KNOXVILLE — Florida and the rest of the SEC grind are growing closer. With only one trial run left, Tennessee has several urgent personnel issues to settle.
Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Virginia Tech in the Battle at Bristol on Saturday, September 10, 2016. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL)
Ohio visits Neyland Stadium on Saturday. I’m sure coach Butch Jones is thinking to heck with Florida, the Vols better get some things figured out before the Bobcats show up.
And he’s right. This is a team that played Appalachian State to the buzzer in a bowl game last December. Tennessee can relate.
This is a team averaging 563 yards of offense that utterly dominated host Kansas on Saturday.
Tennessee at least dominated Virginia Tech for three quarters in a 45-24 win at Bristol Motor Speedway. Some would say the Vols were luckier, or at least more opportunistic, than they were dominant, pouncing on five Hokie fumbles.
Tennessee did look significantly better at Bristol than in its opener. Obviously, turning quarterback Joshua Dobbs loose to run makes the Vols a different offense than the one we saw opening night.
Just as obviously, having linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin for four quarters is a good thing.
Still, there are multiple starting jobs up for grabs on the practice field this week. Vol fans should rightly look to Saturday’s kickoff with a degree of intrigue.
Take linebacker. Who is next man up to fill Darrin Kirkland Jr.’s vacancy for this week and beyond?
Kirkland suffered a high ankle sprain in the first half at Bristol. Junior Colton Jumper took his place.
In Jumper’s history, the coaching staff has been more complimentary than the fans. That continued Monday as Jones cited Jumper as being “very consistent” and said he’s “done a good job.”
But Jones also allowed that one option would be to slide Reeves-Maybin over to Kirkland’s slot, which would present an opening for Cortez McDowell.
“Mike (middle) and Will (weakside) are pretty much interchangeable,” Jones said. “The experience of Jalen lends itself if that’s the route we need to go.”
The battle for the other cornerback opposite Cam Sutton is ongoing.
In Sutton and safeties Micah Abernathy and Todd Kelly Jr., the Vols are three-fourths of the way to an outstanding secondary. Emmanuel Moseley has started both games at corner but been relieved, in each case, by Justin Martin.
Martin had a rough night against the Hokies. Two pass interference penalties accounted for two of Virginia Tech’s three first downs over the span of the second and third quarters. He also appeared out of position on Virginia Tech’s 69-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Jones didn’t throw Martin under the bus Monday, saying even that he and Moseley both “did some good things.” But he also said Malik Foreman moving from nickel to corner was an option.
While praising true freshmen Marquill Osborne and Baylen Buchanan, Jones stopped short of indicating either was ready to factor in at corner just yet.
LaTroy Lewis (ankle) is out for a week or two but defensive end might be the deepest position on the roster. Rate that spot the least among concerns.
The unsettled offensive line, meanwhile, might be the biggest concern. There was clear progress from opening night but that’s not high praise.
Of the five positions, only Jashon Robertson at left guard stayed put through the game. Even he had technique issues, Jones conceded. Dylan Wiesman (guard and center) and Jack Jones (substituting at guard) appeared to fare best.
Chance Hall won’t be back at tackle until at least Georgia (Oct. 1), Jones hinted. In the meantime, how Coleman Thomas, Brett Kendrick and Drew Richmond are deployed will be interesting.
There’s one more chance to get it right. Then it’s Florida time.
