Tennessee Football: Strengths, Weaknesses and Secret Weapons

With SEC media days set to kick off this week, that means the season isn't far behind and it's time to start getting excited that this hype-fueled offseason of Tennessee football is nearly over.

The opportunity for coach Butch Jones' Volunteers to prove they're worthy of the buzz is nearing.

It's something that has everybody around Knoxville giddy with anticipation, including defensive coordinator John Jancek, who could be trotting out one of the most talented units in the entire SEC following an injury-riddled spring.

Jancek told the Knoxville News Sentinel's Dustin Dopirak (via GoVols247):

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I think the biggest thing is we've improved our overall speed on the defense. From D-Line to linebacker to our secondary, I think we have guys in position that are able to run and make some plays for us, and we have a good mix of veteran players that have been in the system now that are really helping the young guys catch on. I do see our overall speed and athleticism improving, and I think we really addressed some size issues, especially on the defensive line. ... I'm excited to see what those guys can do.

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That's pretty much echoed universally among everybody—coaches, players and fans alike—in Knoxville and around the program. The Vols are extremely young but also very talented. They also have experience and leadership in important places.

With an SEC East that appears wide open, it's time to see if Jones' team can take the next step forward from last year's 7-6 triumph in the wake of injuries, a daunting schedule and a starting lineup rife with freshmen. Less than two months from now, that journey will begin.

Let's take a look at some of UT's strengths, weaknesses and secret weapons for 2015.

Strengths

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The Duality of Dobbs

Some may say he's a wild card of sorts, but quarterback Joshua Dobbs has put together good starting stretches in each of his first two seasons on Rocky Top. His athleticism is unquestioned, and it appeared he turned a corner during a season-ending stretch that culminated with a TaxSlayer Bowl victory.

This spring, the rising junior took immense strides in his footwork and overall mechanics, which noticeably improved his accuracy. 

As if all the positive vibes coming from Knoxville in the form of praise from Jones and UT coaches and media weren't enough, the national media noticed it, too, as Dobbs traveled west to be an Elite 11 coach.

The way Dobbs has hit it off with new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord and with the improvements he already has shown under his tutelage, it's hard not to be excited. UT's offensive line may be a work in progress, but Dobbs' legs covered a lot of warts a season ago.

If his arm can match it, there's no reason to believe Dobbs' big numbers toward the end of 2014 can't translate into big performances against better competition. He's athletic, talented, intelligent and experienced. Basically, he's the kind of quarterback most teams covet.

He'll be a strength for the Vols throughout the season. If his receiving corps can overcome its struggles and live up to its ability, it'll be a big season for UT.

Defensive Depth

It may be difficult to label Tennessee's entire defense a team strength, but it's a couple of answerable question marks away from being very good on paper.

With some pretty considerable gaps last year, UT still put together a defense that was overwhelmingly better than it was in 2013. That unit was opportunistic and had special stretches that carried the team, such as the overtime session in a season-defining victory over South Carolina.

It wound up second in the SEC in opponents' third-down conversion percentage and third in sacks.

Fast-forward to this year, and the Vols return star defensive ends Curt Maggitt and Derek Barnett along with everybody behind them. They return their leading tackler in weak-side linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who appears poised for an All-SEC campaign.

On the back end, the Vols have junior stud cornerback Cameron Sutton along with two senior safeties in Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil.

Even two areas of potential weakness have talented players who just need to prove they belong. 

Last year, UT went through the season with essentially a three-man defensive tackle rotation. The Vols return starter Danny O'Brien but welcome stud prospects Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle into the mix. Add Kendal Vickers, who had a huge spring, and defensive tackle looks like it'll take a major step forward.

Despite the massive hype around McKenzie, there hasn't been anything since he arrived on campus to douse the excitement. He's expected to be a starter and a stud right away. Longtime Knoxville sports radio personality Jimmy Hyams recently tweeted a tidbit about McKenzie's weight-room prowess:

Emerging stars such as Emmanuel Moseley, Todd Kelly Jr., Rashaan Gaulden and Evan Berry made Tennessee's secondary deep and strong. Jancek told Dopirak in the story linked above:

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I think with the secondary being in pretty good shape, that will allow us to be more flexible and get more (defensive backs) on the field. You see so many spread offenses with three and four wideouts. It's important that you match up with skill. I think that's what we’re going to be able to do. Couple that with the addition of our ability of our defensive line to get a pass rush that showed continuous improvement over this past year, that's going to play a major role as we want to progress as well.

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The only real question is a big one at middle linebacker, but if UT can find a dependable player to man the middle, it's going to be a really difficult unit upon which to score.

Tennessee had success a season ago being versatile and multiple without really having all the personnel in place to do it. This year, the Vols are a lot closer to being where they need to be from a speed and talent standpoint, so if everything comes together, the group is going to be strong.

Weaknesses

Credit: 247Sports

That Pesky Middle Linebacker Conundrum

It may be difficult to say a position that features two of the most highly coveted linebackers during the past two recruiting cycles among its vying personnel is a weakness.

But the fact is nobody has stepped up to claim UT's vacant middle linebacker role yet.

For the past four years, tackle-gobbler A.J. Johnson filled that position. With him gone, there's a group of Vols trying to fill the huge shoes. 

This spring, the hope was athletic converted outside linebacker Dillon Bates could win the job, but the redshirt freshman hadn't fully recovered from season-ending surgery and was ineffective.

Fellow redshirt freshman Gavin Bryant wasn't ready to make any noise at the position, and sophomore Jakob Johnson was hurt. That left junior Kenny Bynum to enter and exit the spring as the starter though he's the least physically gifted of the bunch.

With Bates having more time to heal and with the addition of former 4-star stud Darrin Kirkland Jr., who missed spring after enrolling midterm due to a pectoral tear he suffered while working out, the Vols are going to be a lot more talented in the middle this fall.

Volquest.com's Paul Fortenberry recently said on the radio he felt like Kirkland or Bates ultimately would win the job.

There's quite a buzz surrounding Kirkland, who looks like he was formed from a cookie-cutter pattern labeled "SEC middle linebacker." He should win the job, and if he does, the Vols defense will be better for it. But until somebody surges forward, it's a weakness, plain and simple.

Blockers with an Edge

No matter how serviceable he can be at left tackle, redshirt senior Kyler Kerbyson will always be a guard forced to play the most important position on UT's line, protecting Dobbs' blind side.

That should tell you all you need to know about the Vols' offensive tackles.

There were some bright spots this spring with the emergence of redshirt sophomore Brett Kendrick, the improvement of redshirt junior Dontavius Blair and the future promise of freshman Jack Jones, but nothing is settled.

That's why when 4-star elite prospect Drew Richmond tells GoVols247's Ryan Callahan before he reported to Knoxville this summer, "I expect to start," it doesn't just sound like some cocky high schooler who is displaying the kind of unseasoned arrogance normally reserved for those his age. He really could start.

UT has talented tackles, and there are enough good players there to develop a stable rotation. Offensive line coach Don Mahoney and DeBord just have to find the right duo to start, and those two have to hold up against the Georgias, Oklahomas and Alabamas of the world.

It takes this long to recover from a depth perspective along the line when your former head coach goes an entire recruiting cycle without signing an offensive lineman the way Derek Dooley did. So now the Vols are trying to fill the gap between experience and talent.

Last year, a historically inefficient offensive line struggled from the outside in. That cannot happen again if the Vols are going to compete for the East.

Secret Weapons

Wade Payne/Associated Press

Hungry Like the Wolf

Lost in the fact that Tennessee's receivers had a disappointing 2014 followed by a spring full of struggles is that talented freshman tight end Ethan Wolf hit a wall a year ago, too.

Expect him to bust through it as a sophomore.

After netting 13 catches in the season's first three games, he had just 10 during the final nine. From his head swimming thanks to being forced into a starting role as a first-year player to battling through a high ankle sprain and other nagging injuries, Wolf had his share of ups and downs.

But at 6'5", 240 pounds and with a season behind him, Wolf will have a huge 2015.

The way Dobbs rolls out and reads through his progressions, improvising on the fly, he'll need a safety valve. Every running quarterback does. That's where Wolf's size, route running and soft hands will be utilized. 

It wouldn't be a stretch to see a lot of UT's passing game feed off Wolf. He has the ability to lead the team in catches, and with the Vols having a blossoming vertical passing game that is by no means mature yet, Wolf will thrive on dump-offs and in short-yardage situations.

He also should be much more of a weapon in the red zone than he was a season ago. That's why on the offensive side of the ball, Wolf is a no-brainer for Tennessee's secret weapon.

Primed to Shine

A season ago, Justin Coleman was an underrated cog on Tennessee's improved defense when he solidified the all-important nickelback position.

With him gone, the Vols have a major hole to fill. Thankfully for them, it appears they've got a potential rising star to fill it in sophomore Rashaan Gaulden.

After a breakout spring where he drew near-universal praise from coaches, Gaulden continues to get some positive buzz this offseason.

At 6'1", 184 pounds, Gaulden is the perfect size to play the hybrid nickel position. He is big enough to play up in the box and crunch slot receivers at the line of scrimmage, and he's athletic enough to be a playmaker in coverage. He also is smart enough to make all the perimeter lineups.

The Vols need Gaulden to shine at nickel so they don't have to do something drastic such as move Sutton to the position. He has the physical makeup, intelligence and showed the ability this spring to not only solidify the spot but to be a vital playmaker on the edge.

If he is consistent, Tennessee's secondary will be among the league's best.

All observations gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. All statistics gathered from CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information obtained from 247Sports.

Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee lead writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.