By Jimmy Hyams
Larry Scott faces a difficult challenge as he replaces Mike DeBord as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator.
How can Scott possible help Tennessee led the SEC in offensive touchdowns (59) again this season?
Gone is quarterback Josh Dobbs, who had 2,946 passing yards, 841 rushing yards and accounted for 39 touchdowns.
Gone is versatile running back Alvin Kamara, who had 1,188 all-purpose yards and led the team in punt returns.
Gone is big-play wide receiver Josh Malone, who 50 catches for 972 yards, led the SEC in yards per catch (19.4, minimum 30 catches) and scored 11 touchdowns.
Scott knows what he’s missing, but he likes what he has returning.
“When you lose a player as productive as Josh and Alvin Kamara and Josh Malone, that’s a whole lot of production,’’ Scott said in a recent interview with SportsTalk WNML radio.
“Yet, at the same time, it’s a different approach, a different mindset. … It’s an exciting time to be a player in our offense because as we’re trying to find the role and find those guys that are going to bring on that production, it also gives them an opportunity.
“That’s why they’re busting their tails in the summer. They’re working hard. They’re studying. They’re preparing. They’re eager. Right now, we’re having to pull the reigns back, rather than push them. You prefer that, absolutely. That’s the unique and good part about where we are.’’
What will UT miss most about Dobbs?
“His high level of consistency,’’ Scott said.
Quinten Dormady and Jarrett Guarantano battled for the quarterback job in the spring, with Dormady emerging as the leader, even though UT won’t acknowledge that.
Scott said he will adjust the system to the quarterbacks, not force a system upon them.
“Year in and year out,’’ Scott said, “that’s the challenge to any football coach, to actually reassess where he is with his football team and the personnel … and find out what a guy’s skill set is and what he actually brings to the table, what his strengths are.
“And then you taylor your system of how you do things and package things and put things together based around strengths, and diagnose some of the weaknesses and what you have to improve. And really attack those as well.’’
Scott likes a number of weapons he has at his disposal.
Jauan Jennings returns as the top wideout, having caught 40 passes for 580 yards and seven last season.
Can Jennings be a 60-catch receiver?
“I think Jauan Jennings can be whatever it is he wants to be,’’ Scott said. “Now are there things Jauan Jennings needs to do to become that type of player and being counted on it that type of way, absolutely.
“But he knows what that is and we’re all working together to get that done. With the way he approaches things and his competitive nature and who he is, and what he represents when we get ready to go play football, he can be whatever he wants to be.’’
Jennings was a complementary receiver to Malone last year. But no other returning wideout had more than 15 catches last year. Is it important to find another dependable wideout?
“It’s very important,’’ Scott said.
It could be Tyler Byrd, who caught 15 passes last year, or senior Josh Smith, who is prone to injury, or Marquez Callaway, the most improved receiver in the spring, or Brandon Johnson.
“All those guys are very capable or they wouldn’t be at Tennessee,’’ Scott said.
Scott said he’s been at places where tight ends caught up to 50 passes. Is senior Ethan Wolf capable of a 50-catch season after grabbing 21 last year?
“Yes, I think he’s capable of being that type guy,’’ Scott said. “But so is Byrd. So is Josh Smith. So is Brandon Johnson. So is Callaway.
“At the end of the day, the production is going to come from somewhere and I think it will either come from one guy or a host of guys.’’
Another player capable of big numbers is running back John Kelly, who led the team in rushing (630 yards) among non-quarterbacks last season.
Don’t be surprised if Kelly joins a large group of SEC rushers with a 1,000-yard season.
“The opportunities will be there for him to do that,’’ Scott said. “Can we guarantee anything? No. Can he be a guy we’re going to lean on to carry the whole load? No.
“But John is going to get ample opportunity, and with what we do offensively, the run game is key and very important. Obviously if a guy’s hot … we’re going to ride him. But to place expectations like that on any of our players right now, we’d not ever do that.’’
