[DeansRedHalo]

For years I have felt that Phil Fulmer suffers as one of the most conservative coaches in the college game today. Tennessee's offensive strategy of run to set up the pass will work against teams with weak run defenses, but teams such as Georgia and Miami are excellent run-stopping teams.

Now, I'm proud of Cedric Houston and the running game; proud to mention that he is currently third in the nation in rushing. But I'm also not ashamed to think that our running game is a bit too, well, conservative. Sometimes you just can't expect to run a halfback iso on third and six and get anywhere. There comes a point when we need to realize that there are several teams, such as Miami (especially in the Dorsey-McGahee era) that use the pass to set up the run. If you have a potent passing attack (which UT seems to have, despite the seeming incompetence of Clausen; there's no doubt Banks, Swain, Mark Jones, and the others are good) you can use it to be your leading jab, and then finish with a right-cross that is your running game...especially if you have a potent backfield.

Basically, I think this philosophy could be very effective if adopted into play here at UT, but the question remains...will Fulmer ever convert?

[tntitanfan1225]

I don't think you can really blame your coach for conservative playcalling, especially after a 3-0 start which includes a 24-10 victory in the swamp. It may seem like the plays are conservative because they keep the ball on the ground so much, but that should be expected. When you have a QB as unreliable as Clausen, you can't expect the coaches to be going to the air all the time. As long as the Vols keep winning, I don't see any reason to change the way the plays are called.

I really agree with both of you to a great extent. The play calling has long been conservative. Everyone knows that UT is going to come out and pound the ball up the middle, throwing the occasional screen pass to try to keep the defense from jamming the middle. I would love to see it work the opposite way sometimes, come out throwing the ball and see how that opens up our running game. I do also agree that Clausen is not the strongest QB we have had calling the shots and can make some of the worst decisions, but hey, let's see if we can't startle a Miami or UGA right out of the gates with a big score. And by the way, can Clausen throw at least a few passes each game with any zip to them???

[golferttu]

I totally agree that the playcalling of Phillip Fulmer may be a tad bit conservative, but if this play calling is gonna get us to a 3-0 start and keep us winning games then on with it. I do agree on the other hand that if we would be a little more agressive then we could be a more ligitament threat to the national title, but its not my team and we are winning games right now. Until we start losing them then i am all for the conservative approach.

I agree totally with u, set up the run with the pass, but I don't think we can do it with Clausen. For most of three quarters against Auburn they played an 8 to 10 man front, no one can run against that, a quick 3 step drop pass would back them off the line and then u can run the ball. We don't have enough blockers to block for the run with an 8 to 10 man front line that lots of teams are throwing at us. I agree against a weak team we could run against that defense, but not against a good one. The opponents are daring us to pass, and I think we have great receivers. Casey should have been intercepted 3 times against Auburn

[rmjvol]

I have to give Clausen some credit...he made some good passes.

BTW, welcome to the boards, Gman1_38351!

[golferttu]

I agree that clausen deserves some credit. He doesn't get enough of it. Fulmer needs to be a little more agressive with the run game. We didn't really have one at all in the Auburn game. We need to be more agressive with the run so we can run a little play action passes and go down the field more.