Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with the media Monday afternoon to kick off Alabama week. Last season, Heupel became the first Tennessee coach since Phillip Fulmer to beat Alabama and he’s looking to lead the Vols to their first win in Tuscaloosa since 2003 this week.
Heupel discussed the play of his defensive line against Texas A&M, the challenges Alabama presents and much more Monday. Here’s everything the Vols’ third-year head coach said.
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Opening statement
“Proud of our football team, the way they played and competed. Physical football game, but the resiliency, the ability to continue to just play the next play, really proud of that. Lot of really positive things, some things that we have to clean up before we get to this weekend in Tuscaloosa. Really good football team that we’re playing. They’re playing well in all three phases of the football game. Their quarterback is playing extremely well, been accurate with the football down the field. Obviously, he’s extremely dynamic with his feet as well. Defensively, they’re creating a bunch of negative plays, hitting the quarterback sacks and tackles for loss. Special teams are really good. Huge test for us, one that we’ll be excited for. Have to focus on our preparation here this week.”
On what stood out about the offensive line in Saturday’s win over Texas A&M
“They played extremely physical. I thought they did a really good job with everything that was going on from the perspective of what we were seeing defensively from them. The communication was elite, Coop (Cooper Mays) did a great job getting everybody on the same page. Our running backs were really solid with the football, pressing their aiming points, bouncing when they need to. They made some plays, but running tough, too. Moving the pile during the course of the ballgame, too. Initial contact might’ve been at three, four, five, and finding a way to eke out more yards there and turn third down into a short-yardage situation and/or getting a first down on some of those runs. All in all, really good performance from those guys. Offensive line, tight ends and the running backs.”
On what he learned from the Florida game that can help them playing with the Alabama crowd
“End of the day, we have to do a great job of communicating. You have to focus on your job and be dialed into that. It’s 11-on-11 when you’re inside the lines. We’ve continued to work that and believe we’ll be ready for it when we hit gameday.”
On the biggest reasons there hasn’t been more production from the passing game
“There’s a few things fundamentally that (Joe Milton III) did that caused a couple of passes to be a little bit off target. There were a couple of catches that we have to make. End of the day, we have to continue to grow that way. Do have great belief in our guys and where we can get to.”
On the changes in game management that happen in a low scoring game
“Each game, you hear me say it, each Saturday essentially is a new season. Each game unfolds and the identity of the game takes place during the course of the game. You have to manage all those situations from play calls to what decisions you’re making in special teams, all of it. Proud that we got a win. You continually evaluate what you’re doing in all areas and then also try to push those lessons forward, too.”
On the operation on the offensive side of the coaching staff
“Really pretty seamless. The transition, (Joey Halzle) has been with me since 2006, we’ve been together in some form or fashion except for a couple of years. The communication from up top, what we’re seeing, what we’re doing, the adjustments we make from drive to drive based on defensive structure really hasn’t changed much at all.”
On watching film of the defensive line against Texas A&M
“Really proud of the effort, all 11 that were out there on the football field. Up front – front six, front seven, and then in particular our front four – just played really good football. They came off the ball, they were destructive in the run game, guys snagging off and making plays on back door cuts, playing with gap integrity. The second level fit it extremely well, and then the ability to get after the quarterback with just a front four rush, too. I thought those guys did a really good job of changing the way the game is played. I feel like they are continuing to improve as we go through this season. Proud of the effort. We’re going to need a great one from them this Saturday, too.”
On not letting Ramel Keyton’s mistakes spiral
“In this game, there’s a really fine line. I say that, and until you watch the tape and truly understand everything that’s going on, I think it’s tough to truly understand. Last Saturday, this coming Saturday, the Saturday after, you have to do the ordinary things at an extremely high level. That just happens through your preparation and your practice. You have to wipe the previous one clean, and you have to take the lessons forward with you, but you have to wipe it clean — good or bad. You guys have heard me say that before. Ramel’s played really well, and we have great trust that he’ll play extremely well this Saturday.”
On if they have the right personnel to have an explosive passing game
“Absolutely. We’ve had guys open and we haven’t hit them, communication has been off at times. We just have to be a little bit better. It wasn’t pretty on Saturday, I’ll be the first to admit that, but it’s not that far off either. We have to do ordinary things at a really high level.”
On if there’s a moment where the switch flipped for Bryson Eason
“I do think there’s been consistent and constant growth from him throughout our time here with him. I do feel like late training camp, early part of the season, the consistency of his mindset, being able to attack every rep every single day has changed and continued to mature. That’s why he’s playing the way that he is. He’s becoming a really good practice player. You can count on him being consistent every single day. That’s led to his growth and him playing the way that he is inside.”
On what they can do to slow down Alabama’s pass rush
“I’m going to say this, and it’s kind of on repeat from last week too, you have to have some efficiency in the run game. You get into long yardage situations, these guys are going to be able to pin their ears back and come after the quarterback. They’re multiple in what they do. All five guys have to operate together in the run game, but you have to be in sync in your pass protections too. You have to get the ball out on time. There’s going to be a bunch of one-on-one matchups out on the outside. You have to go win some of those matchups and be accurate with the football. It’s going to take all 11. They all play a piece in what goes on in the run game and in the pass game, too.”
On if he expected the running game to be as consistent as it is before the season started
“In this game, it changes from year-to-year, and sometimes week-to-week too. I did think that we had a chance to be a very mature, physical football team up front. The three running backs that you alluded to (Dylan Sampson, Jabari Small, Jaylen Wright) are all playing their best football. They have the best understanding of what our schemes were. Fundamentally, they were at their best. I thought they had a chance to be a group that would do a really good job in the run game and at the line of scrimmage. People have gotten caught up in the pass game numbers at times with us and some of the explosive plays, but the bread and butter of what we do all starts with the run game.”
On Dee Williams and James Pearce Jr. earning SEC Weekly Honors
“Excited for both of those guys, because they continue to grow in how they prepare. They continue to grow in their understanding of what we’re doing and are playing their best football right know. They’re two guys that continue to invest and grow, and that’s why they’re playing the way they are. I’m extremely proud of those guys.”
On how similar the quarterback and cornerback position are from a mental toughness standpoint
“Everybody notices when it’s not right. You make some plays, and everybody notices that too. The further you get away from the ball, the more obvious it is with what plays you made and what plays you didn’t make.”
On when Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is at his best
“He’s made a bunch of plays from inside of the pocket, pushing the football down the football field. His ability, if you don’t have rush integrity, to get out and make plays with his feet, it’s something that pops out on the tape. When the ball is in his hands and he’s a part of the run game, he’s dynamic. He’s someone that you have to have bottled up every snap. He’s a dynamic playmaker.”
On the status of Omarr Norman-Lott, Daevin Hobbs and Gerald Mincey
“Believe all of those guys will be ready as we go through this week. Anticipate those guys being ready to go.”
On keeping Joe Milton’s confidence high coming off a poor performance
“I think when you don’t play your best football, you have to be able to wipe it clean. When you play your best football, you have to be able to wipe it clean too. At the end of the day, have a routine that takes you to kickoff so that you are putting yourself in the consistent position to go play your best. Joe has been really mature in how he has prepared. There are some things fundamentally that he’s done really well that he didn’t do in the last one. We have to be a little bit better in the passing game. That’s him, that’s the wideouts, it’s everybody.”
