Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with the local media Monday to kick off Alabama week.
The sixth-ranked Vols (5-0, 2-0 SEC) hosts No. 3 Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC) at Neyland Stadium for the game of the week. Both teams are undefeated entering the matchup for the first time since 1989. The matchup is also the first top six matchup at Neyland Stadium since 1998.
Alabama is unbeaten on the season but has shown weaknesses in tight victories over Texas and Texas A&M. Back up quarterback Jalen Milroe played in place of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young a week ago against the Aggies. Young’s status for Saturday’s game is still up in the air.
Here’s everything Vols’ second year coach Josh Heupel said about the Crimson Tide during his Monday press conference.
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Opening statement
“Obviously, this is why you come to Tennessee and want to be in this league. You have a big-time matchup this weekend. Really excited. (College) GameDay, SEC Nation, the environment that will be here on Saturday, really excited about that. Our players have earned the right to be able to get to this point, to play a game like this. Preparation is going to be critical in this one. Alabama is really good. Offense, defense, special teams, they have really good personnel in all three phases of the game. It will obviously be a huge test for us, but our players are excited. This morning was good preparation. Need to have a great week of practice and get ready to play our best football.”
On Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson
“Long, athletic, he’s disruptive in the run game too. In the pass game, he has the ability to play on an edge and cause havoc. Between their personnel being good enough to win a lot of one-on-one matchups, then all their pressures and all their games up front, you have to do a really good job in one-on-one matchups, and then you have to do a great job working together as all five guys.”
On the challenges of stopping Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs
“He’s explosive, so you know they are going to try to find ways to get the ball in his hands. In the run game, you are best to not let him get started. If he does, he has the ability to take it the distance. He has good vision and pace behind the line of scrimmage. When he sees a hole, he is able to hit it. He does a really good job of making people miss, too. He have to bottle him up in the run game, and then when they use him in the pass game too, you have got to do a great job at taking him away and matching him out.”
On the challenges of defending Bryce Young
“Bryce has played at an elite level for a long time. Arm talent, being able to be accurate with the football, and a great decision maker back there. The X-factor for him is his ability to move, extend and make plays outside of the pocket and inside the pocket. He does a good job of finding the soft spot in the pocket. When he escapes, he is a thrower first and finds guys if you don’t match them out when you are in zone coverage, and then has the ability to tuck it and make big plays too. He has the ability to put and apply pressure to you in all ways.”
On Alabama back up quarterback Jalen Milroe
“Athletic and dynamic with the ball in his hands.”
On his analysis of Alabama’s defense
“Yeah, typical. Great personnel. They are long. They are athletic at all positions. They are physical in their front seven. The ability to run sideline to sideline, which can cover things up. And then scheme wise, you have to be able to handle everything from them. You know what I mean? That’s front variations, that’s coverage. You have to be in sync with your front. That’s in your run game, that’s in your pass protection, and your wideouts and quarterbacks have to see the secondary the right way. Great test for us. They are a really good football team on that side of the ball and all three phases too, but it’s one that we are excited about.”
