The Tennessee Volunteers moved back over .500 with a 27-24 home win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. Now sitting at 5-4 and closing in on bowl eligibility, the Vols still remain a very confusing team in regards to their overall performance in 2015. Here's
4) The youth movement will carry this team far
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. Considering this team nearly pulled off the upset over Alabama in Tuscaloosa, it's clear they're on the right track - now they just have to keep going.
Plus, the team should still go to a bowl game. The young talent will produce results soon enough.
3) Tennessee is a very good rushing team
The Vols have a true three-headed attack on the ground. RB Jalen Hurd leads the team with 815 yards on 185 carries while his backup, Alvin Kamara, has racked up 376 yards on 58 carries. Also, quarterback Joshua Dobbs is the second-leading rusher with 473 yards on 109 attempts.
That trio is averaging over 4.8 yards per carry and have an astonishing 19 touchdowns on the season. No one has truly been able to stop the Vols' ground attack, as Tennessee has rushed for at least 150 yards for all but one game this season and rank 29th in the country in rushing yards per game (207.3).
Dobbs and the passing game definitely need to improve for the Vols to take the next step forward, but they have a great running game to rely on.
Dobbs and the passing game definitely need to improve for the Vols to take the next step forward, but they have a great running game to rely on.
2) The defense is stacked
The Vols have allowed just 30 points once this season (Georgia), so it makes sense that the advanced stats love Tennessee's defense. Even in a conference loaded with defensive talent, the Vols have shown they have of the better units. Tennessee starts only three seniors on the defensive side of the ball, so the Vols could have eight returning starters next year, which would pave the way for a great season in 2016.
1) The jury's still out on Butch Jones
We can point to the culture shift that Jones has facilitated over nearly three full seasons as Vols head coach and make a very good case for why he should remain the program's head coach for a long time. But, we can also point to his 17-17 record and remark that he's not really that far off from Derek Dooley (15-21) in terms of overall wins and losses. Jones still has the hearts and minds of most of the fan base, but some are beginning to grumble. If the Vols can't finish strong in 2015, those rumblings will only get louder.
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