KNOXVILLE -- Quotes, Stats from Tennessee Orange and White game Saturday.
Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer:
“I’m really happy to get through the game without an injury. I thought early, especially, we executed extremely well offensively. It was good to see John in that kind of rhythm. We held Arian Foster, obviously, who we think is going to be a heck of a back for us. It was great to get that kind of work for those other backs.
“We limited the defense a little bit as far as how much they could do with pressure, so that really wasn’t totally what our defense will be. But the ones kept knocking the ball loose and getting their hands on some balls, which certainly was a positive.
“I was pleased with the kickers and getting a chance to see our punter for the first five weeks (of the 2008 season), at least, punt live. Chad did a good job and it looked like he did the best job on kickoffs as well.
“It will be a good film study for us. There were some really big plays in the passing game. I thought we executed well, too. I’m not really happy right now with the way we ran the football overall, but generally it was a good day for us.
(On Jonathan Crompton): “I thought he had a good day except for that last ball. We were actually going to put him back in so as to not end up on that interception, but decided it would have been stupid to get him hurt or something. I don’t know what his numbers were but they were outstanding, particularly the first two-thirds of the scrimmage.
(On Crompton’s strides this spring): “His execution, the understanding of the offense, getting the ball out quick, getting the ball to playmakers, which is what we said we wanted to do from the very beginning. He’s had a tremendous spring and today kind of capped it off. I still pointed out to him that he’s got to take care of the football a little bit better than he did. It was great what he did in the early part of the scrimmage. To have that one play is kind of a downer, but he is definitely our quarterback and definitely a guy who has shown the ability to run the offense.
(On the reserve defensive line): “That No. 2 defensive front didn’t challenge very much. It was very disappointing. They had better push during the course of the spring than they had today. It’s a credit to John getting the ball out too, much like we did last year when we only gave up four sacks in 14 games.
(On the receivers): “A good day for the receivers.
(On the secondary): “More of what we’ve seen all spring. The secondary is very talented and experienced enough now to get themselves in places where they can make plays. If they get their hands on the ball, then those two (Morley and Berry) especially can make big things happen.
(On B.J. Coleman): “I thought he had a good day. I thought he managed the huddle for the most part extremely well. He had two or three plays where he missed the signals and kind of got things screwed up, but sometimes that happens with a young guy. B.J. and Nick both are good prospects for the future and we’ve got to keep them coming.
(On Lennon Creer): “Looks like he had a good day. He had two or three chances to really stick it up in there. I want him to get his pads down better. That’s happened too many times this spring on a couple of short-yardage plays where we didn’t get it stuck in there like we wanted. Overall, I thought he had a good day.
(On Gerald Jones): “Gerald’s a good player. He can line up in a lot of places in our offense and we’re going to get the football to him. When we get Lucas back and Austin Rogers back, that corps of receivers should be a good group to work with.
(On the team’s spring progression): “I think the second team defensive line at the end of the spring got to where I thought they would start the spring. They started to understand how to give great effort, play every down hard, get off blocks and make plays. We’ve still got some real challenges in front of us to get through the summer. Obviously, we hope to get some of the freshmen who can help us in the mix really quickly, whoever can give us more depth. We’re not where we need to be.
(On the offense’s acclimation to Coach Clawson): “I think really well. It’s been a process. It hasn’t happened overnight and you wouldn’t expect it to. Today was a good indication that when you operate, protect and throw on time. I’d like to have run the football better. If Arian had stayed in the game I think we probably would have seen some more big runs. I’d like to see us run the football better and have the same efficiency in the passing game.
(On Dave Clawson’s acclimation to Tennessee): “I think really well. He’s a football junkie like I am. We had a scrimmage the other day and I had four pages of notes. There wasn’t one thing as we went through them that he took any exception to. I love that. We can sit there and discuss and argue -- there are a lot of good things to come out of that as we go along and as we continue to put this together.
(On today’s playbook): “For the most part, we probably got 70 percent of it in. There are a lot of things they have heard this spring that we really haven’t had a chance to work on.
(On the end of spring practice): “I’d like to have about 30 more days of spring practice. It’s the best time. Some of the guys are just now starting to understand how to play the game and now it’s over. I just told the guys that now Phase 3 starts, summer is so crucial for us, the leadership has got to grow. We’ve grown some in that area. Finals are coming up, coaches are recruiting and I will be in a fund-raising mode in different places. The leadership has to be there.''
TOP UNITS SHARP AS WHITE ROLLS IN DISH NETWORK ORANGE AND WHITE GAME
If the Dish Network Orange and White game was any indication, having to replace all but one member of the coaching staff and the starting quarterback from a season ago wasn’t even a minor setback for the Tennessee offense. Quarterback Jonathan Crompton completed 13-of-20 passes for 266 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in leading the White team to a 38-16 romp in the annual spring scrimmage.
Tailback Lennon Creer lined up with the first team and did most of the work on the ground, rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
“I thought early, especially, we executed extremely well offensively,” head coach Phillip Fulmer said. “It was good to see Jonathan in that kind of rhythm. There were some really big plays in the passing game. I thought he had a good day except for that last ball. I don’t know his numbers, but they were outstanding the first two-thirds of the scrimmage. Generally, it was a good day for us.”
Crompton’s first-team offense scored touchdowns on five of six first-half possessions to build a 35-3 halftime lead. The White offense didn’t waste much time getting started either, scoring on the first play from scrimmage when Crompton hit Denarius Moore for a 74-yard touchdown. Moore led all receivers with two catches for 91 yards and two scores.
The second touchdown was a three-yard run by Creer that capped a five-play, 71-yard drive. On White’s third possession, Crompton hit Josh Briscoe for 18 yards and a 21-0 lead. Briscoe finished with four catches for 72 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Orange team opened the second-quarter scoring after becoming the beneficiary of a forced fumble by Vince Faison that C.J. Fleming returned 36 yards to the White 20. Unable to find paydirt, Orange settled for a 30-yard field goal from Devin Mathis. The freshman was a perfect two-of-two on field goals for the day.
White responded with two more scores before halftime, first on a 17-yard strike from Gerald Jones to Moore. The top defensive unit aided in the effort as safety Eric Berry picked off Nick Stephens and returned the ball deep into opposing territory.
White’s final score of the half came on a 31-yard pass from Crompton to Briscoe. White moved 67 yards in just 51 seconds on the drive.
The first-team defense made its share of big plays as well. Berry’s interception return set up a touchdown and Demetrice Morley’s pick of Nick Stephens led to a white field goal early in the second half.
Rico McCoy led the first-team with seven tackles, while Anthony Anderson led all defensive players with eight stops. Wes Brown had a big day on the defensive line with four tackles for loss and two sacks. Morley broke up two passes in addition to his interception. DeAngelo Willingham also had two pass break-ups and two tackles.
“We limited the defense a little bit as far as how much they could do with pressure, so that wasn’t totally what our defense will be,” Fulmer said. “The ones kept knocking the ball loose and getting their hands on some balls and that was certainly a positive thing.”
Mathis converted a 45-yard field goal for Orange late in the third quarter to cap the scoring in that frame.
Orange scored its first touchdown early in the fourth quarter on an eight-yard hookup between B.J. Coleman and Tauren Poole. That play capped Orange’s best drive of the game, a nine-play, 67-yard effort.
Taka Koyano nailed a 41-yard field goal attempt late in the game for Orange to conclude the scoring.
The offensive starters for the game were tackles Chris Scott and Ramon Foster, guards Vladimir Richard and
Jacques McLendon, center Anthony Parker, tight end Luke Stocker, receivers Gerald Jones and Denarius
Moore, fullback Kevin Cooper, tailback Arian Foster and quarterback Jonathan Crompton
On defense, those earning a starting nod were ends Robert Ayers and Wes Brown; tackles Dan Williams and Walter Fisher; linebackers Adam-Myers White, Ellix Wilson and Rico McCoy; cornerbacks Dennis Rogan and DeAngelo Willingam and safeties Demitrice Morley and Eric Berry.
2008 Tennessee Football
DISH Network Orange & White Game
April 19, 2008
Neyland Stadium * Knoxville, Tenn.
Attendance: 28,898
Score By Quarters 1 2 3 4 Final
Orange 0 3 3 10 16
White 21 14 3 0 38
Scoring Plays
1 st 11:39 White – Denarius Moore 74 yard pass from Jonathan Crompton (Daniel Lincoln kick)
1 play, 74 yds, 00:21
1st 7:15 White – Lennon Creer 3 yard rush (Lincoln kick)
5 plays, 71 yards, 2:16
1st 0:25 White – Josh Briscoe 18 yard pass from Jonathan Crompton (Daniel Lincoln kick)
8 plays, 75 yds, 3:24
2nd 8:48 Orange – Devin Mathis 30 yard field goal
4 plays, 20 yards, 3:29
2nd 2:33 White – Denarius Moore 17 yard pass from Gerald Jones (Daniel Lincoln kick)
1 play, 17 yards, 0:06
2nd 0:27 White – Josh Briscoe 31 yard pass from Jonathan Crompton (Daniel Lincoln kick)
5 plays, 67 yards, 0:51
3rd 7:51 White – Daniel Lincoln 43 yard field goal
7 plays, 44 yards, 2:20
3rd 2:45 Orange – Devin Mathis 45 yard field goal
4 plays, 6 yards, 1:21
4th 10:05 Orange – Tauren Poole 8 yard pass from B.J. Coleman (Devin Mathis kick)
9 plays, 67 yards, 4:29
4th 4:49 Orange – Taka Koyano 41 yard field goal
9 plays, 37 yards, 4:32
Time of Game:
Kickoff: 2:38 p.m.
End of Game: 4:46 p.m.
Total Elapsed Time: 2:08
Officials: Rocky Goode, Tom Ritter, Johnny Hibbett, Russ Pulley, Randall Kizer, Al Matthews, Tim Baird, Blake Parks,
Chris Conley, Greg Thomas
Temperature: 66
Wind: From SW 17 mph, gusting to 25 mph
Weather: Sunny
Offensive Statistics
Rushing No. Gain Loss Net TD Long
Lennon Creer 10 61 2 59 1 28
Tauren Poole 12 55 3 52 0 18
Gerald Jones 1 12 0 12 0 12
Logan Love 3 11 0 11 0 5
Arian Foster 1 8 0 8 0 8
Kevin Cooper 1 3 0 3 0 3
Reece Lovell 2 3 0 3 0 2
Ja’Kouri Williams 2 4 2 2 0 4
Tanner Shamblin 1 0 1 -1 0 -1
Justin Wright 3 5 7 -2 0 5
Barry Cunningham 1 0 3 -3 0 -3
Jonathan Crompton 2 2 6 -4 0 2
Nick Stephens 1 0 5 -5 0 -5
Ahmad Paige 1 0 9 -9 0 -9
B.J. Coleman 5 3 21 -18 0 3
Passing Att. Comp. Int. Yds. TD Long
Jonathan Crompton 20 13 1 266 3 74
B.J. Coleman 13 9 0 80 1 21
Nick Stephens 17 6 2 44 0 10
Barry Cunningham 2 2 0 20 0 11
Gerald Jones 1 1 0 17 1 17
Tanner Shamblin 2 1 0 12 0 12
Receiving No. Yds. TD Long
Denarius Moore 2 91 2 74
Josh Briscoe 4 72 2 31
Quintin Hancock 4 54 0 20
Gerald Jones 3 47 0 22
Kevin Cooper 2 34 0 21
Luke Stocker 2 30 0 21
Tyler Maples 3 26 0 12
Austin Johnson 2 15 0 10
Tauren Poole 3 13 1 8
Lennon Creer 1 13 0 13
Sam Edgemon 1 11 0 11
Cody Pope 1 9 0 9
Nick Restivo 1 9 0 9
Ahmad Paige 2 8 0 4
Todd Campbell 1 7 0 7
Punting No. Yds. Avg. Long
Chad Cunningham 4 156 39.0 50
Orion Hall 1 33 33.0 33
Steven Hensley 1 32 32.0 32
Daniel Slutsky 1 28 28 28.0
Punts Kickoffs Interceptions
All Returns No. Yds. Long No. Yds. Long No. Yds. Long
Ja’Kouri Williams 0 0 0 5 132 36 0 0 0
Dennis Rogan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Reece Lovell 0 0 0 1 22 22 0 0 0
Eric Berry 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 25 25
LaMarcus Thompson 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 34 34
Steven Hensley 0 0 0 1 21 21 0 0 0
Sam Edgemon 0 0 0 2 47 31 0 0 0
Justin Wright 0 0 0 1 4 4 0 0 0
Lester Bailey 0 0 0 1 26 26 0 0 0
Logan Love 0 0 0 1 23 23 0 0 0
Demtrice Morely 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 18 18
Field Goal Attempts
Devin Mathis 30 yards – Good
Daniel Lincoln 43 yards – Good
Devin Mathis 45 yards – Good
Taka Koyano 41 yards - Good
Defensive Statistics
## Player Solo Ast Total TFL/Yds Sack/Yds PBU Int/Yds FF FR/Yds
36 Anthony Anderson 4 4 8 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
5 Rico McCoy 6 1 7 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
43 Savion Frazier 2 5 7 0/0 0/0 1 0/0 0 0/0
56 Nick Reveiz 4 3 7 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 1/5
35 Ellix Wilson 3 2 5 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
39 Jake Story 3 2 5 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
3 Ryan Brinkmann 2 2 4 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
94 Wes Brown 4 0 4 4/-27 2/-16 0 0/0 0 0/0
42 LaMarcus Thompson 1 2 3 0/0 0/0 2 1/34 0 0/0
9 Daryl Vereen 2 1 3 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
17 Brent Freeman 3 0 3 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
19 Chris Donald 3 0 3 1/-2 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
91 Robert Ayers 2 1 3 1/-2 0/0 1 0/0 0 0/0
22 Vince Faison 2 0 2 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 1 0/0
24 DeAngelo Willingham 1 1 2 0/0 0/0 2 0/0 0 0/0
25 Art Evans 1 1 2 0/0 0/0 1 0/0 0 0/0
51 Brett Barnes 0 2 2 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 1/0
52 Victor Thomas 2 0 2 2/-11 2/-11 0 0/0 0 0/0
2 Hunter Vinson 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
6 Derrick Furlow 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
7 Demetrice Morley 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 2 1/18 0 0/0
8 Jonathan Crompton 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
11 Pete Watson 0 1 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
11 Todd Campbell 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
14 Eric Berry 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 1 1/25 0 0/0
26 C.J. Fleming 0 1 1 0/0 0/0 1 0/0 0 1/36
27 Rob Longworth 0 1 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
28 Tauren Poole 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
34 Jordan Lakin 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
46 Andre Mathis 1 0 1 1/-2 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
51 Vladimir Richard 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
55 Dan Williams 1 0 1 1/-1 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
58 Donald Langley 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
64 Jonny Harrison 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
66 John Morrison 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
68 Stephen Darville 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
88 Phillip Tritapoe 1 0 1 1/-3 1/-3 0 0/0 0 0/0
95 Chad Cunningham 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
97 Chase Nelson 1 0 1 1/-5 1/-5 0 0/0 0 0/0
98 Demonte Bolden 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0
99 Ben Martin 1 0 1 0/0 0/0 1 0/0 0 0/0
41 Dennis Rogan 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 1 0/0
48 Adam Myers-White 0 0 0 0/0 0/0 1 0/0 0 0/0
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)