Tennessee football’s first spring scrimmage is in the books. On Wednesday morning, the Vols took to historic Neyland Stadium for an intrasquad matchup to get a better look at where the team is at.
Afterward, UT head coach Josh Heupel met with the media. Of course, he was asked about what the quarterbacks did. Tennessee is kicking off a three-way quarterback battle between George MacIntyre, Faizon Brandon and Ryan Staub.
Here’s what Heupel said about the trio.
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On teaching young quarterbacks that the battle is a marathon and not a sprint
“From play-to-play, you got to learn how to play the next run from a half of football to the next half and from day-to-day, right? You got to be able to reset and go play the next play or the next day. It is a marathon. You also got to sprint that marathon to become as good as you can, as fast as you can. I think being able to reset and recharge and go play the next play or the next day is really important. With all of the learning that’s taking place around you, from offensive line, running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, all of that, it applies a different pressure at the quarterback’s position as guys are learning to target the right guys in pass protection, whatever that might be.
“But all of those adverse situations are also helping to prepare you for what it can be in the fall and how to play smart football. Both of those guys and Ryan (Staub), they’ve done a really good job growing through seven days. There will be a couple things to learn from today, but there were a lot of real positives, too.”
On if George MacIntyre is processing things faster like he’s been a guy in the system for a year now
“I think, even day one, day two of spring ball, from where he was at the end of the season, you can see the steps that he’s taken. So, really pleased with that. Faizon (Brandon) has done the same thing in learning the offense. Ryan (Staub) – those guys continue to progress. There’s some fundamental things that they got to continue to grow in, but pleased with that entire group and how they functioned and operated, the first seven days.”
On if Faizon Brandon operated the offense fast and free like he wanted him to
“Yeah, there were a couple mechanical things, just how you’re calling it in the huddle or operation-wise coming off of a penalty or some of those things, that as you get more experience, become ingrained in you. But all in all, I thought all three of the quarterbacks, including Faizon, did a really good job on that side of it.”
