Let’s keep this just between us. We don’t want to damage confidence or hurt anybody’s feelings.
I’ll say it quietly: Tennessee’s defense is suddenly better than the offense.
That is a new experience. Nobody has ever said that of a Josh Heupel team. All the talk all the time has been about up-tempo, explosive plays and touchdowns, clusters of touchdowns.
Fans worried about how fast the Vols racked up points. The defense had to play an unfair number of minutes. Oh my, defensive players might get tired.
Well, Nico is still Nico, more or less. Dylan Sampson is probably among the top 10 running backs in the country. Squirrel is big-play excitement. Tight ends have been rediscovered. The offensive line has been through the fire.
The offense is just fine, thank you, with potential to improve as Nico Iamaleava gains experience.
What’s new is the Tennessee defense knocked knots on wolf heads and claimed a sizable share of the Charlotte spotlight. Can you believe North Carolina State gained only 27 yards in the entire second half of a 51-10 drubbing?
The Vols sent thousands of redcoats to early exits. Some expressed disbelief.
North Carolina State quarterback Grayson McCall didn’t leave the arena early but he might as well have. He sparked three first downs in the first eight minutes and didn’t accomplish much after Tennessee adjusted. For the first time in 24 games, he didn’t throw a touchdown pass. The three-time player of the year from the Sun Belt Conference didn’t even come close.
Jordan Waters, freshman all-American and Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year, ran seven times for minus four yards. McCall ended up with the ball nine times and netted six yards. He was better as a short passer if you don’t count what Joshua Josephs and Will Brooks did to him.
The game was still very much a game when Josephs got in the quarterback’s face and forced him to throw over outstretched arms. Brooks, great story as a walk-on starting safety, saw it coming, adjusted for the interception and swiftly ran 85 yards to the end zone.
It was the defensive play of the game. It changed everything. It gave the Vols a 17-3 lead with 3:25 left in the first half. Tennessee added a field goal before intermission and blew the game wide open in the third quarter.
The rout was a huge disappointment for North Carolina State. It aspires to be recognized as the big-time program it thinks it is. It wants to raise its reputation above the ACC. Duke’s Mayo Classic in an NFL stadium in prime time was a perfect launch pad.
Tennessee destroyed the idea. It was an obliteration. The Vols got a boost to No. 7 in the AP poll.
Heupel said the team played well defensively.
“Starts with defending the run game, violent, disruptive up front. Being great in our fits and then applying pressure to the quarterback and being really sound in coverage.
“I really like the growth that we’ve had in the early part of the season. I like our personnel. There’s some things that we can continue to get better at, but they got great energy, camaraderie, they care about each other.”
NC State coach Dave Doeren said Tennessee’s defensive tackles were his primary pregame concern. Doeren studied the depth chart and watched video and realized he had to find a way to control or at least calm Omari Thomas, Bryson Eason, Omarr Norman-Lott, Elijah Simmons, Jaxson Moi and Daevin Hobbs.
Whatever plan he chose failed.
“I watched the line of scrimmage all night,” said Doeren. “It wasn’t going our way. It was going their way.”
Nico said he thought he did OK. He played just over three quarters, went 16-for-23 for 212 passing yards and touchdowns to transfer tight ends Miles Kitselman and Holden Staes. He hit another that was erased by penalty.
Nico lost two interceptions. One was a poor read and poor throw. A missed block and a rough mugging led to a pop-up pass and an 87-yard pick six.
Nico ran for 65 yards and a nifty TD. Sampson gained 132 yards on 20 runs, scored twice and caught three passes.
Heupel surprised State. Season after season he has mostly used spread formations with three or four wide receivers. The Wolfpack was not prepared for his tighter formation and two tight ends. They blocked and blocked and released late to be wide open receivers.
Smart coach. Keep that quiet, too. Oklahoma may be listening.
Tennessee plays Kent State Saturday evening at Neyland Stadium. Visiting St. Francis (PA), 19-point underdog, upset Kent State, 23-17, on Saturday past. You will be told the upcoming game is a sellout.
Marvin West welcomes comments or questions from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com