Jacob Warren knows he can’t achieve his goals without a competent quarterback at the helm. Fortunately, the Tennessee tight end has more than just competency heading up the Vols’ offense.
Most already know that Hendon Hooker, who was named as one of 30 quarterbacks on the Manning Award Watch List, is poised for a fantastic season. That’s evident by being named the second-team Preseason All-AEC quarterback in July. Big things are expected.
It’s natural to think of big runs and long completions as the big things Tennessee’s coaches are expecting from Hooker. However, there’s much more. Hooker’s overall mental understanding of Tennessee’s offense is what can take the Vols up another level.
“They have given him the freedom to (say) ‘Hey guys, this look, I don’t think we want to run it into this. I was looking at it and give me something else. Change the play please.’” Warren said.
Hooker’s acumen and leadership come with a cost. With all that he’s overcome and the ability he’s shown to become a leader, no one wants to see Hooker on the ground. Warren lamented the times he gave up a sack last season that resulted in Hooker feeling the brunt of the blow.
“Its one of the most frustrating and humbling things,” Warren said during The Vol Report. “There’s a different pride about my running back.”
Warren and any running back he eventually blocks for knows that a running back’s job is, partly, to get hit. That’s not a necessity for a quarterback.
“That’s really truly how everyone feels about it,” Warren said of Tennessee’s offensive players protecting Hooker.
“He’s just another guy, but he’s the most valuable player on the field for us. He leads everything. He takes charge of everything.
“Obviously, protecting him is super important.”
Warren admittedly has fallen short at times in that regard. That’s understandable considering the Vols were just installing their offense last season and really didn’t even know who the quarterback was going to be after backup Joe Milton began the season as the starter.
Mistakes will happen. Sacks will be given up. However, the Vols were last in the SEC in 2021 in sacks allowed. The Vols gave up 44 sacks. That’s not going to cut it. With four starters on the offensive line returning, a quarterback with a better handle on the offense and a group to protect him, it’s not unreasonable that Tennessee’s sack number could be cut in half in 2022.
The key to such an improvement will be communication. That seems to be on the right path.
“The coaches understanding us and us understanding the coaches, we’ve gotten to the point where…I begin to think about what (offensive coordinator/tight ends) coach (Alex) Golesh and what coach (Josh) Heupel is thinking about, what plays might I anticipate they’re going to call and why they’re going to call it.”
Tennessee’s skill-position players, such as Warren, aren’t going to begin to freelance anytime soon. However, there is also some flexibility in the Vols’ offensive approach that its players understand much better than last season.
“Having that firm understanding of that play book and make adjustments and everyone being on the same page rather than being limited,” Warren said when asked about how the Vols can improve from last season to 2022.
Tennessee’s offense already looked like hurried chaos at times last season. The tempo isn’t going to change. The understanding already has.
