I wouldn't mind if I get endlessly tagged on this one.
Last week, Chattanooga gave The Athletic an all-access pass inside the program. Coaches meetings, film sessions, practices, game-planning sessions ... everything.
I learned more about Tennessee's schemes in those few days than I did all last season covering the team. Tons of insight into how teams are putting together game plans to attack Tennessee and what this coaching staff does and doesn't do.
A sample:
Chattanooga coaches also note that when two tight ends were on the field and Guarantano was under center, Tennessee ran the ball 83 percent of the time. But the Vols ran only behind No. 81, Austin Pope. The defensive staff watches clip after clip of the same thing. Pope starts the play on one side. Whether he moves with or without fellow tight end Dom Wood-Anderson or stays put, the running game is headed in one direction: Pope’s.
“All you gotta do is look at the tight end. He’ll tell you,” Ward said.
Yeager keys up one more play. Pope moves. Ward calls it out.
“Outside zone, they’re gonna run it to 81,” he says.
He’s right.
Here's the full story.