Tennessee Volunteers 2016 Football Team Preview

2016 Tennessee Volunteers Football Preview

Team Strengths

The Vols’ ground game was something else last season, when they ranked second in the SEC in rushing yards per game (223.69), third in rushing touchdowns (32) and third in total rushing yards (2,908).

The optimism that that kind of vicious ground attack should continue this year comes from the fact that Jalen Hurd is back following a 1,288-rushing-yard season to go with 12 touchdowns. Hurd will be joined by four returning starters on the offensive line. Hurd and quarterback Joshua Dobbs ran the show mostly on the ground, as evidenced by the team’s 60.94 rush play percentage, 18th overall in the FBS. Tennessee is +1,400 to win the national title.

Team Weaknesses

Speaking of Joshua Dobbs, he’ll have to elevate his passing to a higher level for the Vols to fully become a terrifying offensive unit. As implied earlier, Tennessee relied too much on its ground game that only 39 percent of the Vols’ plays last season were off passes. While the Vols are likely to crush it on the ground, it would take away their predictability on offense if Dobbs becomes a more effective passer.

2015 Team Stats

Category | Stat (Rank)

Points per game

33.5 (#33)

Passing yards per game | 195.4 (#89)
Rushing yards per game | 224.8 (#18)

Scoring defense

20.8 (#20)

Writer’s Prediction

Tennessee finishes the regular season with a 9-3 record, wins the SEC East.

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