Vols seek further improvement in '07

For many schools, going 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the conference is considered a successful season. Not particularly in Knoxville, although coming off a 5-6 season, it was a vast improvement.

Tennessee showed some promise as they took national champion Florida and Sugar Bowl champion LSU down to the wire before being defeated. The season ended on a sour note as a costly fumble contributed to Penn State downing the Volunteers 20-10 in the Outback Bowl.

The Vols will ride the right arm of Erik Ainge in '07. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

"I think after the '05 season, some of you guys thought we would go away," coach Phillip Fulmer said at SEC Media Days. "We didn't go away. I'm really proud of our team and the bounce back year that they had, the attitude, the focus, the preparation, the way that we went about our business in changing."

All the craze in the offseason centered around four-year starting quarterback Erik Ainge and the installment of a no-huddle offense. Coordinator David Cutcliffe feels his personnel is talented enough to line up in various formations in all scenarios of down and distance, which will put pressure on defenses attempting to substitute.

"Now, the other people around (Ainge) also have to play good," Fulmer said. "When you look at our team coming back, I don't believe that you can win championships if you can't run the football and stop the run. We didn't do either one of those very well last year."

If the offense is to move the ball consistently versus some of the conference's better defenses, it will take a stronger running game. Arian Foster, LaMarcus Coker and Montario Hardesty all return. Freshman Lennon Creer is poised to get some carries by season's end should one of the top three go down.

The receiver position is in for an overhaul after the graduation of Bret Smith and Jayson Swain to go with the early departure of New Orleans Saint first-round pick Robert Meachem. Lucas Taylor and Aaron Rogers bring some leadership but the incoming class will be counted on to provide speed. Freshmen Denarius Moore, Gerald Jones and Brent Vinson team with transfer Kenny O'Neal to push the older athletes.

Those youngsters are part of a 2007 signing class that could very well go down as one of the best in school history by the time they leave Rocky Top.

"We followed the season with a real fine recruiting class. We're expecting a number of those guys to be able to step in and help us," Fulmer said.

Across the front line from left to right are Eric Young, Anthony Parker, Josh McNeil, Chris Scott and Ramon Foster. Look for Jacques McClendon and Ramone Johnson to make it on the field at some point as well.

The tight end position is in as good of shape has it has ever been. Despite losing Brad Cottam to a season-ending injury, Chris Brown and Brad's brother Jeff Cottam give Ainge large targets to help move the chains. Brown is on a couple watch lists to be honored as the top tight end in the country.

Defensively, the Vols have to find a way to replace studs Turk McBride and Justin Harrell. J.T. Mapu, Antonio Reynolds, Xavier Mitchell, Demonte Bolden and Dan Williams hope to fill the void. But, none of the returnees are expected to be all-conference worthy. Look for freshman Ben Martin to squeeze into the rotation at end as soon as he is healthy enough to play after suffering a knee bruise just prior to the season opener.

"Ben Martin is a young guy that I am counting on things, big things, from. Even though he's a true freshman he looks like he's got that first quick step you're looking for," Fulmer said. "My concern on defense mostly is our defensive tackles."

Jerod Mayo suffered a late-season knee injury but is slated to return full strength to lead the linebacking corps. Ryan Karl and Rico McCoy work on each side of him. Offseason talk has brought up the possibility of some 3-4 alignments to get other young LBs on the field like Dorian Davis and Adam Myers-White.

One of the team's all-star candidates is safety Jonathan Hefney. The senior finished second on the team in tackles with 96. Another true freshman, Eric Berry, could start at either cornerback or safety once he earns the trust of the coaches. The other corners expected to see the field the most are Marsalous Johnson and Antonio Gaines.

Kicker is a question mark for the first time in several years after the graduation of the dependable James Wilhoit. Britton Colquitt may be the best punter in the SEC. He may have to man both his normal duties as well as those of placekicker if neither redshirt freshmen Chad Cunningham or Daniel Lincoln can't step up.