He’s the leader. He’s the star. And Joshua Dobbs has emerged as clearly the most valuable player for Tennessee football this year. It’s not just because he’s the quarterback.
Dobbs is the emotional leader and the guy who inspires everybody else. Tennessee vs South Carolina is another huge game for him to shine.
As we’ve already mentioned, Will Muschamp’s team has struggled recently at stopping the run. Dobbs, despite being a quarterback, has succeeded in turning Tennessee into a dominant rushing offense. He’s going to have to do more of that on Saturday against the Gamecocks.
At the same time, Dobbs will have to make some key throws to guys like Jauan Jennings, Josh Malone, Josh Smith, Tyler Byrd, Ethan Wolf, and Jason Croom. South Carolina still feeds off turnovers, but if Dobbs can keep them honest, he should have an easier time making plays.
Keeping the South Carolina defense honest all comes down to Dobbs, as his dual-threat abilities are going to be crucial.
He also has to make sure he is not careless with the football. Last year, Dobbs had problems fumbling it. This year, he’s had problems avoiding interceptions.
Neither of those things can happen for the Vols to win on Saturday. Simply put, the Vols need the best they can get from Dobbs.