Tennessee Volunteers Football: Quarterback Competition Is Open This Week
By Zach Ragan
Oct 19, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones reacts during the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Butch Jones met with the media on Monday for his weekly press conference.
If you were expecting Jones to clarify the quarterback situation, then you haven’t listened to Jones speak much this season.
Jones basically left the door open for all four of Tennessee’s quarterbacks to have a shot at starting this Saturday against Missouri.
"Jones: Riley’s a part of the QB race going forward. We’ll know more about Justin tomorrow, right now he’s day to day……Nate Peterman’s cast is off. He’s back and rehabbing. He may be available at the end of the week."
Even though Jones says the competition is open, the race is really only between two players — Justin Worley and Josh Dobbs.
There’s no way that Jones throws Peterman back out there after the Florida game.
There’s also no way that he burns another redshirt by playing Riley Ferguson.
Most believe that Ferguson was above Dobbs in the pecking order. Ferguson was a bit banged up on Saturday so Dobbs got the nod when Worley couldn’t continue in the game.
For what it’s worth, my money is on Dobbs to start this weekend.
Jones was certainly quick to praise Dobbs on Monday.
"He [Dobbs] was poised. He was calm. He was disciplined. He had a command about himself. We don’t have to scale down the playbook one bit with Dobbs……He [Dobbs] brings another element in terms of running."
It definitely sounds like Jones was impressed with Dobbs on Saturday.
There’s no reason to save Dobbs now and you’ve got to imagine Jones is excited about the added possibilities that Dobbs brings to the game.
Another thing to keep in mind is there’s no reason for Jones to name a starting quarterback until the end of the week.
Missouri now essentially has to prepare for two quarterbacks.
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