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Tennessee football report card in 27-13 loss at Georgia

By Caleb Calhoun

Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) makes a catch during the first half of a NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Georgia in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.News Joshua L Jones
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) makes a catch during the first half of a NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Georgia in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.News Joshua L Jones /
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Nov 5, 2022; Athens, Georgia, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel leaves the field after the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2022; Athens, Georgia, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel leaves the field after the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Coaching grades

Top five Vols performers at Georgia. light. Related Story

Offensive play-calling: C-

It wasn’t all on Josh Heupel, but you have to criticize him and Alex Golesh for not being prepared on those Georgia blitz packages. A couple of quick screens to Jalin Hyatt or constant quick slants could’ve stopped that, and they never committed to it. As a result, for the first time all year, Heupel and Golesh were outsmarted by a defensive coach.

Defensive play-calling: A

Tim Banks honestly called nearly a perfect game. Tennessee football got caught on a couple wheel routes, but he did what he had to do in other areas, and one of Georgia’s touchdowns was Stetson Bennett making a play after a perfectly dialed up blitz by Banks. The play wasn’t always there, but Banks’ coaching was fine.

Overall head coaching grade: C

Not having the offense ready for the crowd noise is another knock against Heupel. He and the players acknowledge in the post game that the noise was an issue and that they caused some mental lapses. Whenever you have mental lapses like that, it’s a reflection on coaching.

Next. Five takeaways from Vols' 27-13 loss at Georgia. dark

Within the game, Heupel just didn’t have enough chances to make key decisions to offset that preparation issue. As a result, the head coaching grade is average. Tennessee football is still in good hands with Heupel, and it was one bad game. Everybody has them, but we can’t ignore how this one played out.

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