KNOXVILLE — Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer expressed disappointment Tuesday with the team’s sputtering offense, singling out the quarterback play as particularly lacking.
“The quarterback’s got his hands on the ball every play,” Fulmer said during the weekly news conference. “They’re usually making some sort of decisions with the ball in the passing game. That’s been a real challenge. These guys that are here certainly are capable, but for whatever reason it hasn’t happened as anybody would have expected it to happen.”
The Volunteers (3-6, 1-5 SEC) have already undergone a change at the position when sophomore Nick Stephens replaced junior Jonathan Crompton following a rough five-game stretch to open the season.
For the most part, Stephens has handled the ball better. The sophomore began his career with 106 passes without an interception until an errant second-quarter throw last Saturday against South Carolina led to Stoney Woodson’s 68-yard touchdown return.
Crompton was picked off four times in five games.
First-year offensive coordinator Dave Clawson benched Stephens for the remainder of the first half in favor of the junior Crompton after Stephens didn’t hustle following the interception.
“Quarterbacks, they mean a lot to what you’re trying to do,” Fulmer said. “They can actually make you better than you are, or they can make you worse than you really are if you’re not careful.”
Fulmer said adjusting to Clawson’s system may be contributing to some of the offense’s struggles.
“With a change in the system, it’s been a little bit slower process than anybody might have thought it would have ever been,” Fulmer said. “Not that it’s too complicated or anything — it’s just different than what they’ve done. So we’ve had some struggles with that. And again, you can’t just point and say, ‘That’s the problem.’ It’s been other things along the way that have led to this.”
B.J. to ‘get his share’
Fulmer said Stephens will remain the starting quarterback for Saturday’s game against Wyoming at Neyland Stadium while Crompton will stay at backup.
McCallie standout B.J. Coleman “will get his share” of reps during practice, Fulmer said.
Vinson to play
Cornerback Brent Vinson was cited for simple marijuana possession last Wednesday, a day before he was suspended for UT’s game against South Carolina for a violation of team rules, according to The Tennessean. The Nashville newspaper cited Knoxville Police Department records.
In addition, Vinson was cited for speeding, not having a driver’s license, not having insurance and for an open container of alcohol. He was not arrested.
Fulmer said he will play Saturday.
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