As the Tennessee Volunteers football program begins the second half of their season, many people around the program and fans of Vol Nation feel like the program is living on the edge. What’s so confusing to many is not knowing whether the Vols are on the edge of something great or on the edge of a collapse. The constant volatility (no pun intended) of the program over the last five years has worn on everyone – players, administrators, and fans. This continued state of hyper-awareness of the program coupled with the constant, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week media coverage in print, broadcast and digital media only serves to exacerbate the grueling transformation project being managed by head coach Butch Jones. So where are we half way into the second season of Jones’ tenure?
On the edge of collapse?
Living On The Edge: Tennessee Volunteers Mid-Season Review
The Vols had two strong opening wins against quality teams in Utah State and Arkansas State and another win against UT-Chattanooga. Outside of those games, though, it hasn’t been pretty. Tennessee desperately needed a win against either Georgia or Florida to take some pressure off of a young team in the second half of the season. A gutsy performance by Justin Worley in Athens was overshadowed by another monster performance by Todd Gurley and the Vols narrowly missed the upset on the road. Buoyed by their performance in Athens and by an earlier strong showing on the road against Oklahoma, Tennessee fully expected to end a nine year losing streak against Florida in Neyland Stadium. Tennessee, in typical fashion, turned in their worst performance of the season against the Gators and let Florida slip away from Knoxville with a 10-9 victory. With Florida struggling of late and having two key decommitments over the last week, there is no understating the missed opportunity that was the Florida loss. Tennessee’s offense was on hiatus in the Ole Miss game as well and quarterback Justin Worley had three bad interceptions. Tennessee let two golden opportunities slip away in the first half of the season. With such a young team, momentum can be a key factor. Is there still optimism and hope in the locker room or have the memories of the past five years crept into the young players’ minds?
Tennessee sits at 3-4 on the season and still faces Alabama, South Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. You’ve got to think Alabama is going to be a loss and Vanderbilt is going to be a win. That means Tennessee has to win two out of three against South Carolina, Missouri, and Kentucky. South Carolina and Missouri are both schizophrenic teams; they have the ability for big wins and the ability to have horrible losses. Luckily for Tennessee, both teams are struggling and don’t have dominant defenses. Kentucky is a team on the rise and Tennessee’s defense will have to continue its strong play against the Wildcats. This is the SEC and there are no easy wins (except Vanderbilt). Tennessee will have to improve its offensive play and continue with the lights-out defensive play in order to get to 6-6 at the end of the year. Tennessee will have to earn it, the schedule will not give it to them.
Lastly, injuries, depth and youth are starting to show. The offensive line has played poorly all year. They are all young and they will all be good, but it’s clear that they just aren’t a good unit right now. On top of that, the line has sustained two key injuries. Everyone around the program knows about the youth and the growing legend of Derek Dooley not recruiting a single offensive lineman for a full recruiting cycle, but that doesn’t keep opposing teams from getting pressure on Worley with three down linemen. I’ve said this a thousand times: the SEC is a conference won and lost at the line of scrimmage. Right now, Tennessee does not have the ability to win on the offensive line of scrimmage and injuries and lack of depth are only making the situation worse. In addition to the linemen, Worley and both starting running backs, Jalen Hurd and Marlin Lane, are also nursing injuries. If Worley can’t go for the Alabama game, Jones might be forced to take the redshirt off of Sophomore Josh Dobbs, which will have ramifications in the next few years. All of these facts should concern Vol fans that the program might be on the edge of collapsing…again.
On the edge of greatness?
Tennessee is five points from being 5-2 with losses to Oklahoma and Ole Miss and a victory over Georgia. One bad spot in Athens and a horrible no call against Florida and Tennessee would probably be in the Top 25. We know how good Georgia is and Utah State and Arkansas State are both playing great football right now and looking to win their conferences.
And yes, while the offense is struggling the defense is playing great. Their play in the first half of games against top opponents – Oklahoma, Georgia and Ole Miss – was great and more than likely the inability of the offense to sustain drives tired the defense out. The defense has been able to stay relatively healthy as well. If the defense continues this play, they should control the Kentucky and Missouri offenses and put the team in a position to win at least those two key games. In addition to the defense playing great, freshmen kicker Aaron Medley is getting much more consistent and could be the difference between winning and losing in November.
On the offense, the line, while hurt, is showing signs of improvement in scheme and assignments. The running game, again hurt by injury, is also showing signs of improvement as Jalen Hurd is running hard and starting to show signs of why he was so highly recruited. The offense should be getting healthier and executing better by the time the three critical games of South Carolina, Missouri and Kentucky come around. If the offense can start putting drives together and Worley can stay healthy, the Vols have a shot at getting to a bowl this year.
Butch Freaking Jones. Tennessee has a top-5 recruiting class right now is still in the final running for several high profile recruits. Jones and his staffs’ ability to recruit and showcase the program are becoming nationally recognized as one of – of not the – best in the nation. His ability to put together a top-10 class before last season and already a lock for a top-5 class this season (with a three season record of 13-18) makes people wonder what he could do once the program starts getting eight and nine wins a season. Additionally, his ability to energize the administration, program, and fan base is exceptional. His “brick by brick”, “One Tennessee”, “Vol For Life” (to be fair, a carryover from the Dooley era) and his gameday and recruiting creativity is laying the foundation for the future.
A bowl bid, combined with the extra 30 practices, a great off season condition and practice program for a team that has played freshmen in almost half of the positions all year, a energized program and fan base, and another top-5 recruiting class seems to indicate that Tennessee is on the verge of returning to the top tier of college football.
So, at mid-season, which is it? Is Tennessee on the verge of collapse and a winter of discontent in Knoxville? Or are the Vols on the verge of returning to their traditional place amongst college football powerhouses? Tennessee has five games to find out.
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Main Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
