Remember when Tennessee led the nation in points per game in 2022? And just last season, UT quarterback Joey Aguilar led the SEC in passing yardage per game.
Halfway through this season, those high-flying days are easy to forget. The Vols averaged just 21.7 points in their three SEC games.
They likely will be hard-pressed to reach their average against Alabama on Oct. 17 at Neyland Stadium.
On the bright side for UT fans, the Vols are 5-1 and playing well enough defensively to make you wonder if they could could make the College Football Playoff again – just as they did in 2024 with a terrific defense.
Despite that playoff possibility, my emailers are wringing their literary hands over a sputtering offense, uncertainty at quarterback, and a conservative
offense that bares little resemblance to coach Josh Heupel’s up-tempo, high scoring offense of four years ago.
Their concerns extend beyond this season.
Mike writes: Do you think the poor play of the Vols' offense might cause David Gabriel Georges to rethink his commitment to Tennessee?
Unless Faizon Brandon or George MacIntyre step up miraculously in the second half of the season, the Vols would appear to have no choice but to go to the portal for a starting quarterback for next season. Will Gabriel Georges want to keep his commitment to Tennessee when he will not know who the starting quarterback might be?
My response: My guess is he’s more interested in who will hand him a check, rather than who will hand him the football.
Tennessee and Adidas supposedly will be paying him quarterback money. Also, running backs continue to flourish in Heupel’s offense – no matter who the quarterback is.
Another Mike writes: Good article on quarterbacks, John. It’s tricky, and the conclusion is still uncertain.
As you noted, Kentucky and Missouri won in the QB transfer sweepstakes; results have been mixed with Beal Pribula and Sam Leavitt (both of their teams have more losses than the Vols), and Brendan Sorsby was a disaster for Texas Tech.
Recruiting, signing, and developing good QBs is probably still the most straightforward path − just ask Georgia and Alabama.
My response: I view Georgia and Alabama as exceptions. Signing high school quarterbacks – even the five-star ones – and developing them is risky if your goal is to win a national championship.
Indiana and Miami have the right idea. Budget big bucks for a quarterback transfer every year and forget about trying to develop high school quarterbacks.
Never mind how brightly the best five-star quarterbacks shine in Elite 11 camps. Or how mobile and strong-armed they are. They might not have what it takes to excel as a college quarterback.
Doc writes: I am coming to the conclusion that Josh Heupel is more and more like Regular Season Rick. A high floor with a limited ceiling.
Coach Heup's inability to get an experienced QB in the portal will come back to haunt him, if it hasn't already.
My response: Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes is doing OK in the postseason. He has led the Vols to three consecutive Elite Eights.
Heupel tried, but failed, to sign a transfer quarterback. So, he wasn’t oblivious to the challenge of relying on inexperienced quarterbacks.
He probably wishes he had tried harder.
Jimmy writes: Fetal-position Heupel won’t get it done against Alabama no matter who the quarterback is.
Brandon has the higher ceiling in my opinion. Heupel will have to go back to him eventually or he will transfer.
My response: Amid all the quarterback uncertainty, you can be sure about this: Both quarterbacks won’t return to Tennessee next season.
In fact, it’s possible neither one will return.
Chris writes: You can’t coach scared because your players sense it and play scared. Why has Heupel become soooo conservative?
My response: LSU fans are asking the same question about Lane Kiffin after he got outcoached by Kentucky’s Will Stein.
As for Heupel, it’s easier to take risks when you have an experienced quarterback whom you trust to make the right decisions.
Robert writes: Hard to believe but I like your analysis. I do think you’re being a little hard on MacIntyre.
The exchange fumble wasn’t his fault nor was the tipped interception. He showed a lightning arm and made some good plays. Brandon, if healthy, would give us a better chance because his running ability would limit Bama’s pass rush.
But it took an experienced Gunner Stockton threading the needle to move the ball on Alabama.
My response: MacIntyre did make some plays against Arkansas in his first college start. But he turned the ball over three times.
You can’t win like that.
I disagree that Brandon would give the Vols a better chance against the Tide. Although he’s more mobile than MacIntyre, he has been slower with his release and less accurate.
john Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Reader wonders if QB play will make David Gabriel Georges reconsider Tennessee | Adams
