Football is back! The calendar turned to August and that means training camp time. Tennessee begins camp with its first practice Monday night. Here are three storylines to keep an eye on for the Vols:
SEC East title or bust?
The Vols are loaded with talent. They have the division's most experienced and best quarterback, Josh Dobbs. They have a dynamic duo at running back in Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara. They're also stocked with raw talent in the defensive front seven and have a highly regarded new defensive coordinator in Bob Shoop. With 17 returning starters combined on offense and defense, plus every key specialist returning, the Vols are the clear favorite to win the SEC East. Will Butch Jones & Co. get it done this year? With so many question marks -- including three new head coaches -- for the division's other six teams, this seems like a prime opportunity.
Can the passing game improve?
Dobbs is a talented player who checks the box in numerous categories -- running ability, poise, leadership, intelligence -- but could use improvement as a passer. His yards per attempt (6.6) last season were 10th in the SEC behind quarterbacks such as Treon Harris, Perry Orth and Brandon Harris. That number needs to improve. Jones said on Monday morning that it's not just Dobbs' responsibility, however. "It's bigger than him," Jones said. "It's also the responsibility of the people around him as well," referring to the Vols' receivers, tight ends and running backs. Dobbs attempted 12.5 percent of his passes for 20 yards or more last year, eighth in the SEC. An uptick there would help the offense, too.
Who will protect Dobbs' blind side?
The Vols had a reliable veteran at left tackle the last two seasons in Kyler Kerbyson and now must find a successor. There are three potential options as camp is set to begin: sophomore Chance Hall, junior Brett Kendrick and redshirt freshman Drew Richmond. Hall played 10 games last year, starting seven at right tackle but missed spring football with an injury. Kendrick started the first five games of 2015 at right tackle. Richmond, who redshirted last season, took plenty of snaps at left tackle in spring football, but obviously hasn't played a collegiate game yet. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.