Injuries to Key Players Hurting the Vols

We’ve all heard the numerous jokes that begin with, “So a funny thing happened to me on the way to the doctor…” For the Tennessee Vols that has become the unfortunate motto of pre-season practice in ’09, except its not funny—at all!

On Saturday, Gerald Jones, the Vols top wide receiver was lost for three-to-six weeks with a high ankle sprain.

The news is, at best, devastating. Adding Jones to an injury list that already includes WRs Denarious Moore (recovering from a broken foot) and Austin Rogers (torn ACL) could prove detrimental to an offense that ranked 116th in 2008.  

The running game will surely be counted on with Hardesty, Bryce Brown, David Oku, and Tauren Poole as a steady stable of backs.

Last year’s starter at center, Josh McNeil, is scheduled for arthroscopic surgery on his left knee tomorrow morning.

The offensive line has had plenty of depth in my opinion. But losing McNeil as part of the rotation at center cannot be a good thing.

Most reports have stated the Cody Sullins had pretty much beat McNeil out for the starting nod, but McNeil is a senior leader and a stout center. 

Vols fans have to be worried about a depth chart at WR.

Quentin Hancock, who didn’t register one stat in '08, is now the apparent top choice at the position. Next in line is Brandon Warren, a converted tight end who has never played WR in a real game.

Then the Vols have sophomore Todd Campbell; three freshmen who have talent but have also never played the position against SEC competition, Nu’keese Richardson, Marsalis Teague, and Zach Rogers; and finally a redshirt freshman named Rod Wilks who was just moved back to wide receiver for the first time since his high school playing days after practicing with the safeties all preseason.

If you need a translation for the preceding paragraphs, here it is. Things are definitely not looking up on offense for the Tennessee Vols right now.

The running game with three great backs and a deep offensive line should be just fine. But Jonathan Crompton's past at QB coupled with the injuries at receiver, the passing game cannot be considered a "strength" by any stretch of the imagination.

I have felt all along that Crompton's terrible junior season was an aberration—that the change in leadership would turn his fortunes around. It's kind of hard to turn things around when the WR ranks are depleted.

Not that I expect anything less from this team record-wise. I still expect 8-4, but getting there will be a lot harder than it was going to be.

Due to the injuries, the UCLA game now becomes much harder to win. The Auburn game would fit into that same category without Gerald Jones.

It's time for someone to step up. Those highly touted freshmen will most likely become huge targets over the next few weeks.

A fact that might not bode well, as both Teague and Richardson have had trouble with penalties and missed assignments at times throughout fall practice.

At least there have been no significant, long-lasting injuries to the defense—so far. Just in case you haven’t watched Tennessee football in the last 365 days or so, defense is the least of the Vols' worries.

I don't want to be a "doom-and-gloomer" but things need to get better, and fast. The Vols need some good news between now and Sept. 5. If not, I fear the good news will be few and far between after that opening Saturday.