Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel made his weekly appearance on the SEC Coaches Teleconference Wednesday morning before the Vols travel to Alabama on Saturday.
Heupel discussed the history of the Tennessee-Alabama rivalry, preparing for Jalen Milroe and much more. Here’s everything Heupel said Wednesday.
Opening statement
“Hope everyone is having a great day. We just finished up our preparation here this morning on our Wednesday. Everybody inside of our program understands the test that we have facing a really good Alabama football. I think they play all three phases of the football game extremely well, but think they’re playing extremely well together. Going to be a great environment and a huge test for our football team. Offensively, really efficient in what they’re doing in the run game. Offensive line plays extremely well together and the quarterback (Jalen Milroe) continues to develop at a really high level. Playing really good football right now. Extremely dynamic in what he’s able to do in the run game, but really has continued to develop as a passer. Pushing the football down the field as well as anybody in the country right now. Completion percentage and chunk plays. Dynamic skill players on the outside, so a huge test for us defensively. Their defensive front, their ability to stop the run, they’re big, thick, strong, extremely athletic up front and been able to get after the quarterback as well, you look at their sack stats. And have really good personnel on the back end. Special teams is extremely solid, too. Huge test for us this week. One that we’re really excited about.”
On what he’s learned the most about The Third Saturday in October in his time at Tennessee
“I don’t know that there’s anything unexpected. It was the first thing I heard about when I came here and for our fanbase, this is one that they point to as an historic rival and always play it the same weekend. The passion and the pageantry of the game, the excitement that surrounds it is really unique. It’s a big football game. Has historically had huge importance on the SEC races and the ability to put yourself in position to do the things you want to within the conference.”
On how hard it is to emulate quarterback runs in practice because they’re wearing non-contact jerseys
“Extremely difficult to finish the way these quarterbacks have a chance to finish it. His strength, his speed, his ability to change directions, all of those things that is something is extremely difficult to emulate. Something your players, for us defensively, gotta settle into the football game extremely early on that side of it. I think the running quarterback is one of the hardest things to simulate during the course of your preparation. One, you’re typically not tackling the guy. And two, as dynamic as he is, it’s hard to have somebody back there that your defense is facing on a consistent basis throughout the course of the week.”
On the infrastructure of getting victory cigars to Tuscaloosa
“Just hearing it from people being around this program, that part of the tradition of the game has only continued to grow. I think it’s really unique. I’ve been in trophy games before. Had never been involved in anything quite like this one where the cigar is part of the celebration on the back end. My first memory of that is being in Tuscaloosa and we were on the wrong side of it. It’s a really unique part of the game and celebration of this rivalry.”
On making sure they have cigars in Tuscaloosa if they win
“I’m going to be honest, that’s the first time I’ve thought about that this week. There’s enough to do in our preparation getting ready for these guys.”
On if the Tennessee-Alabama rivalry is similar to Oklahoma-Texas
“Yeah, this is a special one. The proximity of everybody, the importance that it has always had. It’s different than that game in that, that game is always played at a neutral-site, so it’s a little bit different, but it makes it extremely special because you are bouncing back and forth between being home and on the road, too. This rivalry is extremely special. Not only for college football, but for these two programs, too.”
On Tennessee’s growth being able to run the football
“I said it earlier this week, we’ve had a lot of different pieces up front. Just the way the season has unfolded, we’ve had to play multiple guys because guys have been knicked up at times. I feel like they continue to settle in, continue to grow, continue to get better. But our tight ends have been really instrumental in it. We’ve got three running backs that have experience and are playing their best football. All that pairs together and obviously the quarterback is a part of that, too. I like the growth of what we’ve been able to do up there, but this is a big challenge, man. These guys, first of all, their personnel is really good on all three levels and I say that meaning the safeties are in it, too, and do an extremely good job of tackling. Their linebackers are fast and physical. The front four is special, so huge test for us in this one. The balance for us offensively, yeah, we’ve gotta be able to maintain some balance. I think the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball is really important in this game.”
