Why Tennessee’s Josh Heupel tenure can’t be judged at face value

The Josh Heupel era is at a crossroads, and there are two segments of the fanbase based on how they feel about the Vols’ head coach.

One segment is happy with the overall body of work from Heupel and likes what he’s done so far. He took over a Tennessee program that had been abysmal for the last 15 years and turned it into a true SEC contender that can compete for titles. Sure, part of the fanbase wants more and knows Heupel has left some things on the table, but overall he has done a solid job

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The second group of the fanbase is much more critical of Heupel. They are upset after winning only eight games last year despite bringing in Joey Aguilar from UCLA after Nico abruptly left Tennessee at the end of spring practice. They are critical of his offensive scheme, and even in Year Six there are still questions about the roster.

One thing that stands out is that even after everything, Heupel’s overall body of work at Tennessee still deserves credit. He has done a tremendous job compared to anyone in Knoxville since Phillip Fulmer, even if there have been some ups and downs along the way. However, he has also dealt with some drama-filled offseason situations, and some fans feel he still hasn’t fully broken into that elite tier of coaches.

Given this, on th Crain and Cone show, they think Heupel is in deep water if he doesn't perform this year. They suggest that Heupel could be on the hot seat if he has another mediocre season. saying, "This could get pretty dicey if Tennessee doesn’t have a good season…It just feels like (Heupel) is okay.” They also seem to think the Vols are going into reverse, since this years team isn't expectedto light it up.

Is Josh Heupel on the hot seat?

I think it’s very tough to judge Josh Heupel, especially since he is coming off his best recruiting class since arriving in Knoxville. He added a ton of talent and will be rebuilding around a young quarterback.

I think it’s very tough to judge Josh Heupel, especially since he is coming off his best recruiting class since arriving in Knoxville. He added a ton of talent and will be rebuilding around a young quarterback. However, outside of that, the roster looks like one that can compete. Tennessee has a really good linebacker room, and the secondary should be much improved. The pass rush has some concerns, but overall the Tennessee defense should take a big step forward.

On offense, the Vols have no real question marks anywhere except quarterback. Tennessee should have a very good offensive line, with David Sanders potentially breaking out into a star. Plus, Tennessee has a strong one-two wide receiver punch with Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley. DeSean Bishop is one of the best running backs in the nation. Overall, there is a lot to like about the offense and the talent it brings.

If Tennessee had a kicker last year, they might have beaten SEC champion Georgia and potentially won double-digit games. In the SEC, the margins are that thin, and any roster flaws will be exposed.

While Tennessee has been far from perfect under Heupel, both the media and fans need to calm down a bit. He has the program on the right track, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.

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