The 3 very specific things that Josh Heupel wants to see the Vols do better in 2022
The improvements the Tennessee Vols made last season under Josh Heupel were almost beyond belief. Tennessee went from having the No. 109 scoring offense in the nation in 2020 to having the No. 7 scoring offense in the nation in 2021. The defense showed some slight improvement, too. The Vols' defense allowed one point less […]
The improvements the Tennessee Vols made last season under Josh Heupel were almost beyond belief.
Tennessee went from having the No. 109 scoring offense in the nation in 2020 to having the No. 7 scoring offense in the nation in 2021.
The defense showed some slight improvement, too. The Vols' defense allowed one point less per game in 2021 than they did in 2020. That may not seem like a big deal, but Tennessee's defense last season had to defend significantly more possessions than any Vols defense in recent memory.
And they did all of that with a severe lack of depth, due to the loss of numerous players to the transfer portal and self-imposed scholarship reductions.
Despite those improvements, Vols head coach Josh Heupel knows his team needs to make some major improvements in 2022.
Heupel pointed out three specific areas during his appearances at SEC Media Days earlier this week where Tennessee has to get better.
1. Get better in third and long situations
This was probably the most frustrating thing for Tennessee fans last season. The Vols did a good job of creating tackles for loss and setting up some favorable situations. But teams were able to find success in third and long situations against Tennessee last season. That was a major factor in losses to Ole Miss and Pittsburgh.
The clip below is a second and eight situation, but this breakdown on defense is an example of what the Vols have to avoid — especially on third down.
"You look at our tackles for loss, getting people into third-and-long," said Heupel. "We got to be better in third-and-long situations, which you're playing where you want to defensively when you're in that position."
Getting off the field in third and long situations will likely be the Vols' biggest key to success in 2022.
2. Closing games in the second half
One of the most puzzling things about the Vols last season was how the offense would get off to a quick start and then just fizzle. It wasn't like Heupel was trying to bleed the clock and sit on leads — the offense kept the pressure applied. The execution just wasn't there.
Heupel acknowledged at SEC Media Days that it's an area where Tennessee has to improve.
"One of the things we've been stressing is the ability to finish," explained Heupel. "That comes from a lot of different things. It comes from how you live your daily life, your ability to finish a rep inside your strength and conditioning programming, it comes in how you finish a semester academically. I'm really proud of what we're doing."
“A year ago we had four or five games that we had an opportunity to win in the fourth quarter, we didn't end up on the right side of that. Finishing the right way I think is something we've taken a great stride in during our off-season. It's been purposeful in who we are every single day."
I don't know what the Vols are going to do to get better in that area, but it should be encouraging to fans that Heupel is aware of the issue and making plans for improvements.
3. Getting better in red zone defense
The last area that Heupel specifically spoke about was Tennessee's red zone defense.
The Vols were No. 121 in the nation last season in red zone defense. That's obviously not ideal.
"We got to get better in the red zone, too," said Heupel. "Forcing field goals and creating negatives there — not giving up seven points."
“Part of that is being able to affect the quarterback. Not just with pressures, but with a four-man rush. We got to have some competition on the defensive line. I think we've certainly gained in the depth that we have inside of our program."
If the Vols can just show a marginal improvement in red zone defense, it could mean another win or two for this team in 2022.
Featured image via Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
