The story of the Tennessee Volunteers’ 2014 season must be told in two chapters: the “pre-Dobbs” chapter and the “post-Dobbs” chapter.

The “pre-Dobbs” chapter tells the story of the team’s discouraging 3-4 start to the season under the leadership of senior starting quarterback Justin Worley. Although Worley’s 62 percent completion rate and 12 touchdowns in those first seven games were nothing to shrug about, the offense lacked a dynamic element and suffered as a result.

Tennessee’s offensive line allowed more sacks through those seven weeks than any other line in the SEC with the immobile Worley taking snaps. The Vols lost their 10th straight game to an undermanned Florida team, and the Vols appeared doomed to fall short of bowl eligibility for a fourth straight year.

That’s when the Alabama Crimson Tide ventured into Knoxville.

Rarely the bearer of good news, Alabama came into Neyland Stadium, jumped out to a 27-0 lead on the Volunteers and eventually coasted to a 34-20 victory. Nevertheless, this game still ushered in the “post-Dobbs” chapter of the season.

Upon falling behind 27-0, with Worley sidelined with a season-ending injury, head coach Butch Jones was forced to turn to Dobbs, even if playing him would cost him his redshirt season.

Dobbs came in and led a valiant comeback against Alabama, then led Tennessee to a 4-1 record to close the season including the team’s first bowl victory since 2007. He showed great poise from the pocket and great escapability with his legs, making plays based on whatever defenses were presenting him.

Turning the page to 2015, the Tennessee coaching staff must continue to develop Dobbs in preparation for his first full season as the team’s starting quarterback. Those efforts must begin this spring as the Vols begin installing new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord’s system.

DeBord hasn’t coached at the college level since 2007, and he has a background as an offensive line coach and not as a quarterback coach, as is the case with many other SEC OCs. Nevertheless, he must work with Dobbs to help him gain a command of the offense this fall.

Dobbs did plenty of compensating for a shaky offensive line last season, and that line should be improved this fall due to a combination of greater talent (brought in with the 2015 recruiting class) and DeBord’s coaching.

Because Dobbs is so savvy as a runner (four 70-plus-yard performances in six games), he, too, must become fluent in DeBord’s blocking schemes up front to maximize his effectiveness in the run game.

DeBord must also develop Dobbs’ rapport with his wideouts, namely Marquez North, Pig Howard and Von Pearson. Because Dobbs is so skilled in extending plays with his legs without crossing the line of scrimmage, he and his wideouts must share an unspoken bond to capitalize on the broken plays Dobbs often turns into big gains.

That rapport will simply come from reps on the practice field this spring and again when fall camp begins in August.

Mechanically, Dobbs is better than most college quarterbacks with fewer than 10 career starts under their belt. His footwork is good, as is his comprehension of opposing defenses. He’s an accurate passer (career 62 percent completion rate) and he has an arm capable of stretching the field.

He also possesses a “clutch gene,” as shown in Tennessee’s come-from-behind win against South Carolina last fall. The rising junior has all the tools to be a superstar in the SEC, and if he continues to sharpen his game in the areas referenced above he’ll only continue to improve.

But Dobbs must work with DeBord in the classroom to learn the new blocking schemes in the new OC’s offense, and with his wideouts on the practice field to develop the kind of timing required to boast an elite passing game in the SEC.

Dobbs is a star in the making and with the talent Tennessee has put around him the Vols appear like a true contender to win the SEC East this season. But the quarterback charged with reviving the Tennessee program is only scratching the surface.

The hope is he’ll continue to dig deeper this spring.