What the Gerald Jones Injury Means

Tennessee WR Gerald Jones is out 4-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain, although the Vols are hoping that he’ll be back for the Sept. 12 game with UCLA. Here’s what Jones injury means to UT.

•  Expect a lot of I-formation: The Vols probably would have ran the ball 60 percent of the time anyway, Jones injury all but assures an increase to 65 or 70 percent rushing plays. UT has a lot of talent at RB. They’ll have to use it to make it to Florida undefeated. That may not be a bad thing. Tennessee’s OL holds the key to this season. if they can get a push and force teams to put 8 in the box, it will take a lot of pressure off of the passing game. Crompton can be serviceable in the play-action.
• Brandon Warren will get more looks: the former Alcoa standout is the one that has the most to gain from Jones injury. Warren isn’t going to keep Jones on the bench when he does return, but he can separate himself from Denarius Moore for the number 2 job if he can become the top red zone threat.
• Tennessee fans will need to be patient: We’re of the opinion that Tennessee would be better served sitting Jones through the Ohio contest on Sept 26 unless he’s 100 percent. Why bring a gimpy Jones back early and risk a year-long nagging injury when you can sit him until Auburn and hope to have Jones back at full speed for the remainder of the season. As long as the Vols can top the Bruins in week 2 without Jones, there’s no reason to rush his return. Kiffin and co. shouldn’t risk the back half of the schedule for a better look at a Florida team that may be unbeatable anyway.
• Bryce Brown and David Oku have to contribute ASAP: As much as Tennessee will rely on them this year, someone in the backfield is going to be slowed by injury. Brown and Oku need to be ready to go in on day 1. Oku could end up being the most valuable of the two this year because of the change of pace that he would bring.  
• Crompton is going to have to make better decisions: There’s no one left on the roster that can turn a short pass into a big gain by making people miss. Crompton is going to have to make plays down field. The bubble screen will be virtually non-existant.
• Get ready to see a lot of swing passes and screens out of the backfield: The swing pass was an underutilized part of the playbook during the Fulmer era, mostly because Greg Atkins OL’s weren’t capable of protecting the QB’s well enough to not need a RB in protection. Expect that to change this year, as the passing game will do little except keep defenders out of the box. The swing pass can stretch the defense laterally allowing better running lanes.