Josh Heupel details in-game communication with coaches

Sometimes, the game plan that coaches spend hours and hours creating, poring over and installing is out the window after one drive. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said that the ability to adjust quickly is huge to put players in successful positions.

It can’t always happen immediately and coaches are loathe to overcorrect and get gashed in a different way. But Heupel and his staff know the value of being able to relay information quickly, process it and make a decision.

“The communication, being able to adjust quickly within a drive or certainly after a drive and at halftime,” Heupel said. “It’s a huge part of putting our kids in, hopefully, the best position to be successful.”

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The good news for Tennessee is, so far this season, halftime or early game adjustments haven’t been necessary, often. One of the hallmarks of this year’s Tennessee squad is the ability to come out and storm a team from the opening drive.

In 2022, the Volunteers have scored 52, 38, 35, 28, 27, 24, 23 and 17 points in their respective first halves this season. They have not trailed at the half in any of their eight wins. If anything, teams might have been making adjustments in the second half, but just haven’t had enough time to come back or couldn’t slow down Tennessee, anyways.

This weekend, facing arguably the Vols toughest test yet in going to Georgia, Heupel and his staff might really have to turn the screws at halftime. The good news, they’re comfortable doing just that.

“And, you know, the amount of time that we’ve spent together allows us to draw back on past experiences, learning opportunities as we continue to grow and develop what we’re doing,” Heupel said.