Vols appear lost after Bama defeat

If the mood in the Tennessee locker room after Alabama had snapped their seven game winning streak with a 34-14 victory at Neyland Stadium on Saturday night could be described in one word, it would be something like frustration, disappointment, bewilderment, shocked or confusion. Or just simply lost. Two of the team captains, Will Ofenheusle and Eddie Moore, were the first to take the podium following the loss that saw the Vols gain just 222-yards of total offense. “ I’d say more or less, we moved the ball fairly well,” said the six-foot-eight, 305 –pound Ofenheusle, who is a senior leader on the offensive line. “It’s just executing, committing turnovers and making silly mistakes. That’s been the story of our season and it didn’t end tonight.” The Vols were playing without All-Star, and often injured, wide out Kelley Washington for the third time in seven games. Washington’s injury came as a surprise to most fans and some media when it was announced before kickoff that the he would not play. “Kelley is and integral part of our offense,” Ofenheusle added. “But don’t, for a second, think that we lost this game because he didn’t play. There are a some things that we can’t do without Kelley but there are a whole lot more that he can’t do without us.” Washington’s absence undoubtedly hurt the offensive production. Quarterback Casey Clausen, who sat out the Georgia loss with a shoulder injury, did not throw a touchdown pass and completed just 10 passes to receivers. He also threw three interceptions that occurred at the most inopportune times, with has favorite target on the bench in street clothes. “It was an ongoing process,” said Head Coach Phillip Fulmer, who addressed the media after meeting with his players. “ He (Washington) hit his head on the turf against Georgia, but we were hoping that we would be able to get him cleared to play. He has a concussion and we found out Friday night that he wouldn’t be available. He wanted to play but the doctors and trainers who make the final decision wouldn’t let him.” The Vols’ offense committed six turnovers in the game and even had Washington played, it probably wouldn’t have made much of a difference. The Vols only scores came by way of a 86-yard Mark Jones kickoff return in the last minute of the first half and a Leonard Scott reverse late in the third quarter. Alabama scored at least once in every quarter. The Tide converted the first of the six turnovers into a quick touchdown when running back Derrick Tinsley dropped a lateral, and Tide defensive back Gerald Dixon picked it up and returned it for a 66-yard touchdown in the first quarter. The second Alabama touchdown came after a Clausen interception from the Alabama six when a six-play drive was capped by a 10-yard Santonio Beard run to make it 14-0. Jones scored on the ensuing kickoff return to make the Alabama lead 14-7. Alabama scored on a field -goal and a two-yard Tyler Watts run before Scott’s 13-yard run made it 24-14 after three quarters. The Tide added a one-yard Beard touchdown and a 21-yard field goal in the fourth to win 34-14. Of Alabama’s 34-points, 24 of them came after Tennessee turnovers. “I don’t think offensively we have found ourselves yet,” Fulmer said at the post-game press conference. “If it is because of injuries or whatever, we haven’t done a very good job on offense. It’s frustrating–very frustrating–we haven’t done a good job of anything.”