Kentucky football writer goes viral for bad take on Tennessee Vols' offense
A Kentucky Wildcats football writer is hearing it from Tennessee Vols fans this week.
KSR's Nick Roush wrote an article this week about Kentucky offensive lineman Gerald Mincey's transition from the Vols' offense to the Wildcats' offense this offseason.
Mincey, who started his career at Florida before transferring to Tennessee ahead of the 2022 season, transferred to Kentucky earlier this offseason.
After transferring, Mincey pointed out that he's had some trouble adjusting to the Wildcats' offense.
“Since I transferred here, I haven’t ever really worked on open-end, inside zone, outside zone, cutting off, or even duo, little plays like that," said Mincey in April. "What’s giving me trouble right now is play-action pass. It’s just all different, all new to me.”
Roush suggested that Tennessee's offense under Heupel is gimmicky while pointing out what he believes are three reasons why the Vols' offense works well:
- NASCAR Speed — Run so many plays and snap the ball so quickly, it fatigues the opponent.
- Wide Splits — Wide Receivers line up near the sideline, forcing defenders to play on islands.
- Playmaking QBs — When receivers do not win on the outside in open space, there’s plenty of room for a mobile QB to carry the ball 7-8 yards and move the chains.
"It works, but it’s created some skepticism among NFL scouts," wrote Roush. "How much of a player’s success is based on skills used at the next level, or is he reliant on the system to create explosives? As a hater of everything that is Tennessee orange, I am happily riding the Heupel Gimmick Offense Train."
There are several glaring issues with Roush's attempt to throw shade at Tennessee's offense.
For starters, former Vols offensive lineman Darnell Wright wasn't even on the NFL draft radar before Heupel's arrival in Knoxville. In fact, Wright even contemplated quitting football before Heupel was hired to replace Jeremy Pruitt as Tennessee's head coach.
Wright, however, didn't quit. Instead, he played under Heupel for two seasons before getting selected by the Chicago Bears with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Wright started all 17 games as a rookie right tackle for the Bears last season.
It doesn't seem like Tennessee's offense held Wright back.
That's not the only reason, by the way, that Roush's take is flawed.
Many of the things he points out about Tennessee's offense -- like tempo and quarterback runs -- are going to be true of Kentucky's offense under new offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan.
"I think it's critical. I really do," said Hamdan during his introductory press conference of a quarterback's ability to run. "I really believe that the quarterback's got to at least get you two first downs a game with his legs and I think it can be a huge, huge advantage, especially in the college game."
Hamdan also noted that Kentucky will go no-huddle about 60 percent of the time. And while the Wildcats won't go with an up-tempo approach all the time, the program plans to play much faster under Hamdan than they have the last several years.
"I would say we generally are a no-huddle operation about 60 percent of the time," Hamdan said. "We still have the ability to huddle, but it does not necessarily mean we just go fast all the time...Our base is to be a no-huddle operation."
“I think we were probably in the top 40 last year in pace of play (at Boise State),” added Hamdan. “The reason variation of tempo is so important is because different games are gonna call for different styles...The ability to get up there, play fast, (and) play smart is critical.
I'll never fully understand the narratives about Tennessee's offense being a "gimmick".
Versions of this offense have been around for well over a decade. And it's still incredibly hard to stop.
A gimmick -- which is defined as a trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business -- doesn't thrive for over a decade in college football.
Tennessee is 3-0 against Kentucky during the Heupel era. If I'm a Kentucky fan, I'd be asking Roush why the Wildcats can't stop this supposed "gimmick offense" instead of throwing shade at it.
