Why Josh Heupel needs to be very careful about who he plays in the second half of Tennessee’s game against New Mexico State
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel needs to be careful about which players he plays in the second half of the Vols’ game against New Mexico State.
The Tennessee Vols will return to action this weekend following their second bye week of the season.
Tennessee is set to take on New Mexico State on Saturday at 4:15 PM ET in Knoxville.
The Vols also have games remaining this season on the road against the Florida Gators and at home against the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Why Josh Heupel needs to be very careful about who he plays in the second half of Tennessee’s game against New Mexico State
Tennessee shouldn’t have any issues against New Mexico State (if they do, then things will get real uncomfortable on Rocky Top this winter).
If the Vols show up and play their brand of football against the Aggies, then this game should be over by the end of the first half.
And if that’s the case, then Vols head coach Josh Heupel needs to be very, very careful about which players he plays in the second half.
Because the last thing Tennessee needs is for a player to get called for targeting in the second half against New Mexico State, which would lead to a suspension for the first half of the Florida game the following weekend.
“I think the biggest thing (for Tennessee against New Mexico State) is playing mistake free football,” said VolQuest’s Austin Price on Tuesday during an appearance on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will. “Don’t turn the football over — turn the other team over. Don’t have procedural penalties. Don’t have silly penalties. Don’t get some kind of targeting call in the second half where somebody is going to have to miss the first half against Florida.“
There’s no need for the Vols to risk it in the second half against New Mexico State with any defensive players that Tennessee believes they’ll need in the first half against Florida.
As long as the scoreboard allows, Heupel would be wise to sit every single defensive starter — and many second-team players, too — in the second half against New Mexico State.
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