Final Assessment of Tennessee’s Win over NC State

Written By Tucker Harlin

By Tucker Harlin

I wanted to put this out simply because I wasn’t able to get a piece out between watch parties and VR, so I’m going to run through my final thoughts here before I officially shift my focus to Kent State.

VOLS DEFENSE IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH UNDER HEUPEL

The way Tennessee’s defense played on Saturday should strike fear into SEC schools that see it on their schedules this season.

I knew K.C. Concepcion was the only true threat NC State possessed on offense going in, but he only hurt Tennessee on one play the entire game.

The secondary played remarkably well in contrast to the expectation we’ve set for it over the years. Jermod McCoy had several nice tackles, and we saw Jakobe Thomas recorded a nice sack.

But the one and only Robert William Brooks was the true difference maker in the secondary.

Brooks’ pick six totally changed the course of this game, and he very well could have had a second interception in the second half.

I continue to be impressed by the play of the Vols front seven.

Keenan Pili was a veteran presence that was sorely missed last season, Arion Carter had matured quite a bit in his sophomore, and the Telander tackling machine is now forcing fumbles.

Maybe I’m reading too far into this, but part of me thinks coaching could be a factor in the improvement of this unit.

I don’t say this to bash Brian Jean-Mary. The linebacker room had talent in his time in Knoxville, it just couldn’t stay healthy.

But sometimes you can just tell who the “football guys” on a coaching staff are. The best example I can find in the NFL of a “football guy” is Mike Tomlin, but they’re everywhere at that level.

Rodney Garner and Mike Ekeler were the best example on Tennessee’s staff in the first three years, but William Inge brings a football IQ to the linebacker room that we just didn’t see in Heupel’s first three years.

I loved the moment when he ripped Keenan Pili over his unnecessary roughness penalty. Sure there was embellishment, but an old man like Pili has to know better.

The line is nasty.

James Pearce hasn’t really had that breakout performance yet this season, but he didn’t need to Saturday. Just about every defensive lineman that played a snap made a play, and to me, the most impressive of them all was Dom Bailey’s strip sack and mid air recovery in a singular motion.

THE RUSH ATTACK MAY BE THE BEST IN THE SEC

Dylan Sampson demanded more playing time last season, and he’s proven his worth.

He leads the SEC in rush yards, stacking consecutive triple digit rush yard performances in the first two games of the season. Hell, he’s already got more touchdowns in two games than Jaylen Wright scored all of last season.

I’m liking what the Vols are getting out of former Karns Beaver DeSean Bishop in the opening weeks of the season.

Cam Seldon has been in and out of the rotation due to injury, so Bishop is assuming the role Sampson took in 2022.

Add in the fact you have a natural runner at quarterback in Nico Iamaleava and you have an incredible rush attack.

IT WASN’T NICO’S BEST NIGHT, BUT THE PASS ATTACK IS SCARY

Even though the SEC weekly honors said otherwise, Nico Iamaleava’s performance Saturday was his worst in Tennessee orange.

Nico threw two picks to Wolf Pack defensive backs, one for six. I don’t fault him as much for the pick six since he was hit as he threw, but the interception he threw early in the game was pretty bad. Tennessee had a chance to go up two scores on the drive.

But two interceptions in a 51-10 win creates a wonderful learning experience, and Nico was able to look past his mistakes.

As for the guys Nico is throwing to, their depth is unmatched by any other group of SEC receivers.

Nobody “went off” in Saturday’s win, but that’s the beauty of this offense.

Bru McCoy and Dont’e Thornton balled out in the win over Chattanooga, and Squirrel White led the team in receiving against NC State while McCoy’s 10 yard catch was the only one between him and Thornton in Charlotte.

The three-headed monster in Alec Abeln’s tight end group wasn’t something I expected coming into the year.

Holden Staes was expected to be an important part of the group coming in from Notre Dame, and we knew Ethan Davis was going to push for playing time after spending a year on the bench.

But Alabama transfer Miles Kitselman has been a hidden gem in this group.

His production in just two games at Tennessee has far exceeded anything he did in Tuscaloosa. Kitselman had three catches and finished second in receiving yards with 39 and a touchdown in Charlotte.

As we close the book on NC State, my confidence level in this Tennessee team is higher than it was at this point in the 2022 season.

The way the events across the SEC unfolded over the weekend, I now think 11-1 is very much a possibility for Tennessee in the regular season.

Tucker Harlin
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