National media outlet points out extremely concerning trend for Tennessee Football in 2023
247Sports pointed out a stat from this season that's extremely concerning for the Tennessee Vols. According to 247Sports, Tennessee is currently dead last in the SEC in explosive passing plays (20 yards plus) with just nine so far this season. (South Carolina, meanwhile, leads the SEC in explosive passing plays of 40 yards or more.) […]
247Sports pointed out a stat from this season that's extremely concerning for the Tennessee Vols.
According to 247Sports, Tennessee is currently dead last in the SEC in explosive passing plays (20 yards plus) with just nine so far this season.
(South Carolina, meanwhile, leads the SEC in explosive passing plays of 40 yards or more.)
This is a far cry from what we saw from the Vols last season.
Tennessee is currently averaging 35 points per game, which is ranked No. 37 in the nation.
That's not ideal. Especially since the Vols are a third of their way through their schedule and they've only played one conference opponent (Florida).
It's only going to get tougher from here for Tennessee's offense to create those explosive passing plays that we saw last season.
The good news for the Vols, however, is that the explosive plays in the run game have been there this season. And the hope moving forward is that those plays in the run game will eventually lead to big plays in the passing game.
But for that to happen, Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton and his wide receivers have to get on the same page. There have been far too many dropped passes, missed connections, and off target passes that have led to drives stalling out.
(Just look at Tennessee's first drive in the third quarter against UTSA for an example of how the offense has looked "off" at times for the Vols this season.)
It's great that the running game is working for Tennessee early this season. But unless they get the passing game going, it won't be enough to carry the Vols to an SEC East division title.
The only way that Tennessee is going to get back into the SEC East race is if the offense starts clicking on all cylinders this week against South Carolina.
Tennessee isn't beating South Carolina by just running the ball. They won't beat Texas A&M, Alabama, or Georgia that way either.
The Vols are almost halfway through the season. It's starting to feel like now or never time for the passing game to find its groove.
Butch Jones drops his most cringeworthy quote yet
Butch always manages to make it weird
