Tennessee Football: 5 Biggest Offseason Goals for the Volunteers
During much of the past decade, the Tennessee football program had so many needs in the offseason to compete for championships that they could be sorted by chapters rather than checklists.
Now, after three progressive years under coach Butch Jones, the Volunteers appear only to need to hone some things to be in position to battle the SEC's top programs for the conference title in 2016.
An upperclassmen-laden roster full of talent, former top-shelf recruits, depth (finally) and bolstered by the return of Cameron Sutton, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Alvin Kamara looks ready to return UT to contention.
Getting to nine wins in 2015 means considerable buzz in the months between now and the season's start, and the Vols will be trendy picks for the SEC East. But they can't worry about all that.
Among Jones' mantras that have become cliches to Tennessee fans over his tenure include preaching about getting "1 percent better" every day and how the "power of one" player working toward team goals can lead to a team accomplishing its goals.
So, what are the things the Vols need to focus on most between now and early September?
As the final weeks before national signing day morph into spring practice followed by the offseason strength and conditioning program, the Vols should have a narrower list of improvements to make than at any time in Jones' time in Rocky Top.
Let's take a look at a few things that need to be on that list in order to help UT take yet another step forward.
Close Strong in Recruiting
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The lifeblood of any program is recruiting, and Jones has consistently landed top-notch classes during his time at Tennessee.
This year's haul won't be quite as impressive numbers-wise or rankings-wise as the past two, but with a strong close, the Vols could accomplish pretty much everything they needed to in this cycle. The biggest goal after recruiting classes full of immediate contributors the past two years is to build depth.
More developmental prospects are present among the 17 players in the Vols' 21st-ranked recruiting class than in the past two, but the ceilings are high for players such as quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, running back Carlin Fils-aime and offensive tackles Ryan Johnson, Marcus Tatum and Nathan Niehaus, among others.
The Vols filled big needs with JUCO recruiting in signing defensive tackle Alexis Johnson, wide receiver Jeff George and defensive back Desmond Henderson. Mid-term-enrolled cornerback Marquill Osborne can play right away, too. But more needs remain.
Receivers, quarterback, linebackers and tight ends are several positions UT solidified in this class, but the class is still a bit short on star power, and the Vols can rectify that in the remaining three or four spots available.
The biggest target remaining on the board is Peachtree Ridge (Georgia) High School defensive back Nigel Warrior, who is versatile enough to play safety, nickelback or cornerback and has been a key recruit for the Vols throughout this entire cycle. He remains undecided.
JUCO defensive end Jonathan Kongbo would solidify Tennessee's defensive line, and getting a high school defensive tackle such as Derrick Brown, Chris Daniels or Tyler Clark would be big, too.
Miami commit Tyler Byrd is scheduled to visit UT next week, and that would be a huge coup this late in the game. Offensive guard Landon Dickerson is another player who could help the Vols fortify an offensive line that looks to be in strong shape for the future.
A few more players remain on the board, but those are the biggest targets. If the Vols could close with three or four of those guys, it'll turn a nice, need-based class into another really strong one.
Establish a Two-Deep Depth Chart in the Secondary
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Leading into the '15 season, people expected the secondary to be one of the biggest strengths on Tennessee's football team.
But adversity struck the Vols even before the season began with starting nickelback Rashaan Gaulden being lost for the season with a foot injury, causing the team to go into scramble mode, inserting Malik Foreman at a position he hadn't played for long.
Then, the year began even more bizarrely with defensive backs coach Willie Martinez suspended for the season opener due to a recruiting violation (per the Tennessean's Matt Slovin) and UT torching Bowling Green in a season-opening win.
Throughout the first half of the year, UT's secondary was borderline awful. Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield shredded it in a second-half comeback, then Florida's Will Grier converted fourth down after fourth down in leading the Gators to a comeback win.
As the season progressed, however, the Vols found their sea legs. Foreman began to play at a high level, Sutton shook off an early-season slump and began to look like his all-conference self, and some young guys started playing better.
Now, it again looks like UT should be strong on the back end of its defense in '16. But, again, there are questions.
Senior safeties Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil are gone, so UT must replace two of the three players in the regular rotation from last season.
Todd Kelly Jr. is essentially a starter who'll be in that role full time next year. Kick-return phenom Evan Berry should settle in at safety, and Gaulden should slide back a level to safety with Foreman playing so well at nickelback.
Sutton's return solidifies a starting spot at corner, but a group of Osborne, Henderson, Justin Martin, Emmanuel Moseley and others must play at a higher level for the Vols to reach potential in the secondary.
There is a ton of talent back there, even more than last season. If you throw a guy like Warrior into the mix, too, the Vols only get better. Martinez has weapons, and he has plenty of versatility. With new coordinator Bob Shoop's expertise being in the secondary, that should help UT turn a corner.
It could be an exciting year for the Vols' defensive backs, but they've got to define roles throughout the spring and offseason.
Find a Left Tackle and Solidify the Line
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One of the most underrated losses from 2015 will be starting left tackle Kyler Kerbyson. The fifth-year senior from Knoxville wasn't always the flashiest player, and he played most of his career out of position, but the guard-by-trade had an excellent final season on Rocky Top.
He solidified a line that desperately needed leadership.
Now, the Vols must replace him. They've certainly got the talent to do so, but potential doesn't always equal production.
Leading the list of possible replacements is former blue-chip recruit Drew Richmond, who redshirted in '15. He was one of the most coveted offensive tackles throughout the Southeast, and after being a signing day coup for Jones, he had to wait his turn.
That time is now, and he'll battle Brett Kendrick and a bunch of young freshmen to replace Kerbyson.
The rest of the line looks strong on paper, but a lot of guys must get stronger in the weight room. Though veterans such as All-SEC guard Dylan Wiesman, guard Jashon Robertson, center Coleman Thomas and tackle Chance Hall should be locks at starting spots, the rotation behind them is blurry.
Hall could take a huge leap forward after an offseason working out. Guys such as Jack Jones, Venzell Boulware and Charles Mosley have major opportunities to break into the rotation and even battle for roles if they get bigger and stronger. Jones is an ideal candidate to be able to provide quality depth across the line.
It's hard to believe that just two seasons ago in 2014, UT's offensive line was in dire straits, easily the weakest link on the entire team. But the addition of offensive coordinator Mike DeBord and his emphasis on coaching that position helped considerably.
Offensive line coach Don Mahoney had a little more experience to work with, too.
Now, the Vols have talent and depth. They were able to recruit three tackles who should help down the road in this cycle, and the future looks bright. If they make the same strides this offseason as they did prior to the '15 campaign, the offensive front should be one of the biggest strengths on a good team.
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Develop the Passing Game Across the Board
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Some people love to point at Tennessee's lack of wide receiver development under passing game coordinator Zach Azzanni as the culprit for the Vols' lackluster performance in the passing game during the past two years.
Others accurately point out that Joshua Dobbs isn't consistently accurate throwing downfield, and that's a hindrance to striking a balance offensively as well.
Both sets of arguers are right.
The bottom line is Tennessee needs to improve every facet of the passing game between now and the start of the 2016 season if it is going to return to a championship-caliber program.
Good defenses will gear up to stop the run, and when they do, the Vols must be able to turn to their senior quarterback and a group of talented receivers to get them through those times. If they can't, the ceiling for this team under Dobbs isn't nearly as high.
Jones, DeBord and every Tennessee fan out there should be thrilled to have a veteran signal-caller returning to lead the offense. Dobbs is big, fast, strong and smart. He has plenty of ability to improve throwing the ball, and he should do that between now and then.
If he does, this offense gets even more dangerous.
But who is he going to throw to?
His buddy, Marquez North, won't be around as a senior after he shockingly declared for the NFL draft following a cut-short career that never lived up to massive expectations. Bleacher Report's Matt Fitzgerald noted North's NFL potential in a recent column:
"For whatever he lacked in college production, though, at least North went up against SEC competition and thus is more equipped to handle the caliber of athleticism at the NFL level than most prospects. In terms of measurable attributes, North checks all the boxes pro personnel scouts will be looking for too. He boasts a 6'3", 229-pound frame, has excellent ball skills and leaping ability and has a penchant for acrobatic catches.
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The Vols also lost Von Pearson and Johnathon Johnson, and they've got to find some dependable replacements.
Leading receiver Josh Malone returns, but he has to get more consistent and physical. Junior Josh Smith shows flashes of brilliance and needs more targets, and the sophomore duo of Jauan Jennings and Preston Williams has elite potential.
Vincent Perry is a name to watch after a redshirt season, and the Vols brought in a group of young targets with varying skill sets that they should utilize in their speed-based offense. But it's essential that a couple of guys step up as reliable targets for Dobbs.
Also, UT must develop the heir apparent to Dobbs as he enters his final season. Quinten Dormady, Sheriron Jones and Guarantano will be in battle to be the next quarterback to sit at the helm of the Vols. All are capable, but they must continue to improve.
There's a lot that has to get better for the Vols to surge in the passing game. If Dobbs can take a Dak Prescott-like leap throwing the ball, it will only make his running ability—as well as that of Jalen Hurd and Kamara—more dangerous.
If he doesn't, UT is going to have to work magic around being one-dimensional again.
Schematic Surges
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There should be plenty of excitement on both sides of the football as numerous UT veterans should have confidence in their schemes.
On offense, entering year two under DeBord, improvements must be made (see the last slide), but there's also plenty of excitement. Dobbs, Hurd and Kamara make a special trio, and the offensive line has the potential to be really good. Any time you are able to run the football with authority, wins follow.
As much as DeBord likes to run, the Vols should be in a good position to rack up a lot of yards on the ground in 2016.
However, they need to diversify their scheme even more. DeBord should be a film junkie this offseason, absorbing as many things as he can from teams everywhere to add wrinkles and differing elements for the Vols to utilize all their talent.
Running out of an offset I formation was an exciting development in an Outback Bowl blowout win over Northwestern. With Kamara returning, DeBord must find even more ways to get the electrifying playmaker in position to make big gains, whether it be in handoffs, swing passes or lining him up in the slot.
There's plenty UT needs to do to move away from play-calling that was pretty vanilla last season. It has the players to do it, and DeBord needs to open his mind and further open the offense.
Expect that to happen, as he seemed more and more confident and comfortable with his weapons as 2015 progressed.
On defense, parting ways with coordinator John Jancek was a gamble, but the Vols upgraded with Shoop's hiring. It isn't as if they're making some big schematic change—they'll stay in the 4-3 base—and, if anything, Shoop's style better matches UT's personnel.
Expect the Vols to still run a lot of nickel packages, but when they line up with three linebackers, that third guy needs to be able to excel against the pass. That's why players like Quart'e Sapp, Dillon Bates and Cortez McDowell should see an exciting opportunity moving forward.
Somebody like hybrid linebacker Austin Smith (who would have played a role more like Curt Maggitt did) will probably play a lot more at defensive end in Shoop's scheme.
The Vols should be multiple and even more versatile under Shoop, who loves to dial up blitzes and bring pressure. With all the speed UT has recruited defensively, it looks like a match made in heaven on paper, and with all the veterans returning, it's a perfect situation for the Vols not to miss a beat.
Spring practice will be huge for working out the kinks in understanding Shoop's defensive calls, personnel sets and the intricacies of calling plays and terminology. Once they get that stuff ironed out, it could be a big season for the Vols defense.
All quotes and information gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information gathered from 247Sports unless otherwise noted.
Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee lead writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.
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