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Tennessee football report card in Music City Bowl loss to Purdue

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) runs the ball during the 2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl between Tennessee and Purdue at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Bowl Cm 1230 10
Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) runs the ball during the 2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl between Tennessee and Purdue at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Bowl Cm 1230 10 /
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Tennessee Herd Coach Josh Heupel during the 2021 speaks into his headset during the TransPerfect Music City Bowl between Tennessee and Purdue at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Bowl Cm 1230 13
Tennessee Herd Coach Josh Heupel during the 2021 speaks into his headset during the TransPerfect Music City Bowl between Tennessee and Purdue at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Bowl Cm 1230 13 /

Coaching grades

Offensive play-calling: B+

Everything was almost perfect. However, then came the final drive of regulation, where Josh Heupel took two deep shots needing only a field goal to win. That cost Tennessee football, and it brings the offensive play-calling to a B+. Otherwise, it would have been an A or even an A+.

Defensive play-calling: B-

It’s hard to give too much credit to a defense that gave up 45 points, but Tim Banks usually had the right calls on. His stunts specifically drew Byron Young’s interception. As a result, he did just enough to warrant an above average grade, and when you consider the number of possessions both teams ran, he wasn’t the problem at all.

Overall head coaching grade: C+

Josh Heupel was aggressive and had his kids ready to play in this bowl game. However, the play-calling at the end of regulation combined with his mixed decisions on when to punt and go for it in the first half, punting on a 4th and 1 and going for it on a 4th and 7, proved costly.

Next. Top five Vols performers in Music City Bowl loss. dark

Add in the fact that Tennessee football had 14 penalties for 128 yards, and there were just too many mental errors to be able to say Heupel did a great job in this game. He did a great job on the season, but just a few mistakes in this game were too much to overcome, so his overall grade has to be in the average range.

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