KNOXVILLE – With the Tennessee Volunteers nearing the start of preseason football practice on Tuesday, the Times Free Press is setting the stage for a much-anticipated 2015 season with its “Five for ’15” preview series, which concludes today with a look at the biggest questions Tennessee faces this year.
1. Can the Vols stay healthy?
Injuries can derail any team in any season.
Through the recruiting efforts of head coach Butch Jones and his staff, Tennessee has leveled the playing field in terms of talent. The Vols will go into every game this season knowing the roster is good enough not only to compete but to win. That’s not been the case in recent years, when Tennessee had to punch above its weight to remain competitive.
The Vols have quality depth at some positions, but they’re probably a year away in that regard across the board.
Losing starting quarterback Josh Dobbs would be catastrophic, obviously. The dropoff beyond running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara is concerning. With Von Pearson’s suspension and Preston Williams’s eligibility in question, the Vols are walking a tight rope at receiver. And an injury to any of Tennessee’s key defensive players could hamper a promising season.
To take the step it wants, Tennessee must stay relatively healthy, starting in training camp.
2. After an offseason of hype and amid elevated expectations, can they handle the pressure?
The perception the Vols are ready to take the next step became tangible when Tennessee was picked to finish second in the Southeastern Conference’s East Division last month and landed at 25th in the opening Amway Coaches’ Poll, its first preseason ranking since 2008.
The Vols have to go out and win games now. There’s real pressure to claim eight or nine victories and compete in the SEC East, something they haven’t done in a very long time. Jones and his players have embraced all of it and used it as motivation this offseason, and now they must deliver for Tennessee supporters.
“They deserve it more than any other fan base,” defensive end/linebacker Curt Maggitt said at SEC Media Days last month. “They’ve stuck (with) us through all the hard times. It’s our opportunity. We’ve got a great opportunity this upcoming season to give them a great show and give them a great season.
“There’s definitely pressure. No matter where you are, whether it’s class, or you’re at the mall, wherever you’re at – if you’re at a ballpark – somebody’s a Vol fan. Somebody’s recognizing you and wishing you good luck and telling you how long they’ve been season-ticket holders and how it’s been passed down through the generations. We’ve got a lot of influence and impact on people’s lives, so there’s some pressure there.”
3. How good can their rushing attack be?
In 2014, Dobbs single-handedly transformed Tennessee’s ground game from predictable to powerful. In the six games he played, the Vols averaged 208.5 rushing yards, which would have been good for 35th nationally; they averaged a paltry 96.4 yards in the seven games prior to Dobbs’ insertion into the lineup. Lower sack totals with Dobbs in the backfield helped those numbers.
With Dobbs, Hurd and Kamara, new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord has a trio of talented players he can trust to generate rushing yards. The trio will need improved play from the offensive line, though.
After often being overwhelmed last season, Tennessee’s offensive line should be better, but how much improvement can the unit make in one offseason? The struggles up front handicapped the offense last year, and hopes for offensive success this season similarly hinge on the line.
Tennessee also needs its receivers to live up to their talent level to loosen up defenses – the Vols had just 13 passes of 30-plus yards last season, one less than Vanderbilt – and generate more running lanes.
4. Are Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle ready to be instant-impact defensive tackles?
The notion of three freshmen (tackles McKenzie and Tuttle and middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. were all big-time recruiting coups) forming the heart of Tennessee’s defense is concerning, particularly considering the Vols must face power-run teams like Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia.
At tackle, the Vols should have a reliable rotation with returning starter Danny O’Brien, returning contributor Owen Williams, spring-practice revelation Kendal Vickers, the now-healthy Trevarris Saulsberry and the two freshmen. Beyond O’Brien and Williams, Tennessee is unproven.
There’s talent there, particularly with McKenzie and Tuttle. Up for debate is how good they can be from their first collegiate snap.
“I don’t think there’s any secret we’re going to have to rely on some true freshmen at the defensive tackle position,” Jones said. “As we know in this league, this is an unforgiving league. They’re going to have to grow up in a hurry.
5. Can the defense become elite?
Tennessee finished 37th nationally and eighth in the SEC in total defense in 2014.
The Vols were in the top third of the league in sacks, tackles for loss and third-down defense, but they gave up too many big plays (29 covering 30 or more yards), surrendered scores on 32 of their opponents’ 34 red-zone possessions (the worst percentage in the SEC) and forced fewer than two turnovers per game.
Combine Tennessee’s pass-rushing talent with its ability and experience in the secondary, and the Vols have the potential to be very stingy against the pass and on third down. But the Vols have to be able to hold up against the run.
Even with concerns at tackle and middle linebacker, they have the chance to be very good defensively.