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Tennessee Football: 5 Vols Who Have to Improve Dramatically As SEC Play Begins

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 10, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) celebrates with offensive lineman Coleman Thomas (55) after a touchdown during the first half against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) celebrates with offensive lineman Coleman Thomas (55) after a touchdown during the first half against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 1, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Todd Kelly Jr. (24) (right) and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) talk after their win against Appalachian State Mountaineers. Kelly was ejected in the first half at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Todd Kelly Jr. (24) (right) and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) talk after their win against Appalachian State Mountaineers. Kelly was ejected in the first half at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Tennessee football is 3-0 beginning Southeastern Conference play, but they have won ugly. Here are five Volunteers who need to improve dramatically.

There are plenty of culprits for the ugly Tennessee football start to the 2016 season. After all, the Vols are 3-0 and needed overtime to beat a Sun Belt team and also barely beat a MAC team.

There have been some players who deserve credit for the way the team has played to this point, including Joshua Dobbs, Josh Malone, and Jalen Hurd.

And there are also quite a few players who have dramatically under-achieved when you consider the expectations they had coming into this season.

Still, the team is 3-0. And they are now getting ready to begin the gauntlet of their season. SEC play begins next Saturday with the Florida Gators. The Vols follow that with Georgia, Texas A&M, and Alabama.

Now, with Cameron Sutton out and Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Darrin Kirkland Jr. hurt, Tennessee needs some dramatic improvement from other players on its roster.

Yes, we are about to do what you could call a variation of a blame pie. After all, certain Vols have fallen grossly short of meeting expectations to this point.

To be fair, when we name these guys, we will only name people we truly believe can play better. Calling out Colton Jumper, for instance, would be drastically unreasonable.

He already has limitations on what he can do.

And before we start, we are also going to call out the coaches. Butch Jones and Mike DeBord have got to get more creative on offense. Meanwhile, Bob Shoop can’t keep allowing one terrible quarter a game. Yes, the adjustments are nice. But the preparation counts for something.

Anyway, onto the players.

Here are the five Tennessee football players who have got to improve dramatically if the Vols are to compete in the SEC.

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