2008 Tennessee Volunteers

It has been ten years since the Vols somehow managed to win the National Title. Many will argue that the Phil Fulmer’s job still rests on that 1998 team. For the first time since like 1908 the Volunteers have gone outside the program to hire a coordinator and an offensive staff. This may be one of the signs of the apocalypse, but that whirling sound you have been hearing since late spring is the General Robert Neyland spinning in his grave.

The 2007 team was one of the most bizarre teams in Tennessee history. They took poundings at Alabama and Florida, a crazy loss at California, and a close loss to LSU in the SEC Championship Game. However, they stomped Arkansas and cost Georgia a shot at the National Title, while both teams were arguably much more talented. Then they went up big on South Carolina, only to let them back in the game in the second half. They went 35 overtimes with Kentucky and somehow came from behind to beat Vandy.

At the end of the season OC David Cutcliffe took the head coaching position at that ACC powerhouse, Duke, and took most of the offensive staff with him. QB Erik Ainge graduated and all world linebacker Jerod Mayo went to the NFL. Former Richmond Head Coach Dave Clawson brings a west coast/ spread attack (well that is what it is being referred to in Knoxville, no one really knows what it he is going to do because there isn’t a lot of video on the Richmond Spiders floating around on You Tube.)

Offense

Tennessee is stacked on the line and at the wide receiver position. Running back Arian Foster is 685 yards away from being the schools all time leading rusher and has two solid back-ups in Lennon Creer and Montario Hardesty. However, the season will come down to weather or not junior Jonathan Crompton can pick up the new offense and replace Ainge. Crompton was a five star recruit out of North Carolina. He has a big-time arm and isn’t afraid to take a hit (both qualities Ainge didn’t have.) Lucas Taylor and Gerald Jones are both talented playmakers Crompton will have to get the ball to.

Defense

Losing Jerod Mayo hurt: in fact if he had returned for another season the Vols might be picked to be a top ten team. However, Tennessee is quietly becoming Linebacker U. Rico McCoy and Eliz Wilson both have seen a lot of playing time and will fill the void nicely.

The defensive line showed much improvement as the 2007 season went on. Dan Williams and DeMonte Bolden are the leaders up front. Look for Ben Martin and Walt Fisher to have big seasons.

If for some reason a player makes it past the linebackers, he is probably going to wish he hadn’t. Freshman All-American safety Eric Berry will be there waiting to unload some pain. I have been watching Tennessee football for over 20 years and Berry is the hardest hitting safety the Vols have had in that time period. This kid is going to be a special player. Former strong safety Demetrice Morley was reinstated and along with Brent Vinson and DeAngelo Willingham (Cornerbacks), and all-world return man/shut down corner Dennis Rogan, this is probably the best secondary in the conference.

Special Teams

Rogan will be returning the punts and sharing kickoff duty with Berry and Vinson, with a few others mixed in.

Daniel Lincoln was solid in his freshman year and has gained a lot of trust with Fulmer.

The real weakness will be punter Britton Colquitt’s suspension due to his DUI arrest. Chad Cunningham will handle the punting duties for the first five games. Colquitt handled the kickoffs last season and I assume Cunningham will do so for the first five games.

Schedule

The season starts for the Vols with a visit to UCLA. After that UAB comes to town for a tune-up before the real fun begins. Florida, a trip to the plains against Auburn and at Georgia comprises a three-out-of-four week gauntlet with Northern Ill. thrown in the middle. After that it doesn’t get easier with home games with Mississippi State and Bama. Then off to visit our friend Steve Spurrier in Columbia. Followed by an eaier November with Wyoming, Vandy and Kentucky (both of whom should have beaten Tennessee last year.)

Overall

This is a tough season to predict. If Crompton can catch on quick to Clawson’s vision and Clawson’s vision is worth a damn, then this could be a dangerous team that could win the East and maybe the whole conference. If you win the SEC Title, then you are in the National Title hunt. However, Tennessee always plays a tough schedule and with a first year starting quarterback National Title might be too much to ask. Of course, Tee Martin was a first year starter ten years ago…

The games with UAB, Wyoming and Northern Illinois are W’s. UCLA, MSU, Vandy and Kentucky are all games I think the Vols should win (UCLA had big time injuries at QB and RB.) Alabama, Spurrier, and Auburn are going to toss ups. Florida and Georgia will require Tennessee to bring their A game. I think Florida is a little overrated, but let’s face it, they own the Vols. It is kind of the other way around with UGA. So right now I say the Vols beat UCLA, UAB, Northern Ill, MSU, Spurrier, Bama, Wyoming, Kentucky, and Vandy. There is a good chance they split the UGA/Florida games and I think the Auburn game is a loss. That gives the Vols around a 10-2/ 9-3 record. Not too bad. It could easily go from 10-2 to 7-5, you never know in the SEC. I will go out on a limb and say the Vols go to on of three bowls: Sugar, Cotton, or whatever the Citrus Bowl is called now.

–Smitty