Tennessee QB Joshua Dobbs threw for a career-high 312 yards on a season-high 42 attempts in a 38-31 win over Georgia. Has offensive coordinator Mike DeBord fixed the UT passing game, or was that game just a fluke?

How Dobbs and the Volunteers fare in attacking a tough Alabama defense will reveal if the Week 6 numbers (25-of-42, 312 yards, 3 TD, INT) were fool’s gold or the making of 24-karat success.

Before the Volunteer faithful rally around the new “fixed” passing game, correlation and causation must be considered: Did Tennessee beat Georgia because of its passing game, or did Tennessee only turn to the pass to overcome a double-digit deficit against Georgia?

Dobbs’ numbers against Georgia are drawing comparisons to one of his most memorable games, a 45-42 come-from-behind victory over South Carolina last year in which he threw for 301 yards and ran for 166 yards. The comparisons go beyond the box score. The Volunteers trailed the Gamecocks by 14 points before rallying to force overtime. Georgia led UT 24-3 in the first half of the Week 6 contest.

In Tennessee’s three losses, all with double-digit fourth-quarter leads squandered, Dobbs’ passing numbers varied. They were subpar against Oklahoma (13-of-31, 125 yards, TD, INT), insignificant against Florida (10-of-17, 83 yards) and mediocre against Arkansas (20-of-36, 232 yards).

It doesn’t seem likely that 40 attempts is a magic number for Dobbs and the UT passing attack. Whether it was due to seeking quick scores while playing from behind or a natural evolution in the game plan, Tennessee threw the ball down the field more against Georgia and had its best passing game of the season.

DeBord attributes the passing game’s progress to young receivers gaining experience.

“Go back and look at guys that were starting at the beginning of the year — you know, the older guys — and we just haven’t had ‘em, because of injuries and things like that,” DeBord said during the bye week. “A lot of times, we had younger guys. Josh Malone had a little bit of experience last year, but Preston Williams had none, and he had no training camp.”

Two of the “older guys” he refers to are wide receivers Marquez North and Pig Howard. Both were expected to play big roles in the Tennessee offense, but North’s injuries and Howard’s dismissal from the team have created a need for younger receivers to step up. Malone, a sophomore, was the top receiver against Georgia (5 catches, 60 yards). Fellow underclassmen wide receivers Williams, Josh Smith and Jauan Jennings combined for 94 yards on five receptions.

“It’s been frustrating. I’m not going to lie,” Malone said of past issues in the passing game. “We knew as a group that if we kept working and just kept proving to the coaches in practice that we could get open and make plays…they were going to give us a shot.”

Malone and company have proven they can make plays, and they deserve continuous opportunities. Whether the Volunteers lead or trail against Alabama, they should maintain the approach used to defeat Georgia – increased passes downfield and over the middle. If Dobbs is successful against a Crimson Tide defense that recently punished Texas A&M QB Kyle Allen (three interceptions returned for touchdowns), it will show the Georgia game was no fluke.