Over the last couple days, I tried to decide if I wanted to take the easy route and rip the Volunteer football team from head to toe, or go the very difficult way and defend them. After 72 hours of soul searching, I decided to hit the easy button.

The version of the Orange and White that has taken the field for the first month of the season should be ashamed. Besides lackluster play, the players should be ashamed because they haven't shown any pride.

Coaching only goes so far, although I'll come back to that point. Once players are prepared, it's their job to go execute. Being a former athlete, I know that some games, things won't click. When you're getting beat, that's an opportunity for a group of guys to band together and say "we're getting beat bad but this team is going to remember playing us."

SEC defenses are some of the best and if you fail to take advantage of your opportunities, your record will reflect that.

I'm not advocating trying to hurt other players, but the opposing squad should know it was in a battle throughout the next week.

I only saw one player with pride last Saturday: Eric Berry. I gained even more respect for Berry, watching him fly around the field making tackles as if the game was winnable. That's the type of attitude that needs to be instilled on both sides of the ball.

The Vols have two major problems that will haunt them this season, and it becomes more obvious with each loss. Coaching and quarterback play, or lack thereof, hinder what the Vols are really capable of doing in the Southeastern Conference.

Jonathan Crompton has waited his turn for the past two years after redshirting his freshman season. He has played some throughout and showed potential when asked to throw the ball.

Now the pressure of being "the man" has seemed to rattle his nerves. Four interceptions and two touchdowns are not acceptable stats when you're the quarterback on Rocky Top. He's had all spring and summer to learn the new offense brought from Richmond with offensive coordinator Dave Clawson.

A lot has been made of the plays Clawson has called this season. Besides the time management miscue before halftime Saturday, I think Clawson has done a fairly decent job. When he was hired, he said he likes to get the ball into the hands of the playmakers.

Well he certainly has called the right plays for guys like Lucas Taylor and Gerald Jones. Those calls were executed.

However, it all points back to Crompton. If he's making bad reads and even worse throws, how can the offense succeed in the best conference in the country. SEC defenses are some of the best and if you fail to take advantage of your opportunities, your record will reflect that.

I think it's time for Clawson and head coach Phillip Fulmer to go in another direction. Nick Stephens may be the answer behind center that UT needs if they want their season to be salvaged.

Fulmer should look into hiring a full-time special teams coach as well, and maybe even one who knows a little something about tackling. Florida's Brandon James made would-be tacklers look downright silly when he returned a punt for 78 yards.

Tennessee also needs someone who is going to keep the players focused and disciplined. When David Cutcliffe and Trooper Taylor left at the end of last season, I knew we were losing more than coaches with titles.

Cutcliffe kept the offense focused throughout the year, despite a similar 1-2 start last season. Trooper Taylor was the spark that lit the fire of the team, always celebrating with players and reassuring them after mistakes.

While I won't call for Fulmer's job yet, he doesn't seem to be much of a disciplinarian. That became obvious with the "Big Orange Crime Spree" before the 2005 season. It's not exactly a surprise that turned around when Cutcliffe returned to town.

Whatever the problems truly are, UT better fix them fast. Florida was just the beginning of a schedule that gets even tougher.

Heisman Watch:

1. Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri
2. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
3. Max Hall, QB, BYU
4. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
5. Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

My top three candidates have each passed for at least 12 touchdowns. Hall is a surprise since he plays for BYU, yet he is producing with 1,284 passing yards. Sanchez is still on the list simply because I don't punish guys because their teams haven't played. He has taken care of business and has the Trojans in the top spot of our poll.

Editor's Note: This column was originally published Wednesday, Sept. 24 (prior to USC's Thursday night loss at Oregon State).