2008 Woodie Awards
Fast starts bode well for ranked Vols
Associated Press
Beth Rucker
Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee center Josh McNeil doesn't mind getting off to a fast and early start.
"Once I roll out of bed, it's game day. I could play at 6 in the morning," McNeil said.
He and his Tennessee teammates are pretty good at getting an early start. The Volunteers have scored opening drive touchdowns in their past three games.
Those opening scores helped set a winning tone for Tennessee (4-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) against Arkansas State, Georgia and Mississippi State.
"Starting well is huge," McNeil said. "You get out there during that first drive and drive down the field and punch it in, that's huge motivation. It just turns the tide as far as the momentum goes."
The No. 20 Vols will need some momentum when they open against the Crimson Tide (5-2, 3-1). Alabama is 5-0 this season when scoring on the first possession.
In fact, Alabama scored on its first offensive plays in wins over Western Carolina and Vanderbilt.
The Tennessee defense forcing an opening punt is just as good as an offensive touchdown for McNeil.
"That just gives you confidence. You just feel like you can do this all day," he said.
Coach Phillip Fulmer said his players have been ready to go when they get on the field, but he won't worry too much if they don't open with a score.
"Can you count on beginning that way every week? You can't count on that," he said. "Sometimes when you get out fast ... you hit a wall. You don't want to do that either. I'm just looking for consistency."
Instead, Fulmer wants to make sure his players are getting better field position than their opponents early in the game.
Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe thinks senior quarterback Erik Ainge has such a good grip of the game that he doesn't have to spend time early in the game making adjustments and can instead make big plays.
"He's a much better player than he was a year ago. He understands his problems and he's making big plays on third downs," he said.
Cutcliffe described a third-down, 16-yard pass from Ainge to Austin Rogers during the Vols' opening offensive drive at Mississippi State: "Not a good play at quarterback, but a great play at quarterback."
"You had your left tackle getting beat clean, and you can still throw deep for first down yardage,'' he said. ''It was tremendous focus, skill of the throw, recognition of the coverage, the whole nine yards. All of that I just told you about happened in about 2.3 seconds."
McNeil also credits the coaches for preparing the players for their opponent. He said preparing for the no-huddle offense the Vols have been running all season results in few surprises at the line of scrimmage.
"With the no-huddle we get up there, we know what the defense is doing-our coach has prepared us well all week," he said.
"Once I roll out of bed, it's game day. I could play at 6 in the morning," McNeil said.
He and his Tennessee teammates are pretty good at getting an early start. The Volunteers have scored opening drive touchdowns in their past three games.
Those opening scores helped set a winning tone for Tennessee (4-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) against Arkansas State, Georgia and Mississippi State.
"Starting well is huge," McNeil said. "You get out there during that first drive and drive down the field and punch it in, that's huge motivation. It just turns the tide as far as the momentum goes."
The No. 20 Vols will need some momentum when they open against the Crimson Tide (5-2, 3-1). Alabama is 5-0 this season when scoring on the first possession.
In fact, Alabama scored on its first offensive plays in wins over Western Carolina and Vanderbilt.
The Tennessee defense forcing an opening punt is just as good as an offensive touchdown for McNeil.
"That just gives you confidence. You just feel like you can do this all day," he said.
Coach Phillip Fulmer said his players have been ready to go when they get on the field, but he won't worry too much if they don't open with a score.
"Can you count on beginning that way every week? You can't count on that," he said. "Sometimes when you get out fast ... you hit a wall. You don't want to do that either. I'm just looking for consistency."
Instead, Fulmer wants to make sure his players are getting better field position than their opponents early in the game.
Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe thinks senior quarterback Erik Ainge has such a good grip of the game that he doesn't have to spend time early in the game making adjustments and can instead make big plays.
"He's a much better player than he was a year ago. He understands his problems and he's making big plays on third downs," he said.
Cutcliffe described a third-down, 16-yard pass from Ainge to Austin Rogers during the Vols' opening offensive drive at Mississippi State: "Not a good play at quarterback, but a great play at quarterback."
"You had your left tackle getting beat clean, and you can still throw deep for first down yardage,'' he said. ''It was tremendous focus, skill of the throw, recognition of the coverage, the whole nine yards. All of that I just told you about happened in about 2.3 seconds."
McNeil also credits the coaches for preparing the players for their opponent. He said preparing for the no-huddle offense the Vols have been running all season results in few surprises at the line of scrimmage.
"With the no-huddle we get up there, we know what the defense is doing-our coach has prepared us well all week," he said.
