KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Where to begin with the Tennessee offense?

After a disappointing offensive debut against Appalachian State, the prevailing notion was that the Vols might not have wanted to show too much against a Sun Belt opponent.

Well, the Vols followed that performance with a luckluster start against Virginia Tech. Luckily Tennessee benefited from several Hokies fumbles, and Josh Dobbs eventually got the offense going.

The latter stages of that game looked like the second half of last season. Problem solved.

Then came Saturday — and more puzzling questions about how and why the Volunteers’ offense is so inconsistent.

Jones, after the Appalachian State game, said he would never apologize for a win. After finally putting away Ohio, he’s not about to apologize for being 3-0 for the first time since 2004, either. That was also the last year the Vols defeated Florida.

Ironically, the Gators are up next.

Is the Vols’ offense ready? Even the most optimistic Vols fan might ask that question.

For the offense to click on all cylinders, Dobbs is the answer. He had his first 2oo-yard passing day of the season on Saturday, but also missed two wide open deep throws that would have resulted in easy touchdowns. Hit those, and the Vols enter Florida week full of confidence. He didn’t, though, which reinforces the questions about his throwing ability.

The senior quarterback needs to be the 50/50 guy that he is, and that is why Tennessee was able to win in the matter that they did at the Battle at Bristol and to secure the win against Ohio in the second half. Dobbs has to move the ball by creating with his arm and legs.

Dobbs has scored 56 touchdowns in 27 career games for a reason, and now with the upcoming four-game SEC stretch, it’s time for Dobbs to show why he has been dubbed the CEO of the offense.

In each of the first three games, when the going got tough, Dobbs got going.

But the offense, in general, isn’t going, and that’s a concern going into the Florida game.

The Vols started the Ohio game running Alvin Kamara and making Josh Malone a presence in the passing game on the opening drive. Then they went away from it, like they have done during the first three games, but it doesn’t mean that they will avoid the bread and butter of the offense for 60 minutes now that it’s Florida week.

The concern, like anyone would have, is to keep Dobbs healthy for the crucial stretch that will make or break Team 120’s season. The only thing that matters after the first three games, is that Tennessee is 3-0 and Dobbs is healthy and can now attack the opposing defenses at the potential that he is capable of without holding back.

“We started out fast on offense,” Jones said following the Ohio win. “This football team lacks consistency right now, but our team keeps fighting. We threw the ball better today, and our goal is 3-0 and we’re 3-0, but we have to get better before conference play.”

That’s all fine and good. But it’s not good enough, and Jones knows it.

“If we don’t get better in not getting the ball off the ground,” he said, “we have no chance in conference play.”