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Tennessee football: Five Vols who need to improve most during bye week

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Ty Chandler #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers takes a hand off from Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-7. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Ty Chandler #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers takes a hand off from Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-7. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images /

Redshirt Junior. Scouting Report. Quarterback. Jarrett Guarantano. 1. player. 839. Pick Analysis

Nobody would debate this one. Tennessee football has a quarterback controversy right now because of Jarrett Guarantano’s issues through four games this year, but the ideal situation would be for that controversy to subside during this bye week.

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The fact of the matter is Brian Maurer and J.T. Shrout are not yet ready to play at this level. Only Guarantano, who proved he could do it in a few big games last year, is able to handle that pressure now. So he’s got to dramatically improve and avoid the mistakes that have come with his decision-making through four games.

Those mistakes include being too late to throw it to Jauan Jennings on a sure touchdown pass and then throwing an interception into triple-coverage against the BYU Cougars. They also include missing Dominick Wood-Anderson for a sure touchdown pass and an interception the very next play at the Florida Gators when it was still a game.

Then there are all the times Guarantano hesitated or didn’t take a shot when he could have, and there are the plays where he just flat-out missed wide open guys. Simply put, he’s got a ton of work to do. And he needs to spend this open date working with Jim Chaney, Tee Martin and Chris Weinke to hold onto his spot.

Next. 10 things for Vols to work on during bye. dark

Jeremy Pruitt has defended Guarantano this whole time for a reason. The guy is tough, and he’s got a solid arm. But Tennessee football desperately needs him to improve his decision-making. That needs to be the biggest focus of the Vols’ bye week, and his improvement is most crucial.

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