Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with the media Monday ahead of the Third Saturday in October, and he didn’t name a starting quarterback for Alabama. Heupel said the decision will play out through the week as the Vols get back on the grass Tuesday.
He called the Crimson Tide a “massive test” in all three phases and pointed to their improved run game and a dynamic quarterback. He also looked back at Saturday’s win at Arkansas, along with ball security, penalties, the slow-starting run game and DaSaahn Brame’s breakout play. Here’s everything Heupel said.
Opening statement
“Good afternoon. Third Saturday in October coming up here and great opportunity, playing a really good football team. You look at how they’re playing, all three phases of the game, huge test for us. But one we’re looking forward to. So encourage our fans to take advantage of half priced, half, happy hour and get hydrated for the football game on Saturday afternoon.”
Who’s your starting quarterback against Alabama?
“We’ll find out here through the week. So we get on the grass tomorrow, and we’ll work towards Saturday.”
How important are live practice reps for a young quarterback like Faizon heading into a game?
“It certainly helps. It helps everybody. The more reps you get, the better prepared you are. You know what I mean? Having gone through the looks and made those throws.”
What did you see from George MacIntyre’s performance at Arkansas on film?
“I thought he was decisive with the football. He was going the right spot and made some plays. You know, did some things inside of the pocket that were really positive. You know, the third down, makes a guy miss, keeps his eyes down the football field. Collectively as a group, we gotta do a better job taking care of the football, how we gotta play smarter and not make it more difficult on ourselves to pre-snap penalties, whatever it might be. So a lot to clean up collectively as a group, but he did a good job.”
What specifically makes Alabama such a huge test, including running the football better than last year?
“They are much more efficient, effective running the football. Quarterback’s dynamic player. You know, he’s throwing extremely efficiently, bunch of yards, but extends, makes plays with his feet. Scramble to run, but also throw the football down the field if you’re not matching things out. So, you know, us defensively, massive test and, you know, them defensively, big strong, physical up front, second level, very active. They’ve made it difficult to run the football and not given up a ton of explosives. They’ve gotten their hands on a bunch of balls, created turnovers as well.”
Is DaSaahn Brame’s big play Saturday the first of many?
“I think his best football is still ahead of him. You know, I anticipated him being, him playing a bigger role than he did a year ago, just maturity, growth, understanding of what we’re doing offensively. Ethan goes down, that role is gonna continue. You know, we knew it was gonna continue to increase. He’s done a really good job past game, but done a good job without the ball in his hands as well, and feel like he’s playing really well.”
How did the offense respond to the 5-3 look Arkansas gave?
“Well, in general, we had some opportunities to make some plays down the field. Did at times, didn’t. There’s some things in the run game that we gotta be better at. You know, the five down look isn’t something that we haven’t seen previously before, but all in all, I think the biggest thing offensively for us is, you know, how do we not change the situation on our own? And that’s, you know, missed assignment, it’s penalties, where we’re playing behind the sticks.”
What was the difference in the run game in the fourth quarter compared to the first three?
“Efficiency. It’s blocking. It’s guy making, making the guy miss. It’s a combination of all guys doing their job on a really high level.”
What needs to happen to get the run game going quicker in games?
“Well, sometimes the run game doesn’t just pop right off the bat. There’s a totality to the run game, the physical nature of the game, too.”
Is Radarious’ quiet stretch just how games are unfolding, or can he do something to be more relied upon?
“I really like the way Radarious has played. Sometimes, you know, just coverage, you know, situations, whatever it might be, the ball doesn’t find, you know, your way to him, and he’s done a really good job though.”
Is there video of Braylon Staley stepping out of bounds on his penalty?
“On the coach’s footage it looked like it was close. You know, the official threw the hat right away when he thought he identified it.”
Where are TK Keys and Travis Smith Jr., right now?
“Continuing to grow and develop. You know, both those guys got some snaps the other day and, you know, just the flow of the game, it played out the way that it did. But anticipate those guys playing this Saturday.”
What can a big play like DaSaahn Brame’s do for a young player’s confidence?
“I think he was confident before he made that play. But it can certainly continue to spur that on.”
Has offensive line continuity helped, and how has Nic Moore looked two games in at left guard?
“Some, the continuity, yes. There’s some things that we gotta do better up front. There’s things Nic’s gotta do better. But wholistically, it was good enough to get a win. We’re gonna need to be better up front in this one.”
What was your assessment of the third quarter when Arkansas ran it down the field?
“Gap integrity, block destruction, tackling fundamentals all go into how you play. So you gotta be consistent in that.”
Are you seeing as many unscouted looks from opponents as in past years?
“I think there’s always, you know, week to week some subtle tweaks that, you know, coordinators are gonna throw in there off of, you know, what they’re seeing. Less extravagant departures from structure than maybe in the previous years.”
