Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is the fourth-best quarterback in the SEC per passer rating. That’s not good enough.
“Continued growth taking care of the football,” UT coach Josh Heupel said when asked about Iamaleava’s development. “It’s presented itself in different ways. At the end of the day, he’s got to make it right and, at times, that means not turning a negative play into one that kicks us in the butt. It’s okay in some of those situations to go punt the football.”
Heupel didn’t specify, but he could be talking about the two interceptions that Iamaleava threw against North Carolina State. However, the two fumbles on strip sacks against Oklahoma were far from ideal as well.
“He’s got really good command and understanding of what we’re doing,” Heupel said. “Seeing different structures than what we’ve seen during the course of the week on film, being able to adjust during the course of the game.”
With all the hype around Iamaleava, it’s easy to forget that he’s just a redshirt freshman and has just started five games for the Vols. Heupel wants Iamaleava to be better, but he certainly isn’t complaining.
“Love a lot of what we’ve seen,” Tennessee’s fourth-year coach said. “The great thing about him at this point is great competitive composure, goes and plays the next play independent and free. He’s handled himself well on the road.
“He and the offense have some areas we can continue to grow in. That’ll be another big challenge with this football game heading to Fayetteville and understanding the type of environment we’re going to get ready to go play in.”
The environment might be difficult to overcome, but Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green could be even more challenging. He leads all SEC quarterbacks in rushing yards with 331 yards on the ground in five games.
“Dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands,” Heupel said of Green. “That’s designed quarterback runs. It’s read game, which can be first or second-level reads for him. It’s when plays break down. He’s got the ability to escape, outrun people, get outside of the pocket and make plays. Anytime you’re facing a quarterback that’s that dynamic, that is where the game starts for you defensively.
“On pass plays, you’ve got to push the pocket, but you can’t let him escape, and the quarterback-run game, you better have your eyes on the right place, play the play based off of what you’re seeing the right way and then be in a fundamental position to squeeze and go make a play.”
Arkansas’ running game isn’t just about Green. The Razorbacks 212 rushing yards per game is fifth best in the SEC.
“Their offensive line’s playing at a high level, but he’s got the ability to make the numbers right for them,” Heupel said. “Any time the quarterback-run game’s a part of it, you get a chance to make the numbers right. So you’ve got to play gap integrity, assignment-sound, but then you’ve also got to destruct blocks, get off and go make a play.
“His speed, how dynamic of a player he is makes that a difficult thing to do, because he’s got the ability at times to just outrun the defender.”
Green may be a playmaker, but he’s not nearly as efficient as Iamaleava. Green’s quarterback ranking of 122 is 14th best in the SEC. Iamaleava’s 176 is fourth best in the SEC. Still, that’s not quite good enough if Iamaleava continues to turn the ball over.
