Top 5 Tennessee Vols to Watch for vs Virginia Tech Hokies at the Battle at Bristol

Going into this week, Dobbs’s play will have a huge impact on what the Vols do.

Virginia Tech, once again, has a loaded defense and an elite defensive coordinator. They pride themselves on forcing turnovers and creating ugly football games.

The Vols can’t afford that.

If Dobbs makes the same mistakes he made last week, he’ll turn into an interception machine. Part of that is indeed Coleman Thomas blocking better for him. But another part is him doing his job to make quick decisions.

After all, this is a preseason All-SEC quarterback with lots of mobility who is known as a great decision-maker. Even if the line isn’t great, he has no reason not to be decent at the position.

Dobbs doesn’t have to be a playmaker the way the Vols needed him to be one against Appalachian State, but he does have to be efficient. He can’t afford to telegraph passes, take sacks, or make the wrong reads. And he does have to make a few plays.

That makes him, the quarterback, a crucial part of the game at the Battle at Bristol.

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Joshua Dobbs

Quarterback, Senior

Just like that, the world is concerned about Joshua Dobbs and just how much he can do. After all, against the Appalachian State Mountaineers, he struggled against an elite pass rush and was very questionable with his decision making.

Going into this week, Dobbs’s play will have a huge impact on what the Vols do.

Virginia Tech, once again, has a loaded defense and an elite defensive coordinator. They pride themselves on forcing turnovers and creating ugly football games.

The Vols can’t afford that.

If Dobbs makes the same mistakes he made last week, he’ll turn into an interception machine. Part of that is indeed Coleman Thomas blocking better for him. But another part is him doing his job to make quick decisions.

After all, this is a preseason All-SEC quarterback with lots of mobility who is known as a great decision-maker. Even if the line isn’t great, he has no reason not to be decent at the position.

Dobbs doesn’t have to be a playmaker the way the Vols needed him to be one against Appalachian State, but he does have to be efficient. He can’t afford to telegraph passes, take sacks, or make the wrong reads. And he does have to make a few plays.

That makes him, the quarterback, a crucial part of the game at the Battle at Bristol.

Next: #1: Jalen Reeves-Maybin