Interesting take about UT WR Development

[SNAFU]

I thought this was enlightening when looking at the Vols development of receivers when one scout gave his analysis of Brazzell II.

A freakishly athletic receiver from Tennessee is a draft tradition unlike any other. Brazzell is 6-feet-4 and runs a 4.34 40. Unfortunately, the “deep choice” Tennessee offense does not prepare players for the next level and actually develops bad habits. For example, when a receiver isn’t the primary, they are actually coached to loaf so they can have energy to go deep when their number is called, and there are plenty of “designed loafs” on Brazzell’s film. He lined up to the right and on the outside for a large majority of snaps. His route tree is a big, uncapitalized “t.” He’s either going deep, breaking outside or inside on a dig. Even though he played in the SEC, he’ll likely need a redshirt type of season before playing meaningful snaps.

The Athletic

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

Designed loafing? I hope that’s not true. We need a WR to breakthrough in the NFL badly.

 

[particlesmatter]

Honestly, these kids are getting paid NOW to score for the Vols. If there is designed / valid loafing/energy conservation in our playbook to give the Vols a better chance to win, okay with it. Their JOB is now to help the Vols win and we are paying them to do that.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

I loaf the athletic.

 

[The Original Fade]

So he needs a whole year of development to learn to run every route hard………….ok

 

[Smokymtnbullet]

The Athletic probably duck hunts without decoys and then wonders why they always zero.

 

[vegasvolfan]

I thought this was enlightening when looking at the Vols development of receivers when one scout gave his analysis of Brazzell II.

A freakishly athletic receiver from Tennessee is a draft tradition unlike any other. Brazzell is 6-feet-4 and runs a 4.34 40. Unfortunately, the “deep choice” Tennessee offense does not prepare players for the next level and actually develops bad habits. For example, when a receiver isn’t the primary, they are actually coached to loaf so they can have energy to go deep when their number is called, and there are plenty of “designed loafs” on Brazzell’s film. He lined up to the right and on the outside for a large majority of snaps. His route tree is a big, uncapitalized “t.” He’s either going deep, breaking outside or inside on a dig. Even though he played in the SEC, he’ll likely need a redshirt type of season before playing meaningful snaps.

The Athletic

Terrible publication

 

[Capt Whiskey]

That might be a lazy take from The Athletic. I’ve seen quotes from other pundits talking about last year’s offense having more NFL concepts to it. Brazzel’s performance against UGA is one of the games that have highlighted this shift in strategy. The Athletic just repeated what has been said previously about Heupel’s offense without looking at last year’s tape.

 

[TheDeeble]

You know what would put stories like this to rest? A WR that was developed in a Josh Heupel offense going to the NFL and being great. But it hasn't happened. In Heupel's coaching career as OC and HC the most successful NFL WR to come out of it has been Kenny Stills.

 

[DarkVolder]

None of Heupel’s receivers that he has coached at UT have made it big in the NFL, not even Hyatt or Tillman the two best ones he had that does make you wonder.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

None of Heupel’s receivers that he has coached at UT have made it big in the NFL, not even Hyatt or Tillman the two best ones he had that does make you wonder.

It makes me realize Brian Hartline coached at Ohio State, not UT.

It's pretty simple. If you're a really, really, REALLY elite WR for the past few years, you wanted to be coached by Hartline because he put several guys in the league. It's hard to recruit against that.

 

[WillisWG]

 

[WillisWG]

 

[TheVolsFrog]

TN used to have one side of the field that was dead especially during Hooker years but last year Offense played more Pro sets. I’ve even seen Joey Joey go thru his progressions and come around looking for an open WR on a roll out.

 

[fossilfiction]

Designed loafing? I hope that’s not true. We need a WR to breakthrough in the NFL badly.

We don't do it as much as we used to. I feel like until a two seasons ago, one side of the of the receivers would just stand there half the snaps. Now it looks like they jog out route or soft block if they are not primary targets.

 

[volman85]

Beat me to to it, exactly

 

[The Original Fade]

This can be fixed with one sentence to Brazzell:

”Chris, run every single route like you’re getting the ball and the game is on the line, or you will not see the field”

Problem solved

 

[Scot Harvath]

This can be fixed with one sentence to Brazzell:

”Chris, run every single route like you’re getting the ball and the game is on the line, or you will not see the field”

Problem solved

I would think this sentence coupled with all the zeros in his contract and the desire to increase those zeros after 3 years would be motivation enough.

 

[WillisWG]

None of Heupel’s receivers that he has coached at UT have made it big in the NFL, not even Hyatt or Tillman the two best ones he had that does make you wonder.

Not sure Ced has been healthy enough to make much of an impact. Thumb injury, couple of concussions, hamstring...just goes on.

someone else's take on JH.

Hyatt’s defining trait has always been speed. Not good speed — game-altering speed. When he played at Tennessee, he thrived primarily out of the slot (87% of snaps as a senior), where free releases and open space allowed him to burn safeties vertically and horizontally.

Rather than building packages that mirrored Hyatt’s collegiate success, New York consistently deployed him outside against press coverage — asking a lean, speed-based receiver to win physically at the line of scrimmage. After playing 88.3% of snaps out wide in 2023, that number rose to 89.6% in 2024, and remains at 81.4% of snaps this season.

The result was predictable: stalled routes, disrupted timing, and a receiver who looked increasingly uncomfortable within the structure of the offense. Hyatt has looked sloppy running his routes and has been known to drop many of the limited passes that now come in his direction.

Instead of accentuating Hyatt’s strengths, the Giants neutralized them. His yards per reception have dropped dramatically, his target share has shrunk, and his role has devolved into situational snaps rather than designed opportunities. For a player whose value is tied to defensive fear, that’s football malpractice.