Former Vols OC David Cutcliffe details how he feels about the Faizon Brandon package and if it’s smart for Tennessee to keep using it
Tennessee true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon was used on a couple of plays in the Vols’ win against Kentucky this past weekend.
Tennessee threw a big wrinkle at Kentucky last weekend in the Vols’ 34-6 win over the Wildcats.
Vols true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon saw his first snaps in the win over Kentucky since getting benched (injury/performance) during Tennessee’s win over Auburn early last month.
Brandon was used on three plays against the Wildcats, and all three plays were successful (a handoff on third down, a quarterback run on third down, and a pop pass to wide receiver Mike Matthews for a touchdown in the fourth quarter).
Vols head coach Josh Heupel hasn’t typically played multiple quarterbacks during his career, which is why there are some questions about whether he’ll continue to use Brandon in certain situations.
Former Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe weighed in with his thoughts earlier this week during an appearance on The George Plaster Show.
Cutcliffe said he thinks using Brandon is “smart” and that Tennessee could find more ways to use the talented freshman.
“I think they could use him more,” said Cutcliffe. “We don’t see practice, and we don’t know the health reports. One of the things you get daily as a head coach, as soon as everybody gets treatment, is you get a report from the trainer. And then you know how healthy somebody is. They may not be on the injured list, but we’ve all been hit hard enough that it affected us the next week, right? And so we don’t know those circumstances.
“But I liked it. And I have used that formula in the past. Not often, but I have used it where you have two guys that need to be in the game and can contribute differently, and it changes tempos. It’s no different to me than certain basketball coaches that use different personnel to run up and down the floor, and then different personnel to slow the game and play defense a little differently and play a half court game. I think it’s smart. You’ve got to figure out every way that you can to win.”
VolQuest’s Austin Price said on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will earlier this week that he thinks Tennessee will continue to use Brandon in different ways.
“He’s healthy,” said Price of Brandon. “And I would tell you that yes, I think you will continue to see this package from Faizon. I think there will be new wrinkles out of it. I think there will be the ability to throw the football down the field. It won’t always be just at the line of scrimmage or him running.
“But you don’t always want to show all your cards out of the gates. You want to keep some of the bullets in the gun for later. Now, whether they use them this week or next week, I think a lot of it depends on how the game goes this week (against Texas A&M). I mean, I’m not using one of my specialty plays out of that package if I don’t have to. I think a lot of it depends on the moment and where they’re at on the field — down and distance and all that stuff. But yes, I think you will continue to see Faizon Brandon integrated into the offensive game plan.”
I would bet that we’ll see Brandon this weekend against Texas A&M, but I have no clue when or how he’ll be used.
And I don’t think the Aggies know either, which is obviously a big advantage for Heupel and the Vols’ offensive coaching staff.
