Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs tries to slip away from Vanderbilt’s Andrew Williamson during their November game at Neyland Stadium.TAMPA, Fla. – As Tennessee practiced here Sunday for the first time in preparation for its Outback Bowl date with Northwestern, its former offensive coordinator was coaching in an NFL game just a few miles away.
The Volunteers developed a different identity and produced at a different level this season under Mike DeBord, who took over after Mike Bajakian left his post to become quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, who lost to Chicago on Sunday in the same stadium that will host Tennessee (8-4) and Northwestern (10-2) on Friday.
“There was differences between the two, obviously, just in their styles and their playcalling,” quarterback Josh Dobbs said after the Vols practiced at the University of Tampa’s Pepin Stadium. “But it was the same offense. Obviously we installed different concepts in both the run game and pass game (and) different things, but I felt like there was a lot of consistency between the two years.
“Each coordinator has their style, but overall there was a lot of consistency, and we were able to execute what was called from up top.”
Tennessee’s offense hardly was perfect this season. The passing game had its woes, particularly early in the schedule, and the inability to pick up first downs with late-game leads was notable in losses to Oklahoma and Florida and narrow wins against Georgia and South Carolina.
The Vols’ improvement, though, is hard to debate. In scoring, they went from 11th in the SEC in 2014 to third this season. In rushing yards, they went from 13th to second in the conference thanks to an 88.5-yard increase in per-game average.
“Mike DeBord,” head coach Butch Jones said, “has made us better in every facet of offensive football.”
Said Dobbs: “I think his wisdom and his knowledge of the game spread throughout all of the positions groups, and it really helped everyone improve.”
Tennessee certainly became a run-first offense under DeBord, but that’s to be expected with the personnel he had at his disposal – the elusive Dobbs and high-caliber running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara. For most of his two-year tenure, Bajakian had Justin Worley, a more traditional pocket passer, and he didn’t have Hurd until last season.
“There’s not one bit of difference, and that’s what I really liked,” wide receiver Josh Smith said. “The only real change is that DeBord loves to run the ball. He’s a powerhouse kind of guy, but you wouldn’t expect that if you met him. He’s a real down-to-earth dude, and we love him, and we’re so excited to have him here.”
Tennessee averaged nearly 30 fewer passing yards per game in 2015 than in 2014, and the inability to throw the ball effectively and consistently cost the Vols in each of their defeats.
Smith, whose high school team threw on nearly every down, admitted there are challenges when playing receiver in a run-heavy offense like Tennessee’s became this season.
“It’s different,” the sophomore said. “It’s definitely not what we’re used to, but whatever we’re challenged for, we’re going to do it. I think as long as we’re winning, it’s fine.”
Jones indicated he would look at “relative stats” when he delves into the evaluation of his program this offseason.
“When you look at scoring offense and run efficiency and rush offense and pass offense, we don’t look at stats,” he said. “We look at relative stats, and if you look at the teams we played this year, the top five teams in rushing defense, we were 90 yards over what they were giving up. That’s all relative, and when you try to evaluate where you’re at as a program, those are the things that you look at and continue to look at more when we get back to campus and I get into our offseason assessment of where we’re at as a football program.
“(DeBord’s) made us better, but really it’s a tribute to our players. They’ve worked exceptionally hard in the weight room and also on the field.”
Though he is titled as Tennessee’s quarterbacks coach, DeBord operated almost as a second offensive line coach during practices, and his emphasis there paid off as Tennessee’s offense became more physical under his watch.
“It’s been a big point of emphasis for him,” Dobbs said. “He’s come in and really preached owning the line of scrimmage, taking the ball, taking the line and dominating up front. That’s kind of the mindset we’ve had all season, and it’s really worked for us.”
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.