Why the Tennessee Vols aren't forcing QB Hendon Hooker to slide more
Tennessee Vols quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle met with reporters on Tuesday and he discussed starting quarterback Hendon Hooker at length. Specifically, Halzle pointed out a couple of traits that make Hooker one of the best players in the nation. There are some intangibles that Hooker possesses that Halzle believes make Tennessee's quarterback a special player. […]
Tennessee Vols quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle met with reporters on Tuesday and he discussed starting quarterback Hendon Hooker at length.
Specifically, Halzle pointed out a couple of traits that make Hooker one of the best players in the nation.
There are some intangibles that Hooker possesses that Halzle believes make Tennessee's quarterback a special player.
For one, there's the fact that Hooker is the same player whether he's at home in Neyland or on the road in a hostile environment. Hooker never gets overwhelmed, which brings a calmness to the offense.
"Some people do get big-eyed and the moment gets a little too big when you get in a crazy environment, [but] that is not how he is wired at all," said Halzle. "That's why you're seeing the same guy at home, crazy environment on the road, doesn't matter he's the same dude day in and day out."
The other trait that makes Hooker great is his competitiveness.
Halzle didn't hold back when talking about Hooker as a competitor.
"One of the best things about Hendon is he's the fiercest competitor I've ever been around," explained Halzle.
Hooker is such a fierce competitor that it's hard to get him to slide (and protect himself) because he wants to get every yard possible.
Tennessee's coaches would prefer that he slide, but they also don't want to change who he is as a player.
"You can't take that away from a guy," said Halzle. "He is intelligent about the way he carries himself — maybe there's some times where he could've protected himself. But there's also plays that he makes where he if he's trying to just worry about protecting himself, he doesn't make those plays."
We see coaches all the time take away a quarterback's best weapon — their ability to improvise — because they're worried about injuries.
Tennessee is being careful to not take away one of Hooker's biggest weapons while also urging him to be smart.
So far it's been the right approach — Hooker has made some massive plays with his legs. But it's a gamble, too. We saw Hooker get banged up a bit against Florida. That's one of the risks of allowing Hooker to "be himself".
Ultimately, I think the Vols are doing the right thing by not changing Hooker's game. But every time he takes off, I'm sure everyone in orange (fans and coaches) is holding their breath and hoping that Hooker avoids injury.
Featured image via Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
