opening 27-24 overtime loss to UCLA on Sept. 1.
Carries figure to be much easier to come by for the Vols Saturday at Neyland Stadium when Tennessee faces defense-challenged UAB in their home opener.
The Blazers have been flattened by Tulsa (45-22) and Florida Atlantic (49-34), and have given up a whopping 1,155 yards in the two defeats.
That could mean significant playing time for backup Vols tailbacks Lennon Creer and Tauren Poole, who watched from the bench against UCLA as Arian Foster (13 carries, 96 yards) and Montario Hardesty (12 for 66) monopolized ball-toting duties.
Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer suggested it could be time to spread the wealth at tailback Saturday.
"We've always played three tailbacks and we've also had to play four,"
said Fulmer. "They're going to play. Their biggest role right now is to make some impact as special teams guys. They will get their opportunities to play."
UT's staff has raved about Poole's toughness and maturity for a true freshman, while Creer, a sophomore, is regarded as the Vols' best home-run threat.
"Right now, it's certainly Arian and Montario, No. 1 and No. 2,"
said Clawson. "With the amount of times we're going to run the ball with our tailbacks, we need to have depth there. These guys have to wait for their opportunity, but they're probably going to get it sooner than they think."
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CHIEF TALK: John Chavis, UT defensive coordinator, said a lack of fresh bodies might have contributed to the loss to UCLA, where the Vols faded down the stretch.
The Bruins burned Tennessee with touchdown drives of 80 and 70 yards in the fourth quarter.
"It's pretty clear that we need to be able to finish better,"
said Chavis. "We need to be able to play the last 10 minutes. We need to be able to play the last two minutes and we need to be able to get off the field without giving up points."
Chavis said the coaching staff pored over every facet of the loss, from scheme to personnel.
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MISSING KARL: The Vols suffered a big blow after the 2007 season when leading tackler and starting middle linebacker Jerod Mayo bolted to the NFL after his junior year.
But this week, Chavis also doled out heaping praise on former Battle Ground Academy standout Ryan Karl, who was a senior outside linebacker last season.
"Only people inside the program would know how important Ryan Karl was to our linebacker unit and our defense last year. To me, that (graduating Karl) was almost as big a loss as Mayo,"
Chavis said.
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VINSON STILL OUT: Defensive back Brent Vinson will not be eligible to play this weekend against UAB, Fulmer said. Vinson and defensive tackle Donald Langley were suspended for the UCLA game for academic reasons, but Fulmer said Langley would be eligible to play this weekend.
