Greg McElroy: Tennessee is at an offensive crossroads

After averaging 63.6 points per game in their first three games of the season against non-conference competition, the Tennessee Volunteers have taken a step back in their last two games. Averaging just 22 points per game against SEC competition and taking their first loss of the season against Arkansas on Saturday.

The Vols’ potent offensive attack has been a staple of the team since head coach Josh Heupel took over the program. But college football analyst Greg McElroy believes that same offense is now at a crossroads heading into Week 7

“Right now, let’s just acknowledge what it is. The best part of Tennessee’s offense is running back Dylan Sampson,” McElroy said on Always College Football. “You look at how he played coming out of halftime, 22 carries, he went from like 15 yards rushing to 110 in about two minutes it felt like. So he got things going, but the offense is really going to run through him at this point.”

Tennessee went from the SEC’s top passing attack in 2022 to the league’s top rushing team in 2023. An identity they’ve continued to lean into this season as redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava continues to develop.

I wanted, you wanted, everyone wants Nico Iamaleava to be a superstar day one. We all want that, but that’s just not reality right now. He’s still a young quarterback, and there was some things that he left on the field, and it was probably his worst performance, but that’s okay,” McElroy said. “He’s a freshman.”

Iamaleava completed 58.6% of his passes for just 158 yards against the Razorbacks. Sacked four times in a game where the pressure of the Arkansas defense got the best of him and he missed a few throws according to McElroy. Getting the best shot of the Razorbacks’ defense in a trend he believes will continue.

“Tennessee is getting the big boy, tendency breaking defensive plans. Which by the way, should be received as a compliment. I’ve watched Arkansas defense for a while, there were some alignment things that they did defensively that were not on tape in the games prior. There were some things that they put in specifically for this game that clearly caught Tennessee off guard,” McElroy explained. “That’s what happens when you’re a great team.”

Heupel’s offense is known for its explosive plays in the passing game, which the Vols can still find a way to manufacture as their quarterback continues to face elite SEC defenses. Which balanced with the run game led by Sampson could set up the Tennessee offense for the for similar success the achieved earlier in the season.

“But this offense, a bit of a crossroads right now. They got to get Nico playing better, he’s got to be more accurate down the field and then continue to feed Dylan Sampson. Because that is going to be their ticket to the top of the sport, running the football between the tackles with a super-talented running back,” McElroy concluded.