Eckwood43
05-10-2004, 10:33 AM
Neither qb really stood out but Leak seemed to have a slight edge on the qb job leaving the spring. Someone is going to have to throw effectively and stretch the field because the Vols have a chance to have a solid running game with Houston, Davis and the emergence of the walk-on Yancey.
The highlight of the spring game scrimmage for me was when my main man Jim Bob Cotter tied it up at 7-7 on a 7-yard pass to Casey Woods. .....I've read so much on the legendary Jim Bob, the fan favorite.
Leak, who has 22 passing attempts in his career, is still locked in a battle with Clausen for the job. Some true freshmen may join the mix this summer...Tennessee started rebuilding its defense around LBs Kevin Simon and Kevin Burnett. Fulmer said he was confident in his front seven, especially with the emergence of JUCO DT Jesse Mahelona...Fulmer also said that the secondary "has a way to go" in order to get ready for the 2004 season...Among the position changes: Senior Jason Respert moved from guard to center; sophomore Cory Anderson moved from defensive end to fullback
UT spring scrimmage ends in tie
There was something for everyone, but not necessarily enough of anything for either team to emerge victorious in Saturday's Orange and White Game.
Offense, defense and special teams all had their moments, good and bad, resulting in a 21-21 tie before a crowd of 14,371 at Neyland Stadium.
As far as UT coach Phillip Fulmer was concerned, "they all came away winners'' in many respects. And yet, the starting quarterback job remains vacant as the Vols turn their attention to the future.
"Really, I'll have to see the film and make some decisions,'' said Fulmer, when pressed about how the repetitions will break down when the freshmen quarterbacks report in the fall. "I'm still concerned we haven't solved the problem at quarterback, as far as consistency.
"Based on the numbers today, if you started a game today, it would probably be C.J. Leak.''
Both Leak and Rick Clausen were intercepted, and neither was able to produce points as the clock ticked down in the fourth quarter.
Leak was the more impressive quarterback overall, completing 12 of 17 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
"When the lights come on, the players make plays,'' Leak said. "I can't wait to play in front of 107,000.''
As tough a day as Clausen had (8-for-21 for 156 yards), the junior nearly pulled off a last-minute win.
Clausen aired the ball out on the final play of the game and found Robert Meachem on a seam route against deep zone coverage. Meachem, who didn't have a reception until the fourth quarter, slipped a tackle before cornerback Jason Allen dragged him down at the 11-yard line as time ran out.
The game was hotly contested throughout. Middle linebacker Kevin Simon came to blows with offensive guard Rob Smith on the first play of the second half.
"It was one of those things that happens in the heat of the battle,'' said Simon, who was ejected.
Senior captain Michael Munoz, who played the role of peacemaker between Simon and Smith, said he enjoyed the passion with which the game was played.
"We really didn't need that (fighting) in the spring game in front of the fans,'' Munoz said. "But the game was great. It was good to get that taste in our mouths and catapult us into the summer.''
Leak got the White on the scoreboard first, hitting C.J. Fayton with a 35-yard TD strike in the first quarter. Leak drew linebackers in with a play-action fake before drilling a spiral into the waiting arms of Fayton across the middle. Fayton, alone in the open field, picked up a downfield block from receiver Jomo Fagan and waltzed into the end zone, capping a nine-play, 84-yard drive with 2:18 left in the first quarter. Leak was 5-for-6 passing for 75 yards on the drive.
The Orange tied it up at 7-7 on a 7-yard pass from Jim Bob Cooter to Casey Woods. The Orange drove 69 yards on 15 plays on the strength of nine David Yancey runs that accounted for 49 yards. The Orange converted twice on fourth downs to keep the drive alive. Cooter snuck 3 yards up the middle on a fourth-and-1 from his 40, and Yancey broke loose for 12 yards on a fourth-and-5 at the White 36.
The White was in position to reclaim the lead with 1:54 left in the first half, reaching the Orange 1. But Ovince Saint Preux ended the threat, decking tailback Todd Vinson in the backfield and jarring the ball loose. Jesse Mahelona recovered the fumble, leaving the teams deadlocked 7-7 at the half.
The Orange pulled away with a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter. Yancey broke off a 15-yard run to cap a seven-play, 80-yard drive orchestrated by Clausen.
The lead swelled to 21-7 on Cedric Houston's 4-yard burst up the middle four plays after a Dustin Colquitt moon shot bounced off punt returner Derrick Tinsley and Cory Anderson recovered at the White 14.
But the White team rallied.
Chris Hannon cut the lead to 21-14 when he turned a short pass from Leak into a 69-yard TD. Hannon spun away from cornerback Antonio Gaines after catching a quick strike and sped untouched down the sideline.
"It was a 5-yard hitch,'' said Hannon, named the offensive player of the game with a four-catch, 105-yard receiving performance. "Once I turned it up, I knew no one would catch me.''
The White tied the game with 4:58 left when Bo Hardegree hit Tony Hill with an 8-yard touchdown pass. Hardegree, facing a fourth-and-goal, rolled right before spotting Hill and delivering a well-placed pass.
Fulmer said he considered allowing an overtime period, but when defensive tackle Justin Harrell went down with a sprained collateral ligament in his right knee with 3:48 remaining, he decided it wasn't worth the risk.
One of the more promising offensive elements was the run game. Tailbacks Jabari Davis (85 yards), Houston (83) and Yancey (78) ran well and secured the ball.
The highlight of the spring game scrimmage for me was when my main man Jim Bob Cotter tied it up at 7-7 on a 7-yard pass to Casey Woods. .....I've read so much on the legendary Jim Bob, the fan favorite.
Leak, who has 22 passing attempts in his career, is still locked in a battle with Clausen for the job. Some true freshmen may join the mix this summer...Tennessee started rebuilding its defense around LBs Kevin Simon and Kevin Burnett. Fulmer said he was confident in his front seven, especially with the emergence of JUCO DT Jesse Mahelona...Fulmer also said that the secondary "has a way to go" in order to get ready for the 2004 season...Among the position changes: Senior Jason Respert moved from guard to center; sophomore Cory Anderson moved from defensive end to fullback
UT spring scrimmage ends in tie
There was something for everyone, but not necessarily enough of anything for either team to emerge victorious in Saturday's Orange and White Game.
Offense, defense and special teams all had their moments, good and bad, resulting in a 21-21 tie before a crowd of 14,371 at Neyland Stadium.
As far as UT coach Phillip Fulmer was concerned, "they all came away winners'' in many respects. And yet, the starting quarterback job remains vacant as the Vols turn their attention to the future.
"Really, I'll have to see the film and make some decisions,'' said Fulmer, when pressed about how the repetitions will break down when the freshmen quarterbacks report in the fall. "I'm still concerned we haven't solved the problem at quarterback, as far as consistency.
"Based on the numbers today, if you started a game today, it would probably be C.J. Leak.''
Both Leak and Rick Clausen were intercepted, and neither was able to produce points as the clock ticked down in the fourth quarter.
Leak was the more impressive quarterback overall, completing 12 of 17 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
"When the lights come on, the players make plays,'' Leak said. "I can't wait to play in front of 107,000.''
As tough a day as Clausen had (8-for-21 for 156 yards), the junior nearly pulled off a last-minute win.
Clausen aired the ball out on the final play of the game and found Robert Meachem on a seam route against deep zone coverage. Meachem, who didn't have a reception until the fourth quarter, slipped a tackle before cornerback Jason Allen dragged him down at the 11-yard line as time ran out.
The game was hotly contested throughout. Middle linebacker Kevin Simon came to blows with offensive guard Rob Smith on the first play of the second half.
"It was one of those things that happens in the heat of the battle,'' said Simon, who was ejected.
Senior captain Michael Munoz, who played the role of peacemaker between Simon and Smith, said he enjoyed the passion with which the game was played.
"We really didn't need that (fighting) in the spring game in front of the fans,'' Munoz said. "But the game was great. It was good to get that taste in our mouths and catapult us into the summer.''
Leak got the White on the scoreboard first, hitting C.J. Fayton with a 35-yard TD strike in the first quarter. Leak drew linebackers in with a play-action fake before drilling a spiral into the waiting arms of Fayton across the middle. Fayton, alone in the open field, picked up a downfield block from receiver Jomo Fagan and waltzed into the end zone, capping a nine-play, 84-yard drive with 2:18 left in the first quarter. Leak was 5-for-6 passing for 75 yards on the drive.
The Orange tied it up at 7-7 on a 7-yard pass from Jim Bob Cooter to Casey Woods. The Orange drove 69 yards on 15 plays on the strength of nine David Yancey runs that accounted for 49 yards. The Orange converted twice on fourth downs to keep the drive alive. Cooter snuck 3 yards up the middle on a fourth-and-1 from his 40, and Yancey broke loose for 12 yards on a fourth-and-5 at the White 36.
The White was in position to reclaim the lead with 1:54 left in the first half, reaching the Orange 1. But Ovince Saint Preux ended the threat, decking tailback Todd Vinson in the backfield and jarring the ball loose. Jesse Mahelona recovered the fumble, leaving the teams deadlocked 7-7 at the half.
The Orange pulled away with a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter. Yancey broke off a 15-yard run to cap a seven-play, 80-yard drive orchestrated by Clausen.
The lead swelled to 21-7 on Cedric Houston's 4-yard burst up the middle four plays after a Dustin Colquitt moon shot bounced off punt returner Derrick Tinsley and Cory Anderson recovered at the White 14.
But the White team rallied.
Chris Hannon cut the lead to 21-14 when he turned a short pass from Leak into a 69-yard TD. Hannon spun away from cornerback Antonio Gaines after catching a quick strike and sped untouched down the sideline.
"It was a 5-yard hitch,'' said Hannon, named the offensive player of the game with a four-catch, 105-yard receiving performance. "Once I turned it up, I knew no one would catch me.''
The White tied the game with 4:58 left when Bo Hardegree hit Tony Hill with an 8-yard touchdown pass. Hardegree, facing a fourth-and-goal, rolled right before spotting Hill and delivering a well-placed pass.
Fulmer said he considered allowing an overtime period, but when defensive tackle Justin Harrell went down with a sprained collateral ligament in his right knee with 3:48 remaining, he decided it wasn't worth the risk.
One of the more promising offensive elements was the run game. Tailbacks Jabari Davis (85 yards), Houston (83) and Yancey (78) ran well and secured the ball.