Week 3 News and Notes

BIG ORANGE VOTES LIFT AINGE’S CHANCES FOR THE O’BRIEN

Fans of Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge can help the Vols senior quarterback win the 2007 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award® (The O’Brien) by voting online throughout the season. Fans can cast their ballots once daily on The O’Brien’s updated Web site, www.DaveyOBrien.com, in hopes of moving their pick to the final round.

Ainge is off to a flying start for the Vols, having completed 66.3 percent of his passes (55-of-83) for 547 yards and five touchdowns without an interception in the team's first two games.

THURSDAY Q&A WITH DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOHN CHAVIS

What have you stressed the most to the defense in the film room?

“Fundamentals. That’s where we need to improve. Fundamentals, techniques, and being in the right position to make plays.”

Do you prepare any differently for Tim Tebow than you did Chris Leak?

“He is a guy that is probably a little bit better runner. He is going to run the ball himself a little bit more, and they have tailored the offense around him. Last year, they did more things that were tailor made for Leak.”

Urban Meyer has more of his personnel in the offense now. Do you expect different looks this year, or just better athletes?

“I don’t think we’ll see very much that is different. We’ll see that they do a little bit of everything anyway. They do a great job coaching, and they have great athletes. We expect to see the result of that on Saturday.”

What’s the biggest challenge in defending the spread option?

“You have to defend the entire field, and you have to be able to make plays on great athletes in open space. That’s what makes it so effective. They get the ball to their most talented athletes in open space. Our challenge is to make the play in our first opportunity.”

The defense was spread out some by both Cal and Southern Miss. Will having played against those two offenses help on Saturday?

“We’ve done quite well. It depends on how we match up. If we can match up our speed with their speed, then we certainly have a chance to limit what they can do.”

The defensive key to winning this game has always been to stop the run. Playing against such a unique offense, does that rule still apply?

“I think that is still a big part of having success against them. If you can run the football, you have a chance to win championships. That’s how you do it. You run the football, and you stop the run."