Tennessee Football: Complete 2015 Spring Practice Primer
The last team to kick off spring practice might be the most interesting this spring.
The Tennessee Volunteers, fresh off of a 7-6 campaign and a bowl win over Iowa in their first bowl appearance since 2010, take the field Tuesday with hope, talent and youth ready to shine on Rocky Top.
Are the Vols contenders or pretenders? There's firepower on both sides of the ball, but head coach Butch Jones, as B/R Tennessee Lead Writer Brad Shepard notes, is dealing with a laundry list of injuries this spring.
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What to Watch on Offense
It's all about the offensive line.
The Vols were inconsistent up front in 2014 as Jones broke in five new starters. The good news, though, is that four of those starters—center Mack Crowder, tackle Kyler Kerbyson, and guards Marcus Jackson and Jashon Robertson—return, although Jackson will miss spring practice.
What's the cure for the offensive line blues? Time, and the experience the starters gained last year coupled with an entire offseason of development will help them develop the trust that's necessary to win at an elite level.
As for the vacant tackle position, keep an eye on Dontavius Blair. The 6'8", 300-pounder redshirted last year after transferring from Garden City (Kansas) Community College and is battling for the job this spring up front.
"Tremendous opportunity," Jones said of Blair in quotes emailed by Tennessee. "And we won't really know until the pads go on. Playing offensive line is like a fist-fight in a phone booth although kids don't know what a phone booth is today, so I had to educate them what a phone booth is. But you know, the fine details, the fundamentals, the quick thinking part of it, the toughness, mentally, physically that goes into it."
The rest of the offense is basically set.
| 2013 | 72-for-121 | 59.5 | 695 | 2 | 6 | 189 | 1 |
| 2014 | 112-for-177 | 63.3 | 1,206 | 9 | 6 | 469 | 8 |
| Career | 184-for-298 | 61.7 | 1,901 | 11 | 12 | 658 | 9 |
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs won MVP honors in the TaxSlayer Bowl win over Iowa when he accounted for three touchdowns (two rush, one pass). That's important, because for the first time in his career with the Vols, Dobbs received true first-team snaps in a camp-like setting leading up to that game, and he now has an entire offseason of the same to get even better.
Plus, he has plenty of help at the skill positions.
Jalen Hurd will be non-contact this spring, according to a release from Tennessee, which means junior college transfer running back Alvin Kamara will get plenty of experience within the system this spring. Hurd's injury is a blessing in disguise, because Kamara will act like the No. 1 back this spring, which gives Jones two true No. 1 backs once toe meets leather this fall.
"I see an individual who is very elusive, very light footed, very quick and explosive," Jones said of Kamara in quotes emailed by Tennessee. "I am really excited to see what he can do when we get the pads on and get the ball in his hands. But I have been very impressed. Not only with his work ethic and his mentality but also the way he has come into our football program."
Wide receiver Jason Croom will miss spring and Marquez North will be limited, but there are still plenty of wide receivers for Dobbs to work with. Pig Howard and Von Pearson—the Vols' two leading returning receivers—are back, along with potential superstar Josh Malone and the ultra-reliable Josh Smith.
If Tennessee can get consistency up front, this offense is going to be terrifying.
What to Watch on Defense
Depth issues have ravaged the Vols up front this spring, as star defensive end Derek Barnett, fellow defensive ends Corey Vereen and Kyle Phillips, defensive tackle Danny O'Brien and hybrid defensive end/linebacker Curt Maggitt are all either out or limited this spring, which presents a numbers problems up front for the Vols.
"We really only have five true healthy defensive linemen, and not only does that hurt your development as a defense, but it really sets back your development as an offense in terms of our offensive line and being able to play football, play situational football and do the things that it takes to really develop an identity and develop a football team in the spring," Jones said in quotes emailed by Tennessee.
That could be a blessing in disguise.
Early enrollee defensive end Andrew Butcher and defensive tackle Shy Tuttle will earn valuable reps in their first practice sessions, and junior LaTroy Lewis and sophomore Dimarya Mixon will also get looks with the first team.
"Now is your time," Jones said in the release. "I told them that in our team meeting last night. This is a big, big spring for Dimarya Mixon. We moved him back to defensive end, his natural position. LaTroy Lewis, he has been in our football program now for a number of years, he will never have a better opportunity than what he is presented with this spring."
If the defensive line can evolve into a strength this spring, that will give Jones and defensive coordinator John Jancek the depth necessary to compete at an elite level this fall once injured players get healthy and incoming defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie arrives on campus.
At linebacker, the Vols are loaded with potential stars including the versatile Maggitt, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, edge threat Chris Weatherd, sophomore Jakob Johnson and Dillon Bates, who is back after a torn labrum cut his 2014 campaign short.
"He will be day-to-day, but Day 1, he's full go, 100 percent," Jones said in quotes emailed by Tennessee. "Dillon is very instinctful, but he is also a very intelligent player. We will mix him around at the 'Mike' spot and also the 'Will' spot as well."
The secondary should be a strength, with veteran safeties Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil being joined by superstar corner Cam Sutton, sophomore Emmanuel Moseley and a host of reserves who could push the starters for playing time. Watch this group this spring because while most won't talk about it, it could develop into one of the best secondaries in the SEC.
Freshman to Keep an Eye On
True freshman early enrollee Andrew Butcher.
The 6'2", 245-pound freshman from Alpharetta, Georgia, is strong, polished and fully capable of making an immediate impact on Rocky Top.
What's more, the injuries up front will give him plenty of reps this spring as he develops into a rotational player this fall.
"Now go take advantage of your hard work," Jones said in quotes emailed by Tennessee. "So I am excited to see what these guys can do. With Andrew Butcher coming in, is another individual who is going to get premium repetitions. So this is going to be a great opportunity for everyone at the spot."
Butcher likely won't be a starter, but he's a monster off the edge and technically sound enough to be an every-down end right off the bat. That will undoubtedly earn him playing time and will help the Vols if injuries ravage the defensive line again this fall.
Coach Jones' Toughest Task
Managing the injuries.
The list of players who are out this spring reads more like a novel than a press release, which will make it hard for Jones and his staff to get true reps for this players on a practice-to-practice basis.
"I want it to be extremely competitive, but we may have to back off as spring ball continues to progress," Jones said in the release. "We have thought about all of that, and there is always a plan in place. But we never want to be on the football field, total of more than two hours, and that includes stretch, that includes walk-thru, that includes everything."
Not only must the staff keep an eye on everybody and keep them fresh, but they have to make sure that the players who are banged up don't stay out there out of a numbers necessity and take an unnecessary health risk.
If Jones and the Vols stay healthy this spring and continue to develop, a run to the SEC East title this fall won't be too far behind.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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