The Tennessee Vols' passing game was insulted this week ahead of a big matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats.
Fans who watched Tennessee's loss to South Carolina two weeks ago know that Vols quarterback George MacIntyre played much better than the box score indicated.
MacIntyre threw three dimes for downfield touchdowns that were called back due to penalties that had no impact on the play (the calls were fair…the point is that MacIntyre made the plays).
CBS Sports' Chip Patterson, however, doesn't see it that way.
Patterson said this week that Tennessee's passing game has been "disrespectful to the playing career and coaching career of Josh Heupel."
"This Tennessee passing offense has been horrendous," said Patterson. "This Tennessee passing offense has been disrespectful to the playing career and coaching career of Josh Heupel. This Tennessee passing offense against SEC opponents has just two passing touchdowns to four interceptions. This Tennessee passing offense in SEC play is dead last, averaging 163 passing yards per game.
"If those were their averages across the whole season, they'd be ranked outside the top 110 nationally. This is a one-armed man of an offense right now, and they are lucky and fortunate, and should count their blessings, that they have DeSean Bishop in the lineup, and that he is willing to run as hard as he has been able to do all season long. It doesn't matter whether it's Faizon Brandon. It doesn't matter whether it's George MacIntyre. This passing attack simply has not been good enough to be able to match the caliber of the defense and the run game. But luckily the defense and the run game are so elite that being last in the SEC in passing yards per game and having just two touchdowns to four interceptions in SEC play has not hindered their college football playoff hopes…yet."
Look, the numbers certainly haven't been good. So I don't think it's a completely unfair take from Patterson. But at the same time, the numbers don't tell the whole story.
The Vols' offense was always going to take some time to get going this season due to the inexperience at quarterback. The scheme, though, has been working. There were open receivers in the loss to Texas, but Faizon Brandon just didn't throw the ball. And there have been big plays that were executed, but silly penalties have wiped those plays off the board.
There's also the fact that Josh Heupel has decided to protect his defense and lean on the run. It's a formula that's worked, but it's meant a reduction in opportunities on offense, too. And that's obviously led to the numbers looking even worse for Tennessee.
The passing game certainly needs to hit its stride in November for the Vols to have a real shot at making the playoff. But I think anyone who has watched Tennessee closely this season — and I'm not faulting Patterson for not (there are only so many hours in a Saturday and there are a lot of games to consume) — has seen glimpses of what this passing game can be. And they've seen that it's getting better each week.
We'll see if the Vols can prove it on Saturday against Kentucky and turn Patterson's hot take into a freezing cold take.
By the way, Patterson still picked Tennessee to win the game 24-23.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: 'This Tennessee passing offense has been horrendous' – National analyst calls out the Vols' passing game while making score prediction for UT vs Kentucky
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