KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with the media following the Vols’ 42-9 win over Kennesaw State on Saturday night at Neyland Stadium. Coming off a 3-0 start, Heupel broke down the run game, the pressure his defense put on Rickie Collins and the areas his team still needs to tighten up before Texas visits for the SEC opener next Saturday. Here is everything he had to say.
Opening statement:
“Ultimately good win. Offensively just got to be better in the red zone, but there were some real positives too. And defensively, ultimately kept them out of the end zone, gave them some things here on the early part of the game, first drive. But all in all, a good night.”
On playing smarter and what was working on the ground without Javin Gordon:
“Wanted to see us play smarter. The penalties last week were egregious. We did play smarter tonight. There’s some things in our communication defensively early that we can be better in, offensively a few things. So we’re going to have to get better from this tape to understand who we’re playing next week. That was one of the main things.
“Running backs, people always get caught up in who the starter is, and at the end of the day, you’re going to need everybody inside of that room. So Daune ran extremely well tonight. Hunter Barnes went in there and ran well. De’Sean ran really well. Just didn’t think it was smart to put him back in at that point in the game, as we got a conference stretch here.”
On the importance of finding the end zone early:
“It doesn’t happen always. It happens because you execute. Guys adjust to something that may be a little bit different on tape. But it was positive to go get a touchdown on that drive, set the tone for the early part of the game.”
On his confidence in Daune behind De’Sean in the running back room:
“Fully confident in him. Fully confident in Baker. Hunter Barnes goes in there and plays extremely well tonight. Those guys are smart. They care. They’re selfless. Coach Sims does a great job leading those guys.”
On what Daune showed in his opportunity:
“He had more than just one moment. He had 14 carries. He just played extremely well. You guys have seen that from him. We got great trust in him. He’s grown so much in understanding, playing without the ball and then growing inside of the run game too, pressing, understanding flow, delivery of blocks and making really good cuts and playing with a really good pad level at the end. He finished his runs extremely well tonight.”
On Faizon Brandon working windows in the pass game:
“Some of it is going to be based off of coverages have weaknesses, structures have weaknesses. There was a way that they wanted to play tonight defensively. I thought Faizon did a good job working windows and taking what was there.”
On getting kicker Cooper more work before conference play:
“Been super consistent. Limited amount of kicks here in the early part of the season. Done a really good job when he’s gotten his opportunities, but been really consistent in practice. We got great trust and confidence in him. It was good to get him in that unit, all of them, some of that work tonight, because when you need it, you’re going to need it.”
On watching fifth-year Hunter Barnes step into his opportunity:
“Great to see Hunter, a guy that was playing a lot of football early last year on special teams for us, had an injury, cares about this program, great family and great teammate, and selfless. Is prepared for his opportunity when it comes. I think it’s a great lesson for everybody. Not just wanting something, but preparing for when your opportunity comes.”
On the tight-end’s night:
“All in all, just on the iPad, the brief things that you see, I thought they played really solid tonight. Had some catches. I thought they ran with the ball. Trent had a really nice run after catch. There might have been a penalty on that play or the play after. I can’t quite remember. I thought they did a good job in the run game and pass protection too.”
On the Arion Carter who stepped forward from last week:
“Really active tonight. I think eight tackles. Might be off by one in one direction or another. Sack. And he played better football tonight than he did last week. And that’s not taking anything away from last week. Just getting his feet underneath him. And he’s, again, one of our elite leaders. So good to see him play that way.”
On where the team stands through three games heading into the No. 1 team next week:
“I like the results. I like that we’ve gotten better every week. This football team, they should enjoy it briefly tonight and start getting prepared tomorrow. And then Monday we come in and reality of who we were on the tape and how we need to get better.”
On Kennesaw State quarterback Rickie Collins:
“He’s an athletic quarterback. I thought he was decisive. You can see him getting better every week on tape.”
On the postgame exchange with Jerry Mack:
“Good to see him. He’s got a good football team. They’ve done a good job there last year. When they get into conference play, they’re going to have a chance.”
On whether the two-point try is called beforehand or off the look:
“Based on look.”
