On Wednesday, Mississippi State football head coach Jeff Lebby met with the media on the SEC Coaches Teleconference. To preview the game against Tennessee, Lebby fielded questions on Tennessee’s defense, his relationship with Josh Heupel and more.
Tennessee and Mississippi State will meet in Starkville at 4:15 p.m. ET with the game airing on SEC Network. The Vols are off to a 3-1 start, but dropped their SEC opener to Georgia in overtime at home. The Bulldogs are 4-0, but have yet to play a conference game.
Here’s what Lebby said.
More From RTI: Everything Tennessee Football Coach Josh Heupel Said on Teleconference Before Playing MSU
Opening statement
“Our guys are really, really excited about the great opportunity here at home. Again, in front of a sold-out crowd, going to need everybody in Davis Wade to help go get it done.”
On adding Alabama as an annual rival in the new format
“I haven’t spent a ton of time thinking about it. Obviously, all my focus is geared toward Saturday. As we get into the schedule pieces of it once we finish up with the season, I’ll be able to reflect a little bit. But, man, all my energy moving forward is on Saturday afternoon.”
On RB Johnnie Daniels no longer being listed on the depth chart
“Talked about it a little bit post-game, again, Xavier (Gayten) is going to be that third back for us as we get into the flow of things. That’s how it will be as we move forward.”
On his assessment of Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar
“Guy that’s made a bunch of plays. He’s done it, and it looks a lot of different ways. I think what they’re doing offensively, they’ve helped him in a great way, putting him in positions of success. And then he’s done a nice job of just taking what the defense gives him. We’re going to have to find ways to create pressure at the right times and at other times, find a way to go play coverage. We got to change that up, but feel good about where we’re at defensively. But he has, he’s made a bunch of plays for them and has continued to put them in really, really good situations.”
On if there is a story that sums up his relationship with Josh Heupel
“I don’t know if this is the right time for that. I have pretty well documented to you guys my respect for Heup, who he is as a leader, as a dad, as a husband and just a ton of respect for who he is, what he does and our friendship.”
On why his defense has gotten better this year
“Again, I think, talked about it, from a roster standpoint, we’re in a completely different place. And then, again, the guys that are back there in year two in the system, the knowledge of what we want to get done defensively has made a great, great increase. That’s got to continue. Those two things to me have been the reason we’ve found a way to get better.”
On how well he thinks MSU has run the ball to this point
“Last week was obviously our best outing. I thought before that, we were way too big-little. We’ve got to create consistency inside the run game to get done what we’re trying to get done. That’s going to be a huge piece of Saturday afternoon and that to me is, again, going to be a big, big tell of who’s on the right side of this thing.”
On the growth of QB Blake Shapen
“Again, I think he’s done a really nice job of taking care of the football. He’s got to continue that trend. Outside of the second drive of the first game, again, he has. He’s taken great, great care of the ball. That’s got to be something that he’s continuing to do as we move forward and get into conference play.”
On MSU’s receivers
“I think our guys in the receiver room understand the challenge that’s at hand. We’ve got to do a great job winning and then making the competitive plays. We feel really, really good about our depth inside that room, the guys that are going to run out there and give us the opportunity to do what we need to do in the throw game.”
On WR Ayden Williams
“Yeah, Ayden is the healthiest he’s been. He’s had a really good week of practice. Again, he’s practiced all week, which has been really good to see. Hoping for big things out of him as we move forward.”
