Josh Heupel’s Expectations For Tennessee Football Offense In Game Against Virginia
To start the 2021 season, Tennessee defeated bowling green 38-6. It was Heupel’s first game for Tennessee and Milton’s first start.
Josh Heupel seems unconcerned about Tennessee football‘s opening-game score versus Virginia. The offense is more important to the third-year Vols coach than anything else.
Heupel said, “Execution is paramount.” “Doesn’t matter how (fast you go) if you’re not executing.”
No. 12 On Saturday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, faces Virginia in the season opener (noon ET, ABC). In Heupel’s second season, the Vols finished 11-2, and their historic campaign was capped with a victory against Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
In 2022, UT ranked first in the country in scoring (46.1 points per game) and total offense (525 yards per game).
Nearly all of Tennessee’s offensive positions have returning starters with starting experience, but the team is also integrating new focal points. The two wide outs, Squirrel White and Ramel Keyton are taking over as starters.
Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr., an Oregon transfer, is also a mishmash of veterans and rookies, including two transfers, who make up the offensive line.
“I think you have a game plan in the openers and all three phases of the game.” “Everybody’s had seven-plus months of an opportunity to suddenly change who they are. Personnel’s gonna be different. You have to do a really good job of adjusting and applying your core principles in all three phases. Players gotta be able to communicate and adjust; in-game adjustments are paramount in those, too. So, as you go to the sidelines, be absolutely critical. But our staff and players do a great job.”
Josh Heupel
Joe Milton, the full-time starter at quarterback, will command attention. Against Clemson, the former starter at Michigan and UT put on a solid performance that solidified his status as a potential star in 2023.
“He has put himself in a position to play at a really high level because of the work ethic that he’s had inside of our program.” “He’s someone that has continued to grow and has a great understanding of defensive alignments, which allows us to communicate and adjust really quickly with him. I think that’s really important, and he has complete command of what we’re doing offensively.”
Josh Heupel
How Josh Heupel’s Tennessee football team performed in the first game
To start the 2021 season, Tennessee defeated bowling green 38-6. It was Heupel’s first game for Tennessee and Milton’s first start.
The Vols broke that record in the opening game of 2022 against Ball State. Thirty-eight first-half points helped UT win 59-10. Four touchdowns—two throwing and two rushing—kicked off Hendon Hooker’s stellar season. Milton, who joined the game in the second half with the Vols safely up, was one of eight Vols to score a touchdown.
