Tennessee Positives Prior to Start of 2014 Season: Returning QBs all had starting experience; I liked coach Butch Jones. He did a good job at Central Michigan and Cincinnati; all of the top receivers returned from the '13 squad; all starting defensive backs from '13 returned to the '14 team.
Tennessee Negatives Prior to Start of 2014 Season: the returning QBs from '13 all returned, but, all had bad years as starters; no full time starters returned to the O-line; lost a 1100-yard rusher from the '13 team; only ONE starter returned to front seven on defense; the Vols play in the toughest conference in the FBS - the SEC.
EdgySam Sums Up Tennessee's 2014 Season: The Vols played up to my expectations. They didn't rush the ball well; they didn't defend the rush well; they didn't pass the ball well. The only part of their game that met expectations, because of the experience at the defensive back positions, was the pass defense. In typical SEC fashion, and which further illustrates how tough the SEC is, Tennessee was 3-5 in conference play, but, were 3-1 in non-conference games. In my preseason notes, I wrote that I should be " worried about new OL, stinky QBs and no D-line. Tread carefully with Vols." Considering weaknesses that coach Jones had coming into '13, it wasn't that bad a year for the team from Knoxville.
EdgySam Very Preliminary Outlook for Tennessee in 2015: 8.5 starters return to the offense, including all of the O-Line. Eight starters return to the defense. Like Kentucky, unless the Vols get improved play from the quarterback position, it'll probably be the same old stuff for them in 2015. They'll get 2, maybe 3 wins at the most, vs. the SEC, and probably kick butt when they play teams outside of their own tough conference. I do like HC Jones a lot. With 16 starters back, he might be able step up in class in the SEC. He might. He probably won't, at least not in 2015.
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