by Chris Paschal

No team in the SEC East has more talent than the Tennessee Volunteers. No team in the SEC East has a longer tenured coach than the Volunteers.

No team in the SEC East has a returning quarterback who started every game last year, except for Tennessee.

Take a deep breath Tennessee fans. I know y’all are about as excited as a hipster in a Starbucks inside of a Whole Foods, but you have to get past two huge hurdles before making your triumphant return to Atlanta. First, is your vertical passing game. Second, is your schedule. I think the first can be masked, somewhat. There is no getting around the schedule, however. Is Tennessee deep enough, especially along the line of scrimmage to get through a daunting schedule?

Preseason Preview: Tennessee

Record: 10-2 (6-2) 

Yes, Tennessee will finally beat Florida this year. No, they will have to wait another year or two to beat Alabama. I also think this schedule has another loss in it for Tennessee. I think they will handle Florida at home, slug out a close win in Athens against the Georgia Bulldogs, but slip up at Texas A&M, or at South Carolina, or maybe even against a reinvigorated Virginia Tech Hokie team.  

Vols’ Biggest Strengths: 

The Running Game: Tennessee has a three headed monster in the backfield, which is what you need in the SEC these days, but especially with Tennessee’s offense. Tennessee had the best rushing attack in the SEC last year (you heard me LSU, Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas fans).

It all starts with Jalen Hurd. The two complement each other perfectly. There is not a lot of East and West running with Hurd once he attacks the hole in Tennessee’s zone rush attack, and at 240 pounds, once he attacks the line of scrimmage it is hard to stop him.

While Hurd does have a surprisingly agile and explosive nature once he hits the second and third level, the real lighting to Hurd’s thunder is Alvin Kamara. Not only is Kamara a great running back, but he is also a great receiving option and is utilized in many different ways within the Vol offense. Throw in Quarterback, Joshua Dobbs, and Tennessee has the best returning rushing attack in the SEC. Between the three of them they combined for over 2,657 rushing yards last year, and with Tennessee’s offensive line continuing to improve, they should be poised to have a great season this year.

The Back Seven on Defense: Tennessee has a championship worthy set of linebackers and defensive backs. It all starts with two returning seniors: linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and cornerback Cameron Sutton. Both are highly regarded NFL Prospects and should have All-SEC performances their senior years. Outside of these two household/double wide names in Eastern Tennessee, you have to look at Evan Berry, little brother of Vol’s legend Eric Berry. Berry is a threat to score anywhere on the field.  Joining Berry at the other safety spot is Todd Kelly, Jr. He is a former five star prospect from Knoxville and is poised to have a breakout season.

Biggest Concerns: 

The Passing Game: The Vols ranked 92nd nationally in passing yards per game last year. This year, if Tennessee is to make the next step in their maturation as a football program it starts and ends with Josh Dobbs. While Dobbs does about as good a job running the offense as he does running the football, he is in all actuality a glorified Running Back. It is a shame Dobbs didn’t play a half a century earlier because he probabaly would have been an All-American. But, he plays now and their is no sugarcoating it, Josh Dobbs cannot throw the football. If Tennessee is to be a contender for Atlanta, then they must be able to pass the ball vertically down the field. Screen passes, passing routes in the flat, and limited mistakes in the passing game wins you 9 games, but completed post routes, high/low routes, and seam routes can get Tennessee to double digit wins and a trip to Atlanta. 

http://orangeisthenewcrack.sportsblog.com/posts/14932204/vols-defense–preview.html

Defensive Tackle: Tennessee has talent at this position. Five star prospect talent. The key word there, however, is prospect. Khalil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle were massive signeess for Butch Jones last year, but they haven’t lived up to the billing yet. They must step up and make dominant plays in run defense next year alongside Kendal Vickers if Tennessee is to beat teams like Alabama and Georgia.  

Key Losses: 

1. Brian Randolph, Safety
2. Von Pearson/Marquez North, Wide Receiver
3. Kyler Kerbyson, Left Tackle
4. Curt Maggitt, Defensive End

Impact Players: 

1. Cam Sutton, Cornerback 
2. Derek Barnett, Defensive End
3. Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Linebacker
4. Jalen Hurd, Running Back
5. Ethan Wolf, Tight End

Biggest Game of the Year: vs. Florida

Forget the season opener against cross mountain foe Appalachian State, forget the battle in Bristol against Virginia Tech, forget Georgia, Alabama, and Texas A&M. Forget all of them if Tennessee loses to Florida. The streak must end for so many reasons: Tennessee’s hunt for an SEC East Title, bragging rights for the first time in over a decade, Tennessee being able to be considered “back,” the psychological wellness of thousands of residents throughout Eastern Tennessee, etc.