Should Tennessee football feel comfortable with its backup quarterbacks?
Blake ToppmeyerThis is Part III of a series examining Tennessee’s roster after spring practice. Today, we look at the quarterbacks.
Spring game starter
Spring game backup
Don’t forget about …
OK, cheating a bit on this one. Bailey isn’t on Tennessee’s roster. He’s a four-star prospect from Marietta, Georgia, committed to the 2020 class.
What we thought we knew entering spring practice
Jarrett Guarantano entered the spring with 18 career starts and the undisputed title of being the team’s starting quarterback. No other quarterback on the roster has taken a snap in a college game.
Guarantano had the task of learning a fourth offensive system in as many seasons after the Vols hired offensive coordinator Jim Chaney in January to replace Tyson Helton, who left to become Western Kentucky’s coach.
The addition of Chaney projected to benefit Guarantano. He’s a veteran offensive mind who has tutored successful quarterbacks, including Drew Brees.
What we learned from spring practice
Guarantano has fully embraced Chaney and new position coach Chris Weinke, and he enjoys operating this system.
“There’s a lot more control for the quarterback,” Guarantano said in March. “Of course, I like that, but I think it’s very effective.”
Guarantano started slowly in the spring game but wound up completing 19 of 37 passes for 198 yards with four touchdowns. He was named the game’s most valuable player.
“I think he has handled the new coordinator well, and it hasn’t been a problem. He has done it before,” coach Jeremy Pruitt said after the spring game. "I think Jim Chaney is a really good teacher. I think Chris Weinke has done a really good job there.”
Chaney’s offensive scheme doesn’t look drastically different, but expect the Vols to incorporate tight ends and running backs more in the passing game. Players at those positions combined for 19 of the team’s 38 receptions during the spring game.
Guarantano also said Chaney’s system is “more focused on explosive plays.”
Tennessee’s backup quarterbacks, redshirt freshman JT Shrout and freshman Brian Maurer, were inconsistent throughout the spring. Maurer never took a snap under center in high school, so center-to-quarterback exchanges are a work in progress for him.
What’s next?
Guarantano said his freshman backups are “going to be good players in the future.” He meant it as a compliment, but in reality, Tennessee needs to get at least one of them comfortable to play in a college game come September.
Guarantano is prone to taking a lot of hits, and he exited three games last season after absorbing blows. No longer is veteran Keller Chryst a safety valve behind Guarantano.
“What you find out is how they’re wired,” Weinke said of Shrout and Maurer. “We can’t go out there and coach them anymore in the summer, so it’s going to be on their own. Are they willing to put themselves in a position, whether it’s watching film or physically going out on the field and working on maybe their deficiencies, to put them in a position (to be the backup)?
“I’m not sitting here talking about a depth chart right now, but we will clearly see which direction that will go as they get through the summer and into training camp.”
As for Guarantano, he looks as comfortable as ever. This is his team. He has a lot of history throwing to these skill position players.
He must continue to work toward getting rid of the ball more quickly, though, especially with the offensive line expected to remain a question mark.
ADAMS:Tennessee's Jarrett Guarantano could move up in SEC East QB rankings
Blake Toppmeyer covers University of Tennessee football. Email him at blake.toppmeyer@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer. If you enjoy Blake’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.