Crompton and the Clawfense show better in Saturday scrimmage

by Joel Hollingsworth on Aug 17, 2008 7:33 AM EDT in Tennessee Volunteer Football

Just a few scrimmage notes before I head out this morning:

No interceptions from Crompton, who went 12-18 for 101 yards and one touchdown -- a "great throw," according to recipient Gerald Jones, who had found just a bit of space between Eric Berry and some unidentified defender. Crompton also led the team on another drive that ended with a mid-range field goal by Daniel Lincoln. Clawson says that Crompton is playing faster every time he steps on the field. Clock and huddle management was good.
The receivers were consistently able to find space.
The offensive line got a strong push and made room for the running backs.
The Clawfense will begin sculpting this week, whittling away at the playbook until they discover its best and truest form for this team.
Freshman Tauren Poole continues to turn heads. Poole had a 20-yard run that featured several broken tackles and averaged between six and seven yards behind the first team o-line.

All for now. Thoughts?

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Sounds like the offense is catching up.

After playing against the vaunted secondary, I would imagine that the receivers have really improved in their route running and their ability to conceal said routes. At least, I hope that’s the cause and not a regression by the secondary.

As an added bonus: if the receivers are running better, that’ll give the secondary a bigger challenge, which can only help them improve.

Other than that, it sounds like we have 3-4 running backs that we can throw into the games. With luck, we’ll be able to rotate them and keep them all fresh and injury-free throughout the season. I’m glad that we’re not pinning everything on one running back this year, particularly because running back is one of the most injury-prone positions.

All in all, there’s a chance that this season may manage itself very well. We have an opener against the walking wounded and a second game against a less talented team. We should be able to win both of those, even if mistakes are made. That gives another month for Crompton to iron out his game and get used to competition against different teams before Florida rolls in. Florida should be a really, really tough opponent, but they’ve already had more injury troubles, which helps in that depressing sort of way.

And Auburn, like UT, has a new offense that is supposed to be quite potent, but will need to be field-tested. Hopefully ours passes muster before theirs – and better than theirs.

by David Hooper on Aug 17, 2008 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

who had found just a bit of space between Eric Berry and some unidentified defender.

I mean honestly, next to Eric Berry, a Patriot Missile would be considered “some unidentified defender” no?

by jon - fulmer's belly.com on Aug 18, 2008 6:56 AM EDT reply actions

Ooh

That gives me an idea. If we were to compare each of the guys in the secondary to a military weapon, what would each be? Of course, we’d need somebody how actually knew about such stuff, and Aerobab’s busy getting yelled at by his drill sergeant/instructor/leader/superior officer/whatever he is. Hooper? Vol Navy? Weapons, anyone?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Aug 18, 2008 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions