IIIIIIIIIIITTTT’SSSSSSSS MONDAY!!!!!!!!!!
And, my goodness, it’s a victory Monday after beating the Florida Gators. You know how many of those we’ve gotten to enjoy over the years? Well, yes, of course you fellow Tennessee fans know: not many.
As such, grab those helmets, hop into those mine cars, and go rolling through the recesses of my mind in search of those Tennessee Vols-related nuggets of thought scattered about.
1) There has been an odd sense of quiet among the fan base after the game. Some levels of frustration and/or annoyance. There shouldn’t be.
Look, yes, Tennessee was a 15-point favorite. They’re clearly the better team. They didn’t play nearly as well as they could have, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. They have offensive line issues. Timing issues in the passing game. Nico doesn’t look right.
But they delivered what very few Tennessee teams have done over the last several years: a win over the Gators. I don’t care what it looked like. I don’t care that it was close. I don’t care that it was a four-quarter (and then some) struggle. I don’t care that Tennessee needed a strip and recovery on the goal line by James Pearce, Jr. I don’t care about any of that stuff.
The Vols found a way. Against Florida. Be GLEEFUL about that. If you can’t, then I think you should probably find another hobby on Saturdays.
2) Now, with that being said, the Vols obviously left A TON to be desired with their performance on the field on Saturday.
In my mind, a lot of that starts with the offensive line. A week after tackles Lance Heard and John Campbell, Jr. earned the lowest Pro Football Focus grades on the entire offense in the loss to Arkansas, they were bad again. Heard had a holding penalty and allowed a sack. Campbell, Jr. had two holding penalties and committed a personal foul. The protection just isn’t there right now, especially on the edge, and that’s going to make a young quarterback a little bit more nervous.
There’s not much that can be done about that right now. Your roster is what it is. I’m hoping it has to do with Heard and Campbell, Jr. still dealing with injuries they’re recovering from. Remember, they’ve both dealt with injuries this season. Regardless, Josh Heupel is going to have to figure out how to navigate this issue, because it has been far from acceptable play for two straight weeks now.
3) Speaking of poor play for weeks, Nico and his receivers are going to have to figure out how to get in rhythm.
Clearly Nico has been off on throws to open receivers, but I’m not seeing anyone step up and make some tough catches either. Remember the Ramel Keyton dive and catch against Florida in 2022? I’m not sure anyone on the roster has the ability to make that kind of catch. Well, maybe Mike Matthews, but he’s apparently in Heupel’s doghouse.
But it’s also about Nico and his receivers being on the same page and knowing what the other is going to do. On Saturday, Chas Nimrod (I believe) was running open free down the field, and Nico lobbed it in his direction, but off target to the sideline incomplete. I’m not entirely sure who that was on as far as whether the ball or the route was bad, but it was a perfect example of the two not being on the same page. That’s got to change.
4) And that’s because the Alabama Crimson Tide come to town on Saturday. While their defense has become dreadful since halftime of the Georgia game, their offense still works just fine.
And while Florida puked up chance after chance after chance against Tennessee in the red zone, Alabama won’t. Add in the loss of Keenan Pili – a heartbreaking result for a player who deserved so much better – and Tennessee’s defense will really have a challenge trying to slow Jalen Milroe and freshman phenom WR Ryan Williams, along with the rest of the Alabama offense.
To be clear, I think they can keep Tennessee in the ball game, but what we saw last Saturday from the offense won’t be enough this Saturday.
Heupel is going to have to get into his bag like none before to get this offense back on track. And there are plenty of things we haven’t seen lately from this offense that could help do it. Simple, high percentage throws. Perimeter throws/WR screens. Tunnel screens. Delayed TE screens. Things that are short that are hard to miss on that can go for chunk plays. Work your QB’s confidence back up. Allow him to get some completions under his belt and work into a rhythm. And quick releases surely aren’t bad when you’re having protection problems.
That’s the most important thing for Saturday, a more confident and productive Nico. If Tennessee doesn’t have it, it’s hard to see a path to victory absent some turnovers, short fields, and possibly some points from the defense.
Go :Vols!