Josh Heupel repeats his challenge to Vols QB Joe Milton
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel hasn't been shy about letting redshirt senior quarterback Joe Milton know that his running ability — carrying the ball and throwing while on the move — needs to continue to improve this season. After Tennessee's loss to Florida earlier this month, Heupel told reporters that a quarterback's ability to […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel hasn't been shy about letting redshirt senior quarterback Joe Milton know that his running ability — carrying the ball and throwing while on the move — needs to continue to improve this season.
After Tennessee's loss to Florida earlier this month, Heupel told reporters that a quarterback's ability to make plays while on the move is an important part of UT's offense.
"Extending plays is a big part of any offense in today's game," said Heupel. "Because of what you're facing up front, the pressure packages that you're inevitably going to see. The ability to move and make plays with your feet is a part of the game. That can be tucking it [and] running it, it can also be extending it and making plays outside of the pocket where you're throwing the football down the field."
Milton responded by scoring on a 81-yard quarterback keeper on the first play of the Vols' win against UTSA last Saturday.
While the touchdown run from Milton was impressive, it's not the only type of quarterback run play that Heupel was referring to after the Florida game.
Heupel's comments also point toward Milton being able to make plays with his legs when improvising, something the Tennessee quarterback hasn't done much so far this season.
“It needs to be a huge part for us offensively and for Joe," said Heupel on Vol Calls this week while discussing Milton's running abilities. "In today’s game, pressure packages, third down, and it can be in designed run game, the quarterback has to extend and make plays. At times, it’s extending and getting outside of the pocket and they’re not matching you out on the perimeter [and] creating a big play with your eyes downfield. But at some point, they’re going to match it out and it’s time for you to get up and out and go make a play with your feet. As we continue in this season, we need Joe — we need that quarterback position — to make some of those plays.”
Scoring on a designed run is great. It's the moments when a play breaks down and everything goes off script, however, that Heupel seems to really be talking about. That's an area where Hendon Hooker bailed the Vols out numerous times last season.
For Tennessee to be at their best this season, Milton will need to continue to improve his pocket awareness, which means knowing when to climb the pocket, tucking it and running, or escaping pressure before making a throw while on the move.
That's obviously easier said than done. But it's clear from Heupel's words that it has to be a big part of Tennessee's offense if the Vols are going to get back on track in the SEC East after an early-season conference loss.
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