KNOXVILLE - Replicating its production from recent performances against Alabama's talented defense already was enough of a chore for Tennessee's offense.
Then the Volunteers had to attempt it with new guys on its offensive line.
Two lingering injuries from the loss at Texas A&M and two more early in Saturday's game meant the Vols had to turn to redshirt freshmen Venzell Boulware and Drew Richmond and true freshman Marcus Tatum against the Crimson Tide, whose loaded defensive line overwhelmed Tennessee.
"They were locked in," quarterback Josh Dobbs said of the Tennessee linemen. "They were communicating when we came off to the sideline. Definitely their mind was there for sure. These are guys that we know are going to continue to step up for us throughout the rest of the season.
"This bye week is huge for guys like that to get extra reps so we're ready to go when we start the second half of the season."
The Vols looked nothing like the offense that rolled up 498 yards against Florida and 684 against Texas A&M. Against Alabama, they mustered a paltry 163 yards, ran for only 32 and had six three-and-outs on 16 possessions, while the Tide ran for 438 rushing yards, their highest total since 1989.
"You're not even giving yourself an opportunity to be in the game," Tennessee coach Butch Jones said of the disparity.
The Tide set the tone early with three sacks and seven tackles for loss on Tennessee's first 15 plays. The early pressure impacted Dobbs, who often looked hurried on throws and downfield reads even when merely under duress. Running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara found little room to run.
"They were getting push up front and had guys in the backfield," Dobbs said, "so it's going to be tough any time that happens."
With center Dylan Wiesman out and guard Jashon Robertson available only for the protection unit on field goals and extra points, Tennessee turned to Coleman Thomas at center and Boulware, making his first start, at left guard.
In the first half left tackle Brett Kendrick left the game with an apparent ankle injury, and Richmond, who started the first two games of the season, replaced him. When right tackle Chance Hall left the game, Tennessee burned Tatum's redshirt and plugged him for his college debut.
"Marcus has worked exceptionally hard, but we had no choice," Jones said. "We're down numbers. We're depleted in the offensive line. When you look at being down Brett Kendrick and being down Jashon Robertson and being down Dylan Wiesman, the thing you can't replace is their experience. I thought our younger guys battled. They did some good things.
"I'll know a little bit more when I see the video, but it takes years to build a program and not a team. We'll continue to work at it. I'm excited to go back and watch the video and see how the individuals playing for the first time, and having the amount of volume of repetitions, how they did.
"You're playing against 22- and 23-year-old men that have been in college weight programs for two, three, four years. It's a grown man's league. We'll continue to learn from this and we'll move on."
The new-look line certainly limited the playbook for offensive coordinator Mike DeBord. The Vols were run-heavy on first down but averaged only 3.1 yards per carry on 18 first-down rushes. Tennessee's receivers struggled, too, against Alabama's aggressive defensive backs.
Tennessee averaged 8 yards to go on 16 third downs and converted only three of those into first downs.
"It's a challenge," Dobbs said. "When you're in the game, you're expected to come in and produce. We have to get back to work, keep pushing, keep improving over the off week and get those guys to continue to improve and improve as a unit as well."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.