Offensive Line
A group that returned almost everybody from the 2015 unit seems to have taken a step back. Like the entire team, it’s certainly had some highlights, but the front five struggled immensely early in the season, and then was completely overmatched against Alabama. Injuries played a huge role in that. Four key players missed at least some of that matchup against the Tide, leaving three freshmen, a sophomore and a junior in to battle against the nation’s top-ranked team. It wasn’t pretty.
Even at its healthiest, this hasn’t looked like much of the same group that led the Vols to their second-best rushing total in program history in 2015. Pass protection has, at times, been shaky as well. Many of the starters should be back after the off week. This group needs to step up if the Vols are going to finish strong.
Daniel: D+
Nathanael: C-
