Reshuffled UT secondary
By Drew Edwards
September 23, 2007
It's a young man's game these days in the Tennessee secondary.
In the Vols' 48-27 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday night, UT played a pair of true freshmen, a first-year starter - and very little experience.
Junior college transfer DeAngelo Willingham and true freshmen Eric Berry and Brent Vinson all played plenty of snaps against the Indians. Senior free safety Jonathan Hefney is the lone player with more than four games of college experience.
Add to the mix first-year starter Marsalaous Johnson at cornerback, and the Vols are a little short in the tooth.
But they're long on athleticism.
"They bring more athletic ability," Tennessee coach Philip Fulmer said of Willingham and Vinson, who were pushed into action after Antonio Gaines suffered a season-ending knee injury and Berry moved to safety. "Both of them are guys that physically can do what they need to do at corner. They're still youthful, and they still make some of those youthful mistakes."
That was on display at times Saturday, with Arkansas State connecting on a pair of 40-plus yard passes.
But so was the athletic ability.
Vinson recorded his first career interception on a tipped ball, and Johnson got his first interception as well. The interceptions matched the Vols' total through their first three games of the season.
"Considering all the shuffling, and if you consider the fact that we've played the second half without three of our starters we had at the first of the season, I'm pleased," defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "But we've got a lot of growing to do. You don't just line up out there and play. The thing that's good is we've got some athletes that can play and will get better and will be better."
Bye, Bye: Tennessee's lone bye week of the season is well timed, Fulmer said, and not for the usual reasons.
The Vols will use the week to heal some of the minor injuries that accumulate over the course of a season, but the main benefit is one more week of work before re-entering SEC play on Oct. 6 against No. 15 Georgia.
"We have a chance to heal up in a lot of places, but at the same time we're going to take this as an opportunity to improve and learn," Fulmer said. "It's not going to be like camp or two-a-days or anything like that because it's important that we get well. It will be physical enough and certainly a learning process for us."
Injury Update: X-rays revealed that Johnson suffered a bruised sternum, and will be ready to play against Georgia.
Reserve tailback Montario Hardesty (ankle) did not play for the second consecutive game, and the main hurdle to returning to the field is the ankle "getting loosened back up." X-rays showed neither a fracture nor any floating particles.
Scott Free: Late in the game, starting right guard Chris Scott moved to left tackle, where he spent most of spring practice and the first week of fall camp before senior Eric Young took over.
"He did a really nice job," Fulmer said. "One time there was four sophomores and a junior in the game on the offensive line."
Two of those sophomores were Vladimir Richard and Jacques McClendon, who have been seeing more time at guard.
Pinkie Pal: Fulmer said the broken pinkie finger on Erik Ainge's throwing hand is improving.
When initially diagnosed before the Cal game, doctors said it would take about 4-5 weeks to heal.
"I do think Erik's finger is considerably improved," Fulmer said. "We're getting to the point now where we're four and five weeks, about what they said, which is a plus for us."
More Lennon: With Hardesty slow to heal, Lennon Creer carried nine times for 29 yards. The true freshman will continue to get more carries, Fulmer said.
"Lennon will continue to be a factor in our plans, and he did a nice job in the game," Fulmer said.
