2012-13 Football Previews – (SEC) – Tennessee Volunteers
Ah, the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols. The Sherbet and White. Rocky Top. What a wild ride UT has had over the past few seasons – and what an interesting case study the Vols make! A few years ago, head coach Phil Fulmer was an institution in Knoxville, owning a career 152-52 record as Tennessee coach.
SEC 2012-13 Football Previews: Tennessee Volunteers
Coach: Derek Dooley
2011 Record: 5-7
Tennessee Gambling Odds from Bovada.lv to win BCS:
Tennessee Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2012 Schedule –>
In steps Lane Kiffin in 2009, who only lasted for one season and left after basically ruffling everyone’s feathers and being charged with a myriad of recruiting violations. He bolted – no surprise – to USC.
In the seasons since, Derek Dooley has essentially been cleaning up Kiffin’s mess.
The result, however, has been the development of a team with talent at the skill positions; one that is perhaps poised to take a big step forward in the SEC East.
If it happens, the Vols will do it with an explosive vertical passing game and an experienced, athletic defense. Maybe it’s a lot to ask, but with Florida, Georgia and South Carolina all imperfect in some way or another, you can see that Tennessee is vastly improved and their loyal, yet tortured, fan-base is more than ready for UT to earn a seat at the big boy table.
The aforementioned dangerous passing attack is spearheaded by QB Tyler Bray. The lanky junior has been prone to injury, but when healthy, Bray has a very strong arm and deep accuracy.
Bray is buttressed by a talented stable of WRs, like juniors Da’Rick Rogers, Justin Hunter, sure-handed senior Zach Rogers and gifted senior TE Mychal Rivera.
The Tennessee offensive line has been a work in progress up until now, but it returns every starter from last season in 2012; guard Dallas Thomas and tackle Ja’Waun James will anchor the unit. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Tennessee only must replace two starters from last year’s defense, and one of the spots will be filled by former Alabama player Darrington Sentimore at DE, which should be an improvement rather than a drop-off.
Linebackers A.J. Johnson and Herman Lathers, CB Prentiss Waggner and FS Brian Randolph stand out on “D.” On defense, the Vols are undersized but speedy.
Tennessee might be best served to have a “bend but don’t break” philosophy – not unlike the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts during QB Peyton Manning’s (the UT alum, incidentally) heyday – and focus on out-scoring the opposition.
2012-13 Tennessee Football Prediction: 9-4
Tennessee is likely one of the most improved teams in the nation in 2012. Last year’s 5-7 finish didn’t blow anyone away, but QB Bray battled injuries, regarded QB Matt Simms (Phil Simms’s son) never really lived up to hype and most importantly, this was a very young team.
UT showed glimpses of being dangerous in 2011, and this year I predict they put it together and take a leap forward.
The Vols draw Alabama from the West division, but miss LSU and Arkansas.
They get Florida to come to them, in the raucous confines of Neyland Stadium. If the Tennessee O-line keeps Bray upright and healthy, the Vols should possess a lethal passing attack; if new sophomore starting RB Marlin Lane can produce, that’s a bonus.
The defense should create a few turnovers and, as I said earlier, can afford to yield some yards and points if the offense does the job it is capable of.
Dooley has done a pretty admirable job cleaning up the mess and trying to restore Tennessee’s formerly pristine image (Kiffin recruited players with shady character issues, etc.) To really establish his roots in Knoxville, Dooley needs now to assert his talented ballclub in a couple big games in the SEC.
I think they can do it.
2012 Schedule
3/19/12 MIDTN L 64-71
3/13/12 SAVST W 65-51
3/9/12 OLMIS (N) L 72-77 (OT)
3/3/12 VANDY W 68-61
2/29/12 @LSU W 74-69 (OT)
2/25/12 @SOCAR W 73-64
2/22/12 OLMIS W 73-60
2/18/12 @ALAB L 50-62
2/15/12 ARK W 77-58
2/11/12 @FLA W 75-70
