Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel answered questions on the SEC Coaches Teleconference on Wednesday ahead of the Vols’ rivalry matchup against Alabama on Saturday afternoon.
The Crimson Tide are slight favorites over Tennessee ahead of a critical game where both teams badly need a win for their College Football Playoff hopes.
Heupel discussed the two head coaches being from South Dakota, Mike Matthews development and much more. Here’s everything Heupel said.
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Opening statement
“Another big football game here in Knoxville, Tennessee. A historical rival against a great opponent. It’s one that everybody in our program points to every single year, and our fan base, obviously.
“This is a really good football team that we’re playing. Play well in all three phases. Got great personnel, good coaching, and a huge test for us, but one that we’re looking forward to the challenge. We’ve had a good start to our preparation this week. Obviously, there’s some things that we got to clean up on the offensive side of football, and a lot of it’s some things that we can control, but have had a good start to the week.”
On where freshman wide receiver Mike Matthews is at, how he can receive more playing time
“(He) played a good amount early in the football game, and as the game went on, just didn’t have the same number of reps that he did early. Mike is somebody that was banged up during the course of training camp and limited a little bit of his development early in the year. We really like what we see out of him. He’s had a great week of preparation. Anticipate him playing in this one.”
On how Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe has developed during his college career
“He’s somebody that’s got unique athletic traits. His strength, speed, power, elusiveness as a runner. He’s had that since the beginning, and I just think he’s got a really good command and control and understands defensive structure and has gotten his eyes, with the more time that he’s played, in the right spot and comfort inside of the pocket. And you know, he’s still dynamic when he pulls it, but he’s pulling it when things aren’t right down the football field. And just, is throwing football extremely accurately.
“Obviously that’s a huge part of what we got to do defensively, is not let him get all over the football field as a runner, and that’s quarterback designed run, it’s read game, and when the pocket breaks down, but you got to do a great job on their skill (position players). Extremely talented, playing at a high level. We got to do a great job of winning some of those one-on-ones.
On two people from South Dakota coaching teams in the Third Saturday in October
“Yeah, first time I’ve come across it in my career. (Have) known Kalen for a long time. He’s always done a really good job everywhere that he’s been, and certainly doing a good job at Alabama, too. I’m sure there’s gonna be a lot of people in South Dakota watching the game, too.”
On Oregon’s 12-men on the field penalty at the end of its win against Ohio State last weekend
“I think that’s something that the rules committee will definitely take a look at here at the end of the season. And, you know, I think as the game’s evolved, there’s multiple things that they have taken a look at, or will continue to take a look at. Dan (Lanning) certainly used that situation to his advantage.”
On if they prepare for that potential situation to play out in practice
“Yeah, that’s not something that we’ve incorporated here.”
On how the shovel pass can be efficient for an offense
“There’s different forms of it with different structures. It’s something that a lot of offenses will use. At the end of the day, you’re always trying to find a way to create angles and put your guys up in front to be at their best.”
