This offseason, Tennessee football offensive coordinator Joey Halzle said the goal was to get splash plays more consistently in the mix. In the opener against Syracuse on Saturday, Joey Aguilar connected with Braylon Staley for a 73-yard touchdown to do exactly that in the 45-26 win.
It wasn’t a short or intermediate route that Staley took the rest of the way, either. Instead, the ball traveled from UT’s 27 to Syracuse’s 27. The ball was placed well, given Staley’s separation, and he rumbled the rest of the way into the end zone for the score. This gave Tennessee a 24-7 lead just moments into the second quarter.
At the time of the touchdown strike, Aguilar was 8-for-15 passing for 163 yards and a touchdown. He had also run three times for 29 yards. He was already responsible for one fumble, but the defense picked him up and scooped-and-scored a touchdown of its own as a response.
By the end of the game, Aguilar had totaled 247 passing yards to go with three touchdowns. Staley caught four passes for 95 yards and the score.
dialed up a deep shot
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Staley said the play was designed for a shot either to Mike Matthews or himself. They were the only two receivers on the field with Tennessee in 12 personnel, with running back DeSean Bishop in the backfield alongside tight ends Miles Kitselman and Ethan Davis.
Matthews streaked down the left sideline in seemingly man coverage while Staley took the other side. With both safeties stepping up to defend the play-action, it created the chance to get behind the defense on the post route.
“I mean, we called the play to either me or Mike (Matthews),” Staley said. “I felt like I had the right read on it. Ran the post route, I was open. Touchdown.”
Aguilar saw the opportunity and delivered a great ball. This offseason, he talked about taking what the defense gave him while still letting it fly. The goal is to still have a dynamic pass attack while limiting some turnovers that plagued him a year ago.
This happened not just on the deep ball to Staley. He also escaped the pocket and found Star Thomas on a jump ball score in the third quarter, along with a redzone touchdown to Miles Kitselman.
“I feel like I did well. It was very good defense. Syracuse is a very good program,” Aguilar said. “When they gave me a shot, I took advantage of it. Executed on some of ’em. Gave Star (Thomas) a jump ball, came down with it. I felt good. Like I say, a lot of things to work on. Overall, I think I felt decent.”
