Tennessee football defeated Austin Peay 30-13 at Neyland Stadium Saturday night in its home opener for the 2023 season.
While the Vols improved to 2-0, it wasn’t a strong performance from quarterback Joe Milton III and Tennessee’s passing game. Milton started one-of-eight passing before Josh Heupel turned to the screen game to get Tennessee going.
Milton ended the game completing 21-of-33 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns while adding another touchdown on the ground.
Here’s everything Milton said after the game.
More From RTI: Everything Josh Heupel Said After Tennessee Defeated Austin Peay
On what Tennessee’s offense needs to do to get off to a better start
“I feel like coming out there from the jump and just executing what’s going on. Not letting any moment get too big. Just going out there and executing. Not thinking about anything else. Just doing our assignment at a high level.”
On how he’d assess the start of his performance
“I didn’t start my best but it’s not about the start. It’s about the finish.”
On what they need to do to improve the passing game
“Just go to practice and execute. Go hard everyday no matter if you’re tired or not. Just go out there and execute.”
On if he talks to his receivers after they drop passes
“I let them know that they’re the best receivers in the country so keep being y’all. Keep doing what y’all do and just go execute, man.”
On what went better when they turned to the short passing game
“I feel like guys just started doing their assignments at a high level. We didn’t start off the way we wanted to just because it’s Austin Peay and you can’t look at opponents like that. You have to go out there and dominate every play no matter who’s out there.”
On what makes the receiver screens work
“I feel like it gets things going. If you’re a defense, you have to run sideline-to-sideline to make a tackle. I feel like that’s something your defensive coordinator is preaching to you. In order to do that I’m going to keep pitching it from sideline-to-sideline.”
On tight end McCallan Castles and Jacob Warren have one catch and one touchdown on the season
“Those two guys are willing to work no matter what. I feel like throughout the weeks, we preach to those guys that the ball will come y’all’s way. We know you guys block a lot so just be patient. The ball will come your way. Just stay true to it.”
On if he was injured after a hit he took in the third quarter
“No. I’m good. Let’s go to the next one.”
On if there was concern that anyone took the opponent lightly
“It may start off and look that way. Maybe you guys may think like that because of the score but at the same time we’ll go in there Sunday throughout it all but at the end of the day 125 guys just being on the same page. It don’t matter who’s on the outside. We’re going to go out there and figure it out ourselves and we’re going to reevaluate and go execute. That’s all that matters.”
On if it can be frustrating when teams defend Tennessee to take away the deep shots
“Nah. I think that’s why we have a three headed monster back there (in the backfield). I feel like they do their job at a very high level even when the pass game’s not going well. Just how it started off in the middle of the game. Those guys ran the ball very hard. They’re very decisive with their cuts and they make plays. That’s why we believe in those three guys. They go make things happen on Saturday.”
On what his communication is like with Nico Iamaleava during games
“I just give him a couple keys to ID for me while I’m out there just because I can’t see everything. Just having an extra set of eyes other than my coaches out there. Also just, he young, so giving him an opportunity to see things how I see it and just in a different way so when he’s out there it’s not confusing to him.”
On what this week has been like for him honoring Condredge Holloway
“Every other week. Shoutout to Condredge but at the same time I feel like everything else outside of the team and the facility doesn’t matter. Yeah it was an honor to him and we’re truly honored for that but at the same time it’s about going to work with 125 guys every day and approaching the field and having my mindset correctly on the football game. Nothing else.”
On keeping his emotions in check entering the Florida game
“The game is never bigger than it is when you prepare the right way. I feel like everything else is going to take care of itself. Tomorrow you just reevaluate what happens. Monday you go back to work. Nothing that happened tonight matters after Sunday so go back home and execute. No matter where we’re at. Just got to execute.”
One Response
I know now why I gave my season tickets up a few years back!!