Former Alabama QB says there's reason for concern after Tennessee's low offensive output against Austin Peay
Former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy thinks there's reason to be concerned about the Tennessee Vols after they failed to hit on all cylinders in their 30-13 win against Austin Peay last weekend. McElroy was asked during a segment on "Always College Football" if it's "truth" or "low hanging fruit" that there should be […]
Former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy thinks there's reason to be concerned about the Tennessee Vols after they failed to hit on all cylinders in their 30-13 win against Austin Peay last weekend.
McElroy was asked during a segment on "Always College Football" if it's "truth" or "low hanging fruit" that there should be concern about Tennessee after the Vols' slow offensive start against Austin Peay.
"Truth," replied McElroy. "When we think about what Tennessee has been the last couple of years, so much of their offensive success comes on the downfield passing attack. They're going to stretch it vertical, they're going to take their shots, they're going to be aggressive. They're going to have unbelievable speed at wide receiver that's going to get behind the defense and that's going to soften you up with the safeties. Now you're going to be able to run the football, then they're going to spread you out wide, and then if you try to take away the run, they're gonna pitch it out wide. Then when you pitch it out wide on the short stuff, they're gonna throw it over your head. So a lot of this offense is going to be predicated on whether or not they can beat you over the top and hit big plays."
"And so far, Joe Milton has not really looked super accurate on the downfield stuff," continued McElroy. "He was 2-of-11 on passes that were thrown more than 10 yards downfield. One was the touchdown pass to Ramel Keyton and the other was a 20-yard in-breaker to Bru McCoy, who had to make a sliding catch on the throw because it was a little low. So a lot of what they did this past week were throws at the line of scrimmage."
"Now Joe Milton, the numbers weren't weren't terrible at all because he was 12-of-13 on passes thrown behind the line of scrimmage. So if they're going to become the offense that they were a year ago, if they're going to become the offense I think they can ultimately become, he's got to be better on the downfield passes. He's got to be better on the deep intermediate [throws]. And he's got to stretch the field and not have the long foul balls that we've seen in the first couple of weeks of the season."
I wouldn't say that McElroy is throwing shade at Tennessee by any means — his analysis is almost always objective. But I do think it's a bit early to throw out the word "concerned". Tennessee hasn't played a game yet against a conference opponent. They haven't even played a game yet against a team that will play in a bowl game (at least it's unlikely that Virginia will play in a bowl game), so there really isn't a fair way to judge this Vols team just yet.
(McElroy declined to mention that Tennessee's wide receivers didn't do Milton many favors against Austin Peay.)
If things go terribly south in the Swamp on Saturday night against Florida, then maybe it's time for concern. But until that game is played, it's far too early to suggest that there should be concern for Tennessee's offense.
Josh Heupel and Billy Napier are approaching the Tennessee vs Florida game in very different ways
Josh Heupel and Billy Napier are approaching the Tennessee Vols vs Florida Gators game in very different ways
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
