Does Heupel have the killer instinct as a coach?

[RockyTop140]

Honestly Heupel’s decision making on paper was fine. Problem was with the flow of that game our defense couldn’t stop anything.

Both MSU and Arkansas ran the ball with huge success. Ate up clock and limited our possessions. That’s the blueprint to beat us.

With that being said, had we taken advantage of the turnovers we created, we win this one without a sweat.

 

[DaddyChad]

Aguilar has been great but he came in so late I’m not sure Josh trusts him yet late in games. If he gets it down to a certain time he’s going to play the clock it seems

 

[RDU VOL#14]

That’s my big criticism of Heupel as well, he’s done a remarkable job here 42-16 since 2021 but he never hits the portal hard enough and he is loyal to a fault to his coaching staff. I don’t think he has ever fired a coach on his staff.

I think he’s done a great job of utilizing the portal without making it his primary source of recruiting, like an FSU or Ole Miss or Colorado. If you think about the guys he’s brought in, almost all of them have been positive contributors. I do think we should’ve added an extra receiver or safety this past cycle, but overall I think we’ve seen addition by subtraction at the wideout position.

 

[DaddyChad]

Question is what happened to what we were seeing in 2022? In Hooker’s last year I would say yes.

Yes that’s what I’m saying if he trusts the offense I think he doesn’t mind going for the throat. Dude isn’t Fulmer like some suggest. He’ll go for fourth down at mid field. Late in games is the questionable decisions to some. Wouldn’t be questionable though if we had a better defense imo.

 

[adam.vol]

Heupel is a surgeon. Killer instinct isn’t how he works.

 

[MOOOOONEY]

UT has the number 1 scoring offense.

It honestly seems like many of you simply enjoy drama. Football isn't enough to satiate your need for entertainment. So you create points of concern.

Hey bruh we just trying to live our best life.

I think we’ve seen this film before.

A lot of the reasons for Fulmers downfall was he went ultra conservative. Get a 3 point lead and play not to lose.

We saw Butch Stones turn into Lyle Jones.

I like CJH and want to see him succeed and play for championships, but he gets way too conservative and doesn’t have that killer instinct when he gets a lead.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Hey bruh we just trying to live our best life.

I think we’ve seen this film before.

A lot of the reasons for Fulmers downfall was he went ultra conservative. Get a 3 point lead and play not to lose.

We saw Butch Stones turn into Lyle Jones.

I like CJH and want to see him succeed and play for championships, but he gets way too conservative and doesn’t have that killer instinct when he gets a lead.

He's far exceeded expectations to this point, so no bruh, you haven't seen this film. Fulmer took over a gold mine. Butch was an example of malpractice. Heupel walked into an absolute shat storm and finished in the top 5 in his second season

 

[Big Orange Captain]

He definitely had it in 2022 and I thought in 23 and 24 he called a more conservative game because Joe and Nico couldn't really run his offense like he wanted. But Joey can and he is still being conservative. Agree he is for sure not coaching like he did in the beginning??

Or Hooker has been the only QB that Heupel has fully trusted to run the offense here. Not sure about his QB’s at UCF.

 

[Big Orange Captain]

Is it is us not wanting to be aggressive or is it defensive schemes that aren’t allowing us to do so

Good question but it seemed like we could do whatever we wanted against Syracuse and Georgia till we slowed it down and got conservative. That first quarter against Georgia was some of the best offensive play calling i’ve seen with Tennessee in a long time at least since the 2022 Bama game. We were aggressive taking shots down field and going at a fast tempo.

 

[VolCalls]

I think Heupel is a very good coach and what he has done for Tennessee Football the last five seasons has been wonderful.

To answer your question, no I don't think he has the fire inside his belly that Kirby Smart, Ryan Day, Curt Cignetti, and Dan Lanning have. When I think about killer instinct, and coaches that are frothing at the mouth to beat the sh!t out of you and win a national title, those are the four that immediately come to mind.

Some will agree, some will disagree, and that's OK. You know what they say about opinions.

 

[MOOOOONEY]

He's far exceeded expectations to this point, so no bruh, you haven't seen this film. Fulmer took over a gold mine. Butch was an example of malpractice. Heupel walked into an absolute shat storm and finished in the top 5 in his second season

Yet in year 5 loses a game at home to Georgia that he should have won.

Beat Alabama or Florida on the road and win the remainder of the schedule then I will say that he has meet or possibly exceeded expectations.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Yet in year 5 loses a game at home to Georgia that he should have won.

Beat Alabama or Florida on the road and win the remainder of the schedule then I will say that he has meet or possibly exceeded expectations.

It's not up for debate that he's exceeded expectations. I am certain your affirmation isn't a requirement for the standard

 

[McDad]

Hey bruh we just trying to live our best life.

I think we’ve seen this film before.

A lot of the reasons for Fulmers downfall was he went ultra conservative. Get a 3 point lead and play not to lose.

We saw Butch Stones turn into Lyle Jones.

I like CJH and want to see him succeed and play for championships, but he gets way too conservative and doesn’t have that killer instinct when he gets a lead.

You see a lot of stone cold killers in the SEC nowadays???

 

[MDsweetT]

I think Heupel is a very good coach and what he has done for Tennessee Football the last five seasons has been wonderful.

To answer your question, no I don't think he has the fire inside his belly that Kirby Smart, Ryan Day, Curt Cignetti, and Dan Lanning have. When I think about killer instinct, and coaches that are frothing at the mouth to beat the sh!t out of you and win a national title, those are the four that immediately come to mind.

Some will agree, some will disagree, and that's OK. You know what they say about opinions.

Kirby is probably the best recruiter as well Ryan Day. Oregon has been good for the last 15 years (for the most part). Cignetti is the outlier as he has totally changed the trajectory of Indiana, yet they were on the ropes against Iowa.

Coach Heupel has done an incredible job. I do wish he’d put the in Joey’s hands at the end of the game. Especially since we play so high tempo until the end of the game.

I’d say it’s more a game management issue, but that’s an entirely different conversation. This week will tell us a lot. We need to be ready to play.

 

[MOOOOONEY]

You see a lot of stone cold killers in the SEC nowadays???

Nope, so now is the time to pounce. Kiffin tries.

3 times this year CJH has the opportunity to knock an opponent out and he went conservative.

1. Georgia- After a big turnover in Georgia territory instead of going for the knockout he plays for a field goal.

2. MSU- Has a chance to win in registration goes conservative and takes 2 time outs to the house with him

3. Arkansas- Up 17 in the middle of the 4th goes conservative and pulls out a 3 point win. I will give credit on the game sealing drive. I don’t know if the JA run was called or JA pulled the ball for the long run to help seal the game but at least we saw something different than 3 off tackle handoffs.

I want to see CJH succeed and win championships that’s all. I’m a fan of the Tennessee Volunteers not a coach.

He has nothing to lose Saturday at Alabama. We are a 9 point dog. Empty the bag. Don’t go conservative if you get a lead just put on more steam.

 

[MOOOOONEY]

It's not up for debate that he's exceeded expectations. I am certain your affirmation isn't a requirement for the standard

I can have an opinion just like you.

I can’t help it that mine is right. Haha

 

[kcvols1]

What has happened to the offense the last two games? It seems the play calling has changed from the first 4 games to the last two against State ahd Arkansas. It seems we have been less aggressive and more hesitant with play calling and more conservative in general. It’s like Heupel has morphed into Butch Jones getting ultra conservative and trying to sit on a lead. I noticed he started doing that last year as well now last season we had a good enough defense that we could do that and trust our defense to win the game. However we cannot do that this season the defense cannot be trusted to win the game we need our offense to score as much as we can and keep the throttle down. We left at least 10 points on the board against Arkansas and that game got way too nerve wracking at the end cause of Heupel’s conservative play calling and trying to milk the clock. We were fortunate we didn’t lose to Miss.St and Arkansas but a win is still a win but it don’t have to be so damn stress inducing. And if Heupel stays aggressive and goes for the kill shot against Georgia we win that game. Maybe he was saving some stuff for Bama and not showing much against State and Arky i don’t know. . Always play to win not too lose!! I watched A&M deliver the knockout punch to Florida last night and thought man it would be nice if we could close out a game like that and not sweat out another close game.

Yes he has a killer instinct.



Post another thread.

 

[JMSqb11]

Both MSU and Arkansas ran the ball with huge success. Ate up clock and limited our possessions. That’s the blueprint to beat us.

With that being said, had we taken advantage of the turnovers we created, we win this one without a sweat.

Yet at the same time, the defense ended 5 drives with takeaways and scored on two of them.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not confident in our defense but I also don’t worry about them not being able to force turnovers either and get sacks.

 

[McDad]

Nope, so now is the time to pounce. Kiffin tries.

3 times this year CJH has the opportunity to knock an opponent out and he went conservative.

1. Georgia- After a big turnover in Georgia territory instead of going for the knockout he plays for a field goal.

2. MSU- Has a chance to win in registration goes conservative and takes 2 time outs to the house with him

3. Arkansas- Up 17 in the middle of the 4th goes conservative and pulls out a 3 point win. I will give credit on the game sealing drive. I don’t know if the JA run was called or JA pulled the ball for the long run to help seal the game but at least we saw something different than 3 off tackle handoffs.

I want to see CJH succeed and win championships that’s all. I’m a fan of the Tennessee Volunteers not a coach.

He has nothing to lose Saturday at Alabama. We are a 9 point dog. Empty the bag. Don’t go conservative if you get a lead just put on more steam.

All that really matters is we win. How we win is less important. Sure, you can say "his conservatism will cost us some games". It might. It might also win some games. The problem is you're comparing what actually happened to a hypothetical.

Say he goes for the kill shot and we are treated to a pick six. That would have cost us both Msst and Ark.

As long as we win, I don't care if you does it your way or not.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

I’m not sure this is the right answer but we honestly are dealing with some injuries on the offense that have really handcuffed what we do. Ethan Davis, Pendleton, Jackson, Jefferson, Brame to name a few.

Some are playing through it while others can’t.

We’re moving the ball, no reason to take the air out with 7 minutes left against a high powered offense. Unless we’re maybe up 3 scores. By 10 at midfield you put the foot on the gas with smart aggressive plays.GBO

 

[MOOOOONEY]

All that really matters is we win. How we win is less important. Sure, you can say "his conservatism will cost us some games". It might. It might also win some games. The problem is you're comparing what actually happened to a hypothetical.

Say he goes for the kill shot and we are treated to a pick six. That would have cost us both Msst and Ark.

As long as we win, I don't care if you does it your way or not.

You missed number 1 which it did cost us.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Aguilar has been great but he came in so late I’m not sure Josh trusts him yet late in games. If he gets it down to a certain time he’s going to play the clock it seems

Well he led a huge drive on the road against state late in the game. At some point you have to trust the quarterback that has moved the ball well all game. And there are ways to keep tempo and call fairly safe plays. A deep throw at mid field where if they intercept it’s a long field. Let him sprint out for a run pass option. Tell him not to force to tough of a throw. Several ways besides a simple handoff right up the middle. Folks have film they are going to start knowing that is what we’re doing. Actually Heupel now has them set up for the kill now if he will do it. Teams are going to start selling out on the run to get the ball back super quick. The great teams find a way to get first downs and take teams out. Having said all the I am happy with Heupel except for the late game strategy, we have to keep on taking it to them on offense. We need to work on late game plays and also cut out the false starts there is no reason to be false starting on 3rd and 1. GBO

 

[Peradox1K]

I'd say no, but only because we get too conservative too early. Arkansas just proved it. That's my only prob with Heupel.

 

[McDad]

You missed number 1 which it did cost us.

I don't agree that it did, though. We are in a position to win with a very reliable kicker. And then a false start at the most ill timed point of the game. Play calls put us in a position to win. That's all I can ask of our scheme.

 

[FranklinVFL]

Why in the world would the SEC deliberately put it's members at such a crazy disadvantage especially with the money at stake? Makes no sense that they would do that or that coaches wouldn't be up in arms about it.

I don't make the news....just reporting on it:

SEC maintains 85-scholarship limit for 2025 season ahead of transformative House v. NCAA settlement

The SEC has provided some guidelines for 2025 rosters as college football programs await the final terms of the historic court settlement

www.cbssports.com