KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Set for a Homecoming bout against UT Martin this weekend, the third-ranked and undefeated Tennessee Volunteers began walkthrough practice Thursday morning inside the Anderson Training Center. Head coach Josh Heupel met with members of the media to preview Saturday’s in-state, inter-system matchup (Noon, SEC Network).
“Just a really good energy and focus out on the practice field,” Heupel said. “I feel like they’ve strained. Today, for us, thought it was really pretty clean for this point in the week. Now it’s about finishing our preparation and competitive spirit on gameday. I want to see our guys go fly around and execute.”
The Skyhawks (4-2, 3-0 OVC) sit atop the Ohio Valley Conference standings and enter Saturday’s game on a three-game winning streak, scoring 146 points over that stretch. Heupel looks for his squad to focus on execution and in-game adjustments as the Vols vie for a 7-0 start for the first time since 1998.
“Obviously, offensively, you just look at the production that they’ve had and the ability to move the football (and) score points,” Heupel said. “It will be a great test for us on the defensive side of the football to go out and execute and play well. There are some things obviously that we’ve been focused on offensively. We’ll have to adjust to what we see at the beginning of the game and during the course of the game and have all 11 (players) execute at a really high level. There are some things that we’ve tried to clean up on special teams, and I want to see that improve too.”
In addition to Homecoming, the contest will also celebrate the 50-year anniversary of Title IX on campus. UT Martin served as the alma mater of legendary Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt, whose impact on collegiate athletics is felt throughout the country to this day.
The full transcript from Heupel’s Thursday press conference can be viewed below.
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Opening statement…
“It’s been a good week up until this point. Got to finish it out. I’m excited for gameday, and I know that our players are too. Looking forward to seeing everybody at the game Saturday afternoon.”
On what has been good about this week’s preparation…
“Just a really good energy and focus out on the practice field. I feel like they’ve strained. Today, for us, thought it was really pretty clean for this point in the week. Now it’s about finishing our preparation and competitive spirit on gameday. I want to see our guys go fly around and execute.”
On what stands out about UT Martin…
“Obviously, offensively, you just look at the production that they’ve had and the ability to move the football (and) score points. It will be a great test for us on the defensive side of the football to go out and execute and play well. There are some things obviously that we’ve been focused on offensively. We’ll have to adjust to what we see at the beginning of the game and during the course of the game and have all 11 (players) execute at a really high level. There are some things that we’ve tried to clean up on special teams, and I want to see that improve too.”
On Jaylen Wright’s recent performances…
“I just think last week in particular and the week before it too, it showed up. But last week was his best week of running the football (with) pad level, running his feet on contact. I think he’s gotten more comfortable and has a better understanding of what we’re doing offensively. The ability to be slow through the hole then accelerate, the ability to use the blockers up in front of you. Those guys are playing blind to what’s going on behind them. Those guys got to do a great job of delivering those blocks and I feel like he’s continued to grow in that way.”
On offensive red zone efficiency…
“First, good players. Then, the ability to execute, take the plan, adjust to what they’re seeing in the course of the game, decision making by Hendon (Hooker), first and foremost. When you’re throwing the football, competitive catches out on the outside. The skill guys all being on the same page. The ability to run the football. We’ve continued to be more and more efficient in that. So, you put all of those things together, that’s allowed us to be more efficient with the football in the red zone. A couple weeks ago, there were some things that we weren’t as efficient in that we wanted to be early in that football game. That’s a huge part of the game. There’s a big difference between getting seven and getting three.”
On updates for Cedric Tillman, Jaylen McCollough and Kamal Hadden…
“We will find out on the injured guys here at the back end of the week. I feel like they are both progressing. Cedric has had a good week, but we’ll see where we’re at tomorrow afternoon and make a determination on that point. Jaylen’s process is still going on. We’ll see where we’re at here at the end of the week.”
On Dylan Sampson’s progression…
“One-plays are really important. That’s an important play for him to learn from (missed pass protection at LSU). But, he is a young guy that we love inside of our program. We look forward to him playing and competing in this one. We have a great amount of trust in him. He’s young in his football development and he’s going to continue to grow, but for a young running back, he’s got really good understanding of pace, feel, vision, making the right cuts and playing well through contact.”
On the decision to have Joe Milton III throw the Hail Mary at the end of the first half…
“(It was) a little bit spur of the moment. Just where we were at field zone, it’s something that we had talked about earlier in the year and the opportunity presented itself at that point.”
On if Bru McCoy has been what they expected…
“Yeah, we thought he was a strong football player that was just starting to begin his journey as a football player at the wide receiver position. His progression and what we are doing – he drastically changed his body, he’s attentive, he’s competitive, he’s up in the building all of the time, and that’s been from day one even until this week. He’s up there before meetings start in the afternoon and constantly trying to get better. He’s got, for a young receiver in what we’re doing, has a really good understanding. But he is strong, and he is competitive, and that showed up really early when he was here. We thought that’s what he would be just based on the video that we watched. He’s certainly strong and confident and plays to his athleticism.”
On importance of playing an FCS team each year…
“I do think it’s important. Just having been around the game, my dad at a small college to him being at an FCS school. These games support their football department but, in some ways, support their entire athletic department as it continues to trickle down. I think it is important that these games are played. I think it speaks to the healthiness of football on all levels. I think that’s really important that we balance all those things as we continue to move forward.”
On the improvement on in-game adjustments this season…
“For sure, on the defensive side of the ball, the staff being together for another year, the cohesiveness, communication, being in sync helps with the adjustments. On the offensive side of the ball, the same thing, but as a staff we’ve been together for a period of time, so I feel like as much of anything in year two on the offensive side of the ball, and it’s true on the defense too, the players being able to understand the why behind things and being a year further ahead in their understanding of what we’re doing, what they’re seeing on the other side of the ball and why the adjustments are taking place. Some of that happens, there’s looks that are unscripted or haven’t been seen on video, and your players being able to adjust even within the course of the drive and then certainly within drives or halftime adjustments, it’s just completely different in year two than it is in year one.”
On Ramel Keyton’s development with Cedric Tillman being out…
“Rose to the occasion, has played in a really strong way. Been reliable, he’s been explosive, he’s made plays with the ball in his hands, made great catches. Offensively, we haven’t changed anything that we’re doing. That speaks to him stepping in and the confidence that everybody has in him. The confidence that he has in himself. In particular, the confidence that Hendon (Hooker) has in him too.”
-UT Athletics
