[Tuck4Bama]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. | Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe knows fifth-ranked Florida lost nine starters off its championship defense. He doesn’t believe the Gators are any less threatening.

That’s why Cutcliffe started preparing for games like Saturday’s visit to Gainesville back in spring practice when he introduced the no-huddle offensive scheme to his 22nd-ranked Vols.

“Everything you do offensively is geared toward being solid and sound and good against your best opponents," Cutcliffe said.

The no-huddle is designed to catch defenses unprepared, prevent them from substituting and wearing out players with less time to rest between plays.

Cutcliffe said he’s been happy with how quarterback Erik Ainge executed the no-huddle against Southern Miss and at No. 8 California, where the Vols (1-1) faced the kind of hostile environment that can disrupt such a scheme.

But the Swamp will be even louder for the game which usually has Southeastern Conference championship implications, coach Phillip Fulmer said.

“Our focus has got to be really, really good," he said. “The noise level is probably going to be double what it was at Cal."

Coaches briefly tried a type of no-huddle offense when Ainge was a freshman in 2004, calling plays from the sidelines, but scrapped it after it seemed to confuse him.


Vols hope no-huddle offense will disrupt Gators | TuscaloosaNews.com