Vol offense close to clicking

Tight end Luke Stocker's 40-yard reception helped set up the first Volunteer touchdown. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

With the exception of the final 1:24 of the second quarter, Tennessee's offense hit total rock bottom in the 26-22 loss to Southeastern Conference visitor Auburn on Saturday night.

A Volunteer team that's shown that it's bread-and-butter moving the football downfield relies almost entirely on its running game, came out slinging the pigskin.

Coach Lane Kiffin said they passed the ball early because they were trying to establish a rhythm and frustrate a Tigers (5-0, 2-0 SEC) defense that was scheming to take away from the running game.

The result left much to be desired.

After Nu'Keese Richardson's first down on the opening play from scrimmage, Tennessee (2-3, 0-2) failed to force the chain gang upfield until Montario Hardesty's 21-yard carry with slightly less than 13 minutes to play in the second quarter.

Quarterback Jonathan Crompton started out completing just 2-of-12 passes and was the victim of several drops by his receivers, including Quinton Hancock's nearly eating a pigskin on a crossing route.

Tennessee tailback Montario Hardesty (2) outruns Auburn's Neiko Thorpe (15) to the end zone. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"It's about as poorly an offensive half as you can play all around," an embarrassed Kiffin said. "Like I said, there was no rhythm, there were drops, it was bad."

However, with less than a minute left in the first half, Crompton appeared to find new life with a 40-yard completion to tight end Luke Stocker down the center of the Neyland Stadium turf. A pair of Hardesty runs later and the Vols were dancing on the checkerboard.

The drive spanned 70 yards in seven plays in a mere 62 seconds and may have breathed new life into Crompton and the offense.

The first two series of the third quarter yielded just 18 total yards, but Kiffin showed some faith in his offense by going for it on fourth-and-one backed up to his own 29-line, even choosing to throw the ball on a play-action fake from Crompton to Stocker. In spite of having to punt three plays later, Crompton appeared to take notice to his coach's faith.

The final three UT series all resulted in points, including a too-little-too-late 32-yard TD pass from Crompton to Denarius Moore with no time left on the clock.

Tennessee's Denarius Moore leaps to haul in a 32-yard touchdown reception between Auburn defensive backs Demond Washington (14) and Walter McFadden. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Kiffin acknowledged that his playmakers finally started showing some life when they went into hurry-up mode and might be something that carries over to this Saturday's contest with Georgia in Knoxville.

"It's something we'll continue to work on, something we'll look at and maybe something that we need to do in the regular part of the game," he said.

The first-year coach might be up for tweaking his own offensive philosophy if it means moving the chains and putting points on the board. Converting just 4-for-17 third downs isn't going to win many games in the SEC.

Hardesty, who led the team with 146 all-purpose yards, contends that he and his teammates aren't far away from getting it figured out.

"It's just small things for us on offense right now," he said. "There's little detailed assignments that we're not getting right that are causing us to being this close and that close to making plays."