Tennessee football: A quarterback change won’t fix Vols’ problems
By Dave Hooker
Published:
Bench the quarterback!
That’s the way-too-easy, way-too-often response from fans frustrated by a season gone awry. For Tennessee, it might be appropriate even though it might not be effective.
Let’s be honest, Jarrett Guarantano was awful on Saturday in a 34-3 loss against Florida. The stat line, 10-of-17 for 107 yards and 2 interceptions, was bad. The eye test was much more damning.
Guarantano is a 3-year starter for the Vols. He looked like he just walked on campus last week. So, what do the Vols do now with an off-week to prepare before facing a likely beatdown against Georgia on Oct. 5? Panic would make sense. That brings it all back to the most important position on the field.
The Vols have time to prepare for a future without Guarantano in the starting lineup if they choose to do so. UT could go with freshman Brian Maurer. However, there’s just one problem. He didn’t look any better than Guarantano on Saturday. Maurer completed 4-of-11 passes and also threw an interception. Eeesh. Does someone have Peyton Manning’s pager number? How old is his son, Marshall?
Perhaps with some seasoning, Maurer could be the answer. That’s asking a lot, especially with an SEC slate staring the Vols in the face. To think Maurer can suddenly change UT’s fate this season is incredibly optimistic. The Vols are going to be underdogs in their next 4 games. Maurer to the rescue? Probably not. Has Manning answered the page yet?
Guarantano’s “demise” shouldn’t be a head scratcher. As a redshirt sophomore last season, the former 4-star prospect was rated the No. 8 quarterback in the SEC per his passer rating. Now, he’s still 8th. No change. However, Guarantano’s passer rating is just part of the problem. The junior seems to have no confidence in his play or UT’s offensive approach.
Despite all of that, it might be a bit too early to bench Guarantano. Fans and media were quick to write off quarterback Jonathan Crompton during his senior season in 2009. Then, things changed. Crompton went from receiving death threats to leading the Vols to a bowl appearance that season.
Could the same happen for Guarantano? It’s not unreasonable.
First, it took time for Crompton to thrive under Jim Chaney, who was UT’s offensive coordinator then and has returned to head up the offense once again. Chaney took time to figure out Crompton. Eventually things fell into place. Chaney, who returned as UT’s offensive coordinator this season, could have the same effect on Guarantano. The two QBs have similar skill sets. It might be time to dig up some old playbooks.
The best argument for benching Guarantano and going with Maurer is simply change. That satisfies the fans but likely not the team. UT’s upperclassmen wouldn’t be too pleased if Pruitt decided to toss in the towel for the season just to plan for the future with Maurer. Moreover, that move could cost Pruitt his job. If the Vols can only manage 2 or 3 wins this season, then a coaching change is a real possibility. If that happens then UT’s athletic director, Phillip Fulmer, should be on the hot seat. He hired Pruitt.
Pruitt’s influence on UT’s offense is the underlying mystery. Pruitt literally took the playbook from former offensive coordinator Tyson Helton last season. Is that happening again? If so, then the Vols are on the verge of a complete disaster. Chaney needs to be in complete control of UT’s offense. A power struggle would only lead to more chaos. That might already be the case. UT fans had better hope not.
Fans don’t want to hear any excuses or empathy for Guarantano, but there’s reason to bring up both. Guarantano has had 2 head coaches and 3 offensive coordinators during his time at UT. In a game in which consistency is key, Guarantano has had none. In a game in which learning a system is key, Guarantano has had no chance.
Benching a quarterback is always the easy move. It will more often than not pacify the fans, so if Pruitt feels the need to do that to keep his job, then he should go for the self-preservation route. But simply making Guarantano a scapegoat does nothing for the Vols. Tennessee’s next quarterback won’t feel any more comfortable behind an offensive line that UT’s coaches might not believe in. Tennessee’s next quarterback won’t feel any more comfortable in an offense he doesn’t understand.
So, before everyone clad in orange pulls out their pitchforks and dons their Maurer jerseys, be mindful of one thing: There is only one head coach at UT. He is the problem.
Pruitt ran off an offensive coordinator who was hired as a head coach. Pruitt hired what many thought was a castoff from another SEC school. Pruitt benched a quarterback that has been challenged more than Job.
Bench the quarterback? That won’t even begin to salve the wound.
Dave Hooker started covering Tennessee in 1998. He hosts an SEC radio show out of Chattanooga and covers the SEC for Saturday Down South.
