The Tennessee receiving corps is missing something.

It’s not a go-to guy James Banks has grabbed that role, leading the team in touchdowns and receiving yards.

It’s not options ten different receivers have caught a pass this season.

It’s consistency.

There are some things we’re doing that guys have never done before, Clausen said following the offense’s listless performance against Duke. We had a lot of opportunities early. Physically you’re gonna make mistakes, but mentally we’re not as sharp as we need to be.

The missing sharpness has led to a lack of identity in the UT passing game, Clausen said. The Vols have seen several wide receivers step up one week and fall aside the next.

Junior Tony Brown said the inconsistency is a result of Tennessee’s offensive system, not bad play.

It depends on which defense you’re playing, what position your at, Brown said after leading the team with four catches for 68 yards against the Blue Devils. That week most likely you’ll get the ball.

This week it was me.

Prior to the Duke game, the player usually getting the ball was Banks, but dropped balls (five against Bama) and opponents’ defensive schemes had Clausen looking elsewhere Saturday.

Right now James is definitely our big play guy, Sanders said. (Duke) had a plan to take him away a little bit … they basically just double-covered him most of the game.

Someone else has to step up and make those plays happen.

Freshman Jayson Swain showed potential early in the season against Marshall, leading the team in yards against the Thundering Herd. Swain repeated with a strong showing against Florida.

But after catching seven passes in the Vols first three games, the youngster has only six receptions in the last five.

Fellow freshman Bret Smith also gave the Vols hope of a deep threat after a 57-yard touchdown catch against the Gators.

He’s only got one other catch on the season, though.

In the Auburn game, sophomore Chris Hannon led the team in yards and snared a few key catches late in the game. But since those five catches and 95 yards against the Tigers, Hannon has caught only five balls in the last three games.

Clausen said the discrepancies are due to each receiver’s niche in the system.

Our offense is based on a progression and trying to hit the open guy, Clausen said. Obviously, there is not one guy I try to focus on or try to get the ball to every play.

Each guy does a certain thing well. That’s our job is to put them in situations where they feel comfortable.

Some of the members of the Vols’ receiving corps have apparently had trouble finding that comfort. Junior Derrick Tinsley and sophomore Jomo Fagan both contributed to the Tennessee offense last season, but have a combined four catches on the season.

Tinsley has had the largest drop off after recording 20 catches in 2002.

Nevertheless, Sanders said the offense will continue to take advantage of all its weapons. And with only one senior (Mark Jones) among the current group of Vol receivers, the group shouldn’t be cause for worry in the future, according to Sanders.

By the time these guys are juniors or seniors, I expect them to be one of the better groups we’ve had here, he said.