KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Gerald Jones is tired of being grounded.
The Tennessee wide receiver who moonlights as a quarterback in what’s called the “G-gun” package said he must attempt some passes behind center rather than just handing the ball off or tucking and running if he’s going to keep opposing defenses honest.
He’s hoping his first pass attempt of the season comes Saturday when Tennessee (1-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) faces No. 15 Auburn (3-1, 1-1).
“A lot of people are going to be expecting the run, so I wouldn’t be surprised if come Auburn we do run it and I might be throwing it,” he said. “There’s so many things we can do out of that package that we haven’t brought out yet.”
Even though the Vols’ offense has shown it can put together long drives, players have struggled with drive-killing mistakes. A few big plays from Jones could help minimize those problems.
The sophomore figured to play a large role this season in first-year offensive coordinator Dave Clawson’s offense which focuses on getting the ball to the best and most versatile athletes.
ore out of it. We feel Gerald Jones is one of our best playmakers, and the G-gun package is there in part to ensure that he has his hands on the football,” Clawson said.
Jones was the Gatorade player of the year in 2006 in Oklahoma as a quarterback and defensive player at Millwood High School, but was recruited as a receiver or cornerback.
Last year as a freshman, he earned playing time while surrounded by a crowded field of talented receivers and had crucial touchdown and first-down catches in overtime in a 52-50 win over Kentucky.
But he generated buzz at quarterback, taking eight snaps from center. He rushed for 58 yards for a 7.2 yard average and two touchdowns.
This season, he’s taken nine snaps – three against UCLA and six against Florida – and the Vols are averaging 9 yards for every snap Jones has taken.
The Gators’ defense had a hunch what was coming during one G-gun play in the second quarter when Jones kept the ball and linebacker Ryan Stamper tackled him in the backfield for a loss of a yard.
“I actually thought we were going to pass the ball, because toward the end you saw Florida just really biting on the run. That’s all it was going to be,” Jones said. “I felt like if we would have snuck somebody out the back and let me throw it … but we didn’t.”
Clawson said he’s been adding to the G-gun package as Jones absorbs more of the offense.
dy to concede to Auburn that he’ll use Jones to pass.
“Oh, maybe,” Clawson said with a smile.
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BAD DAY: Mississippi quarterback Jevan Snead had his first awful day for his new team, throwing four costly interceptions against Vanderbilt in a 23-17 loss the Rebels had plenty of chances to win.
Snead had been sensational at times in the team’s previous three games, including throwing four touchdown passes against Wake Forest. But he’ll need to bounce back quick from Saturday’s loss if the Rebels have any hope at No. 4 Florida.
“Jevan, you got to realize, he’s in his fourth game, and he is seeing things that he has never seen before,” coach Houston Nutt said. “We can prepare him all week and they will put in a little wrinkle or a little different blitz. (The Commodores) brought a free safety on first down. They’ve never done that before.”
Snead remains atop the Southeastern Conference with six touchdown passes in a tie with South Carolina’s Chris Smelley. Saturday’s performance gives him seven interceptions, but there’s no question the Ole Miss offense is headed in the right direction under the sophomore transfer.
The once moribund offense is third in the SEC in passing efficiency, fourth in yards passing (221.8) and total offense (401.8), and fifth in scoring (30).
per game. His mobility also means fewer sacks against the Rebels.
Snead hasn’t let the poor performance slow him down, though. The former Florida commitment who transferred from Texas to Ole Miss after his freshman season realizes the sharpest weapons are forged in fire.
“You can learn from every situation,” he said. “That’s just what I’m trying to do now, take what I can from that film and try to forget the rest of it.”
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DIRTY? Florida running back Emmanuel Moody’s first Southeastern Conference game came with a surprise. He knew things against Tennessee would be a little faster, a little more intense and a little more physical. But there was one thing he didn’t expect:
“A little dirty,” Moody said. “That’s part of football. Whatever you can do to try to win, that’s what the SEC’s gonna try to do.”
Moody declined to say exactly what the Volunteers did in fourth-ranked Florida’s 30-6 victory in Knoxville last week. But the Southern California transfer said it was much different from high school football in Texas or college football on the West Coast.
“When you’re in the pile, they’re doing some things, trying to get you angry,” he said.
will supplant Kestahn Moore in the starting lineup when Florida (3-0, 1-0) hosts Mississippi (2-2, 0-1) on Saturday.
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FLAG: No. 3 Georgia is undefeated, but how long can it keep getting away with so many penalties?
With the toughest part of the schedule coming up, including Saturday’s showdown with No. 8 Alabama, Georgia (4-0, 1-0) is by far the most penalized team in the SEC with 43 flags for 356 yards.
That’s an average of nearly 11 penalties for 89 yards each game.
While coach Mark Richt said he wants to cut down on the number of flags, he’s also mindful of maintaining his team’s aggressiveness, especially on the defensive side.
“If a guy jumps offsides, he’s anxious to get off on the snap. We want him to be anxious getting off on the snap,” Richt said. “If we hit a quarterback later than we should, at least the guy was running 100 mph to harass that guy, which is what we’re trying to do.
“We’ve got to play within the rules. We’ve got to be more disciplined,” he added. “But we don’t say to quit playing hard.”
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