WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsVols turn to Worley again, but lose Brewer for the year

Worley to make second straight start
KNOXVILLE, Tenn (UT/WRCB) -- Justin Worley didn't do much in his first career start last weekend, but he did enough to earn himself a second straight start this Saturday against Middle Tennessee State.

"He made some good throws," coach Derek Dooley said Monday. "He did some things that we felt good about and then he made some really bad decisions and some throws that he could have thrown better.

"Hopefully, we will see a little improvement in his play. I think we will. I think there were a lot of nerves out there that affected him especially early on."

The true freshman completed 10-of-26 passes for 105 yards and threw two interceptions in a 14-3 loss to the Gamecocks. Dooley said Worley had some obvious nerves early, and the team and coaches didn't do enough to help calm him down.

"He's got a good demeanor. He's not an emotional guy, but he was disappointed in how he played. He knows he didn't play well," Dooley said. "He will bounce back. We just have to do a better job of keeping it simple on him.

"We might have put too much on him as coaches and that is the first thing we always do is where did we screw up? We probably put too much on him because he gives you that confidence. He handles it in practice, but you forget what it's like when you step out there the first time."

Tennessee's target date for sophomore quarterback Tyler Bray's return is Nov. 19 against Vanderbilt. Although he has different ideas, there are questions surrounding his comeback.

"Tyler says he is coming back (for) Arkansas," Dooley said. "That's what everybody told me. How does he know? He is sitting there in a cast. The projection all along has been maybe by the Vanderbilt game. There has been no indication to challenge that, because you just don't know.

"They have to go a certain amount of time, take it out and see where it is strength wise, whether he can hold a ball or not. The key is going to be can he put pressure on the ball? How much pain (is there)? What's the risk? How's the bone healed? It's kind of week-to-week."

The reality is the Vols' offense needs him back as soon as possible. Between a combination of Worley and Matt Simms, UT has scored just one touchdown in the last three weeks.

"We've gotta find some solutions on how to score some points," Dooley said, downplaying the fact his offense has played three straight top-15 teams. "Three weeks now, what do we have, one touchdown? Doesn't matter who you play."

Vols look to regroup against MTSU after tough Oct.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee running back Tauren Poole admits thinking about how differently a few of the Volunteers' games might have turned out if they still had quarterback Tyler Bray and top wide receiver Justin Hunter in the lineup.

The senior also knows dwelling on their absence won't do anything to help the Vols (3-5) as they try to regroup against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday and salvage their chances to become bowl eligible.

Tennessee's October schedule seemed brutal enough with three straight games against opponents ranked among the top 15 teams in the nation, but the Vols ended up facing those teams without its top two offensive playmakers.

Coach Derek Dooley plans to stick with quarterback Justin Worley against MTSU, despite the freshman's struggles in a 14-3 loss against South Carolina.

Vols S Brent Brewer out for season with torn ACL
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee starting strong safety Brent Brewer has torn cartilage in his left knee and will miss the rest of the season.

The injury to the sophomore from Tyrone, Ga., is the third major one this year for the Volunteers, who entered the season with depth concerns. Top wide receiver Justin Hunter is also out for the season with a torn ACL, and quarterback Tyler Bray is recovering from a broken thumb.

Brewer had started every game this season and had 24 total tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack.

Coach Derek Dooley will shuffle the secondary lineup in his absence by moving Prentiss Waggner to safety from cornerback, a position with more depth. Free safety Brian Randolph will continue to play safety, where he's started the past two games.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.