This weekend's game against Northern Illinois is a must win for the Tennessee Volunteers as the offense looks to get its lack of production fixed before several key conference games.

The Vols (1-3, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) come into the home game against the Huskies (2-2, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) with one of the worst offenses by the numbers in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Tennessee currently is tied for No. 101 in scoring offense with 19.3 points per game.

The Vols are also struggling moving the ball through the air thus far in 2008. Tennessee currently sits at No. 96 in the FBS with 175 yards passing per game. Jonathan Crompton has only completed 52 percent of his passes this season while throwing only two touchdowns compared to four interceptions.

This week, the Vols opened up the quarterback competition to allow Nick Stephens to get some work with the first team.

"We are going to split the reps with the first and second group between Jonathan and Nick," offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said during Tuesday's media day. "We'll find out how they respond.

"It's not like were disrupting anything right now. We need to get a spark and we need to get things going."

Clawson hinted that if Stephens has a good week at practice he will get into the game, whether it's starting or coming in as a backup. Stephens has thrown only two passes this season, with one completion to Brandon Warren for 42 yards against UAB.

The running game has been productive thus far. Arian Foster has averaged 5.6 yards per carry which is up from 2007 when he averaged 4.9. Montario Hardesty and Lennon Creer have also ran the ball well for the Vols, combining for six of Tennessee's nine touchdowns this season.

"The running game starts up front and the o-line is getting some good push at the point of attack," Hardesty said. "We're making some good hard runs and some good cuts. Our running backs get the ball and there is already a hole there."

Foster has struggled to hold on to the ball, being part of three fumbles and no touchdowns after four games. Foster fumbled the ball late in the game against UCLA to give the Bruins momentum as the Vols ultimately fell in overtime. Against Florida, Crompton and Foster mishandled a handoff on the Gators one-yard line, turning the ball over on an apparent touchdown.

Last week against Auburn, the winning touchdown for the Tigers came when Crompton and Foster again botched the handoff and Auburn recovered the ball in the Tennessee end zone. In total, the Vols have four fumbles this season.

"If we had eliminated some costly turnovers, we're probably in a different position right now," Clawson said.

Averaging an interception and a fumble per game has cost the team several points along with giving the other team points.

"We are having some execution issues this year," Clawson said. "Right now we are executing poorly, especially in the passing game."

Northern Illinois comes into Knoxville this weekend leading the Vols in almost every statistical category. The Huskies have averaged 34.5 points per game along with 183.5 and 201.3 yards rushing and passing per game, respectively.

"They've been able to run the football, throw the football and put up big numbers doing either," defensive coordinator John Chavis said.

The Huskies have also completed 51 percent of its third-down conversions which ranks 10th in the nation, compared to the Vols No. 88 ranked, 35.1 percent.

"They're a fine football team," Chavis said. "They're very well coached. They know what they're doing. They know how to execute."

Northern Illinois' losses to Minnesota (4-1) and Western Michigan (4-1) were by four and three points, respectively. They beat Indiana State by 45 and shut out Eastern Michigan 37-0.

"Their starter (at quarterback) came back two weeks ago," Chavis said. "I can understand why he was the starter. He knows how to run the offense, how to execute well. He throws the deep ball as well as anybody that we've seen."

The offensive numbers look great for the Huskies, but they have yet to play a Tennessee caliber defense this year.

Tennessee's defense has only given up 18.5 points per game, never allowing more then 288 yards of total offense. The defensive front has limited opponents rushing games this season, giving up only 95.3 yards per game. However, the team has not been able to capitalize when the opposing offense puts the ball on the ground.

"We have got to create some fumbles," Chavis said. "We have had the ball on the ground a couple times and not been able to get to it. But the first guy has to get the tackle."

The secondary has forced eight interceptions in its first four games while limiting opponents to fewer than 163 yards of passing offense. Six different Vols have contributed by recording an interception.

"We're seeing some young guys that are stepping up and really giving us a good spark," Chavis said. "We've said all along that from a talent stand point, that were as good in the secondary since I have been at Tennessee."

The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. EST at Neyland Stadium.