Sideline to Sideline: Kentucky Playbook Adds More Wrinkles for Tennessee Transfer

The Tennessee offense has been explosive and perplexing since former All-American QB Josh Heupel made the move to Rocky Top in 2021. The numbers don’t lie, but they do hide the unconventional process.

Upon Heupel’s arrival in Knoxville, his fast-paced style immediately put opponents in a pretzel, finishing a 7-6 season with a top-ten scoring offense in the country. The following year they averaged 10.0 yards per pass and led the nation in points per game (46.1) and yards per game (525.5) to finish 11-2, the most wins by a Tennessee football team since 2001.

So how in the hell is this guy doing it?

It’s a question that’s perplexed Brad White, the Kentucky defensive coordinator who can’t find answers against this scheme. In short, there are three reasons why this offense has worked so well.

1. NASCAR Speed — Run so many plays and snap the ball so quickly, it fatigues the opponent.
2. Wide Splits — Wide Receivers line up near the sideline, forcing defenders to play on islands.
3. Playmaking QBs — When receivers do not win on the outside in open space, there’s plenty of room for a mobile QB to carry the ball 7-8 yards and move the chains.

That’s the shortest version of the story. Allow me to dive deeper with someone who’s played in that offense.

Tennessee Plays Vertical

Tennessee stresses defenses by creating more space on the field for them to cover. Once they space out a defense, they go right for the heart by attacking vertically.

It works, but it’s created some skepticism among NFL scouts. How much of a player’s success is based on skills used at the next level, or is he reliant on the system to create explosives?

As a hater of everything that is Tennessee orange, I am happily riding the Heuepel Gimmick Offense Train. This spring while speaking with Gerald Mincey, I learned just how much this offense limits what Heupel’s players see from opposing defenses.

An enormous offensive tackle from South Florida, Mincey started in 14 games over two seasons at left and right tackle. Despite all of that experience, he had a lot of learning to do once he arrived in Lexington in January.

“The difference is at Tennessee, we weren’t sideline to sideline. We were up the hash. A lot of our plays was vertical,” Mincey said during spring practice.

“Since I transferred here, I haven’t ever really worked on open-end, inside zone, outside zone, cutting off, or even duo, little plays like that. What’s giving me trouble right now is play-action pass. It’s just all different, all new to me.”

Tennessee does what they do very well, but they do not do a lot. Playing 100 mph made it easier for Mincey to pass-block. Not only were his opponents tired, they didn’t have enough time to use a bunch of tools from the pass-rushing toolbox.

“Guys over at Tennessee, they were just fast up the edge. Up here, I got to really not kick as fast because they like to go inside, they like to bull (rush), switch it up. They give me different looks that I’m going to see on Saturday.”

Gerald Mincey had to be a one-trick pony in the Tennessee offense. Before the season starts, he must diversify his portfolio under offensive line coach Eric Wolford. He’s confident that he’ll be up to speed by September.

“He knows where I want to go. He knows where a lot of the guys want to go, so he’s going to push you. That’s his job, to push you, bring everything out of you. He’s been hard on me but he knows where I want to go and I know where I want to go, so I just have to take it, keep learning from him. I’ve learned a lot. He actually is taking my game to the next level, just seeing the weaknesses that I got from last year, and he’s making the weaknesses my strengths.”