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We continue on with our look at the top 25 and what we can learn from these coaches.  Today Coach Kaufmann breaks down #9 Tennessee and shares some insight from OL Coach Glen Elarbee’s C.O.O.L. Clinic talk.

-Coach Grabowski

Season Preview Capsule

When you have the nation’s top offense you are probably going to put yourself in position to win a lot of games. Tennessee found itself doing just that a year ago where they put up 525.5 yards per game and seemed to march the ball on just about anyone. Coach Heupel and crew look to continue this success and close the gap on Georgia and their recent SEC East dominance. 

Hendon Hooker is going to be the name everyone thinks of when they remember players from the 2022 season that saw Tennessee rise back to prominence. But, it will also be the biggest void when Vols’ fans are thinking of the 2023 season. Joe Milton following his Orange Bowl performance against Clemson is the obvious pick for the job, but make no mistake about it there will be competition the whole way to push him with heralded freshman Nico Iamaleava. Regardless, they will need help and the likes of Bru McCoy and Squirrel White are going to be just the answer.

The real trick is the defense. When it comes to the SEC it is evident that offense can win you games but, for the real trophies especially coming out of that conference your defense is going to have to be up to snuff. In the Heupel era, they have seen consistent progress most notably their 3rd down defense this past season. They will rely on several key returners to power the defense and its growth in the 2023 season but, the addition of Linebacker Keenan Pili and Gabe Jeudy-Lally from BYU is hoping to be the biggest difference as they look to dethrone the Bulldogs this coming year and return to the SEC championship game for the first time since 2007.

Be Unique

I say this loosely, as we all know that coaches are some of the greatest copycat’s and as you read this we are all trying to take something from another program or coach to better ourselves. 

But, understand how you can be unique within what you are trying to accomplish. When looking into the Tennessee run game they are neither a duo nor zone team and Coach Elarbee does a great job explaining this. 

Knowing the spacing and operation of your plays to best execute whether they fall into scheme norms or not cause be the difference in your teams production. In his C.O.O.L. Clinic presentation Coach Elarbee explained how their offense works in a different manner than traditionally because of aspects like WR splits. 

Video: Why Inside Footwork with Tempo & Spreading the Field

Understanding The Goal At Hand

Coach Elarbee elanorated on a the topic of their entire offense and how their themes and various items work synergistically with each other and they more or less embody those characteristics. 

Of course, as the offense you know the play, the desired outcome and the most effective way to achieve these items, but as Coach points out, we plan accordingly and utilize teachings in a manner that supports the schematics of the play, whether it be traditional or not. 

Here is Coach Elarbee  talking about their themes in the run game:

Video: Themes in the Run Game

Use Personnel to Your Advantage

Many times we overlook the simple changes that personnel swaps naturally allow us. Defensively you are always going to view 10,11,12 etc differently unless a team has a tremendous TE that plays in-line, off, as a WR and can block. 

So take the opportunity you have with remaining consistent and simple in the teaching and allow your rules to carry over on plays that compliment each other but complicate the schemes for coordinators and defenders alike. 

See Coach Elarbee explain the parallels between IZ and split zone schematics in this tape.

Video: Insert Split

Know Who You Are

Ultimately, the lesson to take from all this is knowing your system better than anyone else. Coach Elarbee and Heupel know exactly what their offense is, what it is trying to accomplish therefore they know the accompanying teachings and how to make these items as effective as possible. 

Even better they are not concerned with falling into the typical stigma of being a zone or gap team or air raid etc. They know exactly where they are headed and they know the packages that they provide are consistent in how they complement each other. 

I really enjoyed this clinic.  I walked away with knowledge of both complementing your scheme and working with your offensive line and some varying footwork ideologies.

Strive to Succeed!

Coach Kauffman

Other Clinics from the Tennessee Staff:

Tempo Run Game & Counter - Glen Elarbee…a must watch if you are a tempo team.

Tennessee Offense Analysis:

The Tennessee Offense: Run Game

The Tennessee Offense: RPOs and Wrinkles

The Tennessee Offense: Pass Game

Beating Bama: How Tennessee Rolled the Tide