Monday's 3-2-1 report

It's Monday and that means time for the 3-2-1 report. Three observations, two questions and a prediction as the Vols sit at home waiting to learn their bowl location.

It's going to be a loud winter – Staff changes, could Butch Jones try to get in play for another job and who's making decisions regarding Tennessee football above Butch Jones? Does out-going athletic director Dave Hart have any power? How interested is he in trying to manage Jones and the program? Who's going to become the athletic director? There are a lot of pending decisions coming. There is a lot of fan unrest and it's going to be a loud winter for all things orange.

Tennessee's defense is simply awful – Whether it's the run or the pass, Bob Shoop's defense doesn't have an answer. The Vols have given up 5,522 yards this season including just shy of 2,000 the last three weeks. Tennessee has given up 351 points. The 5,522 is the third highest total in school history. The 351 points is the third highest total in school history. In 12 games, the defense has given up 2,780 rushing yards. The highest total ever for the Vols.

The Vols can't win if they lose the turnover margin – In the Vols' four losses this season, Tennessee is minus 4 in the turnover margin. In the four losses they have turned the football over 13 times. Saturday the Vols fumbled inside the Vanderbilt 20 taking away points and Josh Dobbs' fumble to end the third quarter took all of the Vols momentum away. When you are having to try and score every possession in a shootout type game, you can't give possessions away.

1 – What happens next?

Jones said Saturday night following the loss that his evaluation of his program would begin immediately. What's the result of that evaluation? Where is Jones and Tennessee? Does he try and get in the race for another job? What about his assistants? Do they pursue other opportunities? Lots of questions to start off December.

2 – Where is Tennessee's desire for a bowl game?

Two weeks ago, all eyes were on Atlanta. Fans were making travel plans. Saturday night, the Vols were playing for the Sugar Bowl and again the Vols laid an egg. Now Tennessee is at a different place. Their hopes and dreams and goals are not what they once were. So where is this team's desire for a bowl game that may be in the state of Tennessee.

How about the fans, will they travel to a bowl site? There's certainly not the same momentum heading into December that they have had the last two years.

What the changes are going to be isn't clear at this point, but college football is an ever evolving sport. If you aren't making changes,!even if you are winning, then you aren't staying on top of the game.

Jones vowed leaving Vanderbilt that he will do a full evaluation of his program from top to bottom. That evaluation is going to warrant some changes. The question is not if they are going to happen. It's simply how many are going to happen and how quickly do they happen.