Josh Heupel's comments about Tennessee Vols' defense should get fans fired up for the future
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel recently sat down with ESPN's Greg McElroy, a former Alabama quarterback, to discuss the state of UT football and the upcoming season. Heupel, unsurprisingly, was asked by McElroy about Tennessee's defense. The Vols' biggest Achilles heel last season was absolutely their defense. It wasn't necessarily defensive coordinator Tim Banks' […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel recently sat down with ESPN's Greg McElroy, a former Alabama quarterback, to discuss the state of UT football and the upcoming season.
Heupel, unsurprisingly, was asked by McElroy about Tennessee's defense.
The Vols' biggest Achilles heel last season was absolutely their defense. It wasn't necessarily defensive coordinator Tim Banks' fault — he didn't have quality depth last year — but it was still an issue that plagued Tennessee all season.
While the Vols' defense operated more efficiently than the defense we saw under Jeremy Pruitt, there were still numerous blown coverages and defensive breakdowns.
McElroy suggested to Heupel that if Tennessee just makes some slight improvements on the defensive side of the ball that it could be a special season for the Vols in 2022.
Heupel pushed back on the idea that an average defense is good enough at Tennessee. Instead, the Vols' second-year head coach said the plan is for Tennessee to have an elite defense under Banks.
"Long-term, playing just slightly better defense or average defense isn't the standard here," said Heupel. "This is the land of great defenses and great defensive players and as we continue to add players to our roster and develop the ones that are here, I know that with Coach Banks and our defensive staff, we're going to play elite defense — there's no question in my mind."
Heupel is known as an offensive guru, but that doesn't mean he's tuned out to what's happening on the other side of the ball.
McElroy is right that just a slight improvement in defense could take Tennessee to the next level in 2022. But a slight improvement isn't good enough for Heupel.
That's what you'd expect to hear from an elite coach. Heupel has confidence that the Vols can play at an extremely high level on the defenisve side of the ball.
Heupel's confidence is contagious. It's almost impossible to not believe what he says. That's why I wouldn't be surprised if Tennessee eventually has an elite defense under Heupel and Banks.
Featured image via Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
