Vols Football: Report Card for First Three Games

The Vols have impressed so far in 2014, but there are still some places that need improvement. PHOTO: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

It’s hard to believe, but the college football season is already a fourth of the way over. The Vols have played three of their twelve regular season games, but the toughest stretch still lies before them. As it stands now, the Vols have faced 2 quality opponents and a top-tier one as well.

As Tennessee approaches its first bye week of the season, their record stands where most expected it to be: 2-1. The Vols have outscored opponents 82-60, and that includes a 34-10 loss to No. 4 Oklahoma last weekend. All in all, Tennessee is where fans and experts thought they’d be after the first three games, but how they got here might be a little surprising.

Each position has had its ups and downs, and it’s time to look at the report card for the first fourth of the season.

Quarterback: B+

Senior QB Justin Worley has shown improvement over last season, and his stats this year are already on track to surpass his output from his junior year. In 2013, Worley completed 55.6% of his passes for 1,239 yards, 10 TDs, and 8 interceptions in 7 overall games. This season, he’s completed 58.3% of his attempts for 721 yards, 6 TDs, and 3 interceptions in just 3 games. He earns the “plus” due to the fact that he’s been sacked 9 times in those three games as well, making his numbers even more impressive.

Running Backs: C+

The running backs gain a little leniency in their grading due to the fact that their performance in the first 3 games of the season has been hampered by poor blocking. The Vols rank 13th out of 14 SEC teams in rushing yards per game (130 ypg), ahead of only Vanderbilt, and they are dead last in the SEC in yards per carry (3.3). The only reason this position gets a “plus” is because freshman Jalen Hurd finally ripped off big gains against Oklahoma, tearing downfield for 43 and 29-yard gains. He’s also been a useful weapon in the passing game, pulling in 4 catches for 40 yards and a score. Senior Marlin Lane needs to step up his game. He only has 137 yards on 34 carries and hasn’t made a run longer than 18 yards so far.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: B+

The receivers and tight ends were the perceived strength of the Vols heading into the 2014 season, and they have lived up to that billing so far. Sophomore Marquez North looks well on his way to becoming one of the better receivers in the SEC, and fellow sophomore Josh Smith has had a much better start to this season than his freshman campaign. Newcomer Von Pearson has looked phenomenal when not injured, reeling in 7 passes for 98 yards and a score in just a game and a half of playing time. The tight end position has improved significantly this season, and the freshman duo of Ethan Wolf and Daniel Helm figure to only get better as the season goes on. The only reason this unit does not get an “A” is the lack of deep balls reeled in and for some drops and failed executions, chiefly Jason Croom’s inability to make a play and grab a TD against Oklahoma last weekend.

Offensive Line: D+

A “plus” is given here because of the resolve the line showed last weekend in the second half against Oklahoma. After a torrid 1st half, the line only allowed one sack in the 2nd half and finally opened up some holes for the running game. That being said, the offensive line has easily been the weakness of the offense so far, allowing 5 sacks against Oklahoma and 9 overall. There were plenty of other times QB Justin Worley was hit or rushed against the Sooners, and against weaker opponents such as Utah State and Arkansas State, Worley was on his back and hurried far too often. Couple that with the paltry numbers in the running game, and the offensive line clearly needs some work. The good news is this unit can only improve from here on out.

Offense: B

Overall, the Vols’ offense has looked much more adept this year compared to Butch Jones’s firs season last year. While the stats may not reflect the progress (mostly due to the Oklahoma game), improvement can definitely be seen, most notably in senior QB Justin Worley. He has looked more poised and comfortable through 3 games this year than at any point last season, and if the offensive line can solidify and provide more consistent protection and run blocking, the offense has a chance to really flourish this season given all the weapons it has.

Defensive Line: B

One of the biggest question marks heading into this season was how the defensive line would perform after having to replace all four starters from last year. JUCO transfer Owen Williams had two sacks against Arkansas State and has looked good so far, and freshman defensive end Derek Barnett has impressed so far this season. The defensive line has accounted for 4 of the team’s 5 sacks so far as well. Curt Maggitt, a converted linebacker, hasn’t quite made the splash fans anticipated, but so far the defensive line has exceeded expectations.

Linebackers: B

The linebacking corps received a huge boost in the offseason when A.J. Johnson elected to return for his senior season, and he has made a huge impact as expected, leading the team in tackles (29) this season yet again. Sophomore Jalen Reeves-Maybin has been a surprise so far, trailing only Johnson in tackles made (25) and tackles for loss (2.5). Overall, the linebackers have been a solid unit, with JUCO transfer Chris Weatherd providing some quality plays when the defense runs in a 4-3 base. The unit still struggles in pass coverage at times, but an increase in overall speed has helped improved that aspect as well.

Secondary: B+

What was considered the strongest and most experienced unit of the defense heading into this season has more or less lived up to those expectations so far. The secondary has been reliable and has limited some talented passing attacks in the Vols’ first three games this season. Sophomore corner Cam Sutton is blossoming into an All-SEC shutdown cornerback, and freshman safety Todd Kelly Jr. has shown flashes of his potential in limited action. Through three games, the Vols rank 4th in the SEC in pass yards given up per game (214 ypg) and have picked off 3 passes. While the unit has allowed some big plays, they’ve been able to contain offenses so far much more than last season.

Defense: B

As a whole, the Tennessee defense has performed better than expected so far in 2014. One of the biggest issues on last year’s defense was busted assignments and failed containment. So far this season, the Vols have improved in both of those areas. The defense has only allowed 343 total yards per game and has generated more pressure on opposing quarterbacks than last season. The most impressive stat for the defense so far: Opponents’ third down conversion rate. The Vols lead the SEC and are tied for 3rd in the NCAA in stopping opponents on 3rd down, holding opposing teams to a 23.3% conversion rate. Getting off the field on third down is a must for a young defense, and so far the Vols have done a phenomenal job of doing so. If the younger players can continue to improve fundamentals and learn assignments, this defense will only get better.

Special Teams: C+

So far, special teams have been a mixed bag for the Vols in 2014. Tennessee has blocked a field goal and forced a fumble on a kickoff return that led to a touchdown, but they’ve also had their gaffes as well. Freshman kicker Aaron Medley has shown potential, but he has been inconsistent, hitting 4-of-6 field goals. The punt and kick return games have largely been average and have not flipped field position like Butch Jones wants. The major hit against this unit comes in the punting game. Senior punter Matt Darr has been extremely inconsistent so far in 2014, booming some punts but hitting bad punts more often. Pressure on punts have been an issue, and that has contributed to an SEC-worst 37.2 yards per punt. This unit gets a “plus” because of the flashed of potential it has shown, but they need to capitalize on opportunities in the coming games in order to improve.

Overall: B

The Tennessee Volunteers have looked impressive considering the youth of the team and the injuries they’ve endured through three games. The Vols are 2-1, which surprises no one at this point in the season. The offense has looked more fluid in the passing game, but failure to hit the long ball has held back the passing attack. The offensive line needs to dramatically improve to help Justin Worley develop even better chemistry with his receivers and to open up lanes for a promising running game. Tennessee’s defense has looked stout on third down, and if they can generate even more pressure and start forcing more turnovers, a bowl bid in 2014 becomes even more likely. A tough schedule will hinder those chances, but if the first 3 games are any indication, the Vols will compete in every game they play and have the ability to pull off an upset or two.

All stats are from cfbstats.com