Vols need Marquez North to buck his trend

photo Tennessee's Marquez North (8) loses control of a pass in the end zone as Florida's Jalen Tabor (5) defends.

KNOXVILLE - Marquez North would like to break the trend he created in the season's first half.

The Tennessee receiver caught a touchdown pass in every other game through the first six games of the Volunteers for the season, and after going up and grabbing a first-quarter touchdown on a fade pattern for a score against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga last week, it would appear to be North's turn to miss the end zone at third-ranked Ole Miss.

Of course, if Tennessee finds itself in the red zone in Oxford on Saturday night, chances are the Vols will call for quarterback Justin Worley to toss up a fade for North as they have the past two games.

"That's his game," receivers coach Zach Azzanni said following Wednesday's practice. "You know, I think I heard someone on the radio say that, 'Coach Azzanni wasn't using Marquez North the right way.' My wife told me that one. It has nothing to do with that.

"When your number's called, you go make a play. He's had a lot of opportunities, and he made some and hasn't made some. He's going to get plenty more opportunities as well."

North leads Tennessee in catches (25), yards (240) and touchdowns (four), but he and freshman Josh Malone have practiced this week in non-contact jerseys. Josh Smith remains out with a high ankle sprain, and Von Pearson continues to work his way back from a similar injury.

The Vols got nice performances from Johnathon Johnson and Jason Croom against UTC, but they'll need North and everyone else against Ole Miss and its ball-hawking secondary.

The Rebels lead the SEC in interceptions and will play the kind of man-to-man coverage that gave Tennessee's receivers some problems in the loss to Florida.

"Their secondary," Vols offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian said, "really sets the tone for them."

Added Azzanni: "When they do get in your face, they're in your face."

That means Tennessee's wideouts will have to help Worley better than they did against the Gators a couple of weeks ago.

"We've got to paint pictures for him," Azzanni said. "If he does have a little less time for whatever reason -- a team brings pressure -- we have to be where we're supposed to be. He can't be guessing. We've got to go paint great pictures, and on scramble drills, we've got to be great, which everyone else in the country has to do."

Good Bo

Bo Wallace threw 30 interceptions to go with 40 touchdown passes during his first two seasons as the Ole Miss starting quarterback, and the senior tossed a trio of picks in the first half of the season opener against Boise State.

In SEC play, though, Wallace in turnover-free, and half of his six touchdown passes against conference opponents came in the 24-17 win against Alabama.

"He really played well in that Alabama game," Vols defensive coordinator John Jancek said. "Some of the throws that he made and, at the end of the game, delivering like he did, I know is a big boost for his confidence. He's been making those plays ever since then. [At] Texas A&M, he picks up a big third-and-8, dives over a couple guys and keep the chains moving.

"That's really been his M.O. I think that's the mark of a great quarterback: A guy that can keep the chains moving. He's not getting 40-, 50-yard runs, but he's getting enough to keep you off balance and pick up first downs."

Berry time

With Devrin Young (ribs) sidelined for a couple of weeks, freshman defensive back Evan Berry will assume the senior's role as a kick returner after his 68-yard return on his first touch of the ball against UTC last week.

"He certainly did a nice job this past weekend, and we're expecting him to play a role for us in that capacity this weekend and in the future," special teams coordinator Mark Elder said.

"He's been someone that we've been repping in the return game the last handful of weeks and has done a nice job, and when his number was called, he did a nice job this weekend."

Not into numbers

Tennessee ranks fourth in the SEC in total defense and among the national leaders in tackles for loss, but Jancek is uninterested in the number showing the Vols' improvements on that side of the ball.

"We're not really paying attention to any of the statistical data," he said. "We're gonna wait till the end of the season and catch our breath and look at all those things, whether it's good or bad. From week to week, you've got to be ready to play.

"It's a new season in itself, and you've got to prepare each week one at a time."

On the O-line

Despite Tennessee giving up 11 sacks in its last two games, Bajakian said he is seeing small improvements by the Vols' maligned offensive line.

"A guy like Jashon Robertson and Coleman Thomas and all those guys," he said, "are gaining valuable experience communicating on every snap, communicating better and seeing more and more schematically from each opponent we play."

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