Memphis Team Report
INSIDE SLANT
As Memphis prepares to finish the 2009 season Friday at Tulsa, the program is moving closer to hiring a successor to head coach Tommy West for 2010 and beyond.
Sources close to the process told the Memphis Commercial Appeal that either Washington Redskins defensive assistant Jerry Gray or LSU assistant head coach Larry Porter could be named as early as next week.
Gray, 46, is a secondary coach for the Redskins and previously served as defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills (2001-05). According to the newspaper, Gray has a close relationship with FedEx founder and CEO Fred Smith, a prominent Memphis booster whose son, Cannon, will compete for the Tigers’ starting quarterback job next season.
Porter, who interviewed for the position last week, is a former Memphis running back and has been named the national recruiter of the year in two of the past three years by Rivals.com.
West will coach his final game when the Tigers (2-9, 1-6 C-USA) face the Golden Hurricane (4-7, 2-5). The ninth-year coach has a 17-32 record since 2006. He guided Memphis to five bowl appearances in the past seven years, but the Tigers have dropped five straight games this season and are 0-5 on the road.
“We have made a commitment to our football team to finish,” West said. “That is what we are going to do. We are going to do everything we can to make the best showing possible for this university at Tulsa.”
NOTES, QUOTES
• The Tigers have won five consecutive regular-season finales under outgoing head coach Tommy West.
• Matt Reagan is one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation’s top collegiate punter. He ranks second nationally with a 45.7-yard average and has 18 punts of 50 or more yards. In addition, 66 percent of his punts have not been returned.
• SERIES HISTORY: Memphis leads 14-8 (last meeting, 2006, 35-14 Tulsa).
Scouting The Offense: In 23 trips to the red zone against C-USA opponents, Memphis has just 11 touchdowns. The Tigers have turned it over 14 times in seven league games and have averaged only 19.3 points per game. During their current five-game losing streak, they have been outscored by a 216-98 margin.
Scouting The Defense: Out of 120 FBS schools, the Tigers are 111th in scoring defense (35.0 points per game), 115th in total defense (461.3 yards per game) and 118th in passing defense (284.8). In C-USA play, opponents have scored 29 TDs (14 rushing, 15 passing) in seven games. Memphis is tied with Tulane for the fewest sacks in league games with nine.
Quote To Note: “I do think there are some valuable lessons being learned by some young people, and I think that’s a good thing. Whether it is easy or hard, you have to finish what you started.”—Memphis head coach Tommy West.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
This Week ‘S GAME: Memphis at Tulsa, Nov. 27—Somebody has to win Friday’s season finale for both teams. The Tigers have lost five straight and seven of eight; the Golden Hurricane has dropped six in a row following a promising 4-1 start. Memphis is 0-5 on the road and Tulsa is just 1-4 at home. The Tigers haven’t won in Tulsa since 1994.
Keys To The Game: The Tigers are 36-13 when leading at the half and 44-5 when leading after three quarters under head coach Tommy West. Memphis also has a 34-8 record since 2001 when scoring 30 or more points, but just a 9-42 mark when surrendering 30 or more points (0-8 this season).
Players To Watch:
QB Will Hudgens—Despite only starting 10 career games and attempting 15 or more passes in just 13 games, the senior ranks fourth in school history in completion percentage (55.8), sixth in completions (240), seventh in passing yards (2,681), eighth in pass attempts (430) and ninth in touchdown passes (18).
RB Curtis Steele—His 11 career 100-yard rushing games are tied for second-most in school history, including five this year: 240 vs. UTEP, 136 at Southern Miss, 144 at Tennessee, 107 vs. UAB and 160 at Houston. He ranks fifth in Tigers history with 2,230 career yards, 109 yards shy of Joseph Doss (2004-07) for fourth place.
WR Duke Calhoun—The senior needs 44 yards to become the 10th player in Conference USA history with 3,000 career receiving yards. He already holds the Memphis records for receptions (208), receiving yards (2,956) and 100-yard games (10).
Roster Report:
• LB Greg Jackson (shoulder) is doubtful for Saturday’s game. He has 56 tackles this season, including 6.5 tackles for loss, with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
• Safety Marcus Ball returned from a foot injury and recorded five tackles against Houston. The transfer from Pearl River (Miss.) Community College and Florida State has 35 tackles and two interceptions in eight games (three starts).
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The Team looks ready for Mississippi next week.
I was happy to see Crompton passing so well, I expected more of a running attack but Memphis never went away from stopping the run, so the VOL’s continued to pass all night long. So I was wrong in my prediction of the running attack, but the VOL’s called a great game plan in working what the Tigers defense gave them. Mississippi will now need to work on a defense that can cover both the pass and the run if they expect to stop the VOL’s new attacking Offence.
Congratulations to Crompton for being selected player of the game and now leads all SEC QB in passing touchdowns as of the end of the game.
I was happy that nearly all players got to play in the second half but expected our second, third string defense to be better, however the goal line stance at the end of the game is something to build on.
I got to listen to the game via the net and was very exciting game
Good Luck Memphis for the rest of the year
Go VOL’s
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Memphis Tigers are 2-6 and the VOL’s are 4-4
Win/Lose: VOL’s Win and move to 5-4 The VOL’s running attack will dominate the game.
Reason: Memphis Tigers, give up a average of over 416 yards on defense per game and the VOL’s running attack lead by Hardesty will dominate this game on offence, Brown should get a lot more carries and Oku may run the ball in this game. Memphis Tigers are lead by WR Duke Calhoun leads Conference-USA with 95.5 receiving yards per game and RB Curtis Steele ranks fourth with 99.3 rushing yards per game. Six of the last nine meetings in the series have been decided by 11 or fewer points, but this one has blowout potential.
Things to watch: Vol's will run and run again and short controlled passes Crompton may pass early to build confidence and soften the defense for the run, expect play action passes and not many straight drop back passes, Crompton has 11 touchdown passes and just three picks in his last five games. Expect a lot of VOL freshman playing and starting in this game, Kiffin used competition as a motivator for this game, the VOL’s biggest enemy for this game is for the VOL’s to over look Memphis. Hardesty, Brown and OKU all have a big day rushing and receiving. The Offense line is improving and getting healthy and the receivers are catching and making big gains after the catch. Hardesty will be running hard in attempt to go over 1000 yards for the year he needs 159 yard for the game to do so against a poor run defense. Nu'Keese Richardson has a problem early in the week but expect a big game form him this week,
The VOL's Defense has greatly improved each week and believes in Montes cover 2, the defense is 15th nationally against the pass and 13th in total yardage per game and has steadily moved up in the ranking. The defense took some big blows on injury department against South Carolina none more dramatic as the linebackers and this week three true freshman may start and see significant playing time. For the fourth game in a row the defensive will have to cover one of the top receivers in the nation. The Tigers are eighth in the conference USA in total defense (416.5) and scoring defense (30.4). They are dead last in red-zone defense, allowing 28 scores (18 TDs) on their opponents’ 30 possessions inside the 20-yard line (93.3 percent).
The VOL's Special teams will have to improve the Memphis Tigers return man Curtis Johnson has 255 return yards and a average of 21.3 yards per return, the Memphis Tigers Matt Reagan is one of six Conference-USA punters named as candidates for the 2009 Ray Guy Award. He has averaged 45.3 yards on 43 punts with 18 inside the 20 and 13 kicks of 50 or more yards, including a long of 65 yards.
There will be several recruits in the stands this week and last week the VOL’s picked up commitments from two Junior College players that should come in and make a impact next year, Ken Adams The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Tight end, who is expected to start but depending on the makeup of the offense line next year may move to Offensive Tackle. The VOL’s also improved at Wide Receiver with four star Kenbrell Thompkins a lean, strong 6-2 and 185 pounds. He runs solid routes and is the type of player that has such an easy stride that he never appears to be working that hard as he glides by the defenders. He adjusts well to the ball in the air and uses his hands to meet the ball rather than have it come into his body.
With the upcoming game this game will be very important to get a lead early and rest some key players for the upcoming game against Mississippi who was ranked in the top ten this season prior to SEC play.
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Let the new era continue
Just a prediction from Afghanistan
Go VOL's
Good Luck Tigers and I hope no one gets injured for ether team.
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