Vols Must Regroup Following Tough Overtime Loss to Georgia
(utsports.com) KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A new week presents a new opportunity as No. 15/15 Tennessee will look to bounce back from a narrow defeat to Georgia and close out a three-game homestand against UAB on Saturday afternoon (12:45 p.m. on SEC Network).
“At the end of the day in this game, you have to constantly move forward, and you have to take advantage of every day,” head coach Josh Heupel said during his Monday press conference. “You can’t look in the rearview mirror. You have to look out the windshield and keep driving forward.”
The Vols know they will face another challenging test when it comes to dealing with the Blazers’ balanced offense this weekend.
“We have to do a great job against the run. With who we’re facing, what they do offensively, shift-trade motions, communications at all three levels, and then pass defense,” Heupel said. “Again, when I talk pass defense, you guys hear me say this a lot, it’s all 11 being a part of that. It’s communication, second and third level, it’s pattern recognition in our zone concepts, and it’s applying pressure to the quarterback — which can be just your front four, but it can also be any of your 11 that are in that package.”
On the offensive side of the ball, UT will look to keep humming along after putting up 41 points on the Bulldogs’ typically dominant defense. Saturday’s contest marked just the fourth time since the start of the 2021 season that Georgia had allowed more than 40 points in a regular-season game.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Chris Brazzell II played a major part in Tennessee’s offensive showing against the Dawgs, setting career highs with 177 receiving yards and three touchdowns on the day. Brazzell’s development has been key to the Vols’ success offensively this season.
“I think attention to detail has been a huge part of his success,” Heupel said. “Understanding coverage, understanding his role in the scheme, playing with great fundamentals and technique. He’s playing really confident, going up and attacking the football. He did a great job on Saturday, and he has the first couple of weeks too.”
