Vols' struggles continue in bowl loss

Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams (34) is upended by Volunteer cornerback Art Evans with Janzen Jackson (15) and Dennis Rogan (41) looking on during Thursday night's Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

ATLANTA -- The 2009 version of the Chik-fil-A Bowl had an, oh, so familiar look and feel for the Tennessee Volunteers.

First, the Vols fell behind. Then, when it looked like momentum was swinging their way, bad breaks and depth concerns reappeared and kept them from catching up.

Virginia Tech, like five other teams in Tennessee's path this season, was too much to overcome in the end. The Hokies (10-3) waltzed out of the Georgia Dome on Thursday night with a convincing 37-14 win to punctuate a likely top-10 finish for their program.

Tennessee (7-6) left with the knowledge there is still much work to be done to return to the prominence it enjoyed now a decade ago.

"I wasn't that pleased with our practices. When we got down here, we were rusty. We just weren't as crisp as I was hoping," first-year Volunteer coach Lane Kiffin said of the days leading up to the Chik-fil-A Bowl.

"Now, we've got a lot to figure out. It's the end of the year and the best thing to figure out is (where) to go get some more players. So that's what we'll do as soon as the (recruiting) dead period is over -- go try to build our roster and build our depth so we don't have some of these issues."

Many of Kiffin's issues were as glaring in the bowl game as they had been all season.

Tennessee started as slowly against Virginia Tech as they did in early-season losses to UCLA and Auburn. The Hokies dominated the first quarter, leading 14-0 before the Vols rallied late in the first half.

Then the bad breaks came.

Tied 14-all in the closing seconds of the first half, Tennessee allowed a long pass and field goal that put Virginia Tech up 17-14 at intermission. Key injuries to defensive tackle Wes Brown and linebacker Rico McCoy didn't help either. Before the Vols knew it, the Hokies were two scores ahead and the route was on.

Tennessee's Eric Berry (14) is brought down in a kickoff return by Hokies Cam Martin (41) and Cody Grimm. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"Having depth and people who can come in and take up the place and not have a fall off is very important. The coaches talk to us about that all the time," said safety Janzen Jackson, who had the Vols' defensive highlight with a key interception late in the first half.

"We got gassed. We just got tired. You could tell, especially on defense," added defensive end Chris Walker. "We weren't making plays in the second half that we were making in the first half."

The scenario was reminiscent of personnel deficiencies against Auburn, Alabama and Mississippi. Kiffin recognizes the significance injuries played in those defeats, but realizes there is little he could do about it in his initial season in orange and white.

"We get thin really quick and it shows up and worries me. It has worried me for a long time," Kiffin said. "When we put our second team defense in during practice, it's scary. As soon as we get winded or whatever, there's not a lot of options to go to.

"We've got to go hit the road recruiting because we've got a lot of spots to fill."

Kiffin and his staff pick up that process again this week, seeking to fill the void left by 18 seniors, as well as consensus All-American safety Eric Berry, who announced his intentions to enter this year's NFL Draft late Thursday night.

At least one returning Vol indicated motivation wouldn't be an issue.

"It hurts our pride to come out in this bowl game and not do very well," Walker said, "but I think the coaches that we have will keep us motivated and keep us fired up and have us remember this game -- how we got beat. That is going to be our motivation for next year."