Nick Saban explains why everyone hates facing Tennessee's offense
The Tennessee Vols' offense under Josh Heupel has been understandably frustrating for the defenses of opposing teams to figure out. High paced and spread out from sideline to sideline, it often leaves defenders confused and scrambling to catch up. Nick Saban explained in his Monday press conference just what challenges Heupel's offensive system presents from […]
The Tennessee Vols' offense under Josh Heupel has been understandably frustrating for the defenses of opposing teams to figure out. High paced and spread out from sideline to sideline, it often leaves defenders confused and scrambling to catch up.
Nick Saban explained in his Monday press conference just what challenges Heupel's offensive system presents from a defensive standpoint.
"Well, you know, they certainly make you defend 53 yards wide of the field," Saban said. "And there's two challenges. It affects run support in the box, because the guys that are covering the receivers are so far away from the box. And it also, they run a lot of vertical routes from out there. So the people that are covering them get pretty isolated, because they're far away from whether it's blitz safety or middle of the field safety. So it is very challenging. And, you know, the thing that I think is going to be really important is not to give up big explosive plays, which was a real issue for us a year ago."
Saban also briefly acknowledged as part of his opening remarks the challenge that Tennessee's pace and offensive balance provides.
"And so they have a really, really good team, very explosive. Josh Heupel has done an outstanding job there. They play with great tempo on offense, which is challenging for the defense, but their ability to run the ball and create balance has been pretty phenomenal this year. I mean, they run it for like, 230, pass it for, like, 210, whatever. And that kind of balance is always something that is difficult."
Saban previously made comments in March about the need for reduced pace in college football. He alluded to player safety, but it doesn't take much more than putting two and two together to figure out the true reason.
The Vols' offense tore Saban's defense to shreds last year, rolling up 567 total yards. Jalin Hyatt ate up Alabama's secondary, catching 6 passes for 207 yards and five touchdowns while becoming the first player to ever record 100+ receiving yards and 3+ receiving touchdowns against Alabama under Saban. The 52 points were the most allowed by Alabama since 1907.
It was a historic offensive day, to be sure.
Tennessee will undoubtedly run the ball more than they did a year ago, but Heupel's offense will largely be the same. The question simply is: can Joe Milton and the Tennessee wide receivers snap out of their season-long funk and connect on some deep shots that can change the course of the game?
If they can, then happy Tennessee fans could be smoking cigars two years in a row.
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