Tennessee Football: What You Should & Shouldn't Be Concerned About After Week 2

The Tennessee football team has already endured a bit of an early-season roller coaster in its first two games, winning a barn burner against Bowling Green before falling in double overtime against Oklahoma.

After the opener, all the concern centered around a defense that allowed 30 points to a Falcons team that is going to wind up proving to be extremely dangerous. With the way BGSU looks, that win may age like a fine wine.

Though the Vols squandered a 17-point lead against the Sooners at home, the takeaway from that game was an offense (and coaching staff) who couldn't do what it took to close the deal.

There are issues on both sides of the ball, and questionable coaching decisions to boot. Those have led some on the national media to jump off the hype train; others haven't.

But what should you really be worried about as UT takes on its first real cupcake in Western Carolina before the main course of SEC play? Is this the ranked team that entered the battle with OU or the unranked one that exited?

Let's take a look at some areas of consternation as well as facets of the Vols that don't look like issues.

What should concern you

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Psychology 101

When the Tennessee football players are wondering aloud in the postgame locker room if there is any validity to the belief that they've got to take that next step in order to learn how to win, it's a legitimate issue.

"There's a lot of truth to that," sophomore receiver Josh Smith said. "I feel like this is a young team, and the older guys have to teach that. We're going to have our time when we're clicking on all cylinders. …

"We can't just wallow in it. We've got to learn from it, remember how we're feeling and don't let it happen again. I don't want to feel this way again."

Kudos to the Vols for not sidestepping questions following a 31-24 loss to Oklahoma in double overtime in which they blew a 17-point lead with enough blunders to fill a season and a conservative playbook.

But the bottom line is UT must break through for a big win on a national stage.

They all thought they'd done it with last year's overtime victory over South Carolina and again in a domination of Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl, but there were the same old issues creeping up again against the Sooners.

Needing just one big play to ice it, everything went wrong.

After Todd Kelly Jr.'s second interception set the Vols up with field position at the OU 29, Jalen Hurd fumbled and UT wound up getting nothing.

Joshua Dobbs threw a perfect pass to a wide-open Alex Ellis for what would have been a touchdown, and the senior tight end dropped it.

A pair of defensive holding penalties on Colton Jumper on third downs extended the Sooners' game-tying touchdown drive, as did a questionable pass-interference call on Malik Foreman on what appeared to be an uncatchable ball. 

The Vols have to learn to make those big plays to win the game. Until they do, it's got to be a concern to get over the mental hurdle.

The passing game

Thus far, it's the same story from a season ago when Dobbs came in to spell an injured Justin Worley.

There's no denying the junior's dual-threat ability and his wizardry in the open field, but the Vols simply haven't developed any passing game downfield. That doomed them in an Oklahoma game where the Sooners stacked the box in the second half with no real threat that they'd get beat deep.

When that happens, you neutralize your biggest offensive asset in Hurd.

While throwing the deep ball is obviously not Dobbs' game, just the ability to hit passes 15 and 20 yards downfield would have helped beat OU. Then, when the Vols had to have a big play in the second overtime, he threw a game-ending interception.

"I think Josh would tell you there’s no take-backs, and you can’t throw the ball again, but he probably wishes he had that ball to throw over again," UT offensive coordinator Mike DeBord told GoVols247's Wes Rucker. "But you know what? I believe in Josh Dobbs, all the coaches believe in him, the players believe in him, and Josh Dobbs will make that throw next time."

Dobbs isn't having a Jeremy Johnson-type early season. He just hasn't made the big plays with games on the line.

The Alpharetta, Georgia native just has to keep developing as a passer, read through his progressions and make smart decisions. He has the arm strength to make the throws.

He also desperately needs to get Marquez North, Pig Howard and Jauan Jennings more involved in the game plan. The receivers haven't done anything to really gain separation recently and are, quite frankly, underachieving again.

Can all this be fixed? Sure it can. The Vols have the talent to make it happen. But it's a concern because it's been a concern in recent years, and it isn't resolved yet.

Coaching to win

If you're one of the fans who has already given up on Jones after Saturday night, that's more than a bit premature.

Losses such as the one against Oklahoma and last year's against Florida sting more than most because they were in-hand, but they aren't the end of the world. There's still plenty of season left, and the Vols are capable of winning big, important games.

But it also isn't unfair to say Jones and his staff need to coach better, either.

Second-guessing calls are going to happen when you squander a big lead, and that's exactly what the Vols did against the Sooners. There were some questionable declined penalties, the far-too-conservative play-calling and that puzzling decision to kick a field goal on UT's first drive on 4th-and-goal from inside the 1.

When asked in the postgame if he thought about going for it, Jones was adamant.

"No," he said. "We're looking for points. We knew it was going to be this type of game. Football's a game of momentum, and you create your own momentum. You don't what all-or-nothing plays at the beginning of the game. We just felt we needed to get on the board, get some confidence and get some points."

If that's the case, why not give the ball to your 242-pound running back on third down from the same spot on the play before? Giving it to Alvin Kamara there just begs four-down territory.

It didn't happen, and it wound up being a play most fans and media went back to grumble about.

What shouldn't concern you

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Staying legit without Maggitt

There's no denying that losing senior defensive end Curt Maggitt for an indefinite period of time is going to be a major blow for UT's defense.

But it isn't a death knell.

The biggest thing Tennessee must replace is Maggitt's on-field leadership and vocal stature, though he'll still be waving a towel from the sideline and providing emotional support and motivation in huddles. 

On the field, players such as junior linebacker and budding star Jalen Reeves-Maybin and junior cornerback Cameron Sutton have to pick up the vocal slack.

From a production standpoint, it would be dumb to say the impact won't be felt, but the Vols have plenty of defensive ends who can pick up the slack. 

Freshman Kyle Phillips will get plenty of opportunities to prove why he was one of the most sought-after edge-rushers in high school football. After a dynamic spring, he really hasn't made much of an impact on the field yet, but his opportunity is here.

He'll spell junior Corey Vereen, who sort of disappeared a season ago after a strong freshman season. When Vereen came in for Maggitt against the Sooners, he played very well and was active for the Vols, getting in on various tackles and pressuring Baker Mayfield.

Other players, such as linebacker Austin Smith and linemen LaTroy Lewis, Chris Weatherd and Dimarya Mixon, are capable of providing valuable reps that can produce impact plays.

As NFL.com's Chase Goodbread tweeted, Maggitt's injury could potentially assist offensive lines to put more focus on star pass-rusher Derek Barnett on the other side.

That may be true, but that's only if UT's depth of talent doesn't produce like it's capable of doing.

The duo is still dynamic

Inexplicably, Kamara wound up with just four yards on four carries against the Sooners when he had the ability to break out for some big gains if given the chance.

But Tennessee's coaching staff elected to ride the hot hand of Hurd, and who could blame them?

So far, the 6'3", 242-pound sophomore looks like he belongs on the upper echelon of SEC backs along with Nick Chubb, Leonard Fournette and Derek Henry. He may be just a rung lower, but he's right there.

Many of Hurd's yards come after contact, and he's turning out to be a workhorse that the Vols ride up and down the field.

Just because Kamara didn't get many opportunities versus OU doesn't mean he isn't in the long-term plans. He'll be a vital, valuable piece of this offense just as he was against Bowling Green, and he will have some big games.

If the passing game can develop any continuity at all, the Vols are going to be great running the ball up and down the field. Even though the second half against the Sooners wasn't what any UT fan wanted to see, it was more of a hiccup than a recurring concern.

Last line of defense

After that Bowling Green game, they should have sold bumper stickers that read, "Honk if you beat a Vol for a big gain."

But Tennessee righted that ship a bit against the Sooners. 

Yes, Sterling Shepard got behind Emmanuel Moseley a couple of times and scored once when Foreman slipped, but it was a completely different story for UT's defensive backs from Week 1 to Week 2.

Moseley is certainly capable of being Robin to Sutton's Batman, and once JUCO transfer Justin Martin gets more familiar with what he's doing, he has a special skill set.

With Kelly back on the field in the second game, UT looked infinitely better, and the sophomore proved he may be the next biggest star in that back level after picking off two Baker Mayfield passes.

Throw in the return of LaDarrell McNeil this week, and the Vols have plenty of talent, even though nickelback Rashaan Gaulden is out for the year.

The more they play, the better UT's secondary is going to be. The best news for the Vols is they've already played the two best passing teams on their schedule, so the numbers could get a whole lot better.

All stats gathered from UTSports.com unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information gathered from 247Sports unless otherwise noted. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted.

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