Feel a B is a well deserved grade. He has done a lot of good things, and those good things have brought positive conversation points about our team back to Knoxville. Tackling, discipline, heart and drive, and offensive numbers are a few of his better accomplishments as a coach.
However, he did have Milton starting. That's a big blemish, especially since it cost us the Pitt and Florida games (because Hooker wasn't quite ready nor gelling with the 1s). I felt anything less than 6 wins was a bad season given our talent and schedule. He could be sitting at 7 already had his team finished games better.
Heup also hasn't shown me the moments when he can break from his system and play the game as it is unfolding, i.e. frequent shotgun snaps on 3rd/4th and short instead of a traditional going under center. He's had several questionable 4th down calls too.
The absence of screens or other designed plays against a rushing front (see the Georgia game) also suggests he's married to his system and not willing to adjust for what the other team is giving you.
A lot of points have been left out on the field by going for it on fourth down frequently rather than kicking field goals. If memory serves this occurred in the Pitt game, Florida game, Ole Miss game, and Georgia game.
He hasn't closed out the "could've won" games: Pitt, Ole Miss, maybe even Florida or Bama (yes talent, depth, exhaustion - I get it). But Heup hasn't managed his personnel well, i.e. put together long drives to rest the D. He doesn't have the team focused and/ or locked in toward the end of games to finish them out without penalties, turn overs, and other failures to execute on crucial plays.
Lastly, he is still adjusting and learning how to win in the SEC. The Georgia loss I think really exposed his naivete for how difficult it is to win against top tier talent every week during conference play.
That B can drop too. We still have two games left and recruiting is a concern with the early signing period only a month away.