At 2-4, Tennessee coach Derek Dooley is willing to try just about anything to get the Vols back on track and that includes giving freshman QB Tyler Bray some meaningful snaps. Bray has been given mostly mop-up duties this season, but against Georgia, he was an impressive 8-of-12 for 81 yards. In Dooley’s eyes, that was enough to give Bray a chance at few snaps this Saturday against Alabama.
“We’ll figure it out,” Dooley said. “Let’s watch this week of practice and see where we go ... I don’t want to get to halftime [against Alabama] and we haven’t, but you never know how the game goes.”
Matt Simms, Tennessee’s starting quarterback, says he’s not concerned with sharing time. " ... it’s actually pushing me to practice harder and prepare more just for that little added competition going on. I love competition and I’m going to battle with whoever tries to take my job.”
Unless Simms is hurt and Bray leads a dramatic Tennessee win over Alabama in the Third Saturday in October -- something the Vols haven’t done since 2006 -- it’s unlikely the true freshman will take Simms’ job.
“Shoot, we’re going to have to do something. It’s worth a try,” receiver Gerald Jones told GoVolsExtra.com. “We’re 2-4. Why not look at somebody else?”
