VOLS

Vols' passing game out of sync early

Matt Slovin
mslovin@tennessean.com
Tennessee's passing offense, led by quarterback Josh Dobbs, hasn't yet hit its stride.

KNOXVILLE — Through one-sixth of its season, the Tennessee football team's leading pass catcher is someone who had never before played receiver.

That player, Murfreesboro native Jauan Jennings, has caught only four passes for 61 yards — quite an accomplishment, considering the freshman came to the Vols as a quarterback, but not exactly the numbers a coach dreams up for his leading target.

The numbers behind Jennings paint a bleak tale, as well.

Vols vow to rebound from heartbreaker

Von Pearson, whose reinstatement after an offseason suspension was viewed as a huge boost to Tennessee's offense, has caught only two passes in the Vols' two games. Pig Howard, last season's leading receiver, caught only one pass for eight yards in last weekend's double-overtime loss to Oklahoma. And Marquez North, thought in the preseason to be one of the corps' top options, has just one catch for nine yards.

In fact, Tennessee (1-1) doesn't have a single player among the SEC's top 44 receivers. Missouri's Tyler Hunt, a running back, has caught one pass this season. That reception, which went for 78 yards, would make him the Vols' leading receiver.

"This past week, we didn't throw the ball down the field and execute as much as we would like," Tennessee coach Butch Jones said this week.

Jauan Jennings never expected to start first Vols game

Jones pointed out that the Vols did have success throwing the ball in the season opener against Bowling Green — 15-of-23 for 205 yards. Against the Sooners, though, quarterback Josh Dobbs had perhaps his worst game since taking over the starting job in the middle of last season. Dobbs finished 13-of-31 for 125 yards with a touchdown and the game-ending interception.

Jones said there's a tendency to hone in on one specific individual when trying to explain why the offense hasn't been able to consistently move the ball through the air.

"It's all 11," he said. "It isn't just one individual — not the quarterback, not the receiver, not just the tight ends or running backs or offensive line. I thought being all 11 playing as one, we struggled with that consistency."

Despite the early difficulties, Jones predicted that Tennessee's passing game will be the deciding factor in at least one game this season.

"We will win a game this year, you watch, with having to throw the football just like we did last year," Jones said.

Reach Matt Slovin at mslovin@tennessean.com and on Twitter @MattSlovin.

NEXT GAME

WESTERN CAROLINA (1-1) at TENNESSEE (1-1)

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Neyland Stadium

TV/radio: ESPNU/104.5-FM