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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The journey to Atlanta — and beyond — begins Monday.
What needs to happen for Tennessee to answer the media’s prediction of being favored to win the SEC East? What areas are the focal points in fall camp?
Here are three key questions as Team 120 gets going Monday.
Can Tennessee stretch the field?
One area of the offense that has well been discussed throughout the airwaves this off-season is developing the vertical passing game. The Vols completed just five passes longer than 40 yards last season. It had four runs that long.
Can the Vols become more dynamic through the air to counter their ground game that produced 2,908 yards a season ago – the second-most in a season in program history.
The answer is yes, the passing game will be more dynamic. The off-season emphasis has been for Joshua Dobbs to stretch the field. That will continue in preseason camp. It will be more dynamic with the continued growth and development of sophomore Preston Williams.
The highly touted receiver appeared in only eight games during his 2015 freshman season after battling a hamstring injury.
Williams only reeled in seven receptions for 158 yards and two TDs for the season, but the 6-4, 209-pound talent is due for a breakout year.
JUCO transfer Jeff George is another element that can make the passing game more potent. George will be red-zone threat and a possession-type receiver.
These two receivers will compliment Josh Malone, Josh Smith, Ethan Wolf, Jason Croom and Jauan Jennings.
How much better can the run defense be in 2016?
The second phase that needs to be addressed is stability in stopping the run.
The Vols allowed 151.6 rushing yards per game last season, ninth in the SEC.
Improvement begins with the linebackers.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin is the group’s star, but Darrin Kirkland, Jr., might the key factor. But who’s alongside him? Cortez McDowell, Kenny Bynum and Austin Smith make up the strong-side linebacker group.
Colton Jumper, who started three games before Kirkland Jr. took the reign, is the other middle linebacker.
Reeves-Maybin came back for his senior season and will again be the starting weak-side linebacker, a hybrid who can also play as a defensive back. Quart’e Sapp will be the back-up on the weak-side.
There is enough depth here to be consistent, and this core will be even better with a stellar defensive line unit being in the backfield, allowing UT’s linebackers to cover more space and to be a step ahead in their assignment schemes.
Can Medley put it all together?
Tennessee might have the strongest return game in the country, but that’s only a fraction of special teams.
The third area that is a focal point toward Tennessee’s success is in the kicking game.
Aaron Medley has proven he has a strong leg and that distance is not an issue. Medley is 41-for-57 in two seasons and enters 2016 seventh in career made field goals in school history.
Timely kicks has been the only issue for the junior kicker. Important kicks, like in last season’s Florida game, will be needed for Tennessee to be successful in making a championship-run this season.
Dan Harralson covers Tennessee football for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow Dan on Twitter @danharralson.
