Pre-Snap Read

Likes and Dislikes

Five and Five: Tennessee

By Paul Myerberg   //   Jun 29, 2010

What are five things I like about Tennessee in 2010? What about five things I don’t? This list has all the answers.

Likes

1. While the senior duo of Gerald Jones and Denarius Moore will lead the receiver corps, look for a handful of first- and second-year players to have an impact. Keep an eye on sophomore Marsalis Teague, one of the jewels of last season’s recruiting class, and incoming freshmen Matt Milton and Da’Rick Rogers.

2. I like what new defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox has to work with at end, where Ben Martin and Chris Walker performed well a season ago. Both seniors could land all-conference accolades in 2010.

3. I like Tennessee’s mix at running back. Junior Tauren Poole and sophomore David Oku have the ability to be a dangerous one-two pair, with Poole capable of serving in an every-down role and Oku a potential big-play threat.

4. Tennessee has a very winnable November: at Memphis and Vanderbilt, home for Mississippi and Kentucky.

5. Derek Dooley. He might have been Tennessee’s third choice — perhaps more — but you have to respect Dooley’s enthusiasm, commitment, resume and lineage.

Dislikes

1. The offensive line must be completely rebuilt. One starter, sophomore Aaron Douglas, was slated to return, but Douglas left the program in late March.

2. The interior of the defensive line is a concern. Tennessee hopes a pair of sophomores, Marlon Walls and Montori Hughes, are up to the task of supplanting a pair of multiple-year contributors. It will be difficult to replace a talent like Dan Williams.

3. There’s no replacing a talent like Eric Berry: not this year, not next, not ever. There is talent in the U.T. secondary, such as sophomore free safety Janzen Jackson, but the Vols will struggle matching the game-breaking ability of the former all-American.

4. A rough stretch to open the year: Tennessee might need that 4-0 stretch in November to land bowl eligibility.

5. Quarterback. Neither Matt Simms nor Tyler Bray are the answer — in 2010. Bray is the future, but he was outplayed by Simms during the spring. In sentences you thought you’d never hear, at least as of this time last year: the Vols will struggle replacing Jonathan Crompton’s production.

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