Josh Heupel discusses Tennessee’s struggles in the passing game
By SDS Staff
Published:
The Tennessee Volunteers opened the Josh Heupel era Thursday night with a commanding 38-6 win over Bowling Green.
From the get-go, all eyes were on new starting quarterback and Michigan transfer Joe Milton III, who beat out Virginia Tech transfer Hendon Hooker and Harrison Bailey to win the starting job.
Milton’s night was inconsistent at best. He started off the game hot by leading the Vols to 2 first-quarter touchdown drives. The passing game was efficient and throws were being delivered on time.
The second half, however, was a different story. Milton completed just one pass after halftime — the 40-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Cedric Tillman. However, multiple overthrows on would-be touchdowns are concerning. So are the 2 drops by receiver Jalin Hyatt.
The Vols quarterback finished 11-of-23 (48 percent) for 140 yards and 1 touchdown. He did add 44 rushing yards and 2 scores on the ground. As a whole, Tennessee ran the ball very effectively, posting an impressive 326 yards. Tiyon Evans and Jabari Small both rushed for 116 yards each and combined for 2 touchdowns.
Still, the passing game has questions after Milton’s up-and-down night.
Josh Heupel was asked after the game about potentially making a quarterback change. He reassured his support of Milton.
“No, there wasn’t anything that was earth-shattering that you felt like you had to make a change,” Heupel said during the postgame press conference. “We believe in Joe, believe in the other two guys, too, and really do. The strength of a position can never be one guy. They’re all going to have to continue to compete and get better, but Joe’s going to continue to get better, too.”
Later in his press conference, Heupel made sure to express that the passing game’s struggles weren’t solely on Milton.
“We as a passing unit, you want to describe it that way, quarterback and wide receivers didn’t play the way that we’re capable of and the way that we’re going to need to moving forward,” Heupel said. “There were some positives early. We can be a whole lot better.”
The Vols have to make the corrections and rather fast with Pittsburgh traveling to Knoxville on September 11.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
