Tennessee finished up spring practice filled with optimism despite an athletic training facility reduced to standing room only.

Yes, summer got here at the perfect time for the Vols, with more than one dozen players nursing some sort of injury that either limited them this spring or excluded them altogether.

The memory of a strong TaxSlayer Bowl win against Iowa lingers, and fans are eager to see the next progression from coach Butch Jones’ team after two impressive years of improvement in every aspect.

Along with Missouri, Tennessee should embrace a role as lead challenger in the SEC East this season, with the expectation that the Vols will put pressure on preseason favorite Georgia.

Which position or play will determine the outcome of the season? We’ll have to wait another four months to start getting that answer, but for now we can break down Team 119’s strengths and weaknesses after spring practice.

STRENGTHS

  • Pass rush: Starting ends Derek Barnett and Curt Maggitt combined to make 21 sacks in ’14. Corey Vereen, Kyle Phillips and LaTroy Lewis are among the players who should play bit roles as pass rushers. Tennessee should get even more contributions behind Barnett and Maggitt in ’15, so if those two can average double-digit sacks again, opposing quarterbacks will get steady pressure from the Vols.
  • Triple threat in the running game: Joshua Dobbs. Jalen Hurd. Alvin Kamara. Can you imagine trying to defend all three of them on the same play — and watching out for the pass as well? It’s possible Tennessee could put all three of them on the field at the same time. Regardless, quarterbacks with running ability always make the backfield more effective. Hurd should be even better his second season, and Kamara upgrades the two-pronged running back group. If all three players stay healthy, their combined rushing should be the team’s greatest asset on offense.
  • Secondary: It’s possible that the Vols are better off on the back end of the defense than up front. The defensive line features the headliners, but the defensive backs may be even deeper and consistently good at every position. Cornerback Cam Sutton is an All-SEC type talent who has yet to get as much respect conference-wide as he deserves. The team returns two solid senior starters at safety, with an immense talent in Evan Berry waiting for his chance. Rashaan Gaulden has secured the nickelback role, and the winner of the Emmanuel Moseley/Justin Martin competition for the cornerback spot opposite Sutton also will have a high ceiling.

WEAKNESSES

  • Depth, depth and depth: Youth and inexperience will play a small role among UT’s starters, but a pervasive one among the backups. The resulting chasm in ability means that Tennessee can’t afford injuries at quarterback, running back, interior offensive line or linebacker. If Von Pearson’s off-field trouble keeps him away from the team, and the receivers continue to be frail, that’s a position that could turn from impressively deep to thin as well.
  • Middle linebacker: I was tempted to expand this one to interior run defense. Even beyond the need to replace four-year starter A.J. Johnson — and the absence of a clear-cut option to do so — the Vols should feature a pair of freshmen defensive tackles. Danny O’Brien, a junior, will start, but Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie will play as well. It’s difficult to excel at the interior of the defensive line in the SEC as a freshman no matter how talented the player. As far as middle linebacker, at least there’s competition — Kenny Bynum, Gavin Bryant, Dillon Bates and Darrin Kirkland Jr. will vie for that spot this fall.
  • Offensive line: Unless Dontavius Blair, Drew Richmond or Jack Jones can do enough in the fall to wrench away one of the starting spots, it’s likely that this group looks very familiar. And that’s not such a great thing, considering the unit allowed 43 sacks last season and nearly got Justin Worley killed against Ole Miss’ Landshark defense. If Marcus Jackson can improve on his mediocre junior season at left guard and Jashon Robertson continues to improve, the group no longer will be embarrassing. New offensive coordinator Mike DeBord’s strength may be offensive line technique. Dobbs makes the line look better. But if we’re evaluating Tennessee as a division title contender, the offensive line is one of the weak points.