Several representatives from Tennessee Football recently said they needed more explosive plays this season. After the Vols’ struggles last season, it’s hard not to argue that point.
A quick look at history, however, suggests the explosive plays we all witnessed in 2022 that turned Jalin Hyatt into a Biletnikoff Award winner and Hendon Hooker into a Heisman candidate until the final two weeks of the season suggests that was an anomaly, not the norm. In fact, it may have downright been a fluke.
Let’s take a look at semi-explosive plays in Tennessee coach Josh Heupel’s career. While 20+ yards plays may not flip a game, they’ll most likely move the chains and certainly provide a spark. The Vols were 28th in the nation in plays that covered 20 or more yards with 71 in 2021. They were 80th in the nation in 2023 with just 53 such plays. In 2024, Tennessee had just 59 plays over 20 yards, which ranked 61st in the nation.
As for that 2022 season that you all remember? Hang tight. We’ll get there. Let’s just say the statistics were much, much better.
Tennessee was 12th in the nation with 38 plays that covered 30 or more yards in 2021. The Vols tumbled to 52nd in the nation in 2023 with just 29 plays that covered 30 or more yards. Tennessee was even worse in 2024 when it managed just 24 plays of 30 or more yards. That ranked 78th in the nation.
Josh Heupel racked up 23 plays of 40 or more yards in 2021. That ranked seventh best in the nation. In 2023, the Vols racked up 21 plays for 40 or more yards, which ranked 10th best in the nation. In 2024, Tennessee racked up 14 plays of 40 yards or more, which ranked 44th in the nation.
As for plays of 50 yards or more, Tennessee managed that feat 12 times in 2021, which was 13th best in the nation, nine times in 2023, which was 29th best in the nation, and just 10 times last season, which ranked 17th in the nation.
In other words, Tennessee just doesn’t have the pop it did in 2022, and things appear to be trending south. Heupel’ hallmark season was clearly in 2022. The Vols were 14th in the nation in 2022 with plays of 20 yards or more. Then, it just gets better.
Tennessee was first in the nation in plays of 30 yards or more, having done so 53 times, in 2022. The Vols were also first in the nation in plays that covered 40 yards or more with 36. Tennessee didn’t slide much on plays over 50 yards. They were second in the nation with 19 such explosive plays.
So why the drop off? Perhaps Tennessee’s offensive under Heupel has been figured out. Perhaps the Vols just haven’t played with a quarterback as good as former Vol Hendon Hooker.
No matter the reason, Tennessee Football needs answers soon.
One Response
No
That was the last time you saw the Heupel offense
It’s been Joey’s Friday night high school offense from here on out. The fans HAVE DEMANDED that he better be let go and the tempo offense returns NOW!