Gators focusing on UT run game

KNOXVILLE -- At some point, the University of Tennessee offense hopes to keep opponents guessing.

At this point, that's not the case.

"After watching both of the games they've played, they run a lot," Florida linebacker Ryan Stamper said of the Volunteers. "I don't think I've seen a team run the ball as much as they have, especially in the UCLA game. That's all they did was run.

"Pretty much, we're thinking they're going to try to come in and run it down our throats."

And if the Gators stop that run, Stamper said they'll like Saturday's outcome.

"When you balance it up, run and pass, that's pretty much when you have a better shot of winning," he said. "When they run the ball like that, if we just stop the run I think we have a shot.

"Our secondary can pretty much take care of business, so if we stop the run I think we'll be OK this week."

UT ran 44 times against the Bruins and threw 26 passes. Senior quarterback Jonathan Crompton completed 13 passes to his team and three to UCLA's secondary.

The Vols expect the Gators to stack the box Saturday in the Swamp.

"We just have to keep putting our heads down, keep our pads low and get after it," senior tailback Montario Hardesty said. "If that's how it's going to be, that's how it's going to be."

Hardesty optimistically added that stacked fronts leave less help in the secondary. The first few yards might be cluttered, he said, but behind that is sparse.

"If you just keep pounding, the next thing you know, you're one-on-one with a safety, and there's your chance for a big play," he said.

Hardesty and Bryce Brown have gotten the Gators' attention by combining for nearly 400 yards on nearly 6 yards per carry through two games against stacked defensive fronts.

Stamper said Hardesty "is going to be the best back we've faced all year. And it's not a slack-off when Hardesty is out of the game. They've got two really good backs that we've got to prepare for. They pretty much both run the same: Run hard, got good cuts; they read the holes really well.

"We've just got to pretty much prepare for them and stop the run and be gap-sound."

Gators praise Berry

Add Florida cornerback Joe Haden to the long list of those who have praised UT junior All-America safety Eric Berry.

"I think he's the best defensive player in the nation," said Haden, who added that he and Gators star safety Major Wright were "good friends" with Berry and have spoken with him this week.

Asked if he thought Berry was a better defender than any Gator -- including middle linebacker Brandon Spikes -- Haden didn't hesitate.

"I love Spikes to death, but I love Eric's game," Haden said. "We watch film when we're about to play other SEC teams, and I just love watching him."

Florida offensive lineman Mike Pouncey said Berry "is going to make plays Saturday. We've just got to do our best to keep him away from the game."

First-year Gators offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said there's a fine line between recognizing Berry before every play and completely avoiding him.

"He's a really good football player, so you want to know where he is," Addazio said. "But in the same breath, you have a play called right now, so it kind of is what it is. I think, obviously, they have a really good football player on that field, and you have to account for him.

"We have an offense. We're going to run that offense. But you're always aware where great players are in matchups."

Crowd noise cranked

Unmistakably, Florida-specific crowd noise filled Tennessee's campus Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, as UT coaches tried preparing the Vols for Saturday in the Swamp.

Head coach Lane Kiffin and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said they were generally pleased with the results.

"It seemed OK ... better than I expected," Chaney said. "I was pleased."

Kiffin said the noise "wasn't an issue."

"You'll never simulate exactly what's (at Florida), just because of the emotion that goes into it when the game speeds up, but we tried to make it as game-like a road atmosphere as we could," Kiffin added.

Closing notes

Kiffin said he wasn't sure whether junior Gerald Jones or freshman Marsalis Teague would start at flanker. He said Jones practiced "much more" this week but wasn't 100 percent recovered from his high ankle sprain.

Chaney said offensive line seniors Vlad Richard, Cody Sullins, Josh McNeil and Vlad Richard seemed "much healthier" than last week, but Kiffin didn't sound as convinced. The head coach said starting right tackle Jarrod Shaw could be moved to guard, his former position, if Richard and McClendon continue to struggle with injuries. In that case, redshirt freshman Aaron Douglas would start at right tackle.

Kiffin said he wasn't prepared to announce a starting secondary yet but noted that senior cornerback Marsalous Johnson, who started against Western Kentucky before missing the UCLA game with a foot injury, would be available against the Gators.

Senior defensive lineman Wes Brown (knees) will be a "game-time decision," according to Kiffin. Brown said Wednesday he would "definitely play."