UT’s offense, in the eyes of those who run it and try to defend it: ‘It’s hell to stop’

[kamoshika]

This offense, coming off a decent night in a 44-6 evisceration of then-No. 19 Kentucky, leads the nation in scoring (49.4 ppg), total offense (553.0 ypg), passing efficiency rating (198.51), receivers schemed completely wide open, touchdown drives completed in the time it takes to put a beer in a koozie and opposing coaches reduced to wild-eyed tantrums.

It has been thoroughly shut down once in Heupel’s two seasons, by the 2021 national championship Georgia team that had eight defenders drafted, a record five in the first round. It has advanced well beyond that form a year later, but Saturday represents the best chance of someone to get a handle on it this season...It is both simple and complex, and somewhat misunderstood.

Here, through interviews with Tennessee coaches and several coaches who make their living defending, is what we can declare about it.
'It's hell to stop': Tennessee's offense, in the eyes of those who run it and try to defend it

 

[DD4ME]

This offense, coming off a decent night in a 44-6 evisceration of then-No. 19 Kentucky, leads the nation in scoring (49.4 ppg), total offense (553.0 ypg), passing efficiency rating (198.51), receivers schemed completely wide open, touchdown drives completed in the time it takes to put a beer in a koozie and opposing coaches reduced to wild-eyed tantrums.

It has been thoroughly shut down once in Heupel’s two seasons, by the 2021 national championship Georgia team that had eight defenders drafted, a record five in the first round. It has advanced well beyond that form a year later, but Saturday represents the best chance of someone to get a handle on it this season...It is both simple and complex, and somewhat misunderstood.

Here, through interviews with Tennessee coaches and several coaches who make their living defending, is what we can declare about it.
'It's hell to stop': Tennessee's offense, in the eyes of those who run it and try to defend it

Excellent article.

 

[Shocker0]

I wouldn't say it was "thoroughly" shut down last year against Georgia. I believe we had just under 400 yards of offense but continuously shot ourselves in the foot inside or near the redzone. I feel like this year we are much better and Georgia isn't as good as they were last year too. I would love to shut the Bulldog fans up. I've never seen such arrogance from a fanbase as I have from them this year.

 

[MAD]

 

[casual-observer]

Tennessee was ranked #7 in scoring offense last year and lost 41-17.

 

[Gandalf]

This offense, coming off a decent night in a 44-6 evisceration of then-No. 19 Kentucky, leads the nation in scoring (49.4 ppg), total offense (553.0 ypg), passing efficiency rating (198.51), receivers schemed completely wide open, touchdown drives completed in the time it takes to put a beer in a koozie and opposing coaches reduced to wild-eyed tantrums.

It has been thoroughly shut down once in Heupel’s two seasons, by the 2021 national championship Georgia team that had eight defenders drafted, a record five in the first round. It has advanced well beyond that form a year later, but Saturday represents the best chance of someone to get a handle on it this season...It is both simple and complex, and somewhat misunderstood.

Here, through interviews with Tennessee coaches and several coaches who make their living defending, is what we can declare about it.
'It's hell to stop': Tennessee's offense, in the eyes of those who run it and try to defend it

Man that is a fantastic write up. Very interesting.

One thing stuck out is that with Huepel's offense giving each skill position a real chance to shine, we are likely to get the best recruits.

 

[Manning Up]

Tennessee was ranked #7 in scoring offense last year and lost 41-17.

Buzzkill.

 

[Remy]

Tennessee was ranked #7 in scoring offense last year and lost 41-17.

UGA had five 1st round draft choices on defense last year as well. They have no where near that this year.

 

[wombat7477]

"It needs its own name — how about Happy Fun Offense? (Do not taunt Happy Fun Offense.)"

 

[Vfl2407]

"It needs its own name — how about Happy Fun Offense? (Do not taunt Happy Fun Offense.)"

Didn’t we already run the HAPPY MEAL system under Pruitt?

 

[Enki_Amenra]

.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

Tremendous quote: "This offense, coming off a decent night in a 44-6 evisceration of then-No. 19 Kentucky, leads the nation in scoring (49.4 ppg), total offense (553.0 ypg), passing efficiency rating (198.51), receivers schemed completely wide open, touchdown drives completed in the time it takes to put a beer in a koozie and opposing coaches reduced to wild-eyed tantrums."

 

[BanditVol]

"It needs its own name — how about Happy Fun Offense? (Do not taunt Happy Fun Offense.)"

Clockwork Orange

It runs like a clock...

 

[DynaLo]

Tremendous quote: "This offense, coming off a decent night in a 44-6 evisceration of then-No. 19 Kentucky, leads the nation in scoring (49.4 ppg), total offense (553.0 ypg), passing efficiency rating (198.51), receivers schemed completely wide open, touchdown drives completed in the time it takes to put a beer in a koozie and opposing coaches reduced to wild-eyed tantrums."

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

I wouldn't say it was "thoroughly" shut down last year against Georgia. I believe we had just under 400 yards of offense but continuously shot ourselves in the foot inside or near the redzone. I feel like this year we are much better and Georgia isn't as good as they were last year too. I would love to shut the Bulldog fans up. I've never seen such arrogance from a fanbase as I have from them this year.

We had 10 points on the first 3 drives last year and then pretty much got stopped until garbage time. Fortunately most of that defense of theirs is gone. Whole new ballgame this year.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

I think we score in the 30's at least. Probably need to score in the 40's to win.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

UGA had five 1st round draft choices on defense last year as well. They have no where near that this year.

His point is the list is wrong, they also left off Oregon from this year. Oregon is 5th in scoring offense currently despite scoring 3 points against them.

 

[Teezy]

This offense, coming off a decent night in a 44-6 evisceration of then-No. 19 Kentucky, leads the nation in scoring (49.4 ppg), total offense (553.0 ypg), passing efficiency rating (198.51), receivers schemed completely wide open, touchdown drives completed in the time it takes to put a beer in a koozie and opposing coaches reduced to wild-eyed tantrums.

It has been thoroughly shut down once in Heupel’s two seasons, by the 2021 national championship Georgia team that had eight defenders drafted, a record five in the first round. It has advanced well beyond that form a year later, but Saturday represents the best chance of someone to get a handle on it this season...It is both simple and complex, and somewhat misunderstood.

Here, through interviews with Tennessee coaches and several coaches who make their living defending, is what we can declare about it.
'It's hell to stop': Tennessee's offense, in the eyes of those who run it and try to defend it

That’s incredible. Nick Saban called it as well. That’s probably the most telling part of it all. Makes it really awesome that we’re currently on a tear while reading this.

 

[peachtreecornersVOL81]

Love this quote from Heupel from the article: “What we do with Hendon is different than what we did with Dillon (Gabriel at UCF) and different than what we did with (McKenzie Milton at UCF) and different than what we did with Drew (Lock at Missouri),” Heupel said. “Your job as a coach is not to look at what they can’t do. It’s to find out what they can do and then put them in position to do that at a really high level.”

 

[0nelilreb]

This offense, coming off a decent night in a 44-6 evisceration of then-No. 19 Kentucky, leads the nation in scoring (49.4 ppg), total offense (553.0 ypg), passing efficiency rating (198.51), receivers schemed completely wide open, touchdown drives completed in the time it takes to put a beer in a koozie and opposing coaches reduced to wild-eyed tantrums.

It has been thoroughly shut down once in Heupel’s two seasons, by the 2021 national championship Georgia team that had eight defenders drafted, a record five in the first round. It has advanced well beyond that form a year later, but Saturday represents the best chance of someone to get a handle on it this season...It is both simple and complex, and somewhat misunderstood.

Here, through interviews with Tennessee coaches and several coaches who make their living defending, is what we can declare about it.
'It's hell to stop': Tennessee's offense, in the eyes of those who run it and try to defend it

Fantastic article , thank you .

 

[VFL-82-JP]

This offense, coming off a decent night in a 44-6 evisceration of then-No. 19 Kentucky, leads the nation in scoring (49.4 ppg), total offense (553.0 ypg), passing efficiency rating (198.51), receivers schemed completely wide open, touchdown drives completed in the time it takes to put a beer in a koozie and opposing coaches reduced to wild-eyed tantrums.

It has been thoroughly shut down once in Heupel’s two seasons, by the 2021 national championship Georgia team that had eight defenders drafted, a record five in the first round. It has advanced well beyond that form a year later, but Saturday represents the best chance of someone to get a handle on it this season...It is both simple and complex, and somewhat misunderstood.

Here, through interviews with Tennessee coaches and several coaches who make their living defending, is what we can declare about it.
'It's hell to stop': Tennessee's offense, in the eyes of those who run it and try to defend it

Wow, that.

THAT was the best description of Josh Heupel's offense, and where he got the inspiration for many of its bits and pieces, that I've ever read.

That should be mandatory reading for every Vol fan who cares to understand why this offense works.

I mean, I just bookmarked it, and am going to link it every single time someone asks the question, or makes some snide comment about how "it's really simple, just snap too fast for the other team to be ready."

That article explains, really well, how it's not just Air Raid, and it's not just Veer & Shoot, it's something unique that Heupel and Golesh have melded out of parts of both those and other things as well.

I was floored by that article. Simply perfect.

And just that quickly, Joe Rexrode of The Athletic is suddenly my #1 favorite sports writer.

Go Vols!

 

[Jake]

it’s really interesting to point to the wishbone as the driving influence behind its simplicity, yet so confusing behind the multitude of other influences that drive its complexity.

what’s most interesting about it to me is that when you trace it back down the family tree…no one has ever been able to completely stop it and the coaches that have their finger prints on it are still successful. better yet, as it evolves at Tennessee, coach heupel can recruit to fine tune it….and it becomes a magnet to advanced skill players to ensure the future of Tennessee football.

this sets up much like it did for saban when his dynasty started at alabama. heupel is going to go through a lot of coordinators (especially offensive), but his mind is the central command and will be plug and play as he hires the right coaches to constantly evolve.

 

[newyorkvol]

I love this quote. Really does capture what the offense is doing right now. Each skill position player must be accounted for. So, defense needs to get pressure with 4 lineman to get the extra man back. Bring 5 and all the skill position players are 1 on 1. Then it’s just a matter of exploiting the mismatch.

“One of the most driving influences was the wishbone,” Leach said. “Because the wishbone and the Air Raid try to achieve the same things. Both offenses try to distribute the ball to all the skill positions. They personify every skill position touching the ball.”

 

[CAVPUT]

Tennessee was ranked #7 in scoring offense last year and lost 41-17.

True. Still, one would think we now have more of our offense in place and Hooker and co are much more comfortable with running it. I'd also say I believe we have more talent and maturity this time around. I'm also certain that Heupel and the staff will be watching that one again and seeing what UGA did so effectively so they might be able to exploit them more this time around. I still think this one will be very tough due to the overall talent and home field advantage tho. I suspect we'll put up a better fight this time....or at least I hope we do. Maybe if a "stinker" is coming, it will be UGA that does it? Man, wouldn't it be sweet for all UT fans living in GA to be the team that knocks UGA out of the playoffs. I think that would be an early xmas gift for me and hell, I'd be thrilled with that one gift alone. So if Santa reads this board....please?

 

[Clutchman001]

BanditVol
I love "clockwork orange", but how about The Clockwork Orange!