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5 storylines to follow at 2019 SEC Football Media Days

By Jake Mitchell

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts during the press conference after his teams 44-16 loss to the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts during the press conference after his teams 44-16 loss to the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers hands the ball off to Running back Tim Jordan #9 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers hands the ball off to Running back Tim Jordan #9 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

5. Can Jim Chaney improve the Tennessee offense?

In one of the bigger offseason stories around the conference, Georgia offensive coordinator Jim Chaney moved to Knoxville. It was a big win for Volunteer head coach Jeremy Pruitt, but an even bigger win for quarterback Jarrett Guarantano.

Guarantano didn’t throw for a large volume in 2019. The Vols ranked 97th in the country in passing offense, and Guarantano didn’t eclipse the 2,000-yard mark. He was, however, smart with the football. A touchdown-to-interception ratio of 12-3 is very encouraging.

Now, though, his game will be elevated. Chaney is the man who coached Jake Fromm to his last two great seasons. Under Chaney’s coaching, Fromm was able to hold off the more talented Justin Fields and Jacob Eason to keep his starting job.

Tennessee has an extremely talented receiving core. Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings lead a group that can do big things with the ball in their hands. For Chaney, the task is to get that ball from Guarantano to those talented wideouts.

As this offensive line rounds into shape entering 2019, the Vols are overcoming so many of the roadblocks that pop up when rebuilding a program. With so many tools now in place, it will be up to Jim Chaney to put them in place.

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