Category Archives: Football

I was watching the Tennessee Takeover replay of the 2016 Tennessee-Georgia game last night when my middle daughter came downstairs to put her cello away and asked me why I was watching a game I’d already seen. I was especially tired and so I just smiled and said, “We tend to forget stuff.”

As time goes by, we consolidate our memories into efficient shortcuts that are easier to remember, and as a result, the memory of the actual particulars fades. The abbreviated version of the 2016 Vols-Bulldogs game is that the Vols won that game on a miraculous Hail Mary when Josh Dobbs flung the ball to the end zone with four seconds left and Jajuan Jennings leaped over everybody to go get the ball and the victory.

If we sit down and give it more time, we might reminisce about some other details, such as how Georgia had nearly won the game just before that with their own miracle. We might even remember the sack-fumble-touchdown just before that that gave the Vols the lead.

What I’d forgotten, though, until I watched it again last night, is that Tennessee would have had seven more points had Jalen Hurd not decided it would be cool to score a touchdown while walking across the goal line and that Tennessee played that entire game with backup linebackers against a hammer of an offense. I’d forgotten that at least two key guys didn’t even got on the field against Georgia due to injury.

“The window of opportunity has closed”

One of the main talking points at SEC Media Days last week by regional and national pundits was that the Vols had missed their opportunity, that if they couldn’t do it with “all of that talent” last year, there’s no way they can do it this year with “all of that talent” gone.

It’s an easy argument to make, and it’s just as easy to swallow. Tennessee had six players taken in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft this spring – defensive end Derek Barnett, running back Alvin Kamara, defensive back Cam Sutton, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, wide receiver Josh Malone, and quarterback Josh Dobbs. That’s the best draft class for the Vols in 15 years.

So, if X + those guys = “disappointment,” then X – those guys = “even more disappointment.” If the Vols couldn’t get it done with them, they surely can’t do it without them. Sounds reasonable.

But there are a couple of problems with that argument, one of them being that it assumes that X is constant when it is not, which is a topic for a later post. Another problem with it is that last year wasn’t always “X + those guys.” “Those guys” weren’t all available at all the right times last season.

Who’s gone now and who was already gone last year

Only half of the guys who were drafted this spring played the entire season. Derek Barnett, Josh Dobbs, and Josh Malone all survived the 2016 gauntlet injury-free. They were important to whatever degree of success you assign to the 2016 season, and they’ll no doubt be missed.

But the other three – Reeves-Maybin, Sutton, and Kamara – all missed significant time or key games. Maybin suffered his injury against Ohio in the third game of the season. He then tried to play against Florida but just wasn’t himself at all and then missed the rest of the season. He was effectively not a part of the wins against Florida and Georgia or the losses to Texas A&M, Alabama, South Carolina, or Vanderbilt.

Cam Sutton also suffered his injury against Ohio early in the season and missed almost all of the key games of the season. He was unavailable for Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M, Alabama, and South Carolina. He did not return until the Kentucky game.

Even Alvin Kamara was absent due to injury for a couple of key games. He was injured against Alabama and then missed the South Carolina game (as well as the Tennessee Tech game) after that.

All of those NFL guys are gone, so it is true that they’ll be unavailable against Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and LSU this year. But Reeves-Maybin and Sutton – two of the three most important players on defense last season – were not available for Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M, and Alabama last season, either. And Kamara was missing for Alabama and South Carolina, and it’s not much of a stretch to say that his absence (and Jalen Hurd’s reported refusal to enter the game) was the difference against the Gamecocks as it resulted in an unprepared backup running back causing a key fumble.

Yes, Barnett, Dobbs, and Malone leaving presents Tennessee with a challenge of replacing NFL-caliber talent. But it’s not telling the whole story to say simply that “all of that talent is gone now.” The rest of the story is that, at the times it mattered most, much of that talent was already gone last year.

With the start of fall camp right around the corner, it’s time to look at some picks to prosper at each position.

Over the next couple of weeks leading up to the beginning of practice, we’ll examine each position and spotlight a player who the Vols desperately need to perform well as well as one who could elevate the team if he lives up to expectations.

Think of these as the old Chicago White Sox WGN announcers’ “picks to click.”

Today, we’ll start with the most vital spot on the whole team: the signal-callers. That’s where new QBs coach Mike Canales will be looked upon to milk some magic from the unproven players ready to step into the Sasquatch-sized footprints of Joshua Dobbs.

This one’s easy…

MUST

QUINTEN DORMADY, Junior

It’s anybody’s guess right now who will trot out with the 1s when Tennessee opens the season at Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Labor Day night. But if this spring is any indicator, it’ll be Dormady.

That’s the safe bet, anyway.

Despite all the hubbub surrounding one-time marquee recruit Jarrett Guarantano, Dormady stole the spotlight. Considering pretty much every coach in the country would like to go with experience if it’s paired with enough talent, if the race is really close in late August, coach Butch Jones will probably give Dormady the chance to earn the job.

The 6’4″, 222-pound junior from Boerne, Texas, has only limited experience backing up Dobbs the past two years, but when it was his turn this spring, he didn’t disappoint. Though Dormady needs to get more consistent throwing the ball, he possesses the arm strength and accuracy to “throw guys open,” as the old football cliche goes. With all the inexperience in the receiving corps beyond Jauan Jennings, that may prove to be a valuable asset.

For Tennessee fans used to watching a versatile, dual-threat quarterback with Dobbs under center, Dormady is going to be a break from the norm. That may not be such a bad thing. With new offensive coordinator Larry Scott’s history being grounded in more pro-style elements, Dormady wouldn’t necessarily be a square peg in a round hole. Tennessee’s offense actually could evolve with him under (behind?) center.

Though Dormady’s sneaky athleticism can keep teams honest (think Baker Mayfield- or Andrew Luck-type skill set tucking and going) he isn’t going to lead the Vols in rushing the way Dobbs did several times. That’s OK. With John Kelly, Ty Chandler and Co. in the backfield, that’s for other folks.

It’s not a stretch to believe Tennessee’s passing offense will be better with Dormady dropping back than it was with Dobbs. The draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers was a gamer for the Vols, but he was never the zippiest passer with the most accuracy. UT did Dobbs a disservice by never employing a dedicated quarterbacks coach, and that became obvious when Dobbs began to unlock some of his hidden potential with some mechanical tweaks during his NFL workout tour.

With Canales in tow, that’s no longer the case. Dormady has somebody who can dissect his every move and work with him to unlock his full passing potential. That potential is massive, as he has an NFL arm. If he can read through progressions and be on-point with his accuracy, the Vols’ passing game could be much improved.

If not, it’ll be Guarantano’s job before too long.

MIGHT

JARRETT GUARANTANO, Redshirt Freshman

Guarantano’s potential is tantalizing, and even if he doesn’t wind up being “The Man” this year, UT looks to be in strong hands when he takes over.

The redshirt freshman New Jersey native may be too talented to keep off the field.

At the very least, it’s possible Jones finds ways to navigate a two-quarterback system at times in 2017 thanks to having two capable quarterbacks with a different arsenal of weaponry.

Jones didn’t differentiate that much between the tool sets of Dormady and Guarantano, saying they had similar attributes. He admitted Tennessee may play two quarterbacks at SEC Media Days last week, according to GoVols247’s Wes Rucker:

“I think playing time is earned, so if both players earn their right to play, we’ll play both quarterbacks,” Jones said. “I’ve been in systems where we’ve been able to do that, and really Quinten and Jarrett’s skill sets are very similar to each other. I think we have an offense that really can play to the skill sets of the quarterback and all of the players around.

“Again, if both players earn the right to play, they’ll both play. Again, it’s how it’s gonna play itself out, because these two individuals are very, very capable and very good football players.

“It’s a good problem to have.”

Well, if it works.

Playing two quarterbacks has produced results across the spectrum depending on what teams run it.

The old adage goes, “if you have two quarterbacks, you really have none.” While that is certainly the case sometimes, it isn’t always. If the Vols decide to do that, it needs to be because Guarantano (or Dormady, whoever loses the battle) plays his way onto the field, and not because the starter plays his way off it.

Whatever happens, it’s a safe bet Guarantano earns some reps in 2017. That could be good news or bad news for the Vols.

It’s bad if Dormady wins the job and is ineffective, leading to Jones feeling like he must make a switch in order to win games. Guarantano offers an option that is much more similar to Dobbs’ ability to be a dual-threat weapon. The 6’4″, 200-pound Bergen (N.J.) Catholic signal-caller was the nation’s No. 1-ranked dual-threat quarterback according to 247Sports, and many of the top teams in the country wanted him.

He chose the Vols over Ohio State and his father’s alma mater of Rutgers, and the family has a strong relationship with the Vols’ head coach from his days as an assistant with the Scarlet Knights during James Guarantano’s days.

Just because Dormady holds the clubhouse lead for the starting gig doesn’t mean it’s anywhere near over. Guarantano has the opportunity to seize the gig this fall and be the first UT quarterback on the field against the Yellow Jackets. He has really good speed, even if he isn’t as deceptive in the open field and as slippery as Dobbs. He also has a cannon for an arm, possibly even better than Dormady’s, though it isn’t as polished yet.

If Guarantano puts all those skills together, it’ll be tough to keep him off the field.

Both quarterbacks give the Vols some exciting options. They just need one (or both) of them to prove they deserve to be an elite-level SEC quarterback.