Thanks to line, it starts up front for UT offense

BY BUCKY DENT

BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer is fond of saying, "It all starts up front."

Cliched as it might be, it’s also true in the case of the Volunteers’ offense, which wouldn’t be nearly as productive were it not for the undervalued contributions of a solid line.

A season after being a pass-first, run-second attack, UT has moved closer to the 50-50 balance every coach loves. And the reason is the line’s improvement in run-blocking.

Over the last eight games, the Vols are averaging 189 rushing yards per game and have run the ball more than 35 times per game. They have run the ball five more times than they’ve passed it.

Not surprisingly, UT is 7-1 in that span, losing only at Alabama on a day when some felt the team abandoned the running game too early.

"You want to run the football in every game," offensive line coach Greg Adkins said. "You also want to have that balance."

Adkins’ work with a line which has made some changes on the fly has drawn its share of positive reviews. One radio talk show host Tuesday said Adkins had done the best job of coaching on the staff this season.

The comments of quarterback Erik Ainge would seem to back up that opinion. Ainge, who has been sacked twice in 391 pass attempts this year, was asked why the line has been so successful.

"The thing they don’t get enough credit for is they’re definitely the smartest O-line since I’ve been here," he said. "They’re able to comprehend things, fix things sometimes in the run game.

"You can only do as much as the guys around you can handle, and it’s amazing what we’re able to do with those guys. They can handle a lot."

Ainge mentioned Josh McNeil, Anthony Parker and Ramon Foster in particular as guys who can make quick adjustments before a play based on the opponent’s scheme or personnel.

What’s more, some have been able to do it at different positions. Chris Scott moved from right guard to left tackle last month after Eric Young’s season-ending left quad injury, with Jacques McClendon and Vladimir Richard taking Scott’s place.

Young’s absence has barely been noticed. Ainge hasn’t been sacked this month and the running game has taken over long stretches of wins against Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas.

"We don’t want guys to be one-position guys," Adkins said. "The more they can understand about guard play, center play, tackle play, the better off we’re going to be. Ultimately, I’m in charge of putting the five best guys out there."

The five best guys these days are Scott at left tackle, Parker at left guard, McNeil at center, a combination of McClendon and Richard at right guard and Foster at right tackle.

Parker credits the braintrust for the offensive line’s effective play.

"It starts with the coaching staff," he said. "We work on our problems all week [in practice], and then we get to the game and it’s just like [practice]. I think that helps us pick up all the pressures other teams throw at us.

"The coaches will tell us, ‘If you see this, then this will happen.’ We’ve got a few guys on the line who can see it happen and can communicate it to all five people."

More often than not, that communication has led to success for an offense which could lead the Vols to an Southeastern Conference East Division title with a win Saturday at Kentucky.

Despite possessing middle-of-the-road speed at wide receiver and tailback, UT is averaging more than 33 points and nearly 400 total yards per game.

The reason? As Fulmer will tell you often, it starts up front.

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