How Did Tennessee Get So Good So Fast?

Helps when you have a 24 year old (nearly 25), 6th year senior QB starting for the 2nd straight year in an innovative offense that is relatively new to the SEC. Next year they start a true freshman in all likelihood (not paying that guy $8 mil to ride the bench) and the defenses will have had two years of film to catch up. Time will tell, but I suspect they stay in the top 3 in the east for a while, along with us and Georgia. Eventually I expect our talent acquisition to put us back ahead of Kentucky where we belong.

 

If it looked like he was holding AR back I would agree. To me it looks like AR isn’t ready to throw the ball 30 times a game.
Late in the Bama/Tenn game, Young was in the pocket inside the ten, he strarted to run up the middle and stopped short of the los and hit a wide open tight end I think it was. His run pulled the coverage and made an easy pass for a td. I think AR should be using his running ability to create easier passes instead of the quick fourth down slant. I doubt AR will ever be a pocket passer but he can be highly effective. Tebow did this. A step like he was running off tackle and back to the pocket drawing guys out of coverage.

 

Hooker was not very good at all at Virginia Tech. In fact, he entered last season as the backup QB and didn't play until midway through Game 2. He's been the starter ever since. Heupel is just a QB whisperer and is able to scheme WR's wide open. I notice Bama fans complained about why Receivers were running wide open on so many plays, not realizing that in every single Tennessee game this year that has been the case. I don't see the offense really falling off after Hooker leaves. Tennessee has Joe Milton as a backup and in the limited time he's played this year, he looks 1000% better than last year and honestly threw a better deep ball than Hooker in the games he's played this season.

 

Got some players on team who took money when they were cheating…. They needed to be suspended for a cpl of games this yr

 

Oh, I forgot one important addition,


they FINALLY learned how to take showers. 'Bout time.

 

You must have missed the Tennessee game.

 

They defended by trying to take the run away. We had to pass the ball. I am glad he was effective enough to make them pay for it. Not transcendent, but definitely the equal to Hooker.

 

Yep. They seem to have a mature and very talented guy in Hooker. Not much to complain about, even as a rival.

 

It's a confluence of factors in favor of TN. First, they have a coach who was a NC winning QB. That's instant clout and gets the attention of the kids they have. He's able to set a standard, because he's walked the walk. Second, they have a 5th year QB who is well coached and playing fantastic. Third, they have a system that stresses defenses and makes the most of their talent. Finally, it appears that Heupel has acquired enough talent to make some big noise this year. That may continue, but to a certain extent, Heupel has caught his lightning in a bottle. In the long term, FL will always have richer talent to draw from. When our staff becomes stable and if they prove to be legit, we will regain the advantage.

 

By all accounts he's a young man of solid moral fiber.

 

Two words: Hendon Hooker!!!

 

Seems like we agree more than we disagree.

I think losing Diabate and moon also hurt. I think Diabate was mis used last year trying to have him play pass coverage.

I agreed with the questions about Meyers offense working in the SEC and he quickly made some adjustments to be more effective.

 

I’m not sure what they are doing with AR to be honest

The way we called plays vs UT and UK were like two totally different game plans.

I think AR is best when he has the freedom to get outside the pocket and make stuff happen, it opens up the run game also rather than running into the middle or off tackle 3 times in a row.
Keeps the D off balance

 

And to add to it this appears to be their best team in 15 years and UF gave them about all they could take.

 

Of course they're better than us this year. Will they be better next year?

Not sure their top 15 beats ours. Theirs is more complimentary and defense looks a lot better than ours but that could be a function of how much pressure they put on opposing offenses with their scoring.
UGA has a lot of film on them and will have a line of attack - especially looking at Bama, UF and LSU games. If they move the ball on UGA defense like they did Bama, I don't see anyone beating them.

 

We shall see where they are when the QB graduates, Heupel was not very impressive at UCF

 

"Heupel...not very impressive at UCF"?? What games were you watching?

 

He went 6-4 his last year at UCF. He gets a mulligan since it was the covid year and he did lose to some quality teams.

 

We lost to UT 38-33 even with our poor pass defense...close game right ? Heupel has a great offensive mind making football fun again at UT. We need a few good transfers and some great recruiting and we'll be right there once again.