Through the midway mark of this college football season, Tennessee ranks among the nation’s top 10 in total offense, scoring offense, total defense and scoring defense.
Of course, those offensive numbers for the Volunteers appear to be hanging by a thread following the second half of the Oklahoma game on Sept. 21 plus the past two contests against Arkansas and Florida. The Vols were shut out during the first half of their 19-14 loss to the Razorbacks and again this past Saturday night in their eventual 23-17 overtime triumph over the Gators.
Tennessee fourth-year coach Josh Heupel described his defense as “elite” on Saturday night. His offense has been far from it since overwhelming the Kent States of the world, and Heupel was asked whether a noticeable disparity between an offense and defense can lead to friction within the roster.
“This football team is just trying to find a way to be plus-one on the scoreboard,” Heupel said. “If you can find a way to be a lot more than that, then that’s awesome. At no point since I’ve been here has it been anything other than all of us together.
“Our defense has a competitive makeup but also a belief in the other side that they’re going to make a play. It’s what a team is about.”