HOOVER, Ala. -- For the record, Eric Berry not only can do it but he would love to do it.
Play 100 snaps a game, half of them as quarterback. Physically, mentally, sensationally, he is on board.
"I believe I could," said Tennessee's All-American safety.
He won't because, well, there really is no good reason. The actual quarterback, Jonathan Crompton, has the reliability of a '85 Yugo. The offense last season was one of the worst in Tennessee history and probably won't be much better this season.
No reason to be gentle here: What's there to lose?
The program needs to get better. Now. Lane Kiffin didn't sign a quarterback in his first recruiting class, choosing to go after the top 2010 prospects rather than take the leftovers from the '09 class. Berry is most likely headed to the NFL after this season. He is one of the program's best athletes and is willing to play both ways.
Anyone remember Charles Woodson?
"They haven't told me yet," Berry said when asked about the team's offensive plans for him. "They're in their evil laboratory trying to figure it out. They're coming up with some stuff."
Kiffin immediately shot down the idea of a two-headed Berry on Friday at the conclusion of the SEC media days. He mentioned something about it taking away from Berry's defense. So when did Coach K get so conservative? His anything-goes ad campaign is supposed to get Tennessee on the tongues of every recruit from here to Seattle. Now he's pulling back. How lame, Kiffin.
"If you take all that practice time away from Eric, who is a great leader for us, who is a great player for us, who is potentially a top-five pick in the NFL ...," Kiffin said. "No. 1, that's not fair to him. No. 2, you're not developing the other guys."
When did learning a new defense become calculus for an All-American?
It can be done, and it wouldn't be that hard. Berry was a 1,000-1,000 guy as a high school quarterback. Steve Spurrier used to win alternating quarterbacks. The less of Crompton this season at Tennessee, the better.
Berry already has proven he can play in any defense. He is 15 yards away from breaking the NCAA career record for career interception return yardage. Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin is installing a variation of his famed Tampa 2. Berry is going to make his plays on that side of the ball.
"He's like the guru of football," Berry said of Monte.
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| 'They're in their evil laboratory trying to figure it out,' Vols safety Eric Berry says. (Getty Images) |
Does Kiffin want to gamble on the economy or keep the trash-talking momentum going? A dual purpose serves Tennessee's purpose. Let's face it, as distasteful as it might sound to some, Berry could be Tennessee's Tebow.
"I'm very worried about the team and getting back to where we need to be," Berry said.
Sure, Berry had offseason shoulder surgery, but he's also well rested, having sat out the spring in order to recuperate. Think of what he could do as a dual-threat quarterback who fancies himself as a poor man's Pat White. He was an excellent high school quarterback. Last season he rushed seven times for 37 yards as a change-of-pace Wild Hog type.
"I think I'll be back there a little bit," Berry said. "I would love to do that. Who wouldn't want to do that? Linemen want to carry the ball at least once."
In case you haven't noticed, Berry and Tim Tebow are the two most dominant players in the SEC. Tebow is going for his second Heisman. Tennessee plans a big Heisman push for Berry. They're getting it wrong if their best player isn't allowed to play both ways. Twelve years ago it took the two-way abilities of Woodson to make him the first defender to win the award.
Tennessee types are painfully aware of that. Berry could be their revenge for the "snub" of Peyton Manning.
"Just hearing that they wanted to push the campaign for me, that made me feel good," Berry said. "I was all for it."
You'll get enough of Berry for Heisman before the season starts. How about Berry for Half The Time -- at quarterback?
mattj 
