Tennessee came into the 2018 season with plenty of concerns. That’s to be expected after a 4-8 season that prompted a coaching change.

Here are five preseason concerns and how the Vols have addressed them after their first five games:

Quarterback

We knew Jarrett Guarantano was tough, but we also knew he had accuracy issues. The redshirt sophomore showed that shortcoming frequently last season. We also knew that Stanford graduate transfer Keller Chryst also struggled with his accuracy. I thought Chryst would ultimately win the job, but that never happened and seems more unlikely as the season progresses. UT coaches have shown Guarantano is their guy and there seems no other viable option in their minds.

Grade: Incomplete — Forgive me for taking the easy way out by not giving an actual grade, but UT’s offensive line woes make it pretty impossible to truly evaluate Tennessee’s quarterbacks. I will give Guarantano credit for playing tough despite the weekly beatings he receives.

Offensive line

This group never was meant to play in first-year coach Jeremy Pruitt’s scheme. They’re not maulers like Pruitt wants. They’re technicians. The Vols faced a setback when Brandon Kennedy suffered a season ending knee injury in early September. UT’s coaches had high hopes for the Alabama graduate transfer who had locked down the starting center position.

Grade: F — The Vols have allowed 8 sacks and many more pressures. The Vols are only averaging 4.2 yards per carry. That’s 12th-best in the SEC. That’s simply not good enough.

Receivers

No one really knew what to expect out of Jauan Jennings, who quit, was allowed to return and then missed most of the offseason after undergoing knee surgery. Jennings, who is UT’s most talented receiver, started the season slow but continues to progress. Marquez Callaway and Josh Palmer have been pleasant surprises who have given the Vols a formidable trio of pass catchers.

Grade: B+ — This is probably the best position group on UT’s roster.

Secondary

Much like the offensive line, UT’s defensive back unit is not built for Pruitt’s vision. They’re much smaller than Pruitt wants (and will recruit). However, they’ve stepped up to the challenge as a whole, although a few more game-changing plays would be a welcome bonus.

Grade: B- — Tennessee is fifth-best in the SEC in pass defense. The Vols are giving up 182.6 yards per game. This group has exceeded preseason expectations, but still has room to grow.

Pass rush

With a completely new defensive alignment, there were bound to be some growing pains. What’s surprising is that the Vols just now seem to be growing up. The Vols have only 10 sacks this season but seem to be improving as of late, especially defensive end Darrell Taylor, who recorded a career-high three sacks against Georgia. He also forced two fumbles.

Grade: D+ — If the Vols continue to improve, this will be an acceptable grade by the end of the season.