Virginia is already making a mistake in their preparation for Tennessee
One of the toughest things about preparing for the Tennessee Vols' potent up-tempo offense is that teams only get a week to prepare for UT's unique style. Tennessee's first opponent this season, the Virginia Cavaliers, are the one team on UT's schedule in 2023 that can dedicate a couple of weeks to preparing for the […]
One of the toughest things about preparing for the Tennessee Vols' potent up-tempo offense is that teams only get a week to prepare for UT's unique style.
Tennessee's first opponent this season, the Virginia Cavaliers, are the one team on UT's schedule in 2023 that can dedicate a couple of weeks to preparing for the Vols.
Virginia, however, doesn't appear interested in using the extra time to their advantage — which could obviously be a big mistake.
Cavaliers defensive coordinator John Rudzinski was asked by a reporter on Thursday if Virginia is doing anything special to prepare for the challenges that Tennessee's offense presents — specifically when it comes to communication for the defense.
Rudzinski didn't sound too concerned about the Vols' tempo, instead suggesting that Virginia will be ready for Tennessee thanks to going up against the Cavaliers' offense (which was No. 126 in scoring last season while Tennessee was No. 1 in scoring) each day in practice.
"Tempo is something that the way Coach (Tony) Elliott has practices designed, we go super fast and so tempo was something that we've got to do a great job as a defense throughout the year of controlling," said Rudzinski. "Be it, you know, an opponent or in the two minute situations. That's something that we work throughout the year. And I tell you what, our offense stresses us with that, as we practice fast."
I'm not sure that's a wise approach from Virginia.
A year ago, nearly every SEC team that Tennessee played admitted that facing the Vols presents a unique challenge that requires special preparation. Even Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart said last season that preparing for the Vols' offense is difficult. LSU's Brian Kelly, Alabama's Nick Saban, and Kentucky's Mark Stoops made similar comments last season.
I'm not sure what Virginia is expecting in Nashville on September 2 when they kick the season off against Tennessee, but if they think practicing against their own base offense is going to have the Cavaliers prepared to face the best offense in the nation, then the season-opener might have an even more lopsided outcome then folks are expecting (UT is a 28 point favorite).
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