Tennessee 2015 Preview: Joshua Dobbs The Savior?
If we hear that Tennessee is back one more time, we will scream. Seriously. Could they be great this year? We will see.
LAST YEAR
There was an awful lot of hype that the Vols would beat Florida (when, let’s face it, you couldn’t have had a better opportunity) and cause Missouri a hell of a lot of problems. They failed both tests. They abused Alabama offensive co-ordinator (and their turncoat former coach) Lane Kiffin, and failed there too. Yes, we know they won four out of their last five including spanking Iowa in their bowl game…but look at the opposition. The only ranked team the Vols beat was Chatanooga, who they spanked by 35. Chat-town was 13th in the FCS, by the way.
OFF-SEASON
Butch Jones pulled in one of the best recruiting classes in the nation, including five-star DT Kahlil McKenzie and a host of four-star talent, including RB Alvin Kamara, who was the No.1 player at his position in the nation on a JuCo level. You can probably expect both to play in 2015.
Jones also hired a new offensive co-ordinator in Mike DeBord, who was the former Central Michigan head coach. His old OC, Mike Bajakian left for the NFL to be QBs coach of Tampa Bay.
IN DOBBS WE TRUST
Jones did what a number of SEC head coaches have failed to do thus far by actually naming a starting QB in Joshua Dobbs. A lot of people are super-high on Dobbs going into his junior year, and it’s easy to see why. After a freshman year of a TD: INT ratio of 2:6, his sophomore year was much improved, going 9:6. His accuracy improved, and he gives the Vols a threat on the ground, too (he ran for 469 yards and 8 TDs last year).
AND WE LOVE HIS WEAPONS….IF THEY CAN STAY HEALTHY/OUT OF TROUBLE
Dobbs’ may be good on his own, but he’s going to need his weapons. That’s why we’re ultra-excited that WR Marquez North’s back, but is he going to be able to stay healthy? His knee injury in practice in mid-August — when he was already coming back from a serious leg injury in 2014 — indicates not. But if he IS healthy, North is one of the best wide receivers in college football.
Dobbs is going to need North to be healthy now that Pig Howard’s gotten himself suspended from the season opener for matters unknown, but there’s also love for Josh Malone, too. Watch out for 6-3 freshman receiver Preston Williams, too. He may well become Dobbs’ go-to receiver by the end of the season.
THE VOLS WILL PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE….
I haven’t seen a running back duo this strong in Knoxville for years. Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara should torture defenses. Hurd had 889 yards and 8 TDs rushing last year, as well as 221 yards and 2 TDs receiving, too. Kamara will provide a lot of speed. Back-up RB Ralph Abernathy, who can do just about anything, will be fun too.
All of this performance from Dobbs and his RBs is on the proviso that Tennessee’s offensive line – which had to reload in 2014 after all the talent left in 2013 – continues its upwards trajectory. It’s returning EVERYBODY from last year’s endeavours.
DEFENSIVELY…..
McKenzie has dominated the headlines in practice, and could/will dominate offensive linemen. Frosh Kyle Phillips will start too. But there isn’t huge talent around him (yet) to make the Volunteers a great ‘D’, although our friends at Saturday Edge like Curt Maggitt and Derek Barnett. It really is an ‘eh’ situation. This ‘D’ is going to be great in 2016 – we predict- but might not be wonderful this year. And this could be their downfall.
The schedule is evil. Going to Florida, Alabama and Missouri? Yuck. Couple that with three tough home games against Oklahoma, Georgia and Arkansas. Yuck.
Sep. 5 – Bowling Green (In Nashville)
Sep. 12 – Oklahoma
Sep. 19 – Western Carolina
Sep. 26 – at Florida
Oct. 3 – Arkansas
Oct. 10 – Georgia
Oct. 24 – at Alabama
Oct. 31 – at Kentucky
Nov. 7 – South Carolina
Nov. 14 – North Texas
Nov. 21 – at Missouri
Nov. 28 – Vanderbilt
We’re calling for an Opening Day win over Bowling Green, a loss in Neyland to Oklahoma in a great game, followed by back-to-back wins over Florida (at last) and Western Carolina before three straight losses to Arkansas, Georgia and Alabama. The Vols will rebound with three straight wins at Kentucky, in Neyland over South Carolina and North Texas. They’ll lose a close, close game at Missouri and smash Vanderbilt at home.
PREDICTED FINISH: 7-5