Tennessee Vols: The one reason Josh Heupel's offense can be effective longterm in the SEC
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel has completely turned UT's offense around over the last nine months. A year ago, the Vols averaged 21.5 points per game, which was No. 108 in the nation. Two years ago, with a more traditional schedule (UT played 10 SEC opponents in 2020), the Volunteers' offense averaged 24.2 points […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel has completely turned UT's offense around over the last nine months.
A year ago, the Vols averaged 21.5 points per game, which was No. 108 in the nation.
Two years ago, with a more traditional schedule (UT played 10 SEC opponents in 2020), the Volunteers' offense averaged 24.2 points per game (No. 98 in the nation).
Through nine games this season, Tennessee is averaging 38.2 points per game (No. 15 in the nation).
That's quite a turnaround in year one of the Heupel era.
Heupel runs an extremely up-tempo offense that's predicated on catching the defense off guard. I've heard some folks refer to it as "gimmicky" and question whether or not it can be successful long-term in the SEC.
It seems that some folks think opposing defenses will catch on to what Tennessee is doing and figure out a way to stop it.
I don't think that's going to be the case.
Heupel's offense can be successful long-term in the SEC for one specific reason — opposing defenses can't prepare for it. They can't simulate Tennessee's offense in practice.
Heupel has a unique game plan each week that's based on the defense the Vols are facing. Tennessee's offense essentially changes weekly.
"We change every week based on what you see from the other side of the ball," said Heupel on Monday.
The changing of the offense weekly combined with Tennessee's tempo makes it impossible for opposing teams to simulate UT's offense in practice. And that's something multiple opposing coaches have pointed out this season.
Earlier this year, Alabama head coach Nick Saban pointed out the difficulties of preparing for Tennessee.
Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White echoed those sentiments last week.
"You can't practice it, you can try to simulate as much as you [can], that tempo, but it's hard to simulate and replicate," said White last week.
On Monday, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart made similar comments.
"It's so fast you can't really simulate it in your practices, so you have to try and find a creative way to practice for it," explained Smart. "It's so different than the triple option, I'm not trying to compare it to that, but it's so different that it's hard to prepare for. You can't simulate it with your team unless you do it. We don't do that as well as they do it, so it makes it tough to prepare for."
Tennessee's offense isn't going to get any easier to prepare for. Heupel is going to continue to find ways to exploit the weaknesses of opposing defenses.
The Vols' mindset is to attack the defense. When the defense makes an adjustment, Heupel will find another weakness and change the way Tennessee is attacking.
As long as the Vols continue to have that mindset, their offense will continue to be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Featured image via Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
