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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 3:18 p.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2007

CFB: Countdown to No. 1: No. 15 Tennessee

By Wendell Barnhouse
McClatchy Newspapers

This is one in a series of ranking the Top 25 college football teams in the countdown to the No. 1 team.

NO. 15 TENNESSEE

Conference: Southeastern

Coach: Phillip Fulmer (137-41 in 15 seasons).

2006: 9-4, 5-3 in SEC East, 2nd.

Bowl: Lost to Penn State 20-10 in the Outback Bowl.

Starters returning: 7 on offense, 5 on defense.

Key players: Senior QB Erik Ainge, junior RB Arian Foster, sophomore RB LaMarcus Coker, senior OT Eric Young, senior TE Chris Brown, junior LB Jerod Mayo, senior DE Xavier Mitchell, senior FS Jonathan Hefney, junior P Britton Colquitt.

OVERVIEW

Why Tennessee is No. 15: While the Volunteers have questions about their running game and defensive line, they have one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC in Ainge and one of the nation's top offensive coordinators in David Cutcliffe.

Best-case scenario: The Vols get through September undefeated (winning at Cal and at Florida) with a rejuvenated running game that makes the offense balanced and explosive.

Worst-case scenario: A loss at defending national champion Florida on Sept. 15 puts Tennessee in another early-season deficit when it comes to the SEC East race.

Bottom line: The SEC East could have all its members earning bowl bids. Tennessee should be one of them, but it's hard to envision the Vols being strong enough to win the division.

STORY LINES

1. Can the offense develop some go-to and big-play wide receivers to fully take advantage of a talented senior quarterback?

2. Will the running game return to its dominant ways and average considerably more than 108 yards per game?

3. What kind of magic can defensive coordinator John Chavis weave with a defense that has questions on the line and in the secondary?

CATCHING UP

While Erik Ainge had a breakout 2006 season, he had help. Wide receivers Robert Meachem and Jayson Swain combined for 120 receptions, 17 touchdowns and a combined 16.6 yards per reception.

The Vols' offense has to replace both of those receivers along with Bret Smith, a reliable third option.

"I know those guys that we got will be in the right place and they'll catch the ball," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "The difference is there's no Robert Meachem out there. We have to find some dynamics so when we get press coverage, we can make people pay."

WHICH IS IT?

When asked about Tennessee's pass rush that produced just 17 sacks, John Chavis pointed out that opposing offenses ran the ball 469 times and attempted just 331 passes.

"If you don't stop the run, you won't face near as many passing attempts," he said.

The Vols gave up 1,907 yards on the ground, the most in the 15-season Phillip Fulmer Era. And it was the first time since 1988 that Tennessee gained fewer yards rushing than it gave up.

IT FIGURES

14-10 — Tennessee's record the past two seasons. That's the worst back-to-back seasons in 15 seasons under Phillip Fulmer.

29 — Number of career receptions by returning wide receivers.

750 — Punts attempted by the Colquitt Clan (Craig, Jimmy, Dustin and Britton) at Tennessee. Britton, a junior, is the Vols' punter this season.

EXTRA POINTS

Erik Ainge missed part of spring practice to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He has been cleared for preseason practices. ... David Cutcliffe said the Vols will use a no-huddle scheme the entire season. The idea is to make things simple for an inexperienced group of wide receivers ... During the spring, Tennessee tested a 3-4 defensive alignment because of a lack of depth at tackle.

DID YOU KNOW?

Eric Ainge is the nephew of former NBA player and current Boston Celtics executive Danny Ainge.

NEWCOMERS OF NOTE

Redshirt freshman Daniel Lincoln hopes to take over for all-SEC kicker James Wilhoit. But if Lincoln isn't adequate, the Vols might turn to Britton Colquitt (44.9 yards per punt) to be their dual kicking threat. ... Gerald Jones, a freshman from Oklahoma City, could be in the mix at wide receiver. As a quarterback, he was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Oklahoma last season, but will face making the transition to receiver.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 1 at California

Sept. 8 Southern Miss

Sept. 15 at Florida-x

Sept. 22 Arkansas State

Oct. 6 Georgia-x

Oct. 13 at Mississippi State-x

Oct. 20 at Alabama-x

Oct. 27 South Carolina-x)

Nov. 3 Louisiana-Lafayette

Nov. 10 at Arkansas-x

Nov. 17 Vanderbilt-x

Nov. 24 at Kentucky-x

x— Conference game

A September to remember or forget? The Vols open at California and play at defending national champion Florida on Sept. 15. In between is a visit from Southern Miss, not exactly a non-conference patsy. The best part of the schedule is that Tennessee's SEC West threesome doesn't include LSU or Auburn.