Tennessee coach Josh Heupel met with the media Monday afternoon to kick off Texas A&M week. The Vols and Aggies meet at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.
Heupel discussed how he spent the open date, the Aggies’ vicious run defense and much more. Here’s everything Heupel said to open Texas A&M week.
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Opening statement
“I hope you guys enjoyed your bye week. Last week was a good week; opportunity to get some work in on the field and at the same time, get some guys healthy here. I think everyone enjoyed their weekend off. Coaches had a big week recruiting on Thursday and Friday, so a lot of good work there. This is a big football game that is coming up, really good football team that we are playing. Checker Neyland; excited to see all of our fans and the atmosphere Saturday afternoon. I know our guys and our staff are ready to get back on the field.
“Really good football team that we are playing. You look at them in all three phases of the game, they have scheme and players that can change the way the game is played. Defensively, playing as good as anybody in the country. Offensively, a veteran quarterback and skill players that can make a bunch of plays. On special teams, extremely dangerous as well.
“We also get a chance to welcome Eric Berry back here. Two-time All-American, a guy that is going to be inducted into the (College Football) Hall of Fame here later this year. A guy that represents everything
On Kaleb Webb and Chas Nimroad on depth chart. On if Don’t’e Thornton Jr. can play outside
“Yeah, he can. That is just the way Bill [Martin] wanted to list it.”
On if Thornton is more comfortable in the slot than outside
“We will see as he gets back on the field this week. He has worked at both spots.”
On game planning against Texas A&M’s run defense
“They are good at stopping the run. They are good at getting after the quarterback, too. First of all, they have really good skill, and when I say that, I am talking about their big skill up front, too. They are physical, they are dynamic, they are thick, they play strong, they are multiple up front. They have created a bunch of negative yardage plays in the run game, and that has given them the ability to go get after the quarterback, (creating) second-and-long, third-and-long, too. You have to do a great job in communication. You have to win some one-one-ones when you are in a one-on-one. Your double teams have to be good enough to change the way the line of scrimmage looks, too. So, big test for us up front and across the board offensively.”
On the characteristics of a Bobby Petrino offense
“First of all, I have said it already: they have really good personnel. Quarterback is a smart decision maker; he is able to extend and make some plays with his arm, but he always has some balance in what he does, too. So, we have to do a good job in the run game and be able to handle all the different pass concepts that you are going to see from them.”
On if the offense changes any without Bru McCoy
“Offense won’t really change. Those guys have been involved in perimeter screens where they are the ball carrier, they have been involved where they are the blocker. Offensively, we feel good about their development. They have to practice well, prepare well and get themselves in a position to go play well. We certainly expect that from them, and I know they are excited about the opportunity.”
On if he thinks he will use multiple players at the outside receiver position
“I expect all of them to play at a high level. We are going to need all of those guys; that will be through the course of Saturday, but also throughout the course of the season. I expect to see all of those guys.”
On if Thornton, Kaleb Webb and Chas Nimrod will all play with the first string offense
“I anticipate (they will). Dont’e again, we were on the grass today, and we will see how the week unfolds, but absolutely anticipate seeing all those guys play on Saturday.”
On what McCallan Castles can do to bounce back from the South Carolina game
“Bounce back, don’t let one play affect another play. Being able to reset is extremely important at every position when you are a competitor. You are going to play for 60 minutes. Not every play is going to go your way. It won’t on Saturday.
On how the tight ends can help make up for the loss of McCoy
“The tight ends, they will be a part of what we do in the passing game. Need them to continue to come on. They have created some big plays, some big plays that we are close on too with them, so they will be a factor in the game.”
On Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson and if he sees a difference between him and Conner Weigman
“Not a ton of difference in them. Both of them were able to extend and make plays. I don’t think they philosophically have changed what they are doing. Max is a guy that has played a lot of football, has played in a lot of different environments, does a really good job of taking care of the football. He has the ability to extend and make plays and throw the football down the field when the play breaks down or when he has pressure on him, so we have to do a great job of matching guys out on the perimeter.”
On Jacob Warren’s increase in production this season
“Sometimes, it can just be the ball finding him based on the coverages that you are seeing, but I also think Jacob has developed as a dynamic leader for us on the offensive side of the football. He’s had continued physical development, which has allowed him to play the best football that he has up until now. Fundamentally, that is in the pass game, but is also what he is doing inside the core, too. In the run game, he has been really good.”
On Doneiko Slaughter’s recovery during the open week
“Important for Doneiko, important for some other guys. Inevitably in this game, and certainly in this league, it is a physical battle every time you are out on the football field. Doneiko, we anticipate him being ready to play. Again, he has to go through the week and be in the right position, but anticipate that happening.”
On if he watched the Oklahoma-Texas game on Saturday
“I saw the last drive. Great drive by Dillon [Gabriel] and that offensive unit. That was not the game that I was watching early in the day.”
