Today On Rocky Top: Saturday Blitz On UT; Vols Set For Mock Game

Nov 24, 2012; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Marlin Lane (15) runs the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats during the game at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won by a score of 37 to 17. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

From Saturday Blitz

"The Volunteers boast one of the strongest offensive lines in the SEC – There isn’t much we know about this Tennessee team, but this is a very encouraging sign for first-year coach Butch Jones. This line isn’t decent. It’s very good with a chance to be great. Four starters return, including Ts Antonio Richardson and Ja’Wuan James. The line will miss all-SEC performer Dallas Thomas, but should still be the strength of the offense. Richardson, James, C James Stone and G Zach Fulton each earned preseason all-SEC honors. With myriad questions in the passing game,"

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution

"It’s going to be a long year for Tennessee.Butch Jones was an excellent hire who should turn the program around, but he doesn’t have a quarterback, and even if he did, the schedule includes a calculus exam nearly every week.Tough? Check it out.At No. 3 Oregon on Sept. 14At No. 10 Florida on Sept. 21No. 5 Georgia on Oct. 5No. 6 South Carolina on Oct. 19at No. 1 Alabama on Oct. 26That’s five top 10 teams in the a seven-week span, if you’re keeping score at home.And all those figure to be losses. That’s five before the season even starts.That said, the Vols, who were 5-7 and 1-5 in the SEC in 2012, could still win six, or perhaps, all seven of their remaining games, which would be a strong first step for Jones."

From WATE-TV

"Before the Vols kick-off against Austin Peay, Butch Jones will run his team through a mock game on Friday at Neyland Stadium.“The mock game is anything and everything that could occur throughout the course of a football game and the course of the football season,” Jones said after practice on Thursday."

From Go Vols Xtra

"The whistles and thuds from practice on Haslam Field echoed into the indoor facility Thursday.  Inside, a couple dozen volunteers from the student body showed up for a walk-on tryout.  The last time Tennessee was preparing for a football season under a new coach, one or two of those guys might have actually gotten in the opening game."