Josh Heupel spoke to the media Wednesday morning during his weekly appearance on the SEC Coaches Media Teleconference.
Here’s everything the Vols’ head coach had to say before Tennessee’s matchup with South Alabama.
Heupel opening statement: It was a good Wednesday out on the grass. I’m excited about the opportunity to go compete with our guys this week. South Alabama has done a really good job defensively throughout the season. You look at them statistically and offensively and it’s been really efficient here. It’s our next opportunity and we have to continue to improve and grow as a program. I’m excited about this one.
Do you have any update on Tiyon Evans availability for Saturday’s game?
Heupel: You know me, we typically wait until the end of the week before we make a decision on any of our guys.
Is there any concern that Tiyon may miss the rest of the year?
Heupel: Yeah, I don’t believe that is the case.
How hard is it to gauge growth for a guy like Jabari Small who has been in-and-out of the lineup with injuries?
Heupel: For sure. I think as guys have been banged up and unable to go it limits you from being able to see their growth on game day. It takes away some of their potential during the course of the week to grow if they’re not able to get a bunch of practice reps. But Jabari, we’ve seen him continue to grow in his understanding of what we’re doing, being able to play the position with great pad level, being better in pass protection at times too. I think a lot of times guys that don’t have the ball in their hands is a lot of where they will grow, in particular with those skill guys that may be involved in pass protection. Jabari has continued to grow over the course of the season. A young guy that’s only going to continue to get better. The offseason, I know I’m looking ahead when I say that, but the offseason him being able to pack on a few more pounds and add strength and size to his frame will be important for him.
Tim Banks is a finalist for the Broyles Award which goes to the top assistant coach in the country. Could you talk about the job he’s done this year?
Heupel: First of all, not a better person. Him and his wife are tremendous people that pour into our players. Tim has a unique history. Long time coordinator, different places he’s been being able to put together a really unique package that is extremely flexible. Does an unbelievable job of teaching our players where they can understand the entirety of it and really the concepts behind it. You’ve seen our defense continuing to grow throughout the course of the season. For him, starting in early February the growth of that side of the ball from before spring ball to spring ball to where we are now, it speaks extremely highly of who he is and what he’s about. He is a tremendous leader and great communicator and he does a tremendous job with our defense.
Where on your recruiting priority list is increasing defensive team speed?
Heupel: We need to continue to get faster, get longer and get bigger. So that’s the trifecta right there that we’re looking to continue to recruit to. Obviously, our program being as low in scholarships as we are, the recruiting of this class will be important for guys to come in and compete immediately and also guys that can develop inside our program.
How important is it to finish this season the right way but also to have the energy from what’s been a great crowd this season?
Heupel: True home field advantage. Knew that before I came here. The passion of our fanbase and what game day looks like inside of that stadium is as good as there is in college football. Our players have really enjoyed that. It’s a group that’s really prideful but the fact that our fanbase has noticed the effort and strain and strides that our players have made is something our players have really appreciated too. We need it to be a great home field advantage here this week and the following week. We want that and need that and feed off that energy. It is important for us that we continue to grow and compete the way the way we’ve grown into competing every single week. I think that’s really important that we finish the right way and continue to grow. It’s something we’ve talked about this week with our players and if I know these guys they’re going to come out with a ton of energy on Saturday.
What impresses you about South Alabama quarterback Desmond Trotter?
Heupel: I think his ability to be extremely efficient in their offense. Tons of shifts, motions and trying to create some window dressing to their base scheme but he gets his eyes in the right spot and has an ability to move his feet to make some plays too.
Your offense had some success against Georgia early and then struggled after. What caused that?
Heupel: We got beat on a pass pro at running back and got into a second and extremely long. Next drive, we got it going and throw a pick and the following drive we miss a throw and catch on a critical third-and-four where you have a chance to be right at midfield and some of that is Georgia and some of that’s us. I’ve said it before, when things are going well and may look easy to the observer it’s because everyone is doing the right thing at the right time and when it’s not it’s not all 11, it’s typically one or two guys that aren’t playing the way that they need to and it’s a good defense. Give a ton of credit to them but there’s a ton of things we have to do better in that for sure. You look at the second half and every drive ends in plus territory or in the red zone. We weren’t able to finish those drives off and that’s really the difference in the football game.
