The Tennessee Volunteers are 3-3 this season after an inconsistent first half of the year, but after beating Georgia last weekend and Florida losing quarterback Will Grier to a suspension, the Vols can still win the SEC East. Here are four things that will determine the rest of their season:
4) Young talent has to progress
This Tennessee team still has plenty of talent, and most of the key contributors are juniors or underclassmen, so the Vols should be loaded next season. Butch Jones has done a great job recruiting, so expect another strong class this year. The Vols may not win the SEC this season, but there is always next year. Plus, the team should still go to a bowl game. The young talent will produce results soon enough.
3) Continue to rely on the run
RBs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara have played well this season, combining for 171 carries for 827 yards and 10 TDs. In fact, they could probably get even more work and still be effective. Dobbs has contributed on the ground as well, racking up 368 yards and five scores. The Vols are a run-first team, and that will serve them well this weekend.
2) Increased competitiveness, led by Butch Jones
Jones' teams may not sport the marquee names which dominated ESPN headlines week in and week out. However, there's a heck of a lot of fight inside each and every one of the guys in Butch's locker room -- a credit to just how demanding Jones can be of his guys on the field, in practice, and as men off the field. Nobody wants to let Butch down. You could see it on the faces during the team's three losses to Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas -- games lost by a combined total of just 12 points. Jones is a born leader. His guys show the effects of that in every game and every practice.
1) Consistent QB play
Joshua Dobbs has struggled at times as a passer, but he's been great on the ground - and was phenomenal in both aspects against Georgia, passing for 312 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 118 yards and two more scoreson the ground. That showed his potential as of the country's best dual-threat quarterbacks - now he just has to avoid the 83-yard passing performances like he had against Florida.
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