You naturally expect head coaches to have a better second season at a program, and Tennessee football is no different under Josh Heupel. However, for the Vols, it’s more than just another year under a head coach.

Under Heupel, the program is unique in the amount of talent it returns. The Vols have eight starters back on offense and another seven back on defense plus their punter, kicker and long snapper on special teams.

That experience isn’t lost on the coaches. It’s allowed them to expand the things they have worked on throughout the offseason.

“Our program, our roster being deeper than it was a year ago has allowed us in smart ways to be more physical during the course of this training camp,” Heupel said in Wednesday’s SEC teleconference.

One of the biggest advantages from this has been how Tennessee football can improve its defense. Obviously, that had its issues a year ago.

In the teleconference, Heupel noted that with so much experience in the system now, there were certain aspects of the defense they could work on more. A big part of that was situational tackling.

“We saw our guys improve in those situations every single time we introduced those during the course of our lead-up to kickoff, so I’m excited to see our guys go compete,” he said. “We’re better than where we were a year ago and where we started this training camp in the ability to go tackle in open space.”

More experience could help Tennessee football force more turnovers

Heupel’s comments added to what defensive coordinator Tim Banks said about his unit Monday night on Vol Calls. Banks also acknowledged they are deeper than they were a year ago.

Combining that with experience, they didn’t just work on improving tackling. Forcing more turnovers was also able to be a focus.

“We’ve got to be diligent attacking the ball, having great ball awareness,” Banks said.

Last year, the Vols weren’t bad at forcing turnovers. They finished top 50 in the nation with a plus-three turnover margin. However, they were No. 68 in turnovers gained with 16.

Given the program’s focus on offense and tempo, Tennessee football’s defense needs to force many more turnovers than your average team. That’s their best way to neutralize some of their disadvantages.

“Our guys have worked at that,” Banks said when discussing the fundamentals of forcing turnovers. “We thought we would have some opportunities last year to cash in, and I think, based on the preparation I’ve seen thus far, I think we’ll be in an even better situation this year.”

Depth allows Tennessee football to increase its focus on tackling

Crucial to that has been more depth. The Vols may have lost key starters in Alontae Taylor, Theo Jackson and Matthew Butler, but they added two transfer defensive backs and return lots of defensive linemen.

Also, they return Juwan Mitchell at linebacker after a season-ending injury. Combine that with their recruiting class and so much talent back, and Heupel clearly has more to work with.

“Our program, our roster being deeper than it was a year ago has allowed us in smart ways to be more physical during the course of this training camp,” he said.

As we mentioned on Monday, Heupel has used his second year in general to work on improving his team’s depth. What’s clear, though, is it’s in a much better position than it was last year.

Still, the level of improvement the Vols made won’t be clear until they actually kickoff the season. Heupel is aware of that too.

“I don’t think you ever know until you’re out there and able to go do it underneath the lights in live situations,” he said.

Offense also benefitting from Year 2 experience

What Heupel and Banks said about the defense builds off of recent comments about expanding the playbook. Year 2 has allowed the Vols to get better everywhere.

It could make them more competent on defense but downright scary when it comes to scoring. Specifically, the return of Hendon Hooker and Cedric Tillman strikes fear in the hearts of SEC defenders.

“There is a ton of comfort for Hendon, and our quarterbacks in general, when targeting Cedric, because they know he’s going to be in the right place at the right time,” Heupel said. “He sees coverages and recognizes them so well.” 

As Heupel said, Tillman and Hooker were relative unknowns last year. Now, they appear ready to help Tennessee football take over the SEC offensively this year. That’s what experience does.