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"&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tennessee needs better quarterback play to compete in the SEC, and for now, that responsibility is in Justin Worley\u2019s hands.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On Thursday Tennessee coach Butch Jones named Worley the team\u2019s starter for its opening-week game against Utah State on Sunday, Aug. 31. The announcement was hardly a surprise from Jones, as Worley is the most experienced at a position that troubled Tennessee in 2013. Worley's experience appeared to play a big role in Jones\u2019s decision.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u201CJustin\u2019s played in big-time games,\u201D Jones said at a press conference on Thursday. \u201CHe understands the environment.\u201D\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The quarterback position wasn\u2019t expected to look markedly different on Rocky Top in 2014. The three passers competing for the starting job \u2013 Worley, Nathan Peterman and Josh Dobbs \u2013 were the same three quarterbacks who saw the field last season for Tennessee. Behind that trio, the Vols finished last in the SEC in passing offense (5.8 yards per attempt) and passing efficiency (105.5). Tennessee also threw a league-leading 17 interceptions. With the same candidates in Knoxville for fall camp, Jones and the Tennessee coaching staff were forced to hope for growth and development rather than change at the quarterback position.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Growth is exactly what the Vols need from Worley this season, especially in his decision-making. In eight games last year, Worley threw for 10 touchdowns but eight picks, and he completed only 56 percent of his passes. Despite playing behind one of the country\u2019s best offensive lines, Worley wasn\u2019t able to get Tennessee\u2019s passing game off the ground. Miscues and a thumb injury defined Worley\u2019s junior season.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Unfortunately for UT, there\u2019s little evidence to suggest Worley\u2019s senior year will be much better than last year. The Vols must replace every starter from that veteran offensive line, which could make Worley\u2019s job that much more challenging. However, Tennessee does boast a number of talented receivers like Von Pearson, Josh Malone and Marquez North. Five-star running back Jalen Hurd could also become a major complement in the backfield as a freshman. But Worley\u2019s decision-making isn\u2019t likely to take a step forward if the offensive line can\u2019t give him necessary protection.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If there\u2019s a silver lining for Worley and the Vols, it\u2019s this: When Worley played well in 2013, Tennessee did, too. The Vols upset 11th-ranked South Carolina on Oct. 19 after taking No. 6 Georgia to overtime in a loss the previous week. In both of those games, Worley averaged fewer than 200 passing yards per game and didn\u2019t throw an interception. He was hardly a game-changer, but he managed the offense just well enough to keep the Vols alive.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It would be a stretch to expect a major step forward in Worley\u2019s senior season. But what Worley can do is focus on taking care of the football. That\u2019s the only way this Tennessee offense can hope to be effective in Jones\u2019s second season.\r\n&lt;/p&gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/08/14/tennessee-starting-quarterback-justin-worley>