The Tennessee Volunteers’ Drawbacks During the 2024 Season

As the 2024 college football season unfolds, expectations for the Tennessee Volunteers were high after an exciting 2023 campaign. Under head coach Josh Heupel, the Volunteers had made significant strides, especially offensively, establishing themselves as one of the most dynamic and high-scoring teams in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). However, as the season progresses, it has become increasingly clear that Tennessee has faced a number of drawbacks that have hindered their ability to fully reach their potential. These challenges, which span various aspects of the game, have raised questions about the Volunteers’ ability to contend for an SEC title and make a strong push toward a playoff spot.

Despite some flashes of brilliance, the 2024 Tennessee Volunteers have struggled with consistency, player development, and specific positional weaknesses that have ultimately affected their overall performance. In this article, we’ll delve into some of the key drawbacks that have plagued the Volunteers this season, examining their offensive and defensive issues, the struggles with depth, and other external factors that have kept Tennessee from truly reaching its ceiling.

1. Inconsistent Quarterback Play

The quarterback position has been one of the most pressing issues for Tennessee in 2024. While there were high hopes for Joe Milton III to take the reins and continue the high-powered offense that characterized the 2023 season, his performance has been marked by inconsistency. Milton, a physically gifted player with a powerful arm, has struggled with accuracy and decision-making at times. This has led to frustrating drives and missed opportunities for the Volunteers, preventing them from fully capitalizing on their offensive talent.

In Tennessee’s early games, Milton showed flashes of brilliance, connecting on deep throws and displaying his ability to extend plays with his legs. However, he has also had moments where his passing accuracy faltered, missing wide-open receivers and making poor decisions under pressure. These mistakes have resulted in turnovers at inopportune moments, undermining the team’s ability to sustain drives and put points on the board.

The inconsistency in Milton’s play has been particularly problematic for an offense that relies on fast-paced, high-tempo drives. The Volunteers’ ability to stretch the field and score quickly has been hindered by erratic quarterback play, and opposing defenses have been able to exploit these flaws by forcing Milton into uncomfortable situations.

While Milton has the physical tools to be an elite quarterback, his struggles with consistency have proven to be a significant drawback for Tennessee in 2024. The team’s hopes of competing for an SEC title may ultimately depend on whether Milton can overcome his limitations and develop into a more reliable and poised signal-caller.

2. Offensive Line Struggles

While Tennessee’s offense has been one of the most potent in the SEC under Heupel’s system, the offensive line has been a weak link in 2024. Despite returning several key starters from the previous season, the Volunteers’ offensive line has struggled with pass protection, run blocking, and overall cohesion. The inability to consistently protect the quarterback has placed additional pressure on Milton and disrupted the flow of the offense.

In particular, Tennessee has had issues in pass protection, with opposing defenses consistently putting pressure on Milton, forcing him into quick throws or taking him down for sacks. While Heupel’s system relies on quick-hitting passes and tempo, an offensive line that is unable to provide solid protection limits the team’s ability to execute its game plan effectively.

The Volunteers’ struggles in the run game have also been a notable issue. The offensive line has struggled to create running lanes for Jaylen Wright and Dylan Sampson, two running backs with explosive potential. This has resulted in a less effective rushing attack, limiting Tennessee’s ability to establish balance and keep defenses honest. As a result, Tennessee has been forced to become more one-dimensional, relying heavily on Milton’s arm and the passing game, which has been inconsistent.

Tennessee’s offensive line has been a significant drawback in 2024, and it has had a ripple effect on the team’s overall performance. Without improved play up front, the Volunteers will continue to face difficulty in sustaining long drives and keeping opposing defenses off-balance.

3. Defensive Inconsistencies

While the Tennessee defense has shown improvements under defensive coordinator Tim Banks, the unit has remained inconsistent in 2024. The Volunteers have struggled with fundamental issues, such as tackling, gap control, and coverage, which have allowed opposing offenses to find success against them. Against teams with strong, well-coached offenses, Tennessee has often been exposed, particularly in critical moments.

The defensive line has faced challenges in generating a consistent pass rush, which has allowed opposing quarterbacks to settle into a rhythm. Tyler Baron and Omari Thomas are capable pass rushers, but the defense as a whole has lacked the consistent pressure that would force opposing quarterbacks into mistakes. Without pressure on the quarterback, Tennessee’s secondary has been exposed, as quarterbacks have had more time to find open receivers.

In the secondary, Tennessee has also struggled with coverage, particularly in high-leverage situations. The Volunteers’ cornerbacks and safeties have had difficulty locking down wide receivers in key moments, leading to blown coverages and big plays. Opponents have taken advantage of Tennessee’s secondary vulnerabilities, often converting on third-and-long situations and finding the end zone when the game is on the line.

While Tennessee’s defense has had moments of brilliance, particularly in their ability to make stops when needed, the overall inconsistencies in defensive execution have been a major drawback. Against some of the SEC’s elite offenses, such as Georgia and Alabama, the Volunteers have not been able to string together enough consistent stops to give their offense a chance to win.

4. Lack of Depth at Key Positions

Depth has been an ongoing issue for Tennessee in 2024, particularly at key positions such as linebacker, defensive back, and along the offensive line. Injuries to key players have exposed the lack of depth, and when some of the starters have been forced to miss time, the team has struggled to maintain its level of play.

The linebacker corps, while talented, has not had the depth to maintain its effectiveness throughout the season. When starters like Aaron Beasley have been banged up, the defense has struggled to fill the void, leading to a lack of coverage in the middle of the field and missed tackles. The same issue has arisen in the secondary, where Tennessee’s lack of depth has led to mismatches against skilled wide receivers. When injuries or fatigue have taken a toll, Tennessee’s defense has found itself unable to make the necessary stops.

On the offensive side of the ball, the lack of depth along the offensive line has been just as problematic. When starters have struggled or been injured, the backups have not been able to provide the same level of play, leading to disruptions in the running and passing games. This lack of depth has made it difficult for Tennessee to maintain its offensive consistency, especially in high-pressure situations.

While Tennessee’s top-tier players have the talent to compete with the best, the lack of depth across multiple positions has prevented the team from fully realizing its potential. As the season wears on, injuries and fatigue could continue to play a significant role in the Volunteers’ struggles.

5. Inability to Close Out Games

Perhaps one of the most frustrating drawbacks for Tennessee in 2024 has been their inability to close out games. In several key matchups, the Volunteers have found themselves in competitive contests, only to falter in the final moments due to mistakes, lack of execution, or poor decision-making. Whether it’s missed field goals, turnovers, or lapses in defensive coverage, Tennessee has failed to capitalize on critical opportunities when the game is on the line.

Against high-quality opponents, such as Alabama and Georgia, Tennessee has had moments where they were in striking distance, only to falter and allow their opponents to pull away. In some cases, these failures have been tied to late-game offensive struggles, where Milton and the offense couldn’t sustain a drive or failed to capitalize on an opportunity to score. In others, it was defensive breakdowns, where Tennessee’s inability to make timely stops led to the opponent walking away with the win.

The Volunteers’ inability to close out games in 2024 has been one of the defining issues of their season. It highlights a lack of mental toughness, execution under pressure, and overall discipline. If Tennessee hopes to contend for an SEC title and secure a playoff berth, these issues must be addressed.