ESPN makes strong statement about how NFL teams view Tennessee Vols' offense
The debate about whether or not the Tennessee Vols' offense translates to the NFL is seemingly never ending. Since Heupel's arrival in Knoxville in 2021, NFL draft analysts have debated if players from Tennessee should be evaluated differently because of Heupel's offense. Heupel uses wide splits to spread the defense out and create more space […]
The debate about whether or not the Tennessee Vols' offense translates to the NFL is seemingly never ending.
Since Heupel's arrival in Knoxville in 2021, NFL draft analysts have debated if players from Tennessee should be evaluated differently because of Heupel's offense.
Heupel uses wide splits to spread the defense out and create more space for his playmakers. That leads to lighter boxes and more one-on-one matchups.
Earlier this week, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler noted that NFL teams are "skeptical" of the Vols' offense.
"Teams are skeptical of Tennessee's college-friendly Air Raid system that coaches and scouts say allows quarterbacks to read half the field on on-read plays while stationary, which isn't life in the NFL," wrote Fowler.
That wasn't the only comment from the national media this week about Tennessee's unique style of offense.
Longtime NFL draft analyst Josh Norris suggested that the Vols run a "mickey mouse offense" while discussing former Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright.
The comments from Fowler and Norris are the exact opposite of what New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who previously served as the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator, had to say about Tennessee's offense last summer.
"I mean, I wouldn't say it's really that different," said Daboll when asked about Heupels' offense last July. "I know everybody — I think Josh does a fantastic job there. Runs a lot of good football plays. He executed them well, Jalin (Hyatt) did. Everybody runs a different offense. It's not exactly the same, but Josh has had a pretty dynamic offense ever since he's coached."
I can understand that Heupel's offense might make it more difficult for NFL teams to evaluate prospects from Tennessee. But at the same time, the offense doesn't change a player's skills. Projecting what a player can do in an NFL offense is what matters. Discrediting what a player accomplished in college because the offense put the player in a position to succeed is an approach that could lead to a team missing out on a talented player.
Fortunately for players who played for Heupel, NFL decision-makers, like Daboll for example (he led the charge to trade up for Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt last year), are the ones making the calls, not draft analysts who are doing nothing more than speculating.
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