Tennessee linebackers coach William Inge met with the local media on Tuesday morning ahead of the Vols top 15 matchup at Oklahoma.
Inge discussed freshman Edwin Spillman’s debut against Chattanooga, the challenges that Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold presents and much more.
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On how he would grade the tackling from Tennessee linebackers through three games
“I think we’ve been fairly consistent at our back line. And again, often it’s, you’re going to be in the battle before you really see how it is. But we’ve definitely been effective thus far. And you only know how good you are off of your last performance. So we still have to keep our thumb on it going into the next game. So once we get done with one game, we turn the page and we move on to teaching again because the skill level is going to be better obviously this week and we still have to go out there and execute our job.”
On the versatility with Tennessee’s linebackers, being able to mix and match
“I think from a vision standpoint in the room, we have to create a culture that’s going to foster to a body of academic, athletic and personal excellence. So when you do that, everyone is going to be encompassing because we’re always teaching everyone. And our vision is to have dual linebackers, to where you can always get your best guys in. And one of the goals that we wanted to encompass coming in was see who was going to be the best combination of guys and who can play where. And I think the guys have really have a great job of embracing that and really putting that into play on game day.”
On Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold being able to run and the importance for Tennessee’s defense stopping him in that area
“Yeah, and that’s something that you really have to keep your eyes on when it comes to him being able to take off and run. But also him having some specific quarterback run games that they design. They do a great job and he’s obviously very efficient at what he does. He knows kind of when to take off, when it’s there for him. And he is really smart at being able to get what he can get and then he gets down. So we have to be very disciplined when it comes to us applying our job, doing our task. And if they do happen to get something, we got to let it go, our mindset and go on to the next play.”
On Tennessee LB Edwin Spillman making his debut against Kent State, how has progressed since fall camp
“Still very good. He’s definitely coming along and growing. Exactly what you want from a young player. The one thing that he does not lack, he does not lack the physicality. And that’s what you want in your linebackers, to where if you say run through the wall, I know where 13 is going, there’s going be a hole in the wall, and that’s exactly what you want. And just as young players, you’re always trying to teach them in the understanding of just the schematic things that you want. So seeing him grow and have a guy like Keenan Pili, having (Spillman) under his arm, it’s awesome. And he’s actually reaping some of the benefits of that.”
On Tennessee linebacker Jalen Smith, what he’s done to earn playing time
“The biggest thing Jalen has done, he’s been consistent. When he has a task to do, he can go apply the job that’s needed on that particular call within the defense. The other thing that he’s done is he’s really grinded during the spring, during the summer and during the fall camp of just making sure that he knows exactly everything that’s going on within the schematic structure of the defense. So when he’s out there, he’s not going to be deficient. And he works sufficiently in all of his movements. And as a young player, he’s still developing, so it’s not perfect just yet. It’s still going to be what we would call kind of poetry in motion, as as he’s still trying to paint his pitcher as a young player. But we’ve definitely been pleased with how he’s been able to be consistent on the football field. And at the point of attack he’s been able to make his plays and make his tackles.”
On the keys behind a Tennessee linebacker having good eyes
“One of the best things to deal with when it comes to your eyes, number one, is just knowing that they have to be disciplined in the correct spot prior to the ball being snapped and when the ball is snapped. And I think that’s the one thing that we work on a lot of time is going to be us more in just the visionary portions of the game. Knowing what you can anticipate is going to happening, what’s going to happen. Did it happen? You got your confirmation because your eyes are in the correct spot. Now you can be able to go play fast. And I think that’s one of the things that our young men, to a whole group, they’ve been really able to encompass that when it comes to our eye discipline. And that’s probably one of the reasons why we’ve been have experience a lot more success on the field.”
On Edwin Spillman making his debut and the reaction from Tennessee’s other linebackers
“Well I couldn’t settle the guys down on the sideline. Number one, because when I put Edwin in the game, I didn’t tell him. It was like we were coming off the field, I’m like hey, you’re going in the game. I did not give him one second to think about it. And all the guys on the sideline started going crazy. So every person was looking directly at him. But to see him go out there and play and be effective more than anything, I think we knew physically he could go apply and do all of his jobs. We just wanted to make sure that he could settle down. And that’s kind of what coaching is on our end. Just making sure he can be calm and everything can be slowed down for him. And that’s exactly what you want as a young player, getting the exposure that he got at at that period of time. And we thought it was kind of gonna be a 15-20 snap scenario for him. So he’s on course to growing with respect to what we want from him.”
On the starting combination of Tennessee linebackers Keenan Pili and Arion Carter
“For anyone gambling, it’s the perfect combination because seven and 11 will always hit pretty good. The one thing that you see from those guys when it comes to leadership and preparation, that’s why that combination is really, really, really good. And I would, in my opinion, just kind of saying it, it’s definitely for sure one of the best combinations in the country. If you look at their production for playing, it will definitely speak for itself. They do a great job in the preparation when you talk about being the gym rats, the guys in the building, they’re here early in the morning, late at night, watching film, studying, preparing, getting the information on to the next to the teammates, the next group of guys who are going in. They’re exactly what you want. And then when you push play, you talk about two guys that play fast together, that’s exactly what you want in your room. And we’ve been very pleased to see them continue to go in and from our standpoint. When we’re getting into SEC play, we still have to continue to take steps and rise in our performances.”
