Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel answered questions on the SEC Coaches Teleconference Wednesday ahead of the Vols’ matchup against South Carolina.
Heupel discussed the South Carolina Gamecocks, Tennessee wearing its dark mode uniforms, Rutherford County Vols and much more.
Here’s everything Heupel said Wednesday morning.
More From RTI: Gamecock Scoops’ Alan Cole Previews South Carolina’s Trip To Tennessee
Opening statement
“Huge opportunity for us. Excited we get a chance to open up conference play here at home. (South Carolina) is playing really good football. They’re good on both sides of the football and special teams do a really good job of changing the way the game is played, changing field position. The line of scrimmage is extremely important in this one. Offensively we have to be able to have balance and be able to protect. Third-down situations, they hurt us in that way last year. Defensively, the inverse of that. We have to do a really good job against the run, but also make the quarterback uncomfortable in the pocket. Spencer (Rattler) is a really good player, a special player. You have to apply the pressure to him, but he’s also got the ability to extend and make plays with his feet. We’ve got to keep him bottled up in the pocket as well. Last year, he created a bunch of big plays for them escaping the pocket, using his feet and throwing it down the football field as well.”
On not focusing on last year’s loss at South Carolina
“It has nothing to do with what’s going to happen in this one. Good or bad. To me, the team that wins this game is the team that plays the smartest, which means you’ve got to be in control of your emotions. It also speaks to your preparation and what you need to do during the course of the week to be able to play your best and not be out there strictly thinking. That you’re seeing things, you’re anticipating and you’re playing with great fundamentals. I think it’s really important that your players stay engaged during the course of the week to be at their best.
“For our fanbase, if they want to use last year as motivation, I got no problems with that. That’s the great thing about being a fan. I expect our stadium to be rocking like it always is. It’s going to be an electric atmosphere, so, if they want to use it, that’s awesome. For us, it’s about our preparation, how we practice and make sure that we’re in a great competitive spirit, mindset as we go take that field on Saturday night.”
On how Rutherford County natives Elijah Herring, Caleb Herring and Arion Carter are developing
“Yeah, I would also add Caleb to that group there, too. Elijah, obviously with the injury to Keenan (Pili), has been thrust into even more action. He’s handled it well and has developed as a first-line player. Moved back to the second level when we got here. He’s smart, he’s instinctive, he’s physical and continuing to grow in his understanding of the game. That can be our schemes or what he’s seeing on the other side of the line of scrimmage. He prepares hard. He’s in here early. He’s in here late. I love the competitive makeup of him. He’s continuing to grow.
“Arion, I would say the same thing. He’s in year one, but has done a really nice job on special teams and has done some really good things on defense. He’s continuing to grow from the time he got here. He’s been one of the most mature first-year players that I’ve been around and I say that with how he carries himself in the building, how he competes every single day, his purpose of doing extra things. It could be in the weight room, could be out on the grass, could be in the film room. He handles himself much more like a vet than he does a first-year guy.
“And Caleb is doing the same thing, man. Got knicked up in spring ball, but he’s long, he’s athletic, he’s competitive, he’s helping our special teams, playing on defense. He’s going to be a really special player.”
On if early enrolling helped Arion Carter be more prepared as a freshman
“Absolutely, there’s a huge difference of who you are when you get to training camp if you’ve been here for an entire spring. They get adjusted to college life, learn how to handle academics, social life, football. They get all the installs. They go through spring ball. They’re able to reset and by the time they get to training camp they’re much more like a vet than they are a first year player just in what they’ve been exposed to and it’s a huge growth and development of all of those guys.”
On his thoughts on the new rule where the clock doesn’t stop on first downs
“I just think the game has been shortened with the management of the clock. I don’t think it necessarily changes how the game is played during the course of the first quarter, second quarter but it’s shortened the game and you have to maximize your opportunity. I think over the next couple weeks we’ll have a real definitive as far as how much possession wise, plays wise it’s impacting the game. I say that just because as you get into conference play you get a truer sense of it versus out of conference play.”
On what the next step for his team is
“Playing dialed in, competitive, consistent football for an entire four quarters. Not having a dip at any point of it. Not that you’re going to play perfect but just with the competitive spirit and competitive edge. I think that is something that I’ve challenged our team— it’s time for us to put those four quarters together in that way. I think we have to continue to play smarter football as well. I told the team today (that) the team that plays the hardest and the smartest football team on Saturday wins.”
On how much the players like wearing the dark mode uniforms
“Our guys love it. First of all we love wearing the orange-and-white but to be able to twist it up a little bit, I think these guys have some fun with it. They do enjoy being able to wear those and again it’s a part of recruiting too for us.”
