It’s been two weeks since offensive coordinator Mike DeBord left for the same position at Indiana, and Tennessee still doesn’t have an official plan in place.
FootballScoop.com, a website that specializes in coaching industry movement, has an explanation for what is “likely” to happen and why it’s taking this amount of time.
“Butch Jones is likely to promote Larry Scott from tight ends to offensive coordinator per multiple sources,” the site says. “However the announcement could be held until Butch secures the quarterbacks coach he is planning to hire. We understand additional moves within the staff are still being considered.”
That’s further confirmation of what’s been rumored and reported around the market as well. Jones has reportedly brought in multiple potential quarterbacks coaches over the past couple weeks, but hasn’t been bringing in big-name offensive coordinator candidates. That points to an internal promotion –likely Scott or possibly passing game coordinator Zach Azzanni – to OC and then a separate QBs coach coming in.
Scott, who is entering his second second as a Tennessee assistant, came to the Vols after a 4-2 stint as the interim head coach at Miami in 2015. He’s coached tight ends, running backs and the offensive line in his collegiate coaching career at Miami and South Florida, but has never called plays at the collegiate level.
DeBord held the title of QBs coach, but most of the day-to-day coaching of the position was left to graduate assistant Nick Sheridan, who has now moved on to a full-time gig at Central Michigan’s running backs coach.
Jones emphasized the need to bring in a coach who can develop quarterbacks when he spoke about the search shortly after DeBord’s departure. Chris Weinke (Rams), Kevin O’Connell (49ers), Ken Dorsey (Panthers) and Mike Canales (Utah State) are among the names with quarterback coaching experience that have been linked to Tennessee in various reports.
