The Bad
I’ll preface this selection by saying that this group has the opportunity to play well this season if they can gel and improve, but as it stands right now they have a long way to go.
Offensive Line: No surprise here. After losing all five starters from last year, the offensive line will take a step back in 2014. Junior college transfer Dontavius Blair has yet to beat out senior and former walk-on Jacob Gilliam at right tackle and each have had their share of struggles over the summer. The Vols will be starting a true freshman at right guard as Jashon Robertson switched from defensive line to offensive line after three practices and immediately played well enough to earn that spot (a positive for Jashon, but also a testament to the type of talent that was in place). Kyler Kerbyson slides from right guard to right tackle, making room for Robertson and replacing another freshman in Coleman Thomas who appears to have hit a wall this summer.
You never want to start a true freshman along the trenches in the SEC if you can avoid it, and the Vols are an injury away from starting two. Robertson has looked solid at RG to this point, but opposing defenses will certainly key on and try to confuse the freshman throughout the season.
Mack Crowder has been steady at center, but has been slowed by an ankle injury throughout the summer. Crowder only missed a few days due to the ankle, but leg injuries on linemen tend to linger for a while, so it may be worth keeping an eye on early in the year. Marcus Jackson has probably been the most consistent player along the line from his position at left guard. He’s had quiet summer, which isn’t a bad thing for an offensive lineman.
The Vols lack depth and experience at every spot thanks in large part to the absence of any offensive lineman signed in the 2012 class under Derek Dooley. Butch Jones said in a recent press conference that they are five players short of where he would like to be as far as depth along the offensive line – something that can only be addressed in the offseason on the recruiting trail.
This is a group that will take their lumps this year, but will gain valuable experience that will certainly help them next season and beyond. If you are looking for a silver lining, all 2014 starters are projected to return in 2015.
