KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee has ended fall camp and now moves onto preparation for their first opponent, Appalachian State.

The Vols face few issues entering Game 1 preparation mode. There are minimal areas of concern, but are topics of discussion. Tennessee also has areas that are solved and are centerpieces of Team 120.

What’s been solved?

1. Vols know who they are: Josh Dobbs’ has helped build the offense’s identity since taking over in relief following the injury to Justin Worley in 2014. It continues to grow.

Dobbs’ ability to run and throw the ball, on top of the Vols’ running attack with Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara, are the key pieces in reinforcing that identity. It’s been on display throughout camp.

2. The passing game: It’s no secret the Vols ran it better in 2015 than they threw it. They nearly set a single-season rushing record. But, again, that’s part of their identity. Butch Jones wants the passing game to be more than just a complement in 2016, however.

It’s important to note that it wasn’t bad last season. Far from it. The Vols weren’t Ole Miss like, but of their 5,490 total yards, 2,582 yards came through the air. That’s 47 percent. LSU, for example, gained just 41 percent of its yards through the air. Only Alabama ran and threw for more yards than the balanced Vols.

Injuries at wide receiver hampered Team 119, and now the Vols look to Preston Williams, Josh Malone, Josh Smith and the newcomers to help bring stable depth to the position.

3. The running game: After compiling the second best season running the football in school history, it’s no secret where Tennessee stands in the ground game.

And after the start of fall camp, the Vols look like they will continue, if not get better, in their running offense. The three-headed monster within the run-game of Dobbs, Hurd and Kamara is the backbone of Team 120, and they’ll challenge the single-season record of 3,068, set in 1951.

What are the lingering issues?

1. Replacing Chance Hall: The No. 1 issue is obvious with the recent news of offensive lineman Chance Hall undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and could miss 4-6 weeks.

Hall’s absence will force the line to revamp somewhat, perhaps using a plug-and-play until the sophomore returns.

Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord mentioned “we’ll work Coleman Thomas a little bit at tackle, which he’s done in camp already in individual drills and individual pass protection and individual blocking and things like that, so he’ll be a guy that we work there as the third tackle right now.”

2. When will Alexis Johnson play? The JUCO defensive tackle was supposed to have gone through spring practices, summer workouts and fall camp.

Those plans changed upon Johnson’s arrival in January due to a suspension in February following an arrest regarding a domestic violence incident. Johnson was cleared to return to the football program last week.

With Shy Tuttle still rehabilitating, adding Johnson will be ideal at defensive tackle. It is one of the few positions in which depth is remotely thin. But Johnson can help solve that. His only question is conditioning.

3. Who is Dobbs’ backup? Who’s No. 2 behind Dobbs? Is it sophomore Quinten Dormady, like last season? Or has true freshman Jarrett Guarantano earned enough trust to move up to second or even third? And where does Sheriron Jones fall in the quarterback mix after redshirting last season?

After the third day of fall camp, DeBord gave his early thoughts on the quarterbacks. “Josh Dobbs started strong and he’s done some really good things out there,” DeBord said. “Also, he’s really improved his leadership. I like his start. Quinten Dormady likewise. This is his second year in the offense so he is obviously ahead of where he was last year and performing very well.

“Sheriron Jones has gotten a few reps and he continues to learn. Jarrett Guarantano has come in and it’s a learning process for him. He wasn’t here in the spring, so every day is a learning situation for him. He has shown that he is very athletic and he’s got a really strong arm.”

Tennessee coaches like how Guarantano has performed. Dobbs ended up starting as a true freshman. Barring injury, Guarantano won’t have to, so it will be interesting to see whether the Vols give him a red-shirt this season.