Vols coach has 'drop the mic' moment while silencing critics of Tennessee's offense
The assault against the Tennessee Vols' offense from rival programs, NFL Draft analysts, and various writers has been well-documented at this point. Vols wide receiver Dont'e Thornton, for example, confirmed on Wednesday that other programs criticized Tennessee's offense while he was in the NCAA transfer portal (Thornton transferred to UT from Oregon earlier this offseason). Tennessee […]
The assault against the Tennessee Vols' offense from rival programs, NFL Draft analysts, and various writers has been well-documented at this point.
Vols wide receiver Dont'e Thornton, for example, confirmed on Wednesday that other programs criticized Tennessee's offense while he was in the NCAA transfer portal (Thornton transferred to UT from Oregon earlier this offseason).
Tennessee wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope was asked on Wednesday about those criticisms.
Pope, who is entering his second season as the Vols' wide receivers coach, delivered a "drop the mic" moment while silencing the folks who have been throwing shade at UT's offense.
"Our offense puts guys in situations to win one on one matchups," explained Pope. "Defenses are supposed to stop guys in those one on one situations, right? It doesn't matter at the end of the day what the scheme is or what the play call is.”
"I'm given a technique to beat a defensive player," added Pope. "He's (the defender) given a technique to beat me. If I'm beating him 10 out of 10 times, I can translate that on any level. And that's what it comes down to. Now, guys have different skill sets, you show those in recruiting. Guys are put in different spots, you show those in recruiting. But at the end of the day, you got to win your matchup. And that's what it is. That's what those guys (Vols wide receivers in the NFL) have learned to do. And that's what they showed on Saturdays."
Pope put it as simple as possible (which is probably why he's such a great recruiter for Tennessee) — ultimately football is just matchups and players trying to win those matchups. Tennessee is teaching its wide receivers how to beat defensive backs. And those techniques are now being used by players like Jalin Hyatt in the NFL (who has been routinely beating defensive backs during New York Giants training camp).
Pope nailed it. If SEC defenders can't stop it in college, then it's almost certainly going to translate to the next level.
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Featured image via Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
