Appalachian State at Tennessee: 3 Things to Watch For

SEC football is officially back! The Tennessee Volunteers kick their season off tonight at six thirty. Below we share our “three things to watch for”. These are things that will be a factor not just in today’s game, but will also show signs of things to come over the course of the season. Let’s begin.

1. How Accurate Will Joshua Dobbs Be?

Oct 10, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) passes against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 38-31. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

Joshua Dobbs is one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC. He can beat teams with both his arm and his legs. However, Dobbs has not been the most accurate quarterback. For his career Dobbs has completed just 61 percent of his passes. Dobbs struggles particularly with the deep ball. He is extremely inconsistent when throwing long. He will need to improve on that if Tennessee wants to make a trip to the College Football Playoff.

2. How Will the Offensive Line Perform?

Nov 14, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jalen Hurd (1) scores a touchdown against the North Texas Mean Green at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Tennessee has the luxury of one of the best, as well as most experienced, backfields in the SEC. However, how effective Dobbs, Jalen Hurd, and Alvin Kamara are will largely depend on how the Volunteer offensive line plays. Redshirt freshman Drew Richmond takes over at left tackle. Jashon Robertson is a returning starter at left guard. Coleman Thomas also returns at center. Right guard Dylan Wiesman is another returning starter. Finally, starting right tackle Brett Kendrick returns.

With four out of five starters returning, the Volunteer offensive line has high expectations. We will see if they live up to them.

3. Will the Vols Fall into the Trap?

Oct 10, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Cameron Sutton (7) celebrates after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 38-31. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

Hype can be a difficult thing to deal with. The Vols enter the season ranked 9th in the nation. They are predicted by most analysts to win the SEC East. Will the Volunteers crack under the weight of the expectations?

This week the Volunteers face a trap game against Appalachian State. Ostensibly, the Volunteers should beat the mountaineers easily. However, Appalachian State finished last season 11-2. If the Volunteers overlook them, the Mountaineers might just make them regret it.

Conclusion

Jan 1, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Evan Berry (29) runs the ball back for 100 yard touchdown during the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats in the 2016 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 45-6. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Thank you for reading. Is there a key factor you think we missed? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to “like” us on Facebook and “follow” us on Twitter.

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