A big concern emerged late last season about the Tennessee Vols.

After the Vols failed to finish off a couple of tough games, questions arose about the team’s physicality.

“One source told On3 that one of the biggest concerns among some within the program is that the practices throughout the entire year, not just the season, aren’t physical enough and that there’s not enough contact,” wrote On3’s Chris Low last November.

Low also noted that the source told On3, “You gotta hit and do enough of it if you’re going to be good at it, both tackling and blocking.”

Tennessee hired a new strength coach in Derek Owings to help solve those issues.

And Voice of the Vols Mike Keith felt like he saw a big difference in that department in Tennessee’s Week 2 road win against Georgia Tech.

“The way Tennessee hit,” said Keith on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will when asked what impressed him against the Yellow Jackets. “Tennessee came out and hit on all sides of the ball. And if you go back and watch offensive plays, defensive plays, special teams plays, Tennessee was physical.

“I liked what they were able to do in that area. I thought even on plays where Georgia Tech would gain decent yardage, Tennessee came up and laid a lick. And the blocking was physical. I thought the special teams play was physical, and just overall, I think that’s who this team is going to need to be if they’re going to be successful.”

It’s a long season. Tennessee will need to maintain that level of physicality all year (and continue to improve) if they’re going to make some serious noise.

The Vols will get their first real test on September 26 when they host Texas in a huge SEC showdown.