The key to beating Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is to make him think, according to an unnamed coach in a recent story in The Athletic.
“The more he has to make decisions post-snap, the better. That’s the key. And then getting hits on him,” one coach reportedly said. “But their whole game is the run game. If that’s going, the offense is going. If you neutralize the run game and make the quarterback have to make decisions, you’ve got a good start.”
The breakdown in The Athletic brought up a rather interesting stat, but one that probably doesn’t endear itself to Tennessee fans
Per TruMedia, 15.4 percent of Iamaleava’s passes this season have been off target, which ranks 77th nationally. Former Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton was 37th nationally last season with 12.7 percent of his passes going off-target.
Iamaleava has thrown two passes into coverage that were intercepted. He had another interception that was picked off as he was hit by a defender and, therefore, wasn’t entirely his fault.
“He never puts the ball in danger,” a coach said. “That’s really uncommon for a young quarterback…He was going to put the ball where it needed to go, and if it was double-covered or a tight window, he wasn’t going to force it.”
One of Tennessee’s other elite players, at least per several NFL Draft analysts, is James Pearce Jr., who has been projected as a first round selection in the upcoming NFL Draft. One coach told The Athletic that Pearce is actually Tennessee’s third-best defensive lineman, behind Omari Thomas and Bryson Eason.
“We hunted him in protection,” the coach said. “He’s good in the pass game but not as good in the run game. If you’re trying to find a weakness in the run game, you need to run at him and make him the point of contact.”
When asked about the Vols’ offensive players, a coach said, “I don’t know if any of (the receivers) are great. The tight ends are whatever. The O-line, they don’t have two first-round picks at tackle. I know they have good players, but the playing field has been leveled a little bit.”
By “leveled,” the coach was referring to the talent gap that once seemed monstrous between the Vols and Alabama. However, there’s no denying that Bama freshman Ryan Williams is a level above most anyone who he’ll step on the field with.
“Absolute stud,” an unnamed coach said. What we’re seeing now is pretty unbelievable. He reminds me of Larry Fitzgerald, he’s made such an impact so early that we haven’t seen that early at a place like that. He’s incredible.”
When asked specifically about the matchup between the No. 11 Vols and No. 7 Alabama, Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe was the focal point.
“Bama will have a good chance because of the quarterback,” the unnamed coach who faced Alabama this season said. “They’re a good SEC team. I didn’t feel like it was the best Bama team I’ve seen in the last few years. How it shakes out I don’t know. I was shocked they did what they did to Georgia, honestly.
“Both teams have a loss they probably shouldn’t.”
