Balanced Tennessee Tempo Presents Problems for Kentucky Defense

The Tennessee offense has given the Big Blue Nation nightmares since Josh Heupel moved to Rocky Top. Even though production has dipped following a quarterback change in year three, the Vols’ scheme will still challenge the Kentucky defense Saturday night at Kroger Field.

Some tried to crown Joe Milton as the King of College Football in the preseason. Folks who know ball were well aware that Milton could not replicate Hendon’ Hooker‘s success. With Milton calling the shots, Tennessee is scoring fewer points (15) and gaining fewer yards per game (87.4) than a year ago. The good news for Vol fans: taking a step back offensively is still pretty darn good.

Tempo, Tempo, Tempo

Like Ricky Bobby, Josh Heupel wants to go fast. As of week seven the Vols were running 2.88 plays per minute, the second-most in the country, and averaging just over 70 snaps per game.

“This team (Tennessee), they also get the ball out very, very quick at times,” Mark Stoops said Monday. “There’s times when there’s zero chance to get there, because, literally, the ball’s out as fast as you can get it out, kind of like a good shortstop there.”

Kentucky’s head coach said “it’s almost impossible” to try to simulate the speed of the Tennessee offensive operation. That’s why the defense is putting an emphasis on getting set as quickly as possible. Tempo has a way of creating physical and mental fatigue. Stoops doesn’t want his team to get caught sleeping.

“I think fundamentals is a big piece of it and I think your mind is such a big part, to get locked in. At times when you hear me talk about defense, it’s cleats in the ground and reading keys and doing all those things. It happens so fast and you can get erratic. And so I think that’s a big part of it, having the guys really settle in and doing their job,” said Stoops.

“Also, this is no team to sit there and watch the game. By that I mean a defensive player just sitting there watching things that are going on in front of him. They better do their jobs, and they better do it at a very, very high level.”

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Tennessee: More Balanced than ever before

Hooker blew up Kentucky by throwing bombs down the field. Even though Milton has a big arm, he’s been inefficient and inaccurate on long passes. That’s why Heupel has pounded the rock, giving Tennessee the top-ranked rushing offense in the SEC.

“They’re about exactly 50/50 right now — 217 (yards per game rushing) to 220 (yards per game passing). It’s about as balanced as you can get and they have a very efficient offense that’s hard to defend,” said Stoops.

Four different Vols have gained 300+ yards this fall, including Milton. Like Hooker, the QB run element adds another wrinkle that Kentucky must account for, particularly on third down.

“He could pull it down,” said the Kentucky head coach. “They can have design quarterback runs, they can have designed QB draws and he does a nice job of buying time as well to scramble — to scramble for yards or to scramble to buy some time and get the ball down the field.”

Even though Tennessee is not as talented in the passing game as it was a year ago, the Vols still find ways to stress opposing defenses. Kentucky must be prepared to operate in open space against a balanced attack that’s led by a big, athletic quarterback than can run the football. It’s much easier said than done, and it’s not even that easy to say.