12 personnel is key.

[feathersax]

Teams have started running the same defense to stop our offense. Every game we’ve loss the past couple years have been to P4 teams running a 3-3-5 type of formation on defense. We have beaten it twice this year already, OU we dominated on D and didn’t have to do a ton on offense. NC State, we had a very nice day on offense because we ran more 12 personnel than our base 11 personnel look. Basically it’s having two TEs in on offense, it allows us to really run the ball well against this type of defensive look and it sets up PA passes very well to the TEs themselves, or deep to the WRs as the safety’s start to creep up. I get CJH wants to run his base offense as I’m sure that’s what Nico and the WRs want as well, but if teams are going to keep using this defense against you, it’s time to adapt. 12 personnel time, coach. Florida will not be able to stop our run game and PA pass game out of that formation, period.

I recall hearing t.v. guys point out that Tennessee's "wide splits" & fast pace was causing cofusion with opponents. It's clear that defensive coaches have arrived at a solution. Next move for CJH & his staff. Strategy is for always.

 

[VolForLife83]

Hell, go with a 23 personnel and put Bru at TE. None of our WR's can get open anyway

 

[njvols]

12 personnel & QB runs.

Yes, and run outside of tackles...quick pitch or student body, engage TE's in short pass game more. We look so predictable in run game...same RPO pretty vanilla. Odd to see all these logical things suggested, when we've got supposedly great offensive mind at HC. Hope we get back on track in Neyland.

 

[madbamahater]

The main thing is adjusting to what the defense is giving you, whether giving you a lot or nothing. With the pressure and blitzing, no adjustments. With Nico's eyes coming down and not seeing the field, gave no outlets.

Arkansas just game planned well, executed well and their coaches and players wanted it more. Vols coaches (maybe Heupel) was out coached. He is the head coach and it falls on him, but his staff should've been insistent, or he should have been.

It was bewildering that a least a few subtle adjustments weren't made to get their defense out of their plan (that was working).

I hate how they (most coaches) spin these things as learning experiences. There is truth in that, but you have to adjust on the fly and learn from each possession, quarter of play, scenario and not get caught up in beating a dead horse and being stubborn. It almost got us against OU, it did get us against Arkansas.

Most games where teams beat a dead horse, they'll snap out of it when it's too late. Like in the 2 minute drill, where they throw the game plan out of the window and get aggressive. Well, where was that sense of urgency in each quarter of play? Instead of waiting til the last second to try new things, why not play with urgency in different time frames of the game? The old saying about keep them honest on defense.

I was mind blown that Josh wasn't more creative and wasn't making in game chess moves. He seems to have these games once or twice a season. Hopefully this is the only one this year. He always talks about winning the last 8 minutes of the 1st half and the first 8 minutes of the second half. I like that approach, but it has to also extend to other junctures of the game depending on how the flow is going. Tennessee was scoreless in the first half and super sluggish. So, there was nothing to control when you're the one being controlled.

I kept saying, does he have money on this game or something? Lol.

 

[FBtime]

Hell, go with a 23 personnel and put Bru at TE. None of our WR's can get open anyway

Just because Nico doesn't throw them the ball doesn't mean they weren't open. I have watched several breakdowns of plays from Saturday and many times there were wide open WRs that Nico just didn't see.

 

[DonDiego]

Still waiting for our couch coaches on VN to break out the super duper, double secret weapon...the wildcat package with Boo running it. Nobody can stop that. Nobody. We could win out with that genius move! Vols by fiddy!!

You actually may be on to something there.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Very disappointing to me that Heuple seems to have gone into a shell when he is facing this D that is stopping his offense. I would have thought he would take it as a challenge to his play calling. I know the 2 tackles are a big problem but this where I thought his ingenuity would come thru. Hopefully Arky was a wake up for him.

 

[bigmac]

It really gives you an edge against that 3-3-5 defense. If it’s working against teams like OU and NC State, keep pushing it.

 

[JohnWardForever]

It's lack of adjustments... I believe the UT coaches thought they could go to Ark and win with Defense and their base offense. Ark outsmarted them with totally different looks.

 

[wmcovol]

It's lack of adjustments... I believe the UT coaches thought they could go to Ark and win with Defense and their base offense. Ark outsmarted them with totally different looks.

The offense was not prepared to face what Ark did. Unfortunately they could not maintain any momentum in 2nd half after adjusting. Nico was not able to see open guys cause those were not the openings he was anticipating from practice all week.

 

[fefe]

Dylan Sampson is the number one playmaker on the team. We should be trying to get the ball in his hands more often. Look at how successful he has been by simply running up the middle. Imagine him on screens, wheels, tosses.

 

[tennrich1]

Teams have started running the same defense to stop our offense. Every game we’ve loss the past couple years have been to P4 teams running a 3-3-5 type of formation on defense. We have beaten it twice this year already, OU we dominated on D and didn’t have to do a ton on offense. NC State, we had a very nice day on offense because we ran more 12 personnel than our base 11 personnel look. Basically it’s having two TEs in on offense, it allows us to really run the ball well against this type of defensive look and it sets up PA passes very well to the TEs themselves, or deep to the WRs as the safety’s start to creep up. I get CJH wants to run his base offense as I’m sure that’s what Nico and the WRs want as well, but if teams are going to keep using this defense against you, it’s time to adapt. 12 personnel time, coach. Florida will not be able to stop our run game and PA pass game out of that formation, period.

IIRC Arkansas had 6 DB’s in the game most of the night including 3 safeties. The OL couldn’t block the 5 package adequately and that made it the perfect defense. I do agree with a package to move Nico out of the pocket more with run options for him as well. Except for the 2 scores in 3rd quarter we never were able to adjust. There were multiple issues IMO that kept the game out of reach. The last drive was mismanaged which Josh has admitted. Let’s buckle up and overwhelm the Gators. It’ll be nice to be back in Neyland!

 

[90 Vol]

There's a high level of confidence that Florida will run a similar defense that's shut us down for the past two games. If we can't block a 5-man box, we're going to lose. I think 12-personnel is something to mix in, but I believe that we need to be more creative in the run game off of our 11-personnel base offense. Jet sweep/motion, read option, and RPO with Nico rolling out.

 

[PalmettoStateVol]

They need to simplify some things for Nico. 12 personnel i thought was the answer last week. Nico needs to run for that 5 or 6 yards too when it's there. Get down don't take a bad hit and he'll be fine.

That statement is 1000% true!!! That's one of the main differences that has plagued this offense since Hooker went down at SC in 2022. Hooker made the opposing defense pay, and they payed often! Milton had this same problem last year. There were so many plays he could have gotten huge yardage by tucking it and running. Nico did a pretty good job of that in the bowl game last year. I know the kid wants to throw the ball down field, and that's a great thing, but c'mon....take what they're giving you!

 

[sonofUT62]

Running outside the tackles would help as well.

Heupel only likes to do it in certain situations. The further the ball is downed from the hash the harder to go faster.

 

[barknoxbrawler]

Heupel only likes to do it in certain situations. The further the ball is downed from the hash the harder to go faster.

But maybe, just maybe…. And hear me out, if this offense is as limited as it appears to be, it’s probably time to start it.

 

[AVL Vol]

Where in the heck has D Samp been in the pass game? If defenses are dropping 8, some short passes to #6 out in the flat or over the middle after running off the safety would get chunk yardage!

 

[Volnuck]

Teams have started running the same defense to stop our offense. Every game we’ve loss the past couple years have been to P4 teams running a 3-3-5 type of formation on defense. We have beaten it twice this year already, OU we dominated on D and didn’t have to do a ton on offense. NC State, we had a very nice day on offense because we ran more 12 personnel than our base 11 personnel look. Basically it’s having two TEs in on offense, it allows us to really run the ball well against this type of defensive look and it sets up PA passes very well to the TEs themselves, or deep to the WRs as the safety’s start to creep up. I get CJH wants to run his base offense as I’m sure that’s what Nico and the WRs want as well, but if teams are going to keep using this defense against you, it’s time to adapt. 12 personnel time, coach. Florida will not be able to stop our run game and PA pass game out of that formation, period.

If they show up with a good game plan and a willingness to compete and win I don’t care what formation they are In. They had neither of those traits last week.

 

[mpfvol]

Hooker was the best QB in this offense because he ran when it was there. Defenses then have to account for that at all times . Milton did not do that and neither does Nico

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Last week we saw Kitselman and Staes a bit; did Ethan Davis even get in the game?

 

[sonofUT62]

But maybe, just maybe…. And hear me out, if this offense is as limited as it appears to be, it’s probably time to start it.

Hard to argue your point.

 

[pimo1]

Teams have started running the same defense to stop our offense. Every game we’ve loss the past couple years have been to P4 teams running a 3-3-5 type of formation on defense. We have beaten it twice this year already, OU we dominated on D and didn’t have to do a ton on offense. NC State, we had a very nice day on offense because we ran more 12 personnel than our base 11 personnel look. Basically it’s having two TEs in on offense, it allows us to really run the ball well against this type of defensive look and it sets up PA passes very well to the TEs themselves, or deep to the WRs as the safety’s start to creep up. I get CJH wants to run his base offense as I’m sure that’s what Nico and the WRs want as well, but if teams are going to keep using this defense against you, it’s time to adapt. 12 personnel time, coach. Florida will not be able to stop our run game and PA pass game out of that formation, period.

12 personnel has one fatal flaw. It takes one of our best playmakers off the field (Squirrel). It also allows teams to put 7 in the box with less chance of having to pay for it. Wide splits and spreading the field is the strength of this offense. 12 personal is a nice wrinkle for short-yardage situations. Maybe they get froggy and put 8 in the box and have to play our outside receivers man with only one safety over the top. But if they leave 7 in the box we have to run against 8 because that's 2 guys on each outside WR. That's why 12 has to be situational not a base offensive formation for us. In the situations we used it effectively it was used just that way, situationally.

Using NC State as an example is kinda bad because we gift wrapped them turnovers on short field twice and they gave it back on the next play twice. That game was more about our defense causing turnovers and us capitalizing and their offense giving the ball right back to us when we made mistakes. The defense and running game has carried this team all season. Unless we can prove we area threat to pass thats not gonna last much longer. The easy part of our schedule is over. we have 7 games left 2 are sure wins the rest... questionable at this point. Do I think we lose to KY and Vandy or Florida heck no. But both Kentucky and Vandy have shown they can be dangerous. Florida is a win once its a win, We have lost to way worse Florida teams.

I think worst case we go 9-3 at this point but it could get hairy if we don't lock in for this home stretch. The Florida game is the game now must win for any playoff hopes.