Vols’ Coaches Feeling Better About Offensive Line
By Zach Ragan
Almost every analyst/fan assumed, going into the 2014 season, that offensive line play would be Tennessee’s biggest issue this season.
For once, everyone was right.
The Vols have trotted out several different lineups so far this season, but they’ve now finally decided on their starting five.
That doesn’t mean, however, that the offensive line is playing at the level it needs to be for the Vols to be successful. But that’s not some sort of revelation. Anyone that saw five minutes of Tennessee’s game against Oklahoma could tell you that.
But that’s to be expected. The Vols are starting two true freshmen on the right side of the offensive line (Jashon Robertson and Coleman Thomas) and that was definitely the weak point this past Saturday night.
Offensive line coach Don Mahoney, despite Thomas’ perceived struggles, said on Tuesday that he was “pleased with Coleman Thomas’ play”. He also praised newly minted left tackle Kyler Kerbyson as a guy that would “drive the bus” if asked.
It’s a lot to ask of a new offensive line to be ready to compete against a team like Oklahoma after just two games. Especially when the line keeps shuffling. It’s an even bigger task to ask a player like Thomas to make his first start against Oklahoma and expect him to look like Ja’Wuan James out there. It’s just not going to happen. He might get there at some point, the coaching staff certainly has that kind of confidence in him, but it will take some time.
The most encouraging thing about the offensive line is the attitude they’re carrying these days. The offensive line is playing with confidence according to Mahoney, who said “There wasn’t really any point in the first half where our guys were truly rattled, we just didn’t allow ourselves to execute”.
Mahoney was particularly impressed with the demeanor of the two true freshmen heading into Norman. The Vols’ offensive line coach said he wasn’t sure what to expect, but added “For those two guys being freshman, you wouldn’t know that by the way they carried themselves”.
That’s great news for Tennessee fans. The execution will come with experience. There aren’t a lot of positives to take from a loss, but one positive is that UT’s young offensive linemen gained invaluable reps against some of the nation’s toughest competition.