Tennessee Vols Looking For Offensive Tackles
The Tennessee Vols will open their Spring practice tomorrow in Knoxville. One of the positions that the coaching staff will be looking at closely is offensive tackle. If it sounds familiar, there is a reason for it. It was a glaring position of need last season as well.
It should be better this season than last season. The Vols went into the 2014 season with an offensive line that had zero experience. This season, most of the line will have had at least one year of experience. That is not much when playing in the SEC, but it is sure better than last season.
The line struggled early last season and they were much maligned by local media and most Tennessee fans alike. Justin Worley was hit early and often during his Senior season up until he could not take it any more. Fortunately for Josh Dobbs, the offensive line did get better as the season went on. Make no mistake though, they were still not an SEC offensive line. But the Tackle position was to blame.
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Tennessee played 5th year walk on Jacob Gilliam to begin at left tackle. Gilliam tore an ACL in his first game, but was needed so badly that he played on the tear instead of opting for surgery. Freshman right tackle Coleman Thomas was forced to play right tackle. It was no secret that Coleman was just not ready. He was a few steps slow and opposing defenses took advantage quickly. But he did battle with everything he had.
Kyler Kerbyson came in and played tackle when Gilliam went down. Kerbyson, now a redshirt senior and the co- leader of this line (with Mack Crowder), left his natural Guard spot to play tackle. He played well, but is more effective at Guard. So Tennessee looks again this season to find tackles.
The Vols look good in the middle. More than likely Redshirt Senior Mack Crowder will start at Center. Crowder played well last season and looks to have a solid 2015. He will be flanked to the right by Jashon Robertson. Robertson became an All SEC Freshman last season out of Nashville’s Montgomery Bell Academy. Robertson can be dominant. To Crowders left will be Senior Marcus Jackson or Kerbyson. Jackson started every game last season and played well at left guard.
So who will play tackle? Needless to say Kerbyson will be in the mix. He will play somewhere. If I had to guess I would put him at right tackle. I do not see Coleman Thomas starting right now, but who knows how much he has improved in the offseason after a season under his belt. Left tackle will be the problem. Tennessee signed the number one offensive lineman in the Junior College ranks coming into the 2014 season in Dontavius Blair. Blair was dominating as a Junior College tackle. He never saw the field last season. Blair was not in shape when he came in and Vol coaches decided to redshirt him. That was a good move. Blair will have a chance to start at left or right tackle this season. He has the ability to be dominant. It will be important that he at least competes for one of these.
Tennessee also is bringing in 5 star in State star Drew Richmond. Richmond will be capable of starting at left tackle as a freshman, but he will not be here for Spring practice. That will put Richmond a little behind, and that gives Blair a chance.
The Vols also have freshman Jack Jones in class for the Spring. At 6-5, 300 pounds, he could find himself in the mix as well. Jones plays with an attitude that Tennessee has lacked for quite some time. He will compete, but I keep hearing they like him at Guard. That is what is so great about Spring practice. We will know soon where these guys will compete in the Fall.
Suffice it to say that the Vols will be better on the offensive line. In particular, they will be better at tackle. Coach Butch Jones has done a better job of identifying offensive lineman that can play and is signing those kids. Richmond and Jones will be fun to watch. We just get to see Jones sooner than later since he is enrolled.