CFI Countdown: #24 Tennessee Volunteers

2008 Record: 5-7 (SEC: 3-5)
Bowl Game: Did not make a bowl
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Stadium: Neyland Stadium (100,011)
Head Coach: Lane Kiffin
Overall: 0-0 (1st season)
@ Tennessee: 0-0 (1st season)
Link to UT Football Page

In case you hadn’t heard…there’s a new sheriff in Knoxville, and his name is Lane Kiffin. Whether or not you like Kiffin’s methods of calling attention to himself and his program, it is hard to deny that Monty’s son has infused the Vols with much-needed attitude and energy. Not to mention a talented recruiting class and star-studded coaching staff.

When the Volunteers Have the Ball

Offensive Coordinator: Jim Chaney (1st Season)
Scheme: Pro Style
Starters Returning: Six
Key Losses: OT Anthony Parker, RB Arian Foster, RB Lennon Greer (Left School), WR Austin Rogers (Injury), WR Lucas Taylor

Even with the status of highly touted and highly controversial recruit Bryce Brown—considered the number one tailback by most and the number one overall recruit by some—in limbo, Tennessee figures to have a solid stable of backs. Senior Montario Hardesty figures to be the starter on September 5th versus Western Kentucky, but he will be pushed by a pair of youngsters—sophomore Tauren Poole and true freshman David Oku, who joined Brown as a top-five back coming out of high school. Tight ends Jeff Cottam and Luke Stocker are solid, and the receiving corps has more potential than one would think at first glance. Look for juniors Gerald Jones and Brandon Warren, and senior Quinton Hancock to start to fulfill their potential, as well as big-play man Denarius Moore when he returns from foot surgery. The offensive line is very solid on the inside led by veteran center Josh McNeil, with fellow senior left tackle Chris Scott holding the key to the line’s success. The key to the team’s offensive success is quarterback, Jonathan Crompton, who has underperformed throughout his career to this point. He has room to improve when it comes to his accuracy, poise, and decision-making.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) C Josh McNeil (SR), 2) TE Luke Stocker (JR), 3) OT Chris Scott (SR)

When the Other Team Has the Ball

Defensive Coordinator: Monty Kiffin (1st Season)
Scheme: 4-3 Tampa Two
Starters Returning: Five
Key Losses: DE Robert Ayers, DT Demonte Bolden, LB Elix Wilson, CB DeAngelo Willingham, SS Demetrice Morley (Kicked Off Team)

Not only is Eric Berry the best defender in Rocky Top, he is hands down the top defensive player in the SEC (maybe the nation) and probably the most dynamic Vols player with the pigskin in his hands, evidenced by his amazing 487 return yards on 12 interceptions (14 yards short of the NCAA record). He leads what should be a talented secondary, which features speedsters Brent Vinson and Dennis Rogan with solid depth all-around. The defensive line looks to be in fine shape as well despite the loss of first-round pick Robert Ayers. Tackle Dan Williams a force on the inside and junior end Chris Walker is poised to bust loose in his first season as a starter. Rico McCoy, their best defender not named Berry, leads a mediocre group of linebackers from his weakside position. Remember, defense was not the problem last season—the Vols ranked 10th in the nation in scoring defense and third in total defense.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) SS Eric Berry (JR), 2) LB Rico McCoy (SR), 3) CB Brent Vinson (JR)

The Schedule

While everyone is pointing to their September 19th showdown in Gainesville (I wonder why?), the real Murderers’ Row comes in October when they face Auburn, Georgia, Alabama (on the road) and South Carolina—four probable bowl teams. They also make a trip to Ole Miss in November. If Kiffin can conjure up an upset versus Florida, Georgia, Alabama or Mississippi—no easy task—a nine-win regular season in year one is a possibility.

Pivotal Point

Considering the Vols finished 107th in passing offense, 110th in scoring, and 115th in total offense with the quarterbacks failing to complete half of their passes with a mere eight scoring strikes (nine interceptions), the easy answer is quarterback. But that would be too simplistic. It isn’t just Crompton—once the nation’s second-rated quarterback coming out of high school—who needs to live up to the recruiting hype. We are talking about defensive ends Walker, Ben Martin, and Gerald Williams, tackle Scott, and running back Hardesty, among others. Then of course, there are the stars—four- and five-star recruits, that is—of the 2009 class with wide out Nu’Keese Richardson and defensive back Janzen Jackson joining backs Brown and Oku in the youth movement.

CFI Final Analysis

With his bravado and antagonizing nature, no one has placed a bigger bull’s-eye on their chest than Lane Kiffin. But for all the hype and hoopla, as always, it comes down to one thing—wins and losses (I guess that’s two things). Many will be rooting for the Florida Gators to give the Vols their comeuppance—and they may—but that won’t stop Tennessee from bouncing back and winning nine games. It’s not how Kiffin’s first season starts, but how it ends which will count.

Check back tonight to see who is #23 in CFI’s Top 25 Countdown

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media, Elizabeth Olivier, UTSports.com

CFI RANKINGS: #14 TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

2007 RECORD: 10-4; SEC: 6-2
Won Outback Bowl vs. Wisconsin 21-17
LOCATION: Knoxville, Tennessee
STADIUM: Neyland Stadium (102,038)
HEAD COACH: Phillip Fulmer
OVERALL: 147-45 (16 seasons)
AT TENNESSEE: 147-45 (16 seasons)

There are high expectations in Rocky Top. Many are focusing on the fact that Tennessee hasn’t won a conference title since 1998 when they went a perfect 13-0 and won the BCS Championship. It doesn’t help that the Florida Gators won it all in 2006 and are led by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow or that the Georgia Bulldogs ended last season ranked No. 2 in the country and enter this season at No. 1. The Vols did win the SEC East last season, but will be hard pressed to make their way back to the SEC Championship game in 2008.

WHEN THE VOLS HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dave Clawson (1st Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 8
KEY LOSSES: Erik Ainge, LaMarcus Coker, Brad Cottam, Chris Brown

Jonathan Crompton is entering his first season as the starting quarterback and he is set for success. Tennessee returns all five starters along the offensive line, a line that allowed only four sacks the entire 2007 season for an offense that aired the ball out over 500 times. Joining Crompton in the offensive backfield is Arian Foster who, barring injury, will leave Knoxville as the school’s all-time leading rusher. Backups Montario Hardesty and sophomore Lennon Creer are capable ball carriers. Also returning are the Vols’ top three receivers, Lucas Taylor, Austin Rogers and Josh Briscoe—all three had 50-plus catches for at least 500 yards last season. Look for super soph Gerald Jones to break out as a receiver and runner—he will even line up in the shot-gun at times. Crompton remains unproven but the highly touted signal caller has the strong arm and athleticism to flourish.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) WR Gerald Jones (SO), 2) OG Anthony Parker (SR)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: John Chavis (14th Season/20th at Tennessee)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 6
KEY LOSSES: Jerod Mayo, Jonathan Hefney, Ryan Karl, Xavier Mitchell, Antonio Reynolds

The Vols’ secondary is stacked, beginning with the dynamic duo of Eric Berry and Demetrius Morley at safety. Berry lived up to the hype in his true freshman season, while Morley returns after missing last year due to off-the-field issues. They are talented at cornerback as well, where sophomores Dennis Rogan and Brent Vinson are competing for playing time. Junior LB Rico McCoy leads the front seven and should take over for Jerod Mayo and the lead the club in tackles. He’s undersized, but is a blur once he gets his sights set on the football and he packs a wallop when he gets there. The key will be the play of a pair of seniors along the defensive line, DE Robert Ayers and DT Demonte Bolden. Each is physically gifted, but neither has reached the lofty expectations set for them.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) SS Eric Berry (SO), 2) LB Rico McCoy (JR)

THE SCHEDULE

The Vols start the season on the left coast for a second straight year and expect better results at UCLA than they had in Berkeley last season (a 45-31 loss). The schedule does not get any easier when they return to the southeast, as Tennessee takes on two top ten teams (Florida, Auburn) in September and a third (Georgia) by midseason. They make trips to Auburn and Georgia, and while they play host to the Gators, Tennessee has struggled against their rival—Florida has won three in-a-row overall and three of four in Neyland Stadium. A 4-2 start would be impressive. In the second half of the season they must take on the Tide, as well as visit the ‘Cocks, but could end the year with six straight wins.

PIVOTAL POINT

D-Fense: Last season, Tennessee finished tenth in the SEC in scoring defense with the second worst pass defense in the conference. Opponents completed nearly 60 percent of their passes for an average of 6.8 yards per attempt—the second highest in the SEC. Their run defense wasn’t that much better, allowing 165 yards per game (they averaged 139 yards) and 4.2 yards per carry. Overall, they finished in the bottom half of the conference in turnovers forced, total defense, pass efficiency, first downs allowed, Red Zone defense and third down defense. That’s not vintage Tennessee football. Regardless of how well Crompton performs, if the defense does not step up, Tennessee will not challenge Georgia or Florida for the SEC East.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

If the Vols were in any other conference in America they would have an excellent chance to be considered a top ten team and would surely be among the favorites in the Big East and ACC, and prime challengers in the Big Ten and Pac-10. Alas, they are in the SEC and have to deal with life in the toughest, deepest, most talent rich conference in all the land. They are not a national title contender, but if they can win one of their early season division battles against Florida or Georgia (whom they defeated 35-14 last season), Tennessee could surprise. At the very least, the folks with the checkered end zone who sing “Rocky Top” should not be counted out…that’s when they are at their most dangerous.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media