Tennessee Volunteers College Football Pregame Quote, 10/18/2021

We had a good morning with our players. After reviewing the tape, some of what I thought after the game rang true. I thought our guys competed extremely hard and played every second on the clock. They played it right up until the end. There were some things that we obviously can do better in all three phases. We had to play smarter to finish on the right side of that but didn’t do that. Those are things that for the most part we control. Offensively, it was some simple communication things. Defensively, we’ve got to get off the field on third down. I thought a lot of what they did at the line of scrimmage was really positive for most of the night. We didn’t handle the quarterback draw. We had some different things that were in the game plan to help that. We just didn’t execute it. In special teams, there were a lot of really good things, but a couple things ‚Äì obviously the muffed punt and the penalty where we pushed the offense into a backed-up situation ‚Äì those are the things that we’ve got to be better in. The good news for us is that we can control a lot of that. We’ve got to get better this week.

It’s a huge opponent. They’re a really good football team and it’s a rivalry game ‚Äì one that our guys and staff will be extremely excited about being ready for and going down to Tuscaloosa and competing against a really good football team. It starts with their quarterback. He’s a super-efficient playmaker. He’s got dynamic playmakers around him. Defensively, obviously front to back, they’re really good. They’re athletic, have the ability to rush the passer. They can do that with pressures and can do that with just their front four. They’ve got good cover guys on the backend. It’s a big test for us and one that we’re excited about.

On Hendon Hooker’s status:

Hendon, Tiyon (Evans) and Cade (Mays) are probably day-to-day at this point. We’ll see as the week unfolds where we end up with Hendon.

On if he thinks Hendon’s injury is a long-term injury:

I don’t think it’s a long-term injury. As for his status for this week, we’ll find out as we go.

On his conversations with recruits about the atmosphere in Neyland Stadium Saturday:

They’re going to take away the 59 minutes, even with the slight delay. To see our student body rush down and fill the bottom part of the section and the remainder of our crowd to be amped up for the final minute of play, that’s the takeaway. I know for some people the story is about what happened, but our administration has obviously made it clear that that’s not the stance in what we want from the Volunteer spirit. You know that I feel the same way. That’s a very small number. The passion and energy from our fanbase ‚Ķ I’ve been in a lot of competitive arenas as a player and as a coach. There was nothing better that I’ve ever been in than what happened on Saturday night.

On handling controversial plays and submitting them to the SEC:

You turn those things in on Sunday.

On the play that appeared to result in a scoop and score for the Vols:

Yeah, it looks like a delay, pop pass type play over the middle. You know, I think you guys all understand what my stance is on what actually transpired during the play. You know, two officials are chasing the ball into the end zone and the confer on the back end of it. It’s one of those situations that is not reviewable, based on what they told me.

On how officials can get in better positions to spot the ball:

Based on where the official is and where the play was, he was in a tough position. You know, the reality is that wherever that ball was spotted, that’s probably, after review, where it was going to continue to be.

On expectations of the backup quarterback and how they prepare during the week:

You prepare just like you are the starter. I don’t care if you’re the backup quarterback, the backup center, the backup d-tackle, the backup safety. You prepare like you are the starter. That’s the tough thing about sports and the really tough thing about the quarterback position, because you never know when your opportunity is going to come, and you better be ready for it.

On Joe Milton’s last play and not throwing it into end zone:

Yeah, those are the things that we talk about. They actually see video of plays like that unfolding during the course of their off season. We try to put quarterbacks in a position where it is the last play, or a two-play set at the end of a game that’s somewhere in that red zone situation. Our guys broke as though it was a scramble and busted out the right side. (Joe) has got to find a way at the end of the day to get that ball in the end zone, give somebody a chance.

On what Alabama does defensively to cause problems:

First of all, they’ve got great personnel, it starts there. Their ability to be different, and I say that meaning apply pressure with pressure. Some of that being simulated with dropping ends, their ability to get pressure with their front four, their ability to fit the run game and play it at a really high level. You put all that together, they’ve been difficult to move the football on.

On why Alabama run defense is so successful:

The ability to defeat blocks, first and second level. Linebackers are athletic, able to go and tackle well in space. Safeties do the same thing. They do it from different coverages, whether its single high or two high structure. You’ve got to do a great job of being really good on your double teams. When you have them, you got to do a great job of engaging your man. Getting to the second level is important too.

On Jabari Small’s performance on Saturday:

Thought for most of the football game, he did a great job of understanding our schemes, pressing the line of scrimmage. When he bounced, it was the right time to bounce. Did a great job of making people miss (at the) second and third levels there all night long. It was his best performance start to finish. The most football he’s played at one time too. Toughness, grit, liked what he did a bunch.

On if it was difficult for Jabari (Small) to play a full game:

You look at the running back position for us as a whole, we haven’t had a lot of consistency where we’ve had the same guys on the field every single week and had the top two guys probably in Tiyon (Evans) and Jabari (Small) at the same time. It’s been a little bit of a mash unit; guys are continuing to step up and go compete when given their opportunity.

On cleaning up pass protection:

It’s a little bit of everything. Some of it’s wideouts. A bulk of it is our communication up front five guys, running back included. As you adjust protections based on different things that you’re seeing during the course of the game, being able to go out and execute. That was an issue last week with a couple of things and end of the day, we’ve got to be cleaner.

On the way Hendon Hooker has settled into offense:

I think his understanding of what we’re doing. His preparation’s been really good, so he’s had the ability to grow each and every week. Playing with more confidence as he’s gone through that. A part of that though, is the growth of the other guys around him too, that continue to get better. The other night there were some things that we did really well. When I say we need to play smarter for four quarters, each guy can’t take his turn of being off one time. That just kills you in a game that’s limited opportunities. So, for Hendon, he’s going to continue to grow. Believe that he prepares in a great way. His teammates care about him, his teammates believe in him, and that’s been a big part of why he’s been able to grow too.

On how Dayne Davis played when stepping in for Cade Mays on Saturday:

Some really positive things, couple of things in protection that weren’t as clean as they need to be as we adjusted things during the course of the ballgame. I believe in Dayne, believe in his preparation and if Cade (Mays) is not able to go this week, I feel like he’ll be ready to play at a high level.

On Ole Miss QB Matt Corral causing problems for UT’s third down defense:

Great players at some point make good plays. I thought we did a great job of harassing (Ole Miss QB Matt Corral) all night long. We got the one pick but were close to a bunch of other things. Got a strip-sack, and they were able to get back on the ball, had the play that we talked about previously, and were close a couple of other picks. I thought our effort, being relentless and continuing to play each play, showed as the game went on. There are some things structurally that we can control to take away some of those opportunities. He is a really good player though.

On how the players can still stay bought in when the injuries start to pile up and other things might not go their way:

I just believe in the competitive spirit inside of our building. I believe what we’re building, the effort and strain that they’re playing with; the other night wasn’t perfect, but at no point did you ever question the effort and the ‘want-to.’ I believe in who those guys are and as you build a program, that’s the first place that it starts.

On the defense getting better as the game went on despite lack of depth in numbers:

When you’re thin or not as deep as you may want to be, just based on pure numbers as we started the season, their ability to get better as the game went on and get comfortable within the game. Fourth quarter, they did a fantastic job, and it speaks to their effort, strain, and competitive spirit. It speaks to their understanding of what we’re doing. I think defensively, we continue to get better every single week.

On how the team can get better in practice while managing fatigue through the back half of the season:

I think our players, by the time we get to game day, feel fresh and ready to go compete. Good teams, good players have to continue to get better. We’re going to continue to give practice squad looks. We’re going to continue to go good-on-good here. For us, it’s a one-week season this week, and then bye week, you have to make sure that you get guys’ legs back underneath them and make sure they’re ready for the final run.”