Vanderbilt HC Clark Lea explains the difference he saw in Tennessee Vols' offensive approach compared to previous seasons
Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea said after his team's 36-23 loss to Tennessee on Saturday that he thought the Vols' offense was a little different this season compared to previous years. Specifically, Lea felt like Tennessee's offense was more "methodical". When teams prepare for Tennessee's offense, the Vols' up-tempo approach is usually the focus. Tempo […]
Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea said after his team's 36-23 loss to Tennessee on Saturday that he thought the Vols' offense was a little different this season compared to previous years.
Specifically, Lea felt like Tennessee's offense was more "methodical".
When teams prepare for Tennessee's offense, the Vols' up-tempo approach is usually the focus. Tempo is still a big part of what Tennessee does offensively, but Lea felt like the Vols slowed things down at times on Saturday, which kept the Commodores on their "heels".
"I think their run game, it's physical and tough," said Lea. "And I think they've done things this season where it seems as though they're not just trying to line it up and snap it as many times as they can. They're slowing down a little bit. They're a little more methodical. They're using tempo to change pace and get you on your heels."
Tennessee has definitely slowed things down at times this season to give opposing defenses different looks. That approach, however, was especially important against Vanderbilt.
The Commodores' offensive approach is to shorten the game and limit their opponents' possessions. That's a big reason why Vanderbilt was able to get a win against Alabama earlier this season. The Crimson Tide had the ball for just 17:52 in a 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt in October (the Commodores had the ball for 42:08).
Tennessee, on the other hand, possessed the ball for 33:35 against Vanderbilt on Saturday in Nashville (Vandy had the ball for 26:25). The Vols essentially played Vanderbilt's game better than Vanderbilt played it.
It hasn't been perfect for Tennessee this season — missteps in winnable games against Georgia and Arkansas will haunt the Vols for a while — but each week, we've seen UT football approach games in a different way, doing what they need to do to win that specific week. That's a good sign for the continued growth of the Vols' offense under Josh Heupel.
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