Comment from Tennessee Vols offensive coordinator is extremely encouraging for UT football the rest of the 2024 season

The Tennessee Vols know that they have to give opposing defenses some different looks if they're going to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff this season.

Tennessee is willing to take what the defense gives them, instead of forcing splash plays that aren't there. That's a big reason why the Vols relied heavily on 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) against NC State in Charlotte this past weekend.

Vols offensive coordinator Joey Halzle said during Vol Calls on Wednesday night that Tennessee's players have fully bought into the philosophy of taking what the defense is giving them.

"It (12 personnel) was something that we knew we wanted to be able to do this year," said Halzle. "And it's going to pop up multiple times this season. And it was good to see our guys go do it. And more than anything, believe in it. Because it was different than what we typically look like. Playing with two tight ends, the wideouts were excited. They were in there. You're seeing Squirrel (White) running around in 12 personnel.

"We told our guys, 'Hey, we're going to have to win different sometimes.' It's not always just the bread and butter, exactly how you want to do it. What is this defensive structure giving us that allows us to do something that can take advantage of it? And the guys bought in and executed it at a high level."

The last part of Halzle's quote is what's so encouraging for the Vols. Tennessee's wide receivers, for example, are at UT in part because the wide receivers in Josh Heupel's offense typically put up big numbers. But these players care more about winning games than their stat lines. And that can be a powerful thing for a football program.

It seems clear that this Tennessee team is on a mission. And they're taking a championship approach to accomplishing that mission.

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