After passing latest test, Dobbs, Vols take aim at Georgia
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Florida monkey is finally off Tennessee’s back.
The Vols are 4-0 heading into their first road test at Georgia and a game that can propel Team 120 into the SEC East driver’s seat.
Why is Tennessee in its current position? Josh Dobbs is the leading factor in the equation along with Bob Shoop coordinating the defense. The two go hand-in-hand for a winning formula.
The senior quarterback receives occasional unfair criticism from some for his play within the passing game, much like a former Vols quarterback Casey Clausen. Some Tennessee fans are under-appreciative of what they have in front of them, and like Clausen it might take years after leaving Tennessee to look back and fully appreciate what Dobbs has meant to the offense.
All Clausen did was win and guide the offense efficiently, but he never received the praise he deserved. Until this season, Tennessee has not started a season 4-0 since Clausen’s senior season in 2003.
While under the same umbrella of Volunteer critiques, Dobbs, like Clausen, has proven once again he can be a difference-maker with the victory over Florida. He did it this time by setting a career-high in passing yards in a game with 319 yards and passing touchdowns (4) against the Gators.
The third-year starter will never escape some of the unfair criticism he receives for the way he looks in the passing game, but his results should be appreciated as the Volunteers continue to put together a special 2016 season.
The career-high in passing yards and passing touchdowns against Florida speaks volumes considering there were critical drops in the first half. Those drops kept Tennessee from scoring early and dictated the first half.
“We were shooting ourselves in the foot the whole first half and even on that first drive, whether it was bad ball location on my part or not making catches, just simple things,” Dobbs said of the Florida performance. “We came into the locker room saying don’t panic. It’s simple, we just have to execute, play our brand of football. Once we start executing, that’s when the success came.”
The brand of football has been seen over the past few seasons, when Dobbs can lead the offense with his arm and legs, Tennessee is close to unstoppable.
When Dobbs can create with his legs, it makes him a better passer with the defense playing on their heels. All of his tangibles lead to a confidence that allows him to put unparalleled statistics on the board. Dobbs has scored 61 touchdowns in only 28 games. Dobbs has also produced 4,997 passing yards, 1,570 rushing yards and 58 receiving yards.
“Honestly at the end of the first half when we were down, even though we got a field goal out of the drive, you could feel it coming,” Dobbs said confidently of the comeback. “We were driving, we were moving the ball, and we were in the red-zone countless times.
“Even back to the first quarter, we just didn’t finish, didn’t execute. You can feel it coming once you start getting points on the board. Then we have a big play and score a touchdown in the red-zone after that we start clicking.”
Dobbs was clicking at his highest level since the Outback Bowl — just in time, too, as the Vols continue their four-game journey that will help determine whether they make it back to Tampa in January.
Welcome to the party. I was singing Dobbs praises and put the statistics on here to back it up last week before it was easy to jump on his band wagon.
You may get through Georgia but with the two western powerhouses awaiting, don’t get too excited yet.
Why do people consistently make comments that have nothing to do with what the poster originally said. Do you have trouble reading? I was only commenting on Dobbs success and how I called it last week before he showed out against Florida. I said nothing about UTs upcoming schedule.
Completely agree with Casey Clausen not getting the credit he deserves. He was a warrior, especially on the road which included snapping Miami’s long home winning streak they had going. Good comparison because it does have that same feel in regards to won’t know who we had until he is gone for a good chunk of fans.
I feel we are better set up for future QBs this time around with Dormandy, Gurantano, and Jones. All were top 15 QB recruits, Dormandy ran the same offense his senior season and has a stronger and more accurate arm. Gurantano is a not-quite-the-runner-but-better-arm-and-still-mobile version of Dobbs. I would not be surprised if he beats out Dormandy next season but it’ll be close.
Yep Clausen had the best road record in Tennessee history for quarterback. Something like 20-2. And I think Guarantano is going to be awesome. He was the number one dual-threat out of last year’s class.
andy, I actually completely disagreed with the assertion that Clausen didn’t get the credit he deserved. I’ll make my case here:
He started his first game as a true freshman against Alabama (a win), and was the third QB to start a game for Tennessee during that 2000 season. Compared to previous starters Joey Matthews and A.J. Suggs, I think it’s fair to say most fans knew right then that we had a good QB in Casey Clausen.
The guy went 3-1 against Alabama, and 2-1 against Florida, including two wins in Gainesville. That 2001 powerhouse of a team we had benefitted from four 4th-quarter comebacks (Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky, and Florida).
He missed one start, at Georgia, in 2002 — remember James Banks running around like he was on the playground for the whole game. Everyone knew in the moment how good Clausen was — it didn’t take years for people to see that — they saw it right then and there.
When Clausen left, it was another disaster at the position. A few months after he left, Tennessee’s 2004 season saw three different QBs start for Tennessee — Brent Schaeffer, RICK Clausen, and Erik Ainge. Now I would argue Erik Ainge is the guy that didn’t get the credit he deserved until years after he left, but that’s another discussion. But most people should have realized at this point (well before “years” had passed), what a great QB Casey Clausen was for Tennessee.
Clausen left Tennessee firmly in the top-2 of just about all of the school records for QBs, behind Peyton Manning. Of course, Peyton Manning was one of a kind, but he also benefitted from David Cutcliffe as his OC, while Clausen had Randy Sanders as his OC.
Just my thoughts — I thought he was well appreciated in the moment, it shouldn’t have taken “years” to figure out what an exceptional QB he was for Tennessee.
*Dormady
*Guarantano.
As the only undefeated team left in the East, we are already in the “driver’s seat”. A win this weekend will just solidify it further.
Depends on your definition of “driver’s seat.” If that definition is ‘any team that automatically wins their division if they win out, regardless of the other teams’ seasons,’ then both Tennessee and UGA are in the driver’s seat (until Saturday). However, if the definition is the team leading their division, then Tennessee is in the driver’s seat.
He’s using the only definition of driver seat. As in the team in the driver’s seat or in first at the current moment. Tennessee.
3rd Saturday next month should be fun!
Absolutely. I’m hoping that Tennessee’s defensive line plays as good as they did last year in Tuscaloosa and makes hurts look like a freshman, cuz he hasn’t yet.
They have to get through College Station before they even get you all. 0-2 Tennessee in that stretch.
UGA4Me, how can you say definitely 0-2 in that stretch? I wouldn’t even say UT definitely beats UGA this weekend but if they play like they did in the 2nd half against UF, they can beat anybody.
I’m not sure why the writer keeps referring to the “unfair criticism” directed at Dobbs’ passing game. It’s a statistical fact that that is his weakness. His strength is first his feet and then that opens up his ability to pass. He’s definitely not very accurate on his long passes and, though his receivers have a tendency to drop some easy ones, they also make Dobbs look good with some acrobatic catches (usually thrown behind them). Dobbs feet and leadership ability makes him a really good college QB but his passing will keep him from getting drafted.
Dobbs has improved immensely on his passing. He will definitely give us fits in our secondary along with the tall, big receivers UT has.
Don’t underestimate Dobb’s throwing ability. His mechanics are like night and day from last season.
…the throws you mentioned behind them…those are accurate back-shoulder throws…and yes, they were on mark.
I saw the tape and interview with David Greene on SEC Network; Dobbs was impressive. We are in trouble this Saturday.