Much has changed since the 2022 Tennessee game brought agony to Alabama Crimson Tide fans.
What a difference a year makes. Well actually it has been two years since the Alabama Crimson Tide defense was shredded in Knoxville. In the 2022 game, Tennessee QB, Hendon Hooker threw five touchdown passes as the Vols produced 567 yards of total offense. Josh Heupel, in his second season as the Tennessee head man was hailed as the college football’s latest ‘Offensive Guru’.
Much has changed since the 2022 game brought agony to Alabama Crimson Tide fans. Some college football experts believe defenses have figured out how to slow, and at times, stop Heupel’s fast-paced, wide-sets attack. The biggest difference is in 2023, Joe Milton was no Hendon Hooker. So far, neither is Nico Iamaleava.
Much of the drama in the 2022 game came from Alabama’s inability to cover Jalin Hyatt, who caught six passes for the Crimson Tide; five for touchdowns. Hyatt embarrassing Alabama would not have produced a Tennessee victory, had the Vols not rushed for 182 yards, with an average gain of 4.7 yards. Heupel’s wide splits are designed to create inside rushing lanes. In the 2023 game, Alabama was better prepared for the inside zone runs and held the Vols to an average carry of 3.5 yards.
When the Vols reached 3-0 this season, there was still buzz about the magic of Heupel’s offense. Like many buzz perspectives, the praise was not fully tied to facts. In the Vols first three games, Tennessee scored 191 points. The 66.7 points per game average suggested Tennessee had the nation’s most productive offense. It didn’t; the Vols played three of college football’s weakest teams. In the three games since, one of which was a loss to Arkansas, the Vols averaged 20.7 points. The last three Tennessee games indicate the Vols’ point ceiling against Alabama is no more than 30 points.
Alabama Crimson Tide Defensive Weakness
To be clear, this is no Crimson Tide sunshine-pumping message. If Alabama tackles as it has too often this season, Tennessee should win the game. In the offseason, there were expert claims that Kane Wommack’s defense was well-suited to stymie the Tennessee offense. Against the same offense, run by Alex Golesh at USF, the Alabama defense held the Bulls to 2-for-18 on third down. USF only scored 16 points, but the Vols are far more dangerous than the Bulls, who lack a consistent passer at QB. Reading too much into the USF result is a mistake. It is also a mistake to believe the Alabama Football defense will suddenly correct all its flaws in a pressure-cooker game in a hostile setting.
The Alabama Crimson Tide should win, what is likely to be a close game. That is if it tackles well.