The Tennessee Vols aren't expected to make any coaching staff changes on the offensive side of the ball following a season in which the program reached the 12-team College Football Playoff. 

Tennessee won 10 games during the 2024 regular season, but they failed to advance past the first round of the playoff after running into a juggernaut in Ohio State. 

The Vols enjoyed a successful 2024 season despite an up-and-down year offensively. 

Tennessee's offense struggled at times during SEC play, scoring more than 30 points only twice against conference opponents (a win against Vanderbilt and a win against Mississippi State). 

There were plenty of reasons for the Vols' offensive struggles. There were plays to be made at times, but missed blocks, missed throws, or drops by receivers prevented some of those plays from being made. 

Tennessee's offense was also somewhat predictable at times. Opponents have seen Josh Heupel's offense in the SEC for four straight years now and as a result, they have a better idea of how to defend it. 

There's no reason, however, for Vols fans to lose confidence in Heupel's ability to put an explosive offense on the field. If you coach at a program long enough, your approach will have to evolve. That's true for everyone. And it's something that Heupel and his staff will have to do this offseason. 

One way they can do that is to bring in some fresh voices. Even if the Vols don't make any position coach changes on offense, they can still bring in some fresh voices. 

And one interesting option became available on Monday. 

The Seattle Seahawks reportedly fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb on Monday. 

Seahawks fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb after one season, per sources. pic.twitter.com/0sOSrbRjUy

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2025

Grubb, who spent one season in Seattle, was Kalen DeBoer's offensive coordinator at Fresno State and Washington for a combined four seasons. Grubb initially followed DeBoer to Alabama last offseason, but he left after a couple of weeks to take the offensive coordinator job with the Seahawks. 

Heupel and the Vols, if the fit makes sense (which is obviously up to Heupel), should try to hire Grubb as an analyst. Grubb could bring a fresh perspective to Tennessee's play-calling and offensive approach while taking a year to ponder his next move. It seems that Grubb wants to be in the NFL longterm, but a year off from an official on-field role could be a smarter move than just quickly jumping at another opportunity (especially since several college vacancies have already been filled). Even if he serves in an analyst role for the Vols, he could experience a Joe Brady-like bidding war next offseason if he can help Tennessee's offense reach new levels. 

Now, I'm not saying that Grubb is some magic elixir that's going to totally transform Tennessee offensively. Who knows what kind of impact he would or wouldn't have. But it seems obvious that the Vols could use a fresh voice, if nothing else just to introduce a different way of thinking that could lead to some new ideas. Tennessee's offense under Heupel has always been a collaborative effort. I just think they could use a voice from outside of the Heupel coaching tree to help shift the conversation around the offense in some new directions (remember, former Vols offensive coordinator Alex Golesh wasn't from the Heupel tree of coaching when he was hired at UCF ahead of the 2020 season). 

Bringing Grubb in, if the former Seahawks offensive coordinator is open to it, is a move that Heupel should at least consider this offseason. 

By the way, Heupel hired current Vols linebackers coach William Inge away from Alabama and DeBoer last offseason. Inge worked alongside Grubb for four seasons at Fresno State and Washington. Additionally, Grubb played college football at South Dakota State and spent nine seasons as an assistant coach in the state of South Dakota, which happens to be Heupel's home state…so there are certainly some interesting connections between Grubb and the Vols. 

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