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Jones shows a passing option with TD throw
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The G-Gun reached a higher caliber in the Orange and White Game.
After being a run-only attack in 2007, Tennessee receiver Gerald Jones showed off his passing arm on Saturday, lining up at quarterback and finding a wide-open Denarius Moore downfield for a 17-yard touchdown.
"We were just having fun with it. I don't know if we'll do it next year or not," new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said. "I thought it would work because whenever you put a special play in practice that doesn't work, that means it will probably work in a game.
"Whereas if you put in a trick play in practice that works, it has no shot of working (in a game)."
Clawson didn't recall the passing G-Gun work once in practice. That's when he came to the conclusion that it was tailor-made for Saturday's game-like conditions.
"I said 'That play's going to work.' " Clawson said.
Last season in the G-Gun, Jones rushed eight times for 58 yards, including 39 yards on two carries in the SEC championship game against LSU. In the only other G-Gun play on Saturday, the sophomore rushed for 12 yards.
The Vols also have toyed with safety Eric Berry at quarterback late in spring practice. However, the sophomore didn't see anytime on offense during Saturday's finale.
For the G-Gun to reach its full potential, Jones said he'll have to be a threat to throw. Otherwise the change-up package will see defenders crowding the line, determined to stop the run.
"I think it makes it hard to stop if I can throw the ball and they allow me to throw the ball and I can complete the passes and also be successful on the ground," said Jones, who added the Vols only put the passing play in this week. "I think that's very hard to stop."
Should UCLA, the Vols' season opening opponent, take note of Jones' passing arm?
"They better," Jones said with a smile.
Decade-Ago Dominance : Several UT players from the 1998 national championship team were honored during halftime.
"A lot of guys didn't know it was even going to happen," former safety Fred White said. "When it did, it brought a smile to everybody's face."
A video montage of the 1998 season played on the Jumbotron during the ceremony.
"It put chills up your spine," White said. "It was great."
The praise will continue this fall, as UT announced an exclusive agreement with Dish Network to produce "Perfection", a season-long tribute to the 1998 Vols.
Super Safeties: UT's highly-touted safeties delivered. Berry had an interception, a tackle and broke up a pass. Junior Demetrice Morley had an interception, a tackle and broke up two passes.
"We've just been trying to make our defense better by elevating our play and letting it trickle down to the other defensive backs and our defense," Berry said.
Creer Shines: Sophomore tailback Lennon Creer received most of the first team snaps as projected starter Arian Foster was given a light workload. Creer responded with 10 rushes for 59 yards and a touchdown.
"I think it can help bring explosiveness to the backfield," Creer said of his play. "Arian is a good running back too. I think it can bring a change of pace to the offense."
Foster, a senior, had one carry for eight yards. Creer admitted he was surprised that Foster wasn't directed to carry more of the load.
"That was fine with me," Creer said.
Early Bird: Junior quarterback Jonathan Crompton had an early day. He attended the 8 a.m. meeting of the UT Athletics Board to be recognized as the most improved male athlete. Eric Brey, director of the Thornton Center, praised Crompton for his leadership.
Also recognized was former receiver Maurice Staley (1994-95) who returned to campus and completed his degree in psychology.
Tackling: Defensive back Anthony Anderson led the Vols with eight tackles. The former Austin-East star had four solos and four assists. Linebackers Rico McCoy, Savion Frazier and Nick Reveiz all had seven tackles for second best.
Mike Strange contributed to this report.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by IPOrange on April 19, 2008 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Turn the G-Gun loose this fall, coach! If he can run or pass, defenses won't know whether to zig or zag.
Posted by burntorangeVOLffle on April 19, 2008 at 10:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My jaw dropped when G Jones hauled back and fired a bullet over the middle.
Posted by DaddyVol on April 19, 2008 at 10:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It was truly A thing of beauty! I'm pumped!
Posted by miamiVOL on April 19, 2008 at 10:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TN really has some athletes and it appears Clawson knows how to use em
Posted by DaddyVol on April 19, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wes Brown, and Tauren Poole really impressed me. Some of the others you expected to show out. Tauren poole listed as 194lb. He has to be 210-215, runs like a bowling ball. Wes Brown flat out DOMINATED. Not from a stat standpoint, because you could not hit the Q.B. We would not have Q.B.'s if he were allowed to hit them!!!! Kevin Cooper F.B. from Chat-town. I'm pumped.
Posted by smashmouth98 on April 19, 2008 at 10:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The G-Gun can be extremely dangerous, due to Jones ability to throw the ball and his athletic ability!
How many days until UCLA?
Posted by newtonrail on April 20, 2008 at 12:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Glad to see Mr. Staley return and get his degree, and wish they all would at least try. Football won't always be there, but the education will.
Posted by General_Watermelon on April 20, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good comments Newton.
DaddyVol - agree with your comments on Brown and Poole. Both were impressive. There were so many good performances that I think this team has potential to be very good. Selfishly, I sure wished Mayo had stayed another year. Oh well.
Posted by hueypilot on April 20, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not sure how Jon Crompton rates a most-improved award. I'm not saying he's not GOING to warrant one, but he hasn't done anything yet except in practice.
Posted by Need_2_Know on April 20, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Huey, you may be slightly off the beam. Since the award for Crompton's "Most Improved Male Athlete" was given by the Thornton Center, I presume it's an award for educational progress. The NS could probably have made that more clear.
For more on the Thornton Center, visit http://www.utsports.com/inside-ut/art...
Posted by LOVEMYVOLS on April 20, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOVE TO SEE ANTHONY ANDERSON OUT ON THE FILD
Posted by cdldoc on April 20, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
burntorangeVOLffle, The G-Gun did not throw a bullet. The receiver made a really nice adjustment to catch the ball. Hope they use the play, late, in a big game.
Posted by givehim6 on April 20, 2008 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's UT has the G-gun in there playbook in '09. The '08 version, with just the run was quickly read. But with a pass/run option, and some times Berry-gun there, this will keep DC gessing. With Crompton hot and the G/Berry-gun. GO VOLS!
Posted by General_Watermelon on April 20, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Crompton was recognized for academic achievement at the O&W Game.
The G package will be lethal with the pass added and Jones has great feet and a good arm on him. They should use that set more often.
Posted by orangebloodgmc on April 21, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DaddyVol, I agree that T.Poole and W.Brown were 2 of the players that impressed me in the O&W game. I'm still not sure if Wes is really that fast, or if he was just going against a green OT, or if the ref was not calling defensive offsides, but Wes Brown sure looked fast coming off the corner.
Creer looked explosive, but I expected that. Crompton really zipped that ball to receivers and Hancock and Briscoe seemed pretty sure-handed, Stocker too. Chris Donald looked good on a play or 2, but you don't know if somebody opposite him busted assignments or not.
I did not care for the all-offense-vs.-all-defense format (admittedly the coaches know more than I do) but next year I probably will not make the 733 mile drive to see that.
Posted by hueypilot on April 21, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Need 2 Very nice award for Crompton and did not mean to slight the young man in any way. You're right. KNS could have added "for academic excellence" or some other qualifying statement for those of us 600 miles away.
Posted by volguy40 on April 21, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
as i lay dreaming...( THE G-GUN.....WITH BERRY THE BULLET...LOADED....AND CAUSING HAVOC AND DISTRUCTION ON ALL THOSE THAT COME BEFORE THEM)....i KNOW ...I KNOW....TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE...BUT YOU HAVE TO ADMIT...WOULD BE FUN TO WATCH...SPRING GAME SOUNDED GREAT....BUT IT IS A PRACTICE....A SHOW FOR THE RECRUITS...AND TO UNVEIL SOME NEW THINGS...BUT ALL IN ALL...EVERYONE LOOKED GOOD.....GO VOLS...AND FLUCK FORIDA
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