5 reasons Tennessee can win the SEC East this season
Tennessee reached Atlanta five times between 1997-2007.
Now, after making some strides the past two seasons, the Vols look to find a way to get back to the SEC championship game for the first time in 10 years.
But how can Team 121 win the East in 2017? Here are five keys to success:
1. Offensive line depth
The Vols have their best offensive line unit since Butch Jones’ first season in 2013.
The line will be better, deeper and more experienced. Brett Kendrick and Drew Richmond likely will share the left tackle position. Coleman Thomas will return at center. Jack Jones, Jashon Robertson and Venzell Boulware return at the guard spots. Chance Hall and Marcus Tatum will fill the right tackle position. Highly-touted incoming freshman and early enrollee Trey Smith should be able to play any position as needed. Red-shirt freshman Ryan Johnson provides depth at tackle.
2. Coaching staff shakeup
Credit Butch Jones for shaking up his staff to try to improve his program. After four seasons, only linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen and running backs coach Robert Gillespie remain from Jones’ inaugural 2013 season.
The staff has been fortified with former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke as defensive line coach and well-respected defensive backs coach Charlton Warren. Rock Gullickson comes in as the strength and conditioning coordinator from the Los Angeles Rams. The promotions of Larry Scott to offensive coordinator and Walt Wells to offensive line coach, plus the addition of Kevin Beard as wide receivers coach, rounds out the changes. It is also important for second-year defensive coordinator Bob Shoop to finally have some of his coaches in place.
3. Play-makers on offense
There are plenty of play-makers on offense, and how they will be distributed and involved will be something to keep an eye on under new coordinator Larry Scott.
Whoever becomes the starting quarterback will have key guys at key positions he can count on. It starts with John Kelly, who emerged at running back when Jalen Hurd decided to leave the team and Alvin Kamara battled injuries.
Senior tight end Ethan Wolf will look to cap off his career in fashion after posting three-year totals of 67 receptions, 752 yards and four touchdowns. Wolf also has been a strong presence as a run-blocker and pass-blocker.
Jauan Jennings leads the way as the top wideout after catching 40 passes for 580 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Rising sophomores Tyler Byrd, Brandon Johnson and Marquez Callaway will accompany seniors Josh Smith and Jeff George in adding depth to the receiving corps.
4. Kicking game
The Vols will be sound in the kicking game again in 2017. Both the kicker and punter are returning seniors.
Aaron Medley has made 52 of 73 field goal attempts and 158 of 159 extra points in three seasons. Red-shirt senior punter Trevor Daniel is averaging 45.1 yards on 130 punts in two seasons. He has 43 punts of 50-plus yards with a long of 70, and 53 downed inside the 20-yard line.
5. Quarterback play
No matter who the quarterback might be — Jarrett Guarantano, Quinten Dormady or Sheriron Jones — he will have to step up. If one of them can become a factor within the offense and lead the team like Jalen Hurts did for Alabama as a first-year starter, the Vols can make a run to Atlanta. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Joshua Dobbs’ replacement can come in and take Tennessee to the SEC East title.
“5 Reasons Tennessee can win SEC East”
5- Quarterback play…. So what exactly was the reason in this one?
(this is not UT hate- this is hate for piss poor journalism)
I was thinking the same thing. Usually articles like these point to known quantities. I guess they couldn’t come up with five actual reasons.
Lololol, i agree with your assessment. It was a piss poor example point. So let me fix that one.
5. Defensive Fortitude.
While the UT defense is facing some turnover from major contributors, Barnett, Sutton, amd Reeves-Maybin, they are not bare at those positions. Kongbo moves from the interior back to his natural position of DE, along with McKenzie and Tuttle coming back from injuries. Cortez McDowell stepped up when JRM was injured and Elliot Berry did well when McDowell went down which leaves Kirkland coming back from injury. Lastly Baylon Buchanon started several games last season once Sutton got injured for the season, and played pretty well goving hope for the future.
Number one reason it won’t Butch!
Hate to say it but I agree.
You can have all the ingredients for the best damned dinner in the world but if you’ve got a Waffle House fry cook for a chef, guess how dinner’s gonna come out?
As much as I dislike and have lost what little respect I had for him, I could see this team getting a few breaks this year and falling bass ackwards into winning the East. (And while I think Georgia is the better choice on paper, Tennessee does have some crucial “ingredients” that could keep them in the race for the dysfunctional East title.
As long as it doesn’t come down to Butch Jones needing to beat South Carolina or Vanderbilt of course.
This “Tennessee winning the East” thing is like that of a broken record!
If they say it every year, maybe the media will be right at some point
Lol. Ole Miss. Lol.
Since when has Ole Miss gotten into the habit hypothesizing an SEC title? UT, on the other hand? UT is the guy at the gym who buys all the latest workout gear but all you do is walk around, not lifting anything. Sorry, not buyin’ your front, UT. We all know that bag won’t hold a drop of water.
1. 5 star hearts
2. Champions of Life
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?
Precious coming from a Gawga fan!
#HowLongSinceUGAbeatUT
This article isn’t about GA. It’s solely about TN. His post speaks truth. If you can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen. SEC football has no place for thin skin and weak minds. If he’s wrong in his post, would you be willing to contest it with facts?
Dont mind newgene, he is a idiot who thinks he knows UT football. He is SevenTs brother I believe.
*SevenT’s
If Eugene is SevenT’s brother that would make him you uncle.
Eugene, that’s what I thought.
#2014
2 game winning streak over UGA. Big deal. When it reaches double digits get back to us. Until then, get used to battling UK for mediocrity supremacy.
Go Vawls
So let’s see, 2 games against us as wins(?). 2. Is that a winning streak? Correct me if I am wrong, though.
Listen, just get rid of Butch and bring back Fullmer. He was a much better coach and class of person. Why y’all got rid of him, I will never know.
3. Brick by brick
I’m starting to wonder if there are any full spurts in Georgia.
Spurts???
I’m a ut guy, but REALLY SDS???
Really? Best o-line since 2013? What? Tennessee had no o-line in 2013. Remember Worley being sacked about 8 times per game that year. Only reason Tennessee will win the east is if they have a stellar year from JG, Kelly runs over 1,000 yards, have an actual passing attack, Shoop starts earning a paycheck for once, and all other teams in the east have a horrible year. Odds are stacked against Jones. Jones dug this whole, lets see him get out.
*hole
You are so insightful Chip….thanks for the analysis of the OLine
I hope they give you the honorary title of UT’s bricklaying campion of life!
5 reasons we won’t win the East…again.
1) B
2) U
3) T
4) C
5) H