2012 Tennessee Volunteers Football Preview

2011 SEC Record: 1-7 (6th SEC East) – Overall 5-7

Returning starters: 9 offense, 9 defense, 2 special teams

The Good: The Vols will be strong in the passing game as they welcome back Tyler Bray and Justin Hunter, who both lost significant playing time due to injuries last season. Paired with Da’Rick Rogers, the trio reminds many fans of the “Wide Receiver U” nickname that was given to Tennessee years ago.

The Bad: Tennessee will not be referred to as “Running Back U”, as they do not have a proven RB to shoulder the load. This leads itself to a tailback by committee approach and that’s not good news in the SEC. The Vols ranked dead last in the SEC in rushing last year, and 116th in the nation. Too bad the UT run defense cannot go against the UT run offense since they had problems stopping everyone last year, and with a new 3-4 scheme, it may take a while to get to where they need to be.

The Ugly: Last year everyone laughed at Coach Scooter when I wrote the Vols might not win a game in the SEC. Technically, I was correct as they did not win an SEC game in regulation, and if it were anyone other than Vandy, they would have finished without an SEC victory for the first time in school history. As far as this year goes, it could happen again. It might come down to the final game in Knoxville against Kentucky.

The Schedule: The murder’s row schedule that awaited the Vols last year has been softened some as Mississippi State and Missouri replace Arkansas and LSU, but the Vols still have Alabama, and an interesting season opener in Atlanta against N.C. State. The Vols have not won in the Georgia Dome since 1998 so they are due.

What will happen: Win in Atlanta, and the mood could change for this team. Lose and Coach Dooley will be moving on before October ends since it will start a free fall that they will not recover from. Getting Justin Hunter back will help, but there is no running game to speak of, and they cannot afford any injuries like last season. Many of the assistant coaches are new, and it will take some time to get on he same page with the players. The kicking game is inconsistent and the defensive front has to step up. I look for the Vols to lose every SEC game going into the finale with Kentucky, and it will be a winner take all for 6th place with the Vols shading the ‘Cats. Although if Kentucky doesn’t have a QB going into the game, the Big Orange will go splat, just like last year in Lexington.

Bowl Game: In my best Rodney Dangerfield voice, “Are you kiddin’?”

2012 Prediction: 6th in the SEC East.

For a preview of all the teams go to 2012 SEC Football Preview.

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