Vols' Crompton must step up vs. Gators

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The most misleading statistic of all heading into Saturday's annual Tennessee-Florida showdown in Knoxville is the fact that the Vols lead the Southeastern Conference in total offense, averaging 457 yards per game.But if you ask any Big Orange backer what worries them the most entering Tennessee's SEC opener, it's an offense led by an inexperienced quarterback.Vols QB Jonathan Crompton is calling the plays in an offense where the pass sets up the run. It's been a challenge. Fourth-year junior Jonathan Crompton hasn't exactly blown anybody's doors off two games into his role as Tennessee's starter. He's completing barely above 50 percent (38-of-72 for 429 yards) of his passes, has thrown for more interceptions (three) than touchdowns (two) and isn't even ranked among the SEC's top 10 QBs in passing efficiency."Jonathan has made some plays, but his inexperience shows every now and then," said Vols' coach Phillip Fulmer, who rarely has had such an inexperienced QB heading into the Florida game."I think a lot of areas of our team need to show consistency, not just quarterback. Quarterback just gets magnified more than the other positions."Crompton started Saturday's 35-3 victory over UAB by completing 6-of-8 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter. But he quickly cooled to a 19-of-31 performance, with 240 yards and two interceptions."I'll be more in rhythm next week," Crompton said after the game. "You get more comfortable as it goes."Maybe so. But one of the Vols' early problems is that Crompton may have been overloaded with too much of first-year offensive coordinator Dave Clawson's offense."It's really not much different," Florida coach Urban Meyer said of Clawson's offense from past UT attacks.Yet Crompton has seemed mechanical and a step slow in his decision-making. Clawson tried to rectify that against UAB by cutting down the playbook."We had a load of plays against UCLA," wide receiver Gerald Jones said after beating UAB. "Today we was like, 'This is what we're going to run, and we're going to keep running it, going to keep running and we're going to make you stop us.'"Also unlike past Vols' quarterbacks just getting their feet wet in the starting role, Crompton seems to be in an offense where the pass sets up the run, which is tough on a new starter.For at least the previous 20 years, whether it was Fulmer, David Cutcliffe or Randy Sanders as Tennessee's offensive coordinator, the Vols usually relied on a power running game and a stout defense early in the tenure of a first-year quarterback.Crompton, apparently isn't getting that luxury, though Clawsen did make an adjustment from the Week 1 loss to UCLA to the Week 2 victory over UAB. He had Crompton roll out more and throw on the run."I thought he made some nice plays out of the pocket (against UAB)," Fulmer said. "On one of his interceptions, the defensive back made a great play. The other interception, I'm sure he'd like to have back."Crompton is upbeat, even after physically getting beat up against UCLA and going cold vs. UAB after his hot start."I think the (offensive line) and the running backs and receivers have confidence in me," Crompton said.(Ron Higgins writes for The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn.)