Tennessee Football: Vols Pass Protection Still Needs Work

Tennessee football has historically built its offenses on great linemen. The Volunteers hope to do the same this year, but the pass protection needs work.

When Butch Jones took the Tennessee football head coaching job in 2013, he had a unique situation to deal with. Derek Dooley didn’t recruit any offensive linemen for the 2012 class, so Jones had to start all new offensive linemen for the Vols in 2014.

It was like having two rebuilding years instead of one.

But thanks to historically great recruiting there, the move appears to have paid off in the long run. Now, going into this year, Jones has six returning contributors from last year on the offensive line along with two highly rated redshirt freshmen.

However, there is still work to do.

While the Vols are deep on the interior of the offensive line, they lost their most valuable player up front from last year: left tackle Kyler Kerbyson.

On top of that, one of the three tackles expected to be in the rotation, Chance Hall, is now out for four to six weeks.

Problem.

Tennessee is likely going to have to start redshirt freshman Drew Richmond at left tackle with Brett Kendrick on the other side to start out the season.

Meanwhile, the Vols have to use creativity to mix guys around now, with center Coleman Thomas expected to be able to move to the outside at times in the rotation as well.

On top of all that, Mike DeBord dropped a hint Tuesday that nobody had really taken the reigns at the tackle position, particularly at left tackle.

Yes, Tennessee football fans, this is reason to panic.

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Joshua Dobbs takes a lot of hits as it is at quarterback due to his tendency to run and fight for yards. The last thing he needs is to take hits in the backfield from the blindside.

If nobody can emerge at tackle when spots were basically handed to Richmond and Kendrick, there is cause for concern.

Perhaps things will improve by next week against Appalachian State, but that’s barely a week away.

Tennessee’s ideal situation is Kendrick and Richmond outside, Jashon Robertson and Dylan Wiesman inside, and Thomas at center.

Venzell Boulware, Marcus Tatum, Jack Jones, and Chance Hall when he’s back to health would also be in the rotation.

If Thomas has to move outside, everything turns upside down.. The interior line has to reshuffle with Wiesman maybe playing center. Meanwhile, Robertson is already injury-prone.

What happens if he gets hurt?

See the problem here?

Thomas should only move outside if nobody else emerges at tackle. And there is no reason for that to be the case.

With this in mind, Richmond’s development is more important than ever. As a five-star recruit, he’s got to pick up the system fast.

There is one other saving grace.

In pass protection, Jalen Hurd is one of the best running back blockers out there. Alvin Kamara has worked hard on developing there in the offseason.

If those two guys can switch in and out and block for Dobbs, it’ll free up the offense. If Richmond develops, things will be even better.

must read: Tennessee Football: Top 10 Ways to Define Success for Vols in 2016

But we haven’t seen proof of Kamara or Richmond yet. That will have to happen on the field. Until then, we should all be concerned about the reports on the line.

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