WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsDooley waiting to make QB decision for Vandy game

By BETH RUCKER
AP Sports Writer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee coach Derek Dooley knows just having quarterback Tyler Bray on the field might create a spark for his struggling Volunteers. Just look at what Jordan Rodgers did for Vanderbilt's confidence or what Bray did for the Vols a season ago.

The Commodores "have a guy behind the center that can do stuff. It's energized the whole team just like it energized us last year," Dooley said. "I think that's the biggest difference that you see. Obviously, their coaching staff has done a great job. I don't want to minimize that. But you really saw a change in that team when their quarterback went in."

Bray returned to practice this week for Tennessee (4-6, 0-6 Southeastern Conference) after breaking the thumb on his throwing hand in an Oct. 8 loss to Georgia. The sophomore isn't throwing quite as well as he did before the injury, and Dooley said he might wait until Saturday night's pregame warmups before deciding if he'll start Bray against Vanderbilt (5-5, 2-5) rather than freshman Justin Worley.

"I'm not where I was a couple of weeks ago, but I'm getting to throw a little bit and just kind of getting back into things, kind of feel things out," Bray said. "There is still a little pain.

It's healed, but it's still going to be a little bit rusty, just being in a cast that long."

Commodores coach James Franklin has been planning for Bray, who threw 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions in five games and averaged 315.8 yards passing per game before breaking his right thumb.

"When you're able to get a guy back like that back on your roster, I think it has an effect on the coaches in terms of confidence in what they can call when you have an experienced quarterback and receivers just seem to run better routes when they got their guys, tight ends same things and the offensive line seems to protect better," Franklin said. "It'll have a spark on them for sure."

At this point, Tennessee needs any spark it can get.

The Vols need wins over both Vanderbilt and Kentucky to avoid missing out on a bowl game for just the fifth time in the past three decades. At 0-6 in the SEC, they're having arguably their worst conference season in history, and their last five losses have come at the hands of teams currently ranked among the top 15 in the nation and without Bray.

In Bray's absence, Dooley first went with senior quarterback Matt Simms and then freshman Justin Worley, who have combined for just a single passing touchdown and six interceptions. Worley has had more success moving the ball down the field, but two of his three interceptions have come within 5 yards of the end zone and at critical times.

While Dooley knows Bray could inspire some confidence among the Tennessee players after suffering a 42-point loss to Arkansas, their biggest margin of loss in 30 years, he also is worried that a rusty Bray may not be any better than Worley or Simms.

"It won't give us much juice if he goes out there and he's 2 for 9 with two picks," he said.

The Commodores have been far more confident on offense ever since Franklin settled on Rodgers as his starter and primary quarterback a month ago. They beat Army and logged a 30-point win against Kentucky, their biggest victory against the Wildcats since 1969. Vanderbilt also nearly upset Arkansas and Florida with Rodgers under center.

If the `Dores beat Tennessee, it won't be an upset, though. For just the second time since 1985 Vanderbilt is favored - by 1 ½ points - against the in-state opponent that's beaten them in 26 of the last 27 seasons.

"It's been a pretty lopsided meeting between the two schools, so anytime we have a chance to go get a win over a team in the same state it's going to be a good opportunity and it's just another game to for us to go and prove how much better we've gotten this year," Rodgers said.

A win would also mean bowl eligibility for Vanderbilt for a team that's gone bowling just four times in history, most recently in 2008 with a win over Boston College in the Music City Bowl. That hasn't been the Commodores focus, though.

"We just put it in the back of our mind. It's not there, that's not the goal. The goal is to beat Tennessee this week," Vandy defensive end Walker May said.

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AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker contributed to this story.

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