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Tennessee football: 5 questions heading into Vols 2019 spring practice

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08: Tennessee mascot Davy Crockett carries the flag across the end zone during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08: Tennessee mascot Davy Crockett carries the flag across the end zone during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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2. How much will the new coordinators change up their systems?

Jeremy Pruitt is giving up play-calling duties on the defensive side of the ball this year, allowing Derrick Ansley to take the reigns. Meanwhile, Jim Chaney is replacing Tyson Helton, returning to Tennessee football as offensive coordinator.

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So taking all that into account, how different will the Vols look on both sides of the ball? The question goes across the board, but it actually should be presented in different ways when it comes to each side.

On offense, we know that Chaney brings a system more focused on adapting to his personnel and putting the ball in his playmakers’ hands, a departure from Helton’s focus on timing and crisp route-running. The question, though, is who are those playmakers going to be? And how will he handle the somewhat limited talent?

Meanwhile, the question on the other side simply revolves around whether or not Ansley can do the job. He’s a proven defensive backs coach and recruiter. But he’s never called plays, and Pruitt did a pretty good job on that front last year.

So Chaney and Ansley do bring some questions as to how they’ll run their sides of the ball, and we’ll have to analyze that in the spring. Then there’s Kevin Sherrer, who has moved to special teams coordinator. That could be a change in its own right.

Related Story. Ranking all 10 assistants on Vols 2019 staff. light

What happens in the spring will go a long way towards determining how much change will come to both sides of the ball. It’s likely there will be more change on offense, but all the coaches need to be examined throughout March and April. That’s why this is such a big question.

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