Tennessee coach Josh Heupel knows all about good quarterback play. He’s headed up quite a few good ones in his career. He also knows how important it is to avoid turnovers. He’s seen countless games decided by a lack of ball security. That leads us to Oklahoma.
The Vols, as you might have heard, will start redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava against the Sooners on Saturday at 7:30 EST for the Vols’ first true road game of the season. Iamaleava has thrown two interceptions this season, both against North Carolina State. Arguably, neither was his fault.
Let’s start with the first interception against the Wolfpack. While the pass over the middle looked like just an errant pass, receiver Bru McCoy carries some of the blame, according to a source with knowledge of the play, because he let up on the throw that wound up in North Carolina State’s hands.
Iamaleava threw another interception later in the game in which he was pressured. While Iamaleava arguably should have just taken the sack, that interception wasn’t solely on the offensive line’s shoulders nor Iamaleava’s. In both cases the Vols have to share some responsibility for the interceptions that are so rare in Tennessee coach Josh Heupel’s offense.
Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold, who is the 13th highest rated quarterback in the SEC, has also thrown two interceptions this season. Iamaleava, for the record, is the third highest rated quarterback in the nation.
When asked about Arnold, Heupel said, “In general, he takes great care of the football. I think he has great command and presence in what they are doing offensively. He has the ability to use his feet to make things right. That can be when the pocket breaks down, designed quarterback run or read game. He is a really talented young player.”
Arnold will surely rely on his running ability more than Iamaleava. The sophomore has run the ball 36 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns this season. Iamaleava has run the ball (as fans gasp) for 102 yards on 17 attempts with one touchdown. As for those turnovers, that may be the easiest way for the Vols to lose to the Sooners on Saturday.
Oklahoma leads the SEC, by far, in turnover differential with a 2.6 per game margin. No other SEC team averages more than +1 in turnover margin. The Vols are at .3 in turnover margin and haven’t lost a fumble this season. The Sooners have forced six fumbles and four interceptions while just giving up those two Arnold interceptions this season. Oklahoma has yet to lose a fumble. The Vols have thrown three interceptions as a team, but have forced just one interception and recovered four fumbles.
“Their front is really active,” Heupel said when asked about Oklahoma’s penchant for takeaways. “They play tight coverage on the back end. With all the structure that they show you on the back end, they play really assignment-sound.
“They understand where they are supposed to be in recognizing patterns and getting into windows. They tie all three levels of the defense extremely well. And then when you have the ball in your hands, they are extremely active. Punching, ripping, putting their hat on the ball.
“They have changed the way the game is played with a lot of those turnovers.”
The Vols have proven adept at limiting turnovers in Heupel’s career at Tennessee. They had better do the same in his college hometown this week.
