Josh Heupel can address four issues from Tennessee’s 2023 losses in spring football practice.
Football coach Josh Heupel stated that he has tasked his Tennessee team with learning from their mistakes during the previous campaign.
He ought to take his own advise and practice in the spring.
The 2023 season went well for the Vols. They finished 9–4, winning the Citrus Bowl against Iowa.
However, heartbreaking defeats to Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Missouri destroyed their hopes of being seriously considered for a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
Those disappointments were caused by a number of things, but each defeat has a primary cause.Football coach Josh Heupel stated that he has tasked his Tennessee team with learning from their mistakes during the previous campaign.
He ought to take his own advise and practice in the spring.
The 2023 season went well for the Vols. They finished 9–4, winning the Citrus Bowl against Iowa.
However, heartbreaking defeats to Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Missouri destroyed their hopes of being seriously considered for a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
Those disappointments were caused by a number of things, but each defeat has a primary cause.
Vysen Lang, a redshirt freshman, seems like a clear choice for the backup center position. He has been working out with the starting lineup as Mays recovers from a minor ailment. However, Lang’s focus might be split because he might be a strong contender for the open left guard position.
In his first spring practice, early enrollee freshman William Satterwhite is also receiving reps at center.
This issue with Alabama’s defeat needs to be resolved.
The issue at hand was that UT lacked sufficient playmaking receivers.
Ramel Keyton’s 30-yard reception and Squirrel White’s 39-yard touchdown catch helped UT take an early lead against Alabama. However, in the second half, Alabama’s pass coverage tightened up, allowing no Vols receiver to make a reception longer than ten yards.
Due to a lack of receiver depth following Bru McCoy’s season-ending ankle injury two games earlier, UT fell 34–20 to Alabama.Is there a receiver for UT that can change the course of a game?
White has the ability to score big. After recovering from his injuries, McCoy is a sturdy and dependable wide receiver. However, they require assistance from an outside explosive playmaker.
Chris Brazzell, a transfer from Tulane, could cover for him. In his second season with the Vols, 2023 Oregon transfer Dont’e Thornton might find his footing.
Perhaps there’s a large leap from Chas Nimrod or Kaleb Webb. Reps with the No. 2 offense are being given to four-star rookie Braylon Staley and five-star rookie Mike Matthews.
Whatever the response, it remains an issue for a receiving corps that did well in 2021 and 2022 before faltering in 2023.
This Missouri loss issue needs to be resolved.
The issue then was that the UT linebackers had a terrible 36-7 loss at Missouri, struggling mightily.
With 205 yards of rushing and 116 yards of receiving, running back Cody Schrader destroyed the Vols, taking advantage of shoddy pass coverage and tackling.
Elijah Herring, a middle linebacker, had an especially hard time. However, the majority of his fellow linebackers, who were inexperienced, didn’t fare much better.
Now for the question: After a year, are these linebackers still a liability?
William Inge, the new linebackers coach, has to answer to that question. He was hired from Washington following an appearance in the CFP national title game.
Herring has returned. Thus are Jalen Smith, Kalib Perry, Jeremiah Telander, and Arion Carter. Carter, though, missed the spring due to an injury.
Transfer to BYU Here, Keenan Pili is the simple solution. In the 2023 season opening, he sustained an injury that ended his season, and UT never fully recovered. But for the team to succeed, other linebackers need to get better and not rely solely on one player’s health.
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