Despite a 38-6 victory for Tennessee against Bowling Green to kick off the Josh Heupel era in Knoxville, the game itself wasn’t a work of art for the Volunteers.

While it was Heupel’s debut as head coach of the Vols, it was also the debut of Joe Milton as quarterback, with the former Michigan quarterback transferring to Rocky Top in the offseason. He struggled to get into a flow throwing the ball as he completed just 11 of his 23 passes for 140 yards and 1 touchdown, despite rushing for 44 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 14 carries.

It’s easy to look at that low output and pin it on Milton. Heupel, though, felt the blame needed to be shared among other members of the offense.

“Everybody played a part in it,” he said, according to the Knoxville News. “The quarterback having his eyes in the right spot and delivering the ball. Wide receivers understanding what we’re asking them to do and being able to read coverages and sit in the right zone. Finishing (the play) with a throw and catch (with) accuracy and catching the football. Then a couple of busted protections that we need to clean up so we can sit in the pocket and deliver it.

Heupel continued to stress several mechanical items that Milton needed to work on ahead of the Vols’ next game, a noon kickoff against Pitt on Saturday on ESPN.

“A lot of it is simple execution,” he added. “It’s him having his eyes in the right spot, his feet being in the right position to be accurate with the football.”