Looking for a spark, Butch Jones finally turned to redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano to replace junior Quinten Dormady as his starting quarterback.

So much for the idea of a spark.

Though Guarantano’s numbers were not hideous Saturday against South Carolina, Tennesee’s 15-9 loss at home certainly was.

The Vols’ streak of quarters without a touchdown is now at 10. And Alabama is up next — in Tuscaloosa.

Saturday at Neyland Stadium, in his first career start, Guarantano went 11-for-18 for 133 yards with no TDs or interceptions.

“After the first snap, I was good,” he said, adding that he felt “very comfortable” as the game went on and was “starting to get the hang of it.”

He looked good at times, and might have looked better if not for the pressure he faced. He was sacked seven times, and thus his rushing total wound up as minus-2 yards on 17 carries.

Tennessee only had one passing play over 16 yards — Brandon Johnson’s 39-yard reception.

“We didn’t have many big plays,” Jones said. “Against that defense or any defense, you need big splash plays, and we weren’t able to generate any. … There were a number of times we had some things but broke down in protection and were not able to throw the football.

“There were a number of times on the headsets where a guy was wide open, and we weren’t able to get him the football. So again, it’s not just the receivers, it’s everyone.”

The Gamecocks loaded the box often, and the Vols could not make them pay. Jones said afterward he will “look at some different schemes” to free up play-makers on the perimeter.

As for the quarterbacks, Dormady appeared supportive of his previous understudy on the sideline.

 

VOLS QB COMPARISON, 2017

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Guarantano understands that the back-up role isn’t easy, admitting that he didn’t take to it well early on this year.

“Just from being a competitor, there were some times when I was distraught and it was visible, especially in the first game (against Georgia Tech),” Guarantano said. “From that point, I understood my role and kept working to get better. Of course it hurt, I went home upset at times, but I think it was for the better.”

Whether Guarantano truly is a better fit for Jones’ scheme, or whether Jones can tweak his scheme to better suit the personnel, remains to be seen.

What is certain is that Tennessee’s offense isn’t working.

The Vols managed 253 total yards against the Gamecocks and are averaging only 238 yards and 8.7 points over their past three games. John Kelly was limited to 79 total yards on 18 touches, with a mere two receptions for the second time in three weeks.

The inability to find the end zone raises questions about why the offense isn’t better tailored to the personnel, why the Vols are still running the same spread system that does not take shots downfield, thus allowing defenses to load the box.

Developing Guarantano and fixing the offensive scheme are probably the most productive things Jones and staff can do with the rest of this season. After Alabama, the schedule eases a bit, so maybe there is hope for progress in those areas.

The question is: did the change in signal-callers come too late to salvage the season and re-spark the Jones era at Tennessee?