Florida at Tennessee: Heupel must get creative in the run game
Josh Heupel is now in his fourth year as Tennessee’s head coach, and the book on how to slow down his offense is out. Oklahoma and Arkansas played almost exclusively 3 man fronts against the Vols to slow down the passing attack. Many teams have tried this approach before with varying results. This has always been Georgia’s approach but they’ve had the athletes to stop the run when they pull more players away from the box. NC State earlier this year (and several teams since 2021) have tried this but didn’t have the athletes necessary and got ran all over by the Vols. That type of look makes it extremely hard to move the ball if you aren’t able to gain yards on the ground, and I do not doubt that Florida will try to do the same thing.
One thing making it hard for Tennessee’s offense to move the ball right now is the offensive line not being able to get a strong enough push against lite boxes. Another thing is Heupel’s refusal to let Nico loose on some designed QB runs. I understand if Nico goes down with an injury Tennessee’s season is destined for an 8-4 or 7-5 finish. However, the season is just as doomed if Heupel keeps on protecting Nico to a fault. Back in 2022 one of the things that kept the opponent’s defense on edge was the threat of Hendon Hooker running the ball. Right now defenses only have to worry about Dylan Sampson or Desean Bishop. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Nico either. Run a jet sweep with a WR. Run a wildcat with Sampson and Bishop. Hell run a fumble rooskie for all I care. I just want to see a few creative plays in the run game so Tennessee’s opponents have to come closer to the line of scrimmage. This would open up the passing game and we might even start to see the Tennessee offense we all know and love for the first time in a long time.
I know Josh Heupel isn’t stupid and I know he’s forgotten more football than I will ever know. This gives me hope that he’s working on a fix coming off the debacle against Arkansas, and a get-right game for the offense that results in a decisive win against the Gators would thrill me to no end.