Tennessee football is coming off a gut-wrenching loss to Oklahoma as it enters its second open date of the season. Then, it’s a home clash with New Mexico State before getting ready for Florida on the road. To preview it all, Vols head coach Josh Heupel met with the media to give his thoughts.
He was asked about focus at practice, Jermod McCoy’s injury status, the Oklahoma loss and more.
Here’s what he said.
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Opening Statement
“Good work today. We’ve got another day tomorrow and then some of the coaches will hit the ground recruiting. This week, big focus is again on us during the bye and how we can get better.”
On the balancing act for Tennessee’s coaching staff this time of year, with recruiting, player development and roster management
“Yeah, I think wherever your feet are and what’s important at that moment is what you’ve got to be doing. So the development of our current players and preparation for the opponent that we’re playing. For me, at times, the projection of the following year in all departments you’re looking at. So it’s a combination of all those things. December has changed a little bit on the calendar as well. That gives you a little bit more time potentially into summer as well.”
On if it’s realistic to change the rotation and play younger Tennessee players later in the season
“Guys that have proven they’re ready to play, will play at a really high level, a championship level, they earn the right to play and compete. And that’s ongoing throughout the course of the season. These guys worked really hard. Disappointed in the results Saturday and a couple other during the course of the year, for sure. But, man, it’s constant and consistent growth from everybody.”
On how confident he is that this Tennessee team will be focused and ready to compete with the College Football Playoffs being a long shot
“These guys have been consistent in the way that they work and competed. I think I said it to you guys, I said it to our team after the ball game, I said it in the team meeting. I don’t question the practice, the preparation. Disappointed in the result and the results of some plays, but that’s where we got to keep growing. Don’t expect this team to do anything other than compete as we continue to finish this one out.”
On what he’s seen from Tennessee’s offensive line on film the last few weeks, with sack numbers being higher
“Yeah, from the ball game the other night, first of all, a really good front. You knew that going into it. Multiple and what they do — run stunts, pressures, all of it. There’s some things we handled well. Didn’t execute. It might have been one guy or we’re throwing a tag on that play. There’s some things that we didn’t, where we got beat. And ultimately, that’s us as a group being a little bit better.”
On if he would rather being playing this week, coming off a disappointing loss, or if he would prefer the bye week
“Listen, when the players come back and you’re done with the team meeting, it’s time to pick yourself up. As a competitor, in this game at times there’s going to be a result that you don’t like. Welcome to competing. If I had my wish, man, after that one, you’d play right away. And we’ll move on to the next one. As a team, we got a chance to get healthy, get focused, continue to get better and get ready for the last three-game stretch that we’ve got coming down the road.”
On if staying focused has gotten harder in the College Football Playoff era
“For sure. In today’s landscape, there’s so many more variables than there used to be. Absolutely makes it more difficult.”
On his assessment of the punt return game
“You know, there’s times during the course this year where we haven’t won out on the edges and they forced some fair catches. The other night had a couple of opportunities, didn’t take advantage, didn’t maximize them.”
On what he liked defensively vs. Oklahoma
“Defensively, in particular early in the football game, on the back end, matching things out, being in sync, all seven guys with the rotations, all the communication that goes into that, formation, shift, trade, motion, I thought they did really well. Second half, there was a few run game, it’s all quarterback run game, we’re not fitting it the right way on the backside. They had us in one call, too, that’s going to happen during the course of the game, but that’s where we can be better.”
On Joey Aguilar’s decision-making in the RPO game
“He’s been really good. At times, it’s not going to be perfect, but he’s been really good. There’s just a couple of them the other night where we got really good running looks and we’re throwing it out there. We’ve also hit some big plays off of it. Mike had a big play down the sideline early in the football game.”
On Jermod McCoy’s injury status
“Jermod is continuing to get better in his rehab. Doing more on the football side of it. We’ll continue to see where he progresses to.”
On if Jermod McCoy will play this year
“I don’t think it’s fair for me to put a timeline on it. Had a real injury that he’s been working hard to get back from. Continues to make progress. Great teammate in the way that he’s tried to get himself back.”
On what Ethan Davis has done since his return
“I think he’s done a good job in the pass. Been a big part of it. You look at Kentucky, and into the first half the other day, did some really good things. As he’s gotten back into the physical contact part of it, continuing to progress. And we thought he played really well early in the year, too. There’s just a timeframe where he lost all of those reps, those fundamentals, and just getting back to that. So this is a big week for him, too.”
