Senior Staff Writer/Editor/Host
3,267 days. I was a senior in high school. Barack Obama was President of the United States. That’s how long it’s been since Tennessee last beat Georgia. The year was 2016 — it feels like a lifetime ago.
On Saturday, Josh Heupel has a chance to snap another streak that’s haunted the Vols. The question is: how can they do it?
During Josh Heupel’s tenure, Tennessee’s offense has averaged nearly 40 points and 478.7 yards per game. Against Georgia, however, Kirby Smart has been the kryptonite. The Bulldogs have held the Vols to just an average of 14 points and 318 yards of total offense.
How Georgia has stifled Tennessee’s offense is both intricate and layered. To simplify it: the Bulldogs press their corners at the line of scrimmage while keeping a light box against the run. That forces the Vols into one-on-one battles against Georgia’s elite defenders — matchups Tennessee hasn’t had the weapons to consistently win. And if you can’t threaten a team through the air, doing real damage on the ground becomes nearly impossible.
Take it from Josh Heupel, who’s clearly recognized the trend and adjusted. He’s shifted his wide-choice, Veer-and-Shoot offense into a more compact style — revamping everything from bunch trips to the way he attacks in the screen game.
In a wide-choice set, the ball takes longer to travel across the field, making it tough for blockers to hold long enough on screens. Against Syracuse and ETSU, though, Tennessee’s receivers were much closer to their blockers, the quarterback, and the offensive line — and it’s already produced explosive plays.
Of course, Kirby Smart has noticed too. He’ll have a plan for it, but expect Heupel to have a few new wrinkles ready to catch Georgia off guard.
Defensively, Tennessee has struggled just as much against Georgia. Since Josh Heupel’s arrival, the Vols have held opponents to 230 yards per game. Against Georgia, that number nearly doubles to 449. Tennessee typically allows 22 points per game — but versus the Bulldogs, it jumps to 32.
As good as Tim Banks has been for Tennessee’s defense, one bugaboo continues to trip him up: presnap motion. We even saw Syracuse exploit it earlier this season, though the Vols tightened up when it mattered most.
Kirby Smart, however, has leaned on motion against Tennessee more than almost anyone. Even something as simple as a running back switching sides before the handoff has consistently gashed the Vols for nine-yard gains.
So, what’s the key for Tennessee to finally slay one of its last remaining ghosts? Winning the one-on-one battles. The receivers must create separation and make plays. The defenders on the outside must contest every pass and disrupt Georgia’s rhythm.
Do that, and the Vols won’t just have a chance to win — they’ll prove that the days of streaks, droughts, and ghosts are over.
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