The Volquest predictions

Since leaving Raymond James Stadium to start 2016, I have been asked everywhere you can imagine what the Vols' record will be this season.

Tennessee brings back more pieces to the puzzle than any team in the SEC East. They have depth at some key positions. They have a defensive coordinator who's proven in the SEC that he can be really good and with less talent than he has now. The Vols have a nice schedule leaving the state just three times in 2016.

There's plenty of reason for them to be the media darling. But they are not a team without question marks and the biggest in my mind is on the offensive side of the ball at offensive tackle. I know everyone talks about the passing game, but you can't go vertical with the ball if you can't keep the quarterback up right. So the key question that must be answered is how they hold up at the offensive tackle spot.

Defensively, they can't afford an injury at linebacker and they need both Shy Tuttle and Alexis Johnson to get well quickly to give them depth at defensive tackle.

But, the bottom line is that there are pieces in place to win like this program has not had in a long time. What they don't have is experience in winning a lot of big games and winning grind-it-out, ugly games. I have noted this record before but in the last three years they are 1-11 in games where the offense scores less than 21 points. Now some of that number is unfair because they didn't score 21 at Oregon and other blowout games. But the fact is they haven't won many low scoring games that the SEC is known for. Can they do it? To live up to their hype they will have to.

I really like the mental make-up of this team. I like their leadership and I think they have handled the hype well. Now, it's about getting it done and the key to that is week 4 when Florida comes to town. To me that game sets the whole landscape of the year. And don't think that Georgia is going to be bad. There's talent in Athens and I bet they are a tougher team under Kirby Smart than they were with Mark Richt.

What we know about the Vols is the hype is legit, the talent is real and the opportunity is huge for this program in 2016.

Record: 10-2

When Butch Jones strode through the boring front door of the dumpster fire of a program Derek Dooley left, the man with the sharpest buzz cut and tightest top-button in college football had some work to do, to put it mildly. That work primary consisted of rebuilding a roster that had a distinct Conference USA whiff about it when Jones rolled in.

Consider his primary task accomplished. You can still nitpick about depth at a few key spots (linebacker, offensive line) but overall, the difference in talent between now and 2013 is just remarkable. And that’s not a minority opinion. Sooo…what are the Vols going to do with all that talent?

My guess is that the Butch & Co. are going to meet, if not exceed expectations. Put me down for 11-1.

The Vols have the best quarterback situation in the league despite what the preseason All-SEC teams may suggest. They have two NFL backs behind Josh Dobbs and four offensive linemen with extensive staring experience.

If Tennessee is really going to make some noise, as in SEC championship and playoff noise, Dobbs and the passing game are going to have to step up. That’s possible, but still something that remains to be proven.

The real improvement on Team 120 is going to be on the defensive side. This should be the most talented defensive football team the Vols have fielded in a decade and Bob Shoop strikes you as someone who knows what to do with that talent.

Derek Barnett is poised for a huge year, and has a real shot to grab the Tennessee career sack record in three years. Think about that. There have been some ballers here chasing quarterbacks. Jalen Reeves-Maybin is exactly what you want as a senior leader and Darrin Kirkland Jr. could be the best MLB the Vols have had since Al Wilson was running the show and striking fear into the hearts of opponents and teammates alike.

The final bit about the defense is that this has the chance to be an elite level SEC secondary. Just two years ago the Vols didn’t have enough quality defensive backs to even play a dime defense. This year they’re are going to be some very nice players in the defensive backfield who struggle to get on the field.

Lastly, special teams. Butch cares about the third phase of the game and the Vols will have a legit shot to have the best special teams unit in the conference this fall. Evan Berry is a proven weapon with three kickoff return TDs and a 38-yard average per return last fall. It seems like a toss up between who’s more dangerous as a punt returner between Cam Sutton and Alvin Kamara. Trevor Daniel was a revelation in his first year of action, averaging 45.7 yards per punt. The x-factor is Aaron Medley, but the junior finished 2015 strong after early season struggles.

The expectations for Jones and this squad are huge. Simply based off what we’ve seen of this team to this point, there’s no reason to think those expectations are unfounded.

Record: 11-1

In thinking of the Vols this season, I think of a lot of, "shoulds." This should be the most talented team Tennessee has fielded since Phillip Fulmer was the head coach. This should be the year the SEC East is up for grabs. The addition of Bob Shoop as defensive coordinator should help this defense be a top 15, maybe top 10 defense.

But, for all the shoulds heading into the season there are still some very real questions.

The most glaring is, can Tennessee's passing game get it done when it matters most? As mccallie Vols pointed out on the General's Quarters this week, the passing game stats against the best teams the Vols faced last year weren't exactly stellar.

In fact, Josh Dobbs completed less than 60 percent of his passes in seven games last year and only threw for more than 200 yards five times last season. Add to the fact there are real questions about Tennessee's offensive tackles and I think it's fair to question if this offense can pull out a late-game drive to win the game. They couldn't do it against Florida or Alabama last year, but I don't think the coaching staff helped at all at Florida.

Dobbs is a good enough playmaker to get you in a position to have an opportunity to win, and we've seen the clutch gene in him on a few occasions, but I have my worries if the passing game can get it done at a championship level late in the game against a really good defense when they are bringing the pressure.

Obviously, Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara are a fantastic duo and will carry this team. They are a huge reason there are a lot of positive vibes about the program. I think the Vols playmaking abilities at wideout is improved, especially with Preston Williams, Josh Smith and Josh Malone headlining the receiver rotation

I really like Tennessee's defense. They have two fantastic linebackers, a versatile and speedy secondary and some nice depth at defensive end. They need Shy Tuttle and Alexis Johnson to hurry along to alleviate any concerns about quality depth in that spot because you have to remember the Arkansas, Alabama and Georgia games where they gave up a lot on the ground.

Finally, my curveball: I think either Florida or Georgia will be better than people give them credit for. The Gators still have a talented defense and even though the quarterback spot and offensive line have questions, I think Jim McElwain will be able to mask some things.

With UGA, they too are still more talented than some people believe and a healthy Nick Chubb and Sony Michel is a deadly duo and if Jacob Eason, or any quarterback in Athens, can play better than they did last year they can cause problems.

That's a lot of info, I know. So, recap: I think Tennessee is really talented, but a few key areas on offense worry me. I think getting to Atlanta is the goal and it's very attainable and I really think it's the Vols' to lose heading into the season, but I wouldn't be shocked if they slipped up somewhere along the way.

Record: 10-2

There is so much hype. So much buzz. Can Tennessee live up to all of this? Only time will tell, but this team has everything in front of it to be as good as the expectations placed on it. Has the staff grown from some of the breakdowns of last season? I'd like to think so, but I think it will take being in a similar type situation to truly find out.

Offensively, the biggest question marks will continue to be the vertical passing game and offensive tackle. If Tennessee can do anything in the passing game down the field, then Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara will likely run wild on the ground. As much talk as the wide receiver rotation gets, it will be less involved early in the season and I personally think that means some of the wideouts will thrive.

The tackle position can be solid, but the two guys manning the edges (Richmond and Kendrick) both still have a lot to prove. Tennessee can't have Kamara be the leading receiver and hope to win their biggest games. Preston Williams is going to make plenty of plays and some will be eye-popping, but for my money I'm still betting on the Joshes to dominate the targets with Dobbs. Plus he loves the tight ends and Wolf and Croom could prove to be just as good.

Looking at the defense, it's hard to not like what you see. Just look at the line of scrimmage. Tennessee is deep and talented coming off the edge. Remarkably they are getting healthier and deeper at the tackle spot with Shy Tuttle gaining more strength by the day and Alexis Johnson slowly working his way into better shape. Linebacker is where the biggest concern will be with very little depth behind Darrin Kirkland Jr. and Jalen Reeves-Maybin. The secondary will be a strength and I really think Todd Kelly Jr. will have a monster year. He has been Johnny on the spot in his first two years and has always had a knack for being around the football.

I think it's unfair to think Tennessee will be able to duplicate last year's success on special teams. But it's something teams will have to account for and could work to their advantage.

I'm going to say Tennessee wins their first six before falling to Alabama. Vols win the East and head to Atlanta. I think they play Bama better in Atlanta but still come up short.

Tennessee: 12-2 with a win in the Orange Bowl