Is Josh Dobbs & this Tennessee Offense Broken?
Tennessee fans are waking up Sunday morning with a pounding in their heads. An embarrassing 24-21 loss to South Carolina has seemed to put a wrench in the Vols once promising season. UT (5-3) has now lost three straight games. The offense is struggling, mightily. In its last two games the Tennessee offense has produced […]
Tennessee fans are waking up Sunday morning with a pounding in their heads. An embarrassing 24-21 loss to South Carolina has seemed to put a wrench in the Vols once promising season.
UT (5-3) has now lost three straight games. The offense is struggling, mightily. In its last two games the Tennessee offense has produced only three touchdowns. The Vols offense only had two scores last night and just 297 yards of total offense, which is 100 yards less than the season average.
Is this Tennessee offense broken?
Something has happened in the last two games, since the Vols put up 684 yards and 38 points against Texas A&M. One thing that happened was Alabama, and that will always make things ugly.
The Running Game
But, Saturday night against South Carolina was much different. The Gamecocks entered having the SEC's worst rushing defense, and the Vols were held to 136 yards on 37 carries. Jalen Hurd was irrelevant with his 16 yards on eight carries. Hurd hasn't seemed 'right' this entire year. There is a mystery going on about whether he's fully healthy or not. But, this offense isn't using a 6'4 240 pound running back like it should. I'm sick of seeing Hurd run wide on sweeps from the shotgun for two yard gains. Hurd needs to be featured from an I-formation, or hell, I'd even be okay with the pistol formation at this point. Jalen Hurd is at his best when he's moving forward, not sideways.
Mike DeBord is driving everyone crazy who watches the run-game play calling.
Josh Dobbs, also, has been ineffective running the ball, as of late. He had 27 yards on 12 carries. Yes, he had a 50 yard TD run called back because of a holding penalty, but too many times the QB has been dragged down in the back field for a loss. I don't think this is just a South Carolina game problem. Dobbs is averaging 1.5 yards less per carry this season compared to his career average.
I have been pleased with the production of Alvin Kamara (when he's gotten the chance), and his potential return from injury will be a big addition in the final month. John Kelly needs more touches. He runs hard, he doesn't go down easy and has shown good vision. Kelly will be the featured back next season, due to Hurd and Kamara, most likely, leaving for the next level.
The Passing Game
What happened to Josh Malone touchdowns? Five times Malone scored in in the first four games of the season. Every Josh Malone TD was over 20 yards. Where did they go? In Tennessee's first four games the junior averaged 71 yards receiver and over one TD per game. In the last four games, he's averaged only 39 yards receiving per game and has been held out of the end zone, completely.
This stat from September has been missing.
Also missing since September, are plays like this from Dobbs and Malone.
It feels like Tennessee's offense isn't even trying to stretch the ball downfield, on the sidelines. Allow your 5-star athletes to make 5-star plays. The Vols have two WRs, including Jauan Jennings, who are capable of making huge plays in the deep passing game.
I don't know what is wrong with Josh Dobbs. Fans want him benched, which I don't agree with. He's the only healthy captain this team has left. Dobbs, also, capable of making game-winning plays and beating teams with his athletic abilities. When Tennessee was sitting at 5-0, Vegas had Dobbs listed with the firth highest Hesiman Trophy odds. He's clearly in a funk right now, and I don't know how he can get out of it.
