Butch JonesKNOXVILLE -- Tennessee football coach Butch Jones believes depth charts are simply names on a piece paper that provide a talking point.
The one the Volunteers released on Monday turned about to be accurate, at least at the most important position on the field.
Tennessee's trio of quarterbacks -- Justin Worley, Josh Dobbs and Nathan Peterman -- were bracketed as co-starters on the depth chart, and Jones said the Vols will try to speed up the injured Worley's recovery process and evaluate the situation throughout practice this week.
Tennessee is "in no rush" to make a decision and will name a starter for Saturday's trip to South Carolina "when we need to," Jones said.
"We're going to try to really up it with Justin this week in practice Monday and Tuesday, see where he's at. Everything is about competition. Obviously Josh did some very, very good things running the football, managing the offense. He'll continue to improve, but I want competition.
"Playing quarterback at Tennessee is earned."
Worley hurt his shoulder against Ole Miss and missed Saturday night's loss to Alabama, and Peterman started the game before, as planned, Dobbs came in on the third series.
The sophomore, who finished the final four games of the 2013 season, went the rest of the way, using his arm and legs to total 267 of Tennessee's 383 yards against the Crimson Tide.
If Worley is unable to throw the ball well enough to play, it's hard to envision the Vols not starting Dobbs, though Jones insisted he didn't want to crown his dual-threat option too soon.
Dobbs showed some positive signs in the second half at Alabama in 2013 when he made his debut, then threw five interceptions in his next three games against SEC division winners Missouri and Auburn and a nine-win Vanderbilt team.
"Josh will continue to get first-team reps, but I also have to guard against crowning individuals," Jones said. "I know everyone's excited, and they're looking for positive things, and there's a lot of positive things, but that's one game. Josh would be the first to tell you there's a number of plays we left out there.
"How can he transition from game one to game two of him playing?"
Worley being healthy enough to play doesn't mean he automatically would regain his starting job.
"If he's back, that doesn't assure him that he's going to start as well," Jones said. "It's what individuals give us the best opportunity to win. We'll know a little bit more on how he progresses, and then we have the bye week coming up after this game as well."
Jones did not rule out using a two-quarterback rotation during the game against the Gamecocks, who rank 13th in the SEC in total defense and scoring defense.
"I haven't in the past, just because I like to have a quarterback get into the rhythm of the game and get a feel for it," he said, "but right now we're scratching and clawing for every victory we can, and whatever it takes to win the football games right now, that's what we're looking to do."
More coverage online and in Tuesday's Times Free Press.