Tennessee: Secondary strength

KNOXVILLE — John Parker Wilson hasn’t been college football’s most consistent quarterback the past three seasons.

But then Alabama senior has All-American career numbers against Tennessee.

Wilson’s average game last season was about 17-of-29 passing for 208 yards, but he was 32-of-46 for 363 yards against the Volunteers.

He threw 17 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions in 13 games last season, but he had three touchdowns and zero interceptions against UT.

“He picked our young secondary apart,” Vols coach Phillip Fulmer said. “It was really not a good day for us.”

Wilson has been criticized at times, but UT sophomore safety Eric Berry’s only first-hand encounter left a favorable impression.

“I really didn’t see him making too many mistakes ... when he played us,” Berry said. “(Maybe) he did when he was playing other teams, I guess.”

Wilson didn’t shine two seasons ago in the Crimson Tide’s 16-13 loss in Neyland Stadium — throwing for just 158 yards on 13-of-29 passing — but he wasn’t picked that day, either.

UT defensive line coach Dan Brooks sounded like a man who has seen Wilson more than two times. That could be because Vols’ coaches started recruiting the Hoover (Ala.) High School star in 2003 before losing him that winter to the home-state Tide.

“It seems like he’s been down there forever,” Brooks said. “We talked about that when we started watching film on Sunday. We’ve been up here a long time, and seen some good ones down there, but it seems like he’s been there a long time.

You can tell he’s been around and obviously now been around this offense. He’s obviously a quality SEC quarterback.”

Wilson has never matched his proficiency from last season’s victory over the Vols, setting a career-high in passing yards and tying the Alabama record for most completions in one game.

Tide receiver D.J. Hall — by far Wilson’s favorite target the past two seasons — was so open much of the day that it was often difficult to determine which UT defensive back was assigned to guard him.

Vols secondary coach Larry Slade called it one of the most frustrating games of his career. Cornerback Marsalous Johnson’s knee injury left then-senior safety Jonathan Hefney as the only SEC-caliber veteran in the secondary, and he was hampered by turf toe.

“It was one of those deals where you were going through a transition,” Slade said. “There were things you (saw) out there and you shake your head, but you knew that they would get better as the season went on.

“It’s a little bit different this year. It’s night and day.”

UT is tied for the NCAA lead with 14 interceptions, and Berry’s five is for the individual lead.

“They’re good,” Wilson said. “There’s something to be said about knowing how to go get the ball, a defender.

“Whether it’s a fade route or throwing the ball down the field, they can break on the ball really well.”

But the Tide’s offense is more efficient and explosive, too. Wilson’s passing yardage is down, but mostly because the team’s rushing numbers have soared to a league-high 209.3 yards per game on 5.1 yards per rush.

Wilson averages barely more than 150 passing yards per game, but his touchdown-to-interception ratio has jumped from 1.5-to-1 to 2.7-to-1, and his completion percentage and efficiency ratings have received similarly significant bumps.

“Last year, he was up and down, but he’s having a great year this year,” UT defensive coordinator John Chavis said. “I’ve had opportunities in this league long enough to see you quarterbacks grow. You can tell, even at an early age in most situations, and you can have a projection of where you think they’re going to be.

“Looking at John Parker, you saw him grow from being a talented guy last year to being a guy right that’s not only talented, but also in full control of what they’re doing offensively.”

Chavis said Wilson was “operating as well as anybody” in the SEC, and Berry said he was a “very good contender” for all-conference status.

“He’s making a lot more throws, and he has a cannon for an arm,” Berry said. “I think him and (Georgia’s) Matthew Stafford kind of go in the same boat as far as quarterbacks, and how they play. They’re both very talented.”

Most NFL scouting services don’t put Stafford and Wilson on the same level, but Wilson’s had better performances against Tennessee.

“He sure looked good last year against us,” UT junior defensive end Wes Brown said.