It’s time for this week’s Locks & Keys, and it’s FLORIDA WEEK!!! Though that may not mean as much to you as it used to, it should. This is still a big game, and though Georgia may be the beast of the East this year, the Vols must win this football game this weekend to have a strong chance at the division.

It also needs to win to turn the vibes of the early season toward a positive manner. Things aren’t perfect on Rocky Top right now, by any stretch, but the record is. That’s all that matters. If it still is after Saturday, it’ll be time to start getting excited.

This is going to be one of those years where UT needs to be up every single week it’s playing in the conference because anybody on the schedule can beat this team. But this team can also beat anybody on its schedule (with the possible exception of Alabama). So, if that ain’t fun, I don’t know what is.

As for the Locks, last week went much better than the first one.

Last week, I went 4-2-1, which is a little better than the week before. That pushes the overall season record to 6-5-1, which isn’t too bad. Hey, we’re up (fake) money, aren’t we? Why are you mad?

UTSA was getting 16.5 points against Baylor. Are you serious? Easy pickins. Easy. The Roadrunners won outright. Houston took care of business in an ugly, sloppy game against Arizona, Oklahoma State covered 28 against South Alabama, and South Carolina easily beat Missouri, who was favored by 2.5 points. Iowa pushed with a 44-41 overtime win over rival Iowa State. Then, I lost the Tulane over (THOSE TEAMS JUST STOPPED SCORING IN THE FOURTH QUARTER!!!!) Then, yeah, Kansas was trounced against Central Michigan. I blew that completely. Sorry about that.

4-2-1. There you have it. Hey, that looks like Tennessee’s defensive scheme against Georgia Tech. At times, it appeared they were playing 7-on-11.

Before we get to the keys, let’s take a look at last week’s.

• Better defensive line rotation: Was it better? Yeah, it was. But it still wasn’t as good as I want it. I really would like to have seen depth guys like Quay Picou, Alexis Johnson, Kivon Bennett and Co. more than I saw. But it wasn’t too bad. We got to see a lot of Kyle Phillips, and he played well. The linemen weren’t huffing and puffing, so that’s an improvement from Week 1. We’ll see how this week goes. SUCCESS!
• Dormady reading through progressions: There were a couple of situations where Dormady locked in on his receiver, including the awful interception in the end zone that cost the Vols points for the first time they traveled inside the opponents’ 40-yard line all season. But Marquez Callaway was far from the only weapon. UT looked to get other guys involved, and nine different players caught passes. SUCCESS!
• Start stronger: How’s a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Ty Chandler on the opening kick of the game? Yeah, we’ll take that. SUCCESS!
• Build up Bituli and Co: I said I couldn’t imagine a defense without sophomore Daniel Bituli in it, and it appears coordinator Bob Shoop feels the same way. We’ll see how it goes against the Gators, but it sounds like the Vols believe Bituli has to play and start. I really wanted to see more Will Ignont and Quart’e Sapp, but that’s OK. I got my dose of Bituli. SUCCESS!
• Don’t get anybody hurt: The only real important injury was to backup tight end Eli Wolf, who won’t play against the Gators. While that’s a major bummer, it’s normal fallout from a college football game. There weren’t any irreplaceable injuries against the Sycamores. SUCCESS!

So, Tennessee basically did everything it was supposed to do in a 42-7 tuneup win over Indiana State as it geared up for the Gators. We didn’t really learn anything, but we didn’t lose anything, either.

Let’s take a look at Tennessee’s keys to this week’s vital game against the Gators.

KEYS

Take Care of the Ball

Tennessee had two costly turnovers against Indiana State, and though they didn’t really matter, they did cost the Vols 14 points. The first one — a Dormady fumble — led to ISU’s only points of the game. The second one — a Dormady interception — cost the Vols a touchdown, as it was thrown in the end zone.

That cannot happen against the Gators.

This may not be the mighty Gators we’re used to seeing, but it’s still a team with talented players that has gone to the SEC Championship in the each of the past two years. It’s also a team that has had its way with the Vols until last year. Even though Florida isn’t good, the Gators still think they are. That’s dangerous. The Vols cannot give them extra possessions, and UT must continue to do the things it has done offensively, which is put the ball in the end zone once they get to the plus side of the field.

Impose Your Will

Throughout the first two games, it looks like the strength of Tennessee’s team is running John Kelly between the tackles. Senior center Jashon Robertson has been impressive, and so has freshman guard Trey Smith. The other guard spot, which has been shared by Jack Jones and Venzell Boulware, has been strong, too.

The Vols need to continue that success running the ball up the middle. It may not be sexy, but Kelly is a beast, and he looks great the more you feed him. And, hey, give him a breather or two, too. Ty Chandler, Carlin Fils-aime and Tim Jordan are all capable backups.

There’s no reason for Tennessee to be cute. Put this game on the shoulders of your best player and the line in front of him. Florida’s strength is its defensive line, so this is going to be strength vs. strength. The Vols must win this at the point of attack.

Cover Those Edges

Even when the Sycamores were 0-for-11 on third downs last week, there were still fundamental flaws on UT’s defense. The Vols haven’t proven yet that they can cover the edges of the field, and the Yellow Jackets and Sycamores both had too many situations where they turned the corner and got upfield.

That’s not the strength of Colton Jumper’s game, which is why Bituli needs to be on the field. The Vols also need more help from defensive end Jonathan Kongbo, who hasn’t looked like himself in the first two games. That may be why we see Kyle Phillips more against Florida. The Vols also need players like Nigel Warrior, Todd Kelly Jr. and Rashaan Gaulden to step up in the run game.

This is a game where the matchups seem to favor the Vols. They need to get hyped up early. We haven’t seen this defense against a conventional offense yet, and we will this weekend. It’s time for them to flip the narrative.

Get a Game-Changer

It’s a major sting that the nation’s top kick returner — Evan Berry — is questionable. If he can play, the Vols need to put him in there. But even if he can’t, Chandler is a game-changer returning kicks, and Callaway is a strong punt returner, too.

The Vols could use a special teams touchdown, a pick-six or a deep catch or long run. The Gators aren’t a team anybody expects to light up the scoreboard. If the Vols can get a game-changing, momentum-swinging play or two, they may just pour it on the way they did during the second half last year. If this is a close game, it may favor the Gators in the Swamp.

Be the Aggressor

It took a player with as much swagger as any Vol has had in the past decade to take over and lead Tennessee to a win last year when Jauan Jennings stepped up. It also didn’t hurt to have a dual-threat star at quarterback in Joshua Dobbs who played on another level.

Neither of those guys will trot onto the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium this weekend.

But Tennessee needs to play like the team that won last year. The psychological advantage needs to be over. The Gators are confident again, of course, but UT needs to do its talking on the field. The Vols need to play with more of an edge, and if they do, they may just have a little win streak against UF and send the Gators to their first 0-2 record since 1971.

LOCKS

Alright, we’re 6-5-1. I’m going to give you six picks that I really, really like this week, so let’s try to go undefeated, shall we?

1. UCLA -3.5 over Memphis: This is an odd game with the Bruins traveling across country to play a quality Tigers team in the Liberty Bowl. But you’ve got to love Josh Rosen right now, and though Memphis didn’t get the chance to play last week’s major showdown against UCF, the Tigers proved to be vulnerable against the pass against Louisiana-Monroe in Week 1. I like a lot of points to be scored, but the Bruins cover.
2. Tulsa +10.5 over Toledo: I cannot believe I’m getting double-digit points in this one. Yes, I know it’s at the Glass Bowl, where the Rockets are tough. But the Golden Hurricane are my jam, man. They’re a money-making machine. They are 4-0 against the spread in their last four road games vs. a team with a winning home record. They cover easily, and it may be worth betting the money line.
3. Clemson -3.5 over Louisville: I was dead wrong about Kelly Bryant, and the Tigers look like they are a legit contender yet again this year. They’ll make it two big-time wins in a row after dispatching the Cardinals handily this week. Nobody else has Lamar Jackson, who is a freak of nature. But Clemson has a dynamite front seven, and they’ll at least slow him down enough to win by a touchdown or more.
4. North Carolina -7.5 over Old Dominion: It’s hard to believe the Tar Heels are 0-2, and, no, they aren’t a very good team. But they’ll beat the Monarchs handily. They beat a horrible UMass team just 17-7 a week ago, and though UNC has had its struggles, it can still put up points. I’m not sure ODU can.
5. Purdue/Missouri under 78.5: A WHOLE LOT of points are going to be scored in this one, but SEVENTY NINE? I’m just not sure about that. That’s a whole lot of real estate on the under, and as a bonus pick, I love the Boilermakers, too. They would have been my seventh pick. The only reason why I didn’t include them is it’s on the road. But go ahead and do it. For me.
6. Tennessee +5.5 over Florida: Because I feel obligated to, I chose this game over Purdue. I really do think the Vols are a better team, and I can’t justify any reason why the Gators should be 5.5 point favorites, no matter where the game is. What have they proven? That should be a slap in the face to the Vols, and they should play that way. I like UT to win this one outright, 30-24.

Tennessee’s game on Saturday against Indiana State was much more about the rest of the season than it was about the Sycamores.

There’s not much we can learn about the Vols when you play against a Football Championship Subdivision team that is drastically overmatched from the opening kickoff and win 42-7.

This was more about UT executing its offense, gaining valuable reps for guys who need to provide depth through the grueling stretches of the season and about rebounding from a horrific defensive performance in a fortunate season-opening win over Georgia Tech.

Though, again, there were warts, it was mostly mission accomplished in all three phases.

**CAVEAT: We all know this was Indiana State. Still, if we’re going to discuss the negative (and, Lord knows we’ve done that) we need to harp on the good, too.**

With Evan Berry out and watching from the sideline, the Vols placed dynamic freshman Ty Chandler back to field the opening kickoff. Ninety-one yards later, it was 7-0 Tennessee, and it was on.

Was it always pretty? No. Quinten Dormady didn’t feel the pressure on one occasion and lost a fumble that wound up turning into a touchdown after a few Sycamores plays. He also threw a terrible interception in the end zone that never should have been released. The Vols had some golden opportunities to hit big plays downfield, but twice Dormady overthrew Josh Palmer — who consistently beat defenders downfield all day — and Jarrett Guarantano had a pass dropped by Jeff George on a good pass downfield. And that was only in the first half.

The Sycamores got the edge far too much on jet sweeps, turning it upfield for considerable gains on running plays, and even though ISU finished 0-of-11 on third-down conversions, it wasn’t always dominating for Tennessee’s defense. Still, you’re being too picky if this performance disappointed you.

Jonathan Kongbo and Kyle Phillips played much better than they did a week ago, and UT nearly had double-digit tackles for a loss. Bituli continued to prove he’s a playmaker, and the Vols defensive line bounced back a bit.

But with the negative out of the way, the Vols performed plenty well enough to satisfy the masses and provide a positive tune-up prior to the Florida game. The only worrisome injury occurred when backup tight end Eli Wolf went out in the first quarter and finished the game on crutches, watching from the sideline.

Everything else was OK. Special teams were brilliant, including Trevor Daniel’s titanium leg and punt returner Marquez Callaway giving UT great starting field position a couple of times.

UT still looked too slow at times on defense, but the Vols played a lot of guys, and they did swarm to the football. Daniel Bituli again proved he belongs somewhere on the football field at all times. You simply can’t take one of your three best playmakers (along with Darrell Taylor and Nigel Warrior) off when your defense is lacking speed and difference-makers.

The biggest excitement, at least to me, came for Tennessee on offense. Would I have liked to see UT have a few more explosion plays downfield, hitting Palmer on a big pass play or two? Absolutely. That would have made it a perfect day. Would I have liked to see Guarantano take off and display his dual-threat dynamics? Sure, that would have been nice, too.

But the Vols played the methodical game to perfection. This offensive line is playing terrific for the most part, especially the interior. That’s where senior center Jashon Robertson, freshman Trey Smith, junior Jack Jones and redshirt sophomore Venzell Boulware all flashed all day. Those guys are opening up huge holes, and John Kelly blew threw them. When Kelly needed a breather, the Vols showed they’ve got some explosion behind him with freshman Ty Chandler and sophomore Carlin Fils-aime.

While we’re there, Fils-aime?!?!?! Where did that come from? All through the preseason, people were discrediting his role in this offense, saying Chandler was going to blow by him on the depth chart. Maybe he has. But that doesn’t mean Fils-aime should spend all his time on the sideline. He proved that on Saturday, finishing a touchdown run by punishing a middle defender, then blowing through a gaping hole on his second scoring run to prove he’s got some speed and shake to go along with the power he displayed for an undersized guy on that first run.

There are a lot of reasons to be excited. Yes, the guys who are supposed to show out did well, especially John Kelly. Dormady had some good moments and some not-so-great moments, and the Vols found other weapons in the passing game as Callaway was relatively quiet. When Dormady finally found him, he took his reception in for a touchdown, but Tennessee’s receiving corps proved they could make plays, too.

Yes, it was against Indiana State, and no, it wasn’t the 50-point performance we all wanted to see, but the Vols got to sit a bunch of players who were battling injuries, and they got to rotate in a bunch of subs, too. They also came out fairly healthy.

With Florida sitting this week due to Hurricane Irma, all of this was important. Does this team look ready to play the Gators? In the Swamp? That’s up in the air. There are still mistakes to be fixed, plays to be made, depth to be displayed and some gaps to fill.

But Saturday did nothing to prove that Tennessee has serious problems. If anything, it showed the Vols are talented, even though they’re young, inexperienced and make a lot of mistakes.

The Vols proved what they had from a grit-and-grind perspective in Week 1. All we could see this week was they took care of business the way they were expected to against a bad team.

The real test about what this season is going to look like comes in Gainesville next week. Unfortunately for UT, it comes — like most years — before all the kinks can be worked out. But the Gators have their fair share of question marks, too, especially after Michigan looked like anything but world-beaters against Cincinnati this week.

Saturday was about what the Vols could become as we wind toward the meat of the season. It was about what they are now and where they need to go. There’s a long way left until this is a team that can reach its potential, but the potential is there.

So, if you choose to be critical of this team, that’s your prerogative. If you choose to be excited about the possibilities, that’s your choice, too. As of now, the best any of us can be is cautiously optimistic. This is a team that will be carried by Kelly and can be efficient with good quarterback play and timely defensive stops.

If either of those last two things are absent, it’s going to be hard to win. But Saturday shouldn’t give you any pause about the possibilities of what Tennessee’s ceiling is in 2017.

By now, you know the drill. If you don’t, check last week’s column for details. The long and short of it is we pick five keys for the Vols to beat this week’s opponent (which isn’t going to be that difficult, considering this week’s opponent is the Fightin’ Larry Birds of Indiana State) and then we give you five locks to place money on if gambling were legal.

Last week, I went 2-3, but that was a joke. In actuality, I’d have gone 4-1 because two of the games I flat-out LOVED were on Thursday night. Even though I wrote the column before then, it wouldn’t have done you guys any good, so I didn’t include them.

All in all, I went 19-6 ATS last week. It just so happened half of those losses were games I really, really liked, which is the reason why you shouldn’t gamble, kids.

I fell into the idiot pit of watching Week Zero and making too much out of a good offense playing a bad team, and that’s why I picked Colorado State to cover against rival Colorado. I thought the Buffaloes would have a hard time replacing all that defensive talent and coordinator Jim Leavitt, but they didn’t. Also, quarterback Steven Montez looked pretty darn good in a 17-3 win. So, yeah, that one was bad.

I like Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen a ton, but the Cowboys threw up a duck fart against Iowa, so we’re going to pretend those two games didn’t happen. Bad, bad losses. As for the Vols, I was worried about that game throughout the offseason, but I’m not complaining one bit. That one-point lead didn’t win me any of your hearts picking games, but I’m just happy UT is 1-0.

Michigan and LSU were free money.

With that, it’s onto Tennessee’s keys this week. Since it would be a shocker of all shockers for the Vols to lose to the Sycamores, let’s take a look at five keys the Vols need to this game that will help them prepare for next week’s game against Florida at the Swamp. Any practice UT gets this week should give them a leg up on the Gators, who had to cancel their game against Northern Colorado this Saturday because of the threat of Hurricane Irma.

Prayers for all those folks in her path.

Let’s see how the Vols did on last week’s keys in their 42-41 double-overtime win over Georgia Tech before we move on.

• Fit the run: Though the first few series were fine, Tennessee did not do a good job of this throughout the night. The Vols were gashed up the middle and beat off the edge. It should have cost them the game. FAIL.
• Find the right mix on the O-line: This looked ugly early, but as the game went on, Tennessee’s offensive line looked good, even without Drew Richomond. Senior center Jashon Robertson and freshman guard Trey Smith were impressive, and quarterback Quinten Dormady wasn’t sacked once. SUCCESS!
• Let the depth of talent win the game: This did NOT happen. With all the defensive linemen and receivers standing over there watching, I wanted UT to use more of its younger players to give some of the older guys breaks. What ultimately won the game were timely turnovers and offensive execution. I can’t give this one a thumb’s up. FAIL.
• Strategic strikes: UT didn’t have to throw the ball downfield a lot, but when it absolutely had to have a big play, Dormady went up top to Marquez Callaway, who made a leaping grab in front of two defenders. For that play alone, and for him making a quick pass and turning into a 50-yard score, this one is a SUCCESS!
• Ride John Kelly: At one point in the late third quarter, Kelly inexplicably had just 10 carries. But in the fourth quarter and overtime, he finished with 93 rushing yards. He went beastmode, and kudos to offensive coordinator Larry Scott for giving him the ball. SUCCESS!

Here are Tennessee’s keys:

How about a little rotation, Shoop?

Defensive linemen Jonathan Kongbo, Darrell Taylor and — gasp! — Kahlil McKenzie were snap warriors last week, all playing more than 75 plays on defense. That is ridiculous and inexplicable against an offense like Georgia Tech’s. If Monday night’s lucky win over the Yellow Jackets was a “chess match” as Bob Shoop called it, the UT second-year defensive coordinator was playing checkers. Or patty-cake. Or something else.

He needs to start earning his money and start trusting his players. The best way for the Vols to build depth along the defensive front and begin relying on guys like Quay Picou, Alexis Johnson, Deandre Johnson, Matthew Butler and Kivon Bennett is to PLAY THEM AND LET THEM TAKE THEIR LUMPS! What was going to happen against Georgia Tech? Give up 535 rushing yards? Oh yeah, that happened anyway. This week against the Sycamores, the Vols need to give kids important reps and get them ready to rotate against Florida.

Preach progressions

There’s nothing wrong with the way Quinten Dormady played in his debut, especially once he settled down in the second half. But the Vols targeted Marquez Callaway an awful lot because he proved he was capable of taking over the game. That’s OK. But Dormady needs to start developing trust in other guys beginning this week.

At times, he looked toward sophomore receiver Brandon Johnson’s way against Tech, but they just didn’t hook up much. Latrell Williams played a lot and played well without having a catch. Freshman Joshua Palmer looked the part but didn’t break through, and guys like Tyler Byrd and Jordan Murphy can help, too. Jauan Jennings isn’t coming back for a while, if at all this season. UT is going to need more than just Callaway and tight end Ethan Wolf in big games.

This is an ideal game for Dormady to read through his progressions and get other guys integrated into the game plan.

Start stronger

Everybody wants to see this.

This season started out the way the Vols played a lot of last year: Getting off to sluggish starts and frantically coming back in the second half. Eventually, that caught up with UT toward the end of the season. Tennessee needs to put together four quarters, and that’s not speaking in cliche, either. There’s no reason for the starters to be out there more than a half in this game, which means they need to take care of business.

Get your reps. Get points on the board. Get out. That needs to happen in Neyland Stadium this weekend.

Build Up Bituli and Co.

I love Colton Jumper. You love Colton Jumper. Listen: We all love Colton Jumper.

But there shouldn’t be any Tennessee defense on Saturday without him in it. When the starters roll out there, Daniel Bituli and his 23 tackles against Tech needs to be out there. If you’re worried about him lining people up as a middle linebacker, this is the game to get him in there and see what he can do.

If he can’t play there as well as Jumper, you’ve got to get Cortez McDowell off the field and Bituli on it. That’s the bottom line. UT’s best defense is one with Bituli in it.

Also, guys who are more athletic on the second level such as sophomore Quart’e Sapp and freshman Will Ignont need to play a ton against the Sycamores. It’s the same thing as that first key for Shoop. How are you going to build faith in anybody with them standing on the sideline?

Don’t Get Anybody Hurt

I thought about putting something about playing Jarrett Guarantano here, but whatever. He’s going to play, and he should. We all need to get over him pouting on national TV on Monday night. He’s a 19-year-old kid.

He is the backup quarterback, and he needs plenty of reps on Saturday along with all the other backups. The Vols don’t need to get ANYBODY important hurt on Saturday. They don’t need to pad the stats and wind up with a season-killing injury to a guy like John Kelly or Darrell Taylor. Let those guys play their half, don’t do anything crazy, and keep your fingers crossed that they don’t have something freak happen.

UT has been snakebit the past two seasons with injuries. That needs to stop.

LOCKS

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m 2-3, and that’s all that matters. No matter what I want to brag about the 19-6 overall ATS. That doesn’t matter. Y’all don’t see my board; only these picks. I failed you.

We’ll make up for it this week. I’m giving you two extra games because I LOVE two extra games. Deal with it! Gotta get that winning percentage up!

1. UTSA +16.5 over Baylor: Am I forgetting, or did this Baylor team just get beat by freaking Liberty? Now, they have to play Frank Wilson’s up-and-coming Roadrunners team, and I’m getting SIXTEEN AND A HALF POINTS?!?!? Something smells fishy about this one, but I really like Wilson, and I really like this line.
2. Oklahoma State -28 over South Alabama: I’m gonna pick the Cowboys to cover in every game until they don’t cover. Last week, Shea Patterson threw for a bazillion yards in a 47-27 win over the Jags last week. Imagine what Mason Rudolph is gonna do.
3. Iowa -3 over Iowa State: Last week, the Hawkeyes dominated a good Wyoming team with a great quarterback 24-3. It was never close. Now, they must travel to Ames to take on a rival. They may win this one 17-7, but the bottom line is the Cyclones can’t score enough for it to matter.
4. Tulane and Navy over 47.5: Love rushing yards? This one’s for you. Willie Fritz was a cover machine when he was at Georgia Southern, and he has 16 starters back from his first Green Wave team that went 4-8. Navy runs a little, too. You’re telling me these teams won’t score seven touchdowns between them? Not buying it.
5. Kansas -5.5 over Central Michigan: The Chippewas needed three overtimes to score 30 points and beat Rhode Island in the opening weekend. The Jayhawks obliterated that same team a year ago. The Jayhawks are going to start 2-0 for the first time in what seems like forever. This one’s my favorite of the week. Easy money.
6. South Carolina +2.5 over Missouri: Ugh, this is a tough one. But I’ve been riding South Carolina for a long while now. I think this Tigers defense is absolutely putrid, and while both defenses were garbage in the first game, the Gamecocks have more talent on that side of the ball. They’ll get one more stop and win outright as the underdog at Mizzou.
7. Houston -1 over Arizona: This is my second-favorite game of the weekend. I think Tom Herman left a ton of talent for Major Applewhite, and I believe former Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen will start and be stellar for the Cougars. Plus, UH has superior defensive talent. They’ll win on the road.

Sports is all about those “where were you” moments.

When Francisco Cabrera drove in Sid Bream for an improbable National League Championship Series win over the Pirates in 1992, I was a 13-year-old kid who got to stay up late, dance around the living room and embrace my dad when it happened.

When Florida missed the overtime field goal in 1998 and the Tennessee Vols exorcised the Gators demon, I was sitting in Section D for it, then I was storming the field as a freshman who felt on top of the world. Later that year, I fumed at my parents because they didn’t let me go to Tempe but still celebrated with buddies as the Vols beat Florida State for the national championship.

I have no idea what Monday night’s 42-41, inexplicable triumph over a Georgia Tech team that manhandled the Vols all night will mean in the long run. But, in it’s own sick-and-twisted, morbid way, it’ll hold a spot on the list of games I won’t forget.

Oh, it’s nowhere near the moments mentioned above, but for those of us who love the macabre, it will teeter on the fringe of fable.

In a game the Vols should have lost six or seven times, at least, a defensive hero in Darrell Taylor emerged from a field full of defensive goats who’d given up more rushing yards than any UT team in school history, battled through a block and somehow stuffed Georgia Tech He-Man signal-caller TaQuon Marshall for what would have been a go-ahead, game-ending two-point conversion by the Yellow Jackets.

For one play, a Vols defense that hadn’t stopped GT from getting three rushing yards on a play nearly all night somehow found a way to get a stop. Though every Tennessee fan in the universe gasped when Marshall somehow threw the ball while going down on the final play and nearly completed a pass, it was already on the turf when the receiver grabbed it, and the Vols escaped Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a win and 1-0 record.

Most of the night, the hulking stadium that sits mere feet from UT’s old house of horrors — the Georgia Dome — appeared to be a new torture chamber for Vols fans. Yes, every Tennessee fan would love to be the one to push the button when they blow up the Dome this fall, but maybe Monday night was a new beginning for the Vols in Atlanta.

If so, the origin of these good vibes will be hatched from familiar frustration.

For the vast majority of the night, this felt like the beginning of the end for Vols coach Butch Jones. I bet I fired the man 100 times throughout the game in my head and my heart. I fired defensive coordinator Bob Shoop 10 times that many. I’m still not sure either one of them deserve anything other than our frustration still, but this will be no column for frustration.

This is no time for scorn.

This was a momentous victory, regardless of how much better than the Vols Georgia Tech was on Monday, how few answers UT had and how many questions the Vols have moving forward. How this team needs to be the rest of the year needs to start with the team that woke up in the fourth quarter, not only on the field but on the sideline. Bad body language permeated UT’s side of the field throughout the first few quarters. Jones looked like he didn’t want to be there and didn’t know what he was doing, quarterback Quinten Dormady sat on opposite ends of the water cooler as backup Jarrett Guarantano, neither of them doing anything resembling leadership.

Guarantano especially acted like he didn’t want to be there, pouting his way through the game. There was no fire, no excitement, not a peep like you were used to seeing last year from former Vols Joshua Dobbs talking to players up and down the sideline or Sheriron Jones waving a towel and hyping his teammates.

All that changed once the Vols started to get in a rhythm on the field. Dormady came out of shell on the field and on the sideline, and all of a sudden, it looked like he was beginning to show some of the leadership skills you want from your quarterback.

The win was meaningful, and the way the Vols won could wind up being huge for this program.

Jones cliched his way through the postgame interview, but you’ve tuned him out by now, anyway. Wins like this were meant for hyperbole. They’re inexplicable, unbelievable and hard to stomach.

But they’re fun once you win; if you win.

The Vols won Monday night. Beyond all your frustration at some of the decisions Jones made or all the difficulty Tennessee experienced, do not forget that. Don’t let what you think overshadow what you saw.

John Kelly is who we thought he was. He’s a monster hellbent on getting every morsel of yardage possible on every play. When offensive coordinator Larry Scott called the type of run plays where he excels and not those slow-developing stretch plays meant for Alvin Kamara, Kelly was the best player on the field.

Tight end Ethan Wolf dropped a couple of balls, but he also made some big plays and key catches. True freshman guard Trey Smith was the best offensive lineman UT had on the field against Tech, which is saying something considering how well center Jashon Robertson played. Yes, there were tons of miscues from tackles Marcus Tatum and Brett Kendrick, but UT got much better up front throughout the game. Junior guard Jack Jones had a nice game as well.

Then there’s sophomore receiver Marquez Callaway.

With Jauan Jennings out for an undisclosed amount of time with what looked like a wrist injury, the Vols were discombobulated in the passing game. Nothing was going on, and UT needed a weapon to emerge. That happened when Callaway took over, finishing with four catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns. The 6’2″, pass-catcher played like he was 6’6″, showing the DOG that Jennings normally does when he’s in there. He went up and got passes, turned first-down catches into 50-yard touchdowns and would not be denied.

The Vols had to have warriors step up, and Callaway did that.

Dormady grew up so much, too. Everybody wrote him off in a first half that saw him throw his share of poor passes, but he also didn’t get any help from his line or his receivers. As the Vols began to get more into a flow, the junior from Boerne, Texas, wouldn’t be denied. He wanted to make plays, it looked like he believed he was going to make them, and he did. Then, when UT had to have yards, it turned to Kelly.

Sure, there are major coaching concerns still. Jones called an inexplicable timeout as the play clock was winding down on what should have been Georgia Tech’s game-winning drive. He mismanaged the clock at the end of the first half. The jury’s still out on whether Shoop will end up deserving his $1 million annual salary, and the clock is ticking. Yes, the Yellow Jackets executed exquisitely on Monday night, but Shoop had no answers. And though first-year offensive coordinator Larry Scott needs to be praised for how he called the game down the stretch, it took him far too long to get into a rhythm calling plays, and he put way too much on Dormady early when he should have slowed down the game and leaned on Kelly to help salvage some minutes for his defensive players.

All that happened, and the Vols still won. They still found a way.

With Georgia Tech putting the game away going into the end zone, Rashaan Gaulden pulled his best Malik Foreman-against-South Carolina impression and popped the ball free, giving the Vols a pivotal turnover in the fourth quarter that kept them alive.

Walk-on defensive tackle Paul Bain got his hand on the would-be, game-winning 36-yard field goal at the end of regulation, forcing the game into overtime.

Then — with guys who’d played their hearts out and got gassed like Daniel Bituli and Colton Jumper needing some sort of spark — defensive end Darrell Taylor found a way. He’d been Tennessee’s most disruptive defender most of the night, occasionally blowing up plays in the backfield for glimmers of happiness through the porous defensive performance by his team as a unit. Then, he reached down, battled off a block and made the biggest impact in the only play that mattered.

I’d be stunned (and wouldn’t believe you) if you told me you thought Tennessee was going to win that game, was going to stop that play. Again, they hadn’t stopped Georgia Tech all night. There’s no way they were going to stop them.

But they did.

And though this team gives us so much anger, so much heartache, so much frustration and anxiety and despair, they gave us something so much more valuable on Monday night:

They gave us a memory.

Now, it’s on to Neyland Stadium and Indiana State at 1-0 and with this dreadful last-gift-from-Dave-Hart debacle of a scheduling fiasco behind them. The Vols not only survived; they gave us a heart-stopping thrill.

It’s one we’ll have to remember, because I don’t think any of us want to relive that again. When it was all over, I jumped up and hugged my dad, but it wasn’t like any of those other moments I mentioned. It was out of pure, unadulterated, disbelieving relief.

 

Some of you who date back to the ancient times of the Tennessee blogosphere will recall the origins of my “Locks & Keys” weekly column on Rocky Top Talk where I give you five keys to the Vols winning their game of the week then give you five college football locks to lay all your money on.

You know, if you could gamble legally, that is.

“But Brad,” you may ask, “wouldn’t that mean it was Keys & Locks??”

Well, yes, but that doesn’t have nearly the same ring to it, does it?

The last L&K I can find that I wrote came way back in November of 2012, the year before Butch Jones took over for Derek Dooley. Back then, opportunity was nowhere, and that was, in retrospect, a perfect slogan for the Vols. Though a bunch of our fans are harrumphing their way through the past 18 months of the Jones era, just think of where we were then versus where we are now.

Back-to-back 9-4 seasons don’t feel quite so bad now, do they?

I left Rocky Top Talk after the ’12 season to join Bleacher Report, and I’m still there, having transitioned from Tennessee writer to SEC featured columnist to national college football columnist. I’ve expanded my knowledge to all realms of the college football world, feeling just as comfortable writing about the Pac-12 and its players as I do the SEC and ACC. But one thing always remains the same:

I still suck at picking games.

With that little intro [read by the little voice in my head that has morphed inexplicably into a Bob Kesling “To the Cheggarboards” tenor] out of the way, let’s get on with the keys.

Perfect fits

If you still have nightmares of Tennessee getting gashed a season ago, and you wake up in cold sweats crying before sucking your thumb in a fetal position over in the corner of your bed, you’re not alone. That happens to me a lot, and the only thing I remember is an evil, laughing Bob Shoop throwing up the “VFL” hand sign before morphing into a Sal Sunseri-being that more resembles Fred Flintstone in my dreams.

*shudder*

Yes, last season was forgettable on the defensive side of the ball, especially the end of the year where teams like Missouri and Kentucky looked like Alabama running the ball against the decimated, porous Tennessee rush “defense.” If the Vols aren’t a whole lot more disciplined against Georgia Tech, they’ll get blown off the field.

I worry about them playing the edge and getting beat on the dive, drilling the quarterback and forgetting the pitch, rinse, repeat. That’s why you fear UT’s linebacker makeup, which is a mixture of talented-but-inexperienced and experienced-but-undynamic. It’s also why you should be concerned about the Vols trotting out four defensive ends that simply haven’t played a lot of football. If I’m Shoop, I play four quality tacklers in the secondary much of the game (Todd Kelly Jr., Nigel Warrior, Micah Abernathy, Rashaan Gaulden) and take my chances. The Vols have to fit the run gaps, have their defensive backs step up in the box and help and play smart, disciplined football.

Find the trench mix

With starting left tackle Drew Richmond suspended for this game, the Vols are even thinner on the exterior of the offensive line than they were during the preseason. Though UT has a lot of experience along the front, the group has been far from consistent this summer for first-year coach Walt Wells.

The Vols need to know what they’ve got heading into that game, and they need to play the best five, regardless of position. That’s likely to be seniors Jashon Robertson and Brett Kendrick, junior Jack Jones, sophomore Marcus Tatum sliding into Richmond’s spot, and freshman Trey Smith.

ESPN college football “analyst” David Pollack — who got owned more than once against the Vols in his Georgia career — called the Vols offensive line “the softest thing in college football” last year in a recent broadcast. If I’m Wells, that’s on the bulletin board, and it’s the last thing I let my linemen see before they trot onto the field. But the bottom line is UT has to prove it isn’t that on the field. The Vols need to get tough and mean, and the unit needs to be a strength. If the O-line plays well, UT will have a strong running game this year.

Let the depth of talent win the game

Paul Johnson boasted heading off the field after last year’s TaxSlayer Bowl win against Kentucky that his Yellow Jackets were 3-0 in the SEC East with Tennessee next. Indeed, Tech earned bragging rights against the division a season ago.

But this is a new year.

The Vols have superior talent this year to Johnson’s team, and there are waves of it, even if much of it is inexperienced. Shoop told the media on Thursday that he was going to play six or seven linebackers. That may seem like a lot, but those guys need to be ready, and they need to do the job. A year ago, Tech outlasted a lot of teams, wearing them down and finishing comeback wins a handful of times. The type of ball-control, run-always offense the Bees play can tire opponents.

The Vols don’t need to get caught up in playing the same 15-16 guys a ton of snaps. They need to utilize their talent and depth and let the recruiting battles Jones has won the past few years shine through.

Strategic strikes

You don’t want to put too much pressure on your first-time starting quarterback, whether it’s Quentin Dormady or Jarrett Guarantano by putting the game on their shoulders early. That wouldn’t be smart at all, especially with some capable running backs.

But the Vols do need to utilize their speed on the perimeter by taking some downfield shots. The Yellow Jackets were 68th in pass defense a season ago, and Tennessee has the weapons to take some downfield shots with strong-armed quarterbacks and some size and strength on the perimeter with guys like Marquez Callaway, Latrell Williams, Tyler Byrd and Joshua Palmer. If Tennessee can take the lid off the defense — something they failed to do consistently with Joshua Dobbs playing quarterback — the offense could expand considerably.

That’s something that needs to happen throughout the season, and it needs to start now.

Big John Studd

Everybody is excited about junior running back John Kelly.

As a matter of fact, the other night in the Gameday on Rocky Top podcast, Kelly was the player we were all most excited about in orange and white this year. In a year with not many certainties, everybody believes Kelly can be depended on. The Vols need to ride him all season and hope he stays healthy.

Think of what his body of work can be when extrapolated across a season’s worth of carries. It could be a big year if UT’s offensive line steps up. Then there are exciting players like freshmen Ty Chandler and Tim Jordan behind him. The Vols need to focus on the running game early this season and work their quarterbacks in slowly. If they can.

LOCKS

Now, it’s onto this week’s LOCKS! Get those wallets ready, boyz! They’ll be busting at the seams before too long! For the record two of my top picks of the week were on Thursday night, which were Ohio State over 56.5 and Central Florida -17. But, alas, they were off the board with the column running today.

1. Colorado State +5 over Colorado: Maybe Georgia should have hired Mike Bobo instead of Kirby Smart. He looks like a prime candidate to come back to the SEC for a  big job soon, as he’s taken over for Jim McElwain in Fort Collins and picked up right where he left off. Last week, the Rams railed Oregon State, and while the Buffaloes are a different animal than the Beavers, this is a CU team that must replace a lot from last year’s Pac-12 runner-up season. This will be two good coaches going at it, but I like the Rams to be 2-0 vs. the Pac-12 when it’s over.
2. Wyoming +11.5 over Iowa: If you haven’t heard of Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen, commit the name to memory. He’ll be one of the most elite passers in all of college football this season and a very high draft pick in next year’s NFL Draft. This weekend, he’ll be the guy hoping to lead the Cowboys to an upset bid of the Hawkeyes. They may not complete the deal, but they’ll keep it under the spread.
3. LSU -13.5 over BYU: The Cougars didn’t excite anybody with a pedestrian 20-6 win over Portland State in Week Zero. Now, they’ve got to travel across the country to take on an upstart Bayou Bengals team in Death Valley? Ugh. That doesn’t bode well for Kalani Sitake’s team. The Fighting Coach Os Prevail. Big.
4. Michigan -3.5 over Florida: This is the lock of the week. I don’t care how young the Wolverines are and how much talent they lost off last year’s team (11 players drafted in the NFL, in case you’re counting). Jim Harbaugh is recruiting at a high level, and Big Blue is about to be BIG again for a long time. The Wolverines will sputter some in the early season for sure, but this game won’t be one of those. The Gators have suspended 10 players, and that includes some of their few playmakers. Also, they’re starting redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks at quarterback. Michigan will win by two scores.
5. Tennessee -3 over Georgia Tech: I guess I’ve got to pick this one, but I don’t really think it’s a lock. As a matter of fact, this is going to be the fourth-toughest game on UT’s schedule, in my opinion. But the Vols offense is going to surprise some people this year, and I like Shoop getting months to prepare for this scheme. Of course, I wish Darrin Kirkland was in the lineup, but you can’t have everything.

FINAL VOLS PREDICTION: Tennessee 34, Georgia Tech 24

 

As injuries continually decimated Tennessee a season ago, simply slowing any opponents down became a chore, especially when it came to stopping the run.

It got horrific down the stretch with Kentucky churning out 443 yards on the ground, followed up the next week by Missouri gaining 430. Unbelievably, those were games the Vols wound up winning. Though Vanderbilt finished with 192 rushing yards in the season-ending loss, the defense was atrocious overall once again.

The season-ending debacle may seem like an anomaly due to the injuries, but it was poor all year for Tennessee attempting to stop the run. Remember Texas A&M chewing up the Vols for 353 rushing yards, followed by Alabama adding 409 the week after? It was brutality at its finest in 2016 as first-year coordinator Bob Shoop found it impossible to plug-and-go once the bumps, bruises and — in senior defensive tackle Danny O’Brien’s case — losses mounted.

I’ve said all that to say this: If you want to worry about one thing for the season, the biggest question mark remains Tennessee’s ability to generate a pass rush. But if you want to worry about one thing against the Yellow Jackets, you need to fear just what GT is going to do to UT’s defense on the ground.

Unless there’s a complete turnaround from a season ago, it could turn into another shootout, and with so many new faces on offense, that’s not something I’m sure the Vols want to endure in the season-opening showdown on Labor Day night.

You can forget about rushing the passer against the Bees, because, there’s really no such thing as a “passer” in a Paul Johnson-led offense. The quarterback is the point guard and pitch man in a run option. There’s nothing more vital for defending this offense than discipline and containment, and that’s why we should all be concerned.

Linebacker liabilities?

After missing plenty of action last year with a high ankle sprain that kept him hobbled for the last part of the season even after he returned, junior middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. had returned to form this summer, looking like the budding star he was as a true freshman in 2015. Then, he got hurt and likely won’t play against Georgia Tech.

While the Vols have plenty of talent at linebacker, nobody has proved he can get players lined up and still perform at the high level Kirkland did. Most likely, Colton Jumper will be inserted at middle linebacker to take Kirkland’s place, and while Jumper is an admirable fill-in against most defenses, his lack of SEC-level speed isn’t such a good fit in defending the complex run fits against Tech. Cortez McDowell isn’t anywhere near the best athlete in UT’s linebacking corps, and he could be a liability in this particular game, too, even though he should be an asset much of the year.

Want to insert your most talented ‘backers? That’s an understandable desire, but none of Daniel Bituli, Quart’e Sapp or true freshman Will Ignont have played very many meaningful defensive snaps. Throwing them to the wolves in a game like this likely will wind up showing up in the statistics.

The bottom line is this: Tennessee hasn’t consistently recruited as well on the second level of the defense as it has at other positions, and it’s an ideal time for the player development that was lacking a season ago to shine through. This is going to be an all-hands-on-deck game where the Vols must throw out seasoned-yet-unspectacular veterans along with unproven, more talented youngsters. How Shoop and Tommy Thigpen have coached them up will go a long way in determining whether the Vols win this game.

I’m not suggesting the Vols are in trouble. There’s just a lot of unproven players who must step up to slow down a rushing attack that may not have elite players but is still really difficult to defend. Thankfully for UT, it has had months to game-plan rather than days.

I’d be remiss not to mention the Vols held Nebraska to just 61 rushing yards in the Music City Bowl last year when Shoop had time to dial up a perfect game plan. This type of GT scheme, of course, is different, but a big game in the opener could set the tone for a turnaround season on that side of the ball. The Vols are certainly capable from a talent perspective, but they’ve got to do worlds better than a season ago to thwart the attack.

What about the dive?

Beyond the (potential) linebacker problem is another, perhaps even more worrisome, situation. Honestly, it’s an extension of Tennessee’s pass-rushing worries that may materialize across the season, and it centers around a lack of experience on the defensive ends.

In case you forgot, Derek Barnett is gone. So, too, are Corey Vereen and LaTroy Lewis, who are both on NFL rosters.

That leaves Jonathan Kongbo, Darrell Taylor, Kyle Phillips and true freshman Deandre Johnson as the quartet of defensive ends that will get the bulk of the rotation on Monday night. For the future, the concern there is that, even though there’s plenty of athleticism, will there be an aggressive pass rush?

The concern against the Yellow Jackets isn’t aggression but discipline. None of those guys have that much experience playing the position, so how well will they be able to contain? How well will they be able to fit runs, and, when they don’t, what’s going to be behind them?

The ball isn’t always going to the outside, either. It’s unclear whether or not Shy Tuttle is going to play in this game, and while UT is pretty excited about the way its defensive tackles, led by Kahlil McKenzie, Kendal Vickers, Alexis Johnson, freshman Matthew Butler and others have played this summer, a large portion of the rushing yards allowed by UT a season ago were between the tackles.

Granted, that was a defense that didn’t have McKenzie and Tuttle for a large chunk of the season, but the point remains that this team must be vastly improved against the run up front. They’ve got to get off blocks, plug holes and move plays an extra foot or two in the other direction, allowing pursuit to crush plays before they get to the second level.

You get in trouble trying to defend this type of offense once you get 3 or 4 yards downfield, and UT must get off blocks, blow up plays and finish tackles.

If the Vols don’t, it’s going to be a long night and a rough start.

Help from the back

If you think this is all painting a pretty dour picture thus far, that isn’t my intent. It’s very possible that, in the second year of the Shoop scheme and with real health, talent and depth, this UT team will be better-suited to battle the run than last year’s team.

But the questions abound, especially in this game.

To be honest, I’m more concerned about this game than any other outside of Alabama, Georgia or LSU this season. I think it’s that much of a matchup issue for a young UT team searching for playmakers and still smarting from the defensive disappointments from a season ago.

A major X-factor for the Vols in combating this Tech scheme is putting five good-tackling defensive backs on the field, and that’s what UT will likely do a lot with its linebacker concerns.

I could see a scenario where Rashaan Gaulden plays a cornerback position and Micah Abernathy, Nigel Warrior and Todd Kelly Jr. all three are on the field alongside Justin Martin, and, at times, Emmanuel Moseley. If you can creep TKJr. up in the box (really, he’s more an asset playing nearer to the line than he is in coverage at this point of his career, anyway) it may give you your fastest, most aggressive, best-tackling defense.

I mean, had you rather an inexperienced linebacker be on the field or Nigel Warrior/Micah Abernathy? That’s the type of trade-off we’re looking at. Had you rather a guy like the skinny Moseley be on the field or a tackling machine like Gaulden at defensive back, where you can slide Abernathy into the nickel role and not lose much coverage concerns because there’s no real threat of Tech flinging it all over the field against you, anyway?

Shoop needs to get creative in this game, and you know he will. How the Vols respond will go a long way in determining how well they play in this game.

There are plenty of concerns for UT’s defense in this type of game. The Yellow Jackets cut-block you on every play, bruising knees and just genuinely making it an uncomfortable situation. Misdirection, quarterback reads and deception are the names of this game, and UT has to prove it can be disciplined enough to stop the different things GT will throw in their direction.

It may just mean the difference in 1-0 and 0-1.

When Tennessee lost leading receiver Josh Malone to the NFL following last year, everybody expected the Vols would take a major dip in production at the position this year.

That may not be so cut-and-dry, after all.

Yes, UT will miss Malone, whose light finally came on last year to catch 50 balls for 972 yards and 11 touchdowns. Yes, the Vols will miss quarterback Joshua Dobbs and his play-making ability.

But it’s also possible they’ll be a better passing team with Quinten Dormady under center. After all, Dobbs did a lot with his feet, enough with his arm and won games with his grit and heart, but he was far from the most accurate passer, and he didn’t always make the best decisions.

Though nobody knows how Dormady will fare, he looked sharp in the spring game and also has proved he can make a lot of things happen with his big arm and escapability in limited game action thus far. He’s got a much better arm — much more live than Dobbs’ — and his ball placement is much better than the former UT starter’s, too. In other words, he puts the ball in a spot for his playmakers to make their next football move and get downfield.

So, what if the playmakers actually make plays? Don’t count out the receivers. In speaking with some people I trust during camp, this is an area where the coaches are pleasantly surprised and, it’s not a stretch to say, even very encouraged.

First-year offensive coordinator Larry Scott indicated as much to the media on Thursday.

“I tell you, I think right now it’s probably been more the receiver group, being that there are some young guys in there that haven’t necessarily played a little bit last year, but now they’re in some roles where that’s picked up for them,” Scott told the media, according to GoVols247’s Ryan Callahan.

“The way that they just responded to everything, with some of the things that we’re doing a little bit differently than we have in the past and different things like that, so I think that group has really kind of been a surprise, yet still has so far to go to be ready to go. But we’re definitely encouraged with what’s in that position group.”

That’s huge news for Tennessee’s offense. You’ve got to figure between Dormady and talented redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano, the Vols will find a capable slinger to man the helm of the offense. Also, junior John Kelly has star quality and a team-first attitude that should translate into a big year on the ground behind a deep, veteran offensive line returning more than 110 starts.

The trio of freshman running backs — particularly Ty Chandler and Tim Jordan — have been good enough to push Carlin Fils-aime to the point that it would be a surprise if CFA is the second runner off the bench, and fellow freshman Trey Coleman looks like he has the potential to be a good short-yardage back. So, the running game looks to be on firm footing.

Tight end Ethan Wolf was challenged by an anonymous NFL scout this week in a Mike Griffith article for SEC Country as being “soft.” So, if he takes that as a challenge and responds in the right way, the Vols could get better play than they’ve had out of the position. There are plenty of options behind him, so you’d think one of them will step up.

All that leaves is the receiving corps, which, heading into fall camp, was expected to be “Jauan Jennings … and everybody else.”

It hasn’t been that way at all.

Jennings — the junior from Murfreesboro who already has etched his name in the memorable plays department at UT with his torching touchdown of Jalen Tabor to punctuate the Vols’ comeback victory over Florida last year and the Hail Mary grab in the Dobb-nail boot win over Georgia — certainly has that “dog” in him. The only thing he has left to prove is whether or not he can perform when opponents aren’t shading safeties toward Malone.

Jennings is big and physical, and he is known for making plays. But he has to improve on last year’s 40 catches for 580 yards and seven touchdowns. In order for him to do that, he needs help.

If this fall is any indication, he’s going to get it.

The Vols did a lot of 7-on-7 work this summer when they really hadn’t under head coach Butch Jones in the past, and that looks like it has paid off. The quarterbacks and receivers are more on the same page than many expected at this early stage of camp.

Both @qdormady and @BroadwayJay2 brought it today. #Vols QBs establishing good rapport with their receivers: pic.twitter.com/VMWiXV8vsP

— Luke Slabaugh (@LukeSlabaugh) July 30, 2017

The good news starts with senior Josh Smith, who thus far has held off the emergence of redshirt freshman Latrell Williams and return of sophomore Tyler Byrd to be the starting slot receiver so far. There’s a long way to go, but Smith is showing up and showing out. I know you may not believe it after the past two sub-par seasons, but based on what I’ve heard from practice observers, Smith is quick and fluid.

Think about the player he was before the high ankle sprain against Oklahoma during his sophomore year, leaping defenders and turning big plays out of short gains. That’s the Josh Smith that has shown up so far in practice work now that he’s healthy. That’s big news for the Vols, who also look like they’ll be able to depend on Byrd AND Williams at the position, too.

On the other side opposite Jennings, the Vols have Marquez Callaway, who has the ability to be a standout receiver. The sophomore from Warner Robins, Georgia, had a punt return for a touchdown a season ago against Tennessee Tech, flashing some ability. He’ll get an extended audition this year on offense. So, between Callaway, Byrd (who should be on defense, but I digress…) and Williams, the Vols are excited about those playmakers at the position. Their speed, elusiveness and wiggle combined with Dormady’s ability to put the ball in positions for them to turn and get upfield could be big for Tennessee.

Then there’s sophomore Brandon Johnson, who looked like he had the potential to do big things, getting a lot of playing time as a true freshman. He had just seven catches for 93 yards, but he also showed ability in practices and again looks good this summer. The second-year player from American Heritage High School in Florida is the nephew of Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson and the son of former major league catcher Charles Johnson, and those athletic bloodlines translated well.

So, we’re up to Jennings, Smith, Callaway, Johnson, Byrd and Williams. All of those guys have given UT fans reasons to be excited about the youth and potential at the receiving corps during the first couple of weeks of camp.

I followed around the wide receivers at today's practice and took video. It's an intriguing group… https://t.co/bw7yyePbr2

— Charlie Burris (@Charlie_Burris) August 6, 2017

And that isn’t even to mention one of the biggest stories of practices so far. On defense, everybody is buzzing about true freshman linebacker Will Ignont. Offensively, that constant buzz-worthy player is receiver Josh Palmer, a player who wasn’t even a part of Tennessee’s class last year until very late.

He is a Canadian pass-catcher who moved from up North to Florida last year to catch the eye of college football teams. He was initially committed to Syracuse, but the Vols and Scott identified him, loved what they saw and convinced him to come to Knoxville. That looks like a coup.

The 6’2″, 198-pound receiver is the most physically ready of the freshmen, and he will help right away. All the talk you have heard isn’t just lip service; he’s the real deal. Though there’s always the threat of a freshman wall, Palmer is going to make a lot of plays very soon.

Though he was the 122nd-ranked RECEIVER — not player — in the 247Sports rankings, the Vols wanted him badly when they saw him. He’s proving that evaluation right.

“He was kind of a late bloomer,” UT head coach Butch Jones told GoVols247’s Grant Ramey. “You never really know until they get here. Again, it’s just a level of consistency. He hasn’t missed one rep.”

He’s made the most of those reps, too, as Jones told the media that Palmer would play “a lot of football” for the Vols this year.

Of course, everything hasn’t been perfect this summer.

Tennessee football coach Butch Jones calls out receivers: ‘Too many drops’ first day in pads https://t.co/Ccn5Iedq0u #VFL pic.twitter.com/km4JsqONQb

— SEC Country Vols (@SECCountryVols) August 5, 2017

But, the good has far outweighed the negative.

So, without question, UT will miss Malone’s big-play ability from a season ago. This receiving corps would really have the potential to be excellent had he not bolted to the NFL draft, where he was selected by Cincinnati in the fourth round. But there are enough quality talents at the position to produce and make up for those numbers as a collective unit this year.

First-year receivers coach Kevin Beard has a lot of good prospects on his hands, and it appears he’s getting them to blossom. If that continues and the Vols can get consistency from Dormady (or Guarantano), the passing game may not miss a beat from last year, and it’s even possible it can be better.