Obstacles That Could Prevent Tennessee from Meeting the 2015 Hype
The Tennessee hype train is chugging down the tracks, and it didn't slow down earlier this month when the SEC media predicted the Vols to finish second in the SEC East in 2015, just behind the Georgia Bulldogs.
That's lofty praise for a program that hasn't finished above .500 in the regular season since 2009, hasn't won more than seven total games since 2007 and is littered with young talent in 2015.
Cause for concern?
I don't think so.
I picked the Vols to win the division at SEC media days, love quarterback Joshua Dobbs and think the program will take a gigantic leap forward this year rather than a small step.
What could prevent that gigantic leap, though?
Offensive Line Woes
Tennessee's offensive line was a sore spot last year, as the Vols—who returned no starters up front—gave up the most sacks in the conference (43), most tackles for loss (101) and played a part in Tennessee producing the second-worst rushing attack in the conference (146.38 yards per game).
That line actually did get a little better as the year went on, specifically when Dobbs became the starting quarterback in the Alabama game.
Still, it's going to have to take tremendous steps forward in 2015 if the Vols are going to be legit contenders.
"We can't just be a year older, we have to be a year better," head coach Butch Jones said at SEC media days earlier this month. "That's a responsibility of the coaching staff and every football player in our program."
The Vols do return four starters off of last year's offensive line—tackle Kyler Kerbyson, center Mack Crowder, and guards Marcus Jackson and Jashon Robertson. The one thing that helps an offensive line more than anything is the time needed to develop the familiarity and continuity needed to be consistent up front.
On top of that, strong recruiting classes over the last few years have helped Jones build depth and develop backups who can push the entrenched starters.
"I've been very encouraged with the overall development of our offensive line," Jones said. "For the first time since we have been at Tennessee, we were able to walk out of spring practice and have two full lines of scholarship players. So the overall development and maturation of that group has come a long way, and we have the competitive depth now that's needed."
Age is only a number, though. If Tennessee is going to be a legit contender, the offensive line has to be more consistent, protect Dobbs and continue the evolution it showed between the end of the regular season and the team's bowl game.
Dobbs Has to Stay Healthy
The Tennessee offense changed for the better when Dobbs inherited the starting job from Justin Worley, after Worley's shoulder injury caused him to hang up his cleats midway through the season.
Dobbs had planned on redshirting, but threw for 1,206 yards, tossed nine touchdowns, rushed for 469 yards and scored eight more times on the ground over the final six games to kick-start the offense.
Behind him, though, there's an incredible amount of uncertainty.
The four other quarterbacks on the roster—Quinten Dormady, Sheriron Jones, Zac Jancek and Jauan Jennings—are all true freshmen with no snaps under their belts.
"One of the unproven areas of our football team is who our No. 2 quarterback is going to be," Jones said. "We know it's going to be a true freshman. Josh [Dobbs] has done a great job of trying to mentor our young quarterbacks. Having Quinten Dormady enroll early helped him move forward and get the comfort level with his teammates and the offense."
It was clear last year that Jones isn't afraid to let Dobbs take off, which will put him at even more risk than traditional quarterbacks. That makes the backup quarterback position critical on Rocky Top.
Dobbs can make a run for the Heisman if the offense comes together, but can Jones really trust a freshman? I don't think so, especially if the offensive line doesn't take a giant leap forward.
Big-Play Bug Lingers
Tennessee has a tremendous foundation on the defensive side of the ball, with seven of eight starters on the two-deep defensive line returning—including end Derek Barnett, a solid linebacking corps led by Jalen Reeves-Maybin and first-team All-SEC hybrid stud Curt Maggitt and a veteran secondary led by second-team All-SEC corner Cam Sutton.
The work of those established stars helped propel the Vols to the SEC's second-best third-down defense last year (34.31 percent). However, the Vols gave up 29 plays of 30 or more yards—tied for the third-most in the conference.
That has to change, and a big part of that stability will be created by the veteran leaders of John Jancek's defense.
Veterans have to evolve, and youngsters like tackles Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie need to provide some quality depth up front to help get quarterbacks off of their point and disrupt opposing offenses.
"[Tuttle and McKenzie] are going to need to fit in immediately," Jones said. "Defensive tackle is one of those unproven areas on our defense on our football team. We get Danny O'Brien back from offseason surgery, so that will be great. An individual who's had a great spring is Kendal Vickers. He came in [to Tennessee] under 230, and is up to 287 pounds right now and has invested in his body. We have to bring along those two freshmen in Kahlil and Shy. They're going to be critical in the success of our defense."
If the Vols can get pressure up front, it will help Sutton, safeties Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil and the rest of the veterans at the back end keep the big plays away. If the big-play bug stays in Knoxville, it could be what prevents Tennessee from taking that gigantic leap.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. 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.
Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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