Tennessee football: Analysts buy into Josh Heupel’s offense after spring game
If there’s one thing Tennessee football fans can prepare for this year, it’s to enjoy watching their team play. They may lose every game, but Josh Heupel at the helm will make sure they lose them in style and in entertaining fashion.
That was on display in the Orange and White game Saturday, as the Orange won 42-37 in an up-tempo setting where all three scholarship quarterbacks played for each side and threw the ball all over the field. It was a blast for spectators.
To many analysts, the blast wasn’t fool’s gold either. Writers across the nation are buying into Heupel’s offense with Tennessee football and truly believe that what happened on Saturday is the real deal rather than a result of bad defenses. Here’s what just a few of them said.
Mike Farrell, Rivals
"Let’s not get it twisted. The offensive performance by the Vols this past weekend in their spring game was impressive. Putting up 547 total yards in the first half alone is quite remarkable but, let’s be honest, this was a show for the fans to get them excited about the season ahead. It’s not a fix or a rigged game or anything, it’s a showcase of what Josh Heupel brings to the table as an offensive mind. The Tennessee offense will clearly be much better under Heupel with his use of pace and ability to call plays."
David Cobb, CBS Sports
"Tennessee’s spring game looked like a marketing apparatus for season ticket sales. After three dismal offensive seasons under defensive-minded coach Jeremy Pruitt, the Volunteers have swung hard in the opposite direction with former UCF coach Josh Heupel. The mastermind behind some of the nation’s top passing attacks in recent years had a trio of quarterbacks slinging the football downfield early and often Saturday, which should interest a long-suffering fan base."
Chris Hummer, 247Sports
"There’s plenty to discuss, but I just want to take a moment to point out the obvious: Tennessee is finally entering the spread era.There were more receivers on the field, the splits were way wider, and the tempo the Vols played with was far faster. It might have looked like a different sport to Vol faithful, but it’s going to be a welcome change."
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Everybody is set on the idea that the tempo and the spread offense of the Vols is going to make sure that it’s better than it was last year. While being better than last year alone, spread schemes and up-tempo play in a spring game doesn’t always translate to success, particularly in the SEC.
Remember, Butch Jones introduced the spread offense at UT years ago, and his early spring games also focused on tempo. However, as he ran into more elite competition during the season, he had to adjust his game plans, and by the end it didn’t work out.
Heupel’s offenses, to be fair, have been way better than Jones’ ever were, and there’s reason to believe that will be the case this season. The Vols may give up over 50 points a game, but there’s a chance they’ll score over 40.
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What’s clear after what everybody saw in the spring game is that Heupel and his staff are making a splash. That’s the best Tennessee football fans can ask for right now given the state of the program. Going forward, it could pay off in a bigger way as well.