Josh Heupel August 31st Press Conference Highlights Part 2
Josh Heupel had a clear message before Tennessee kicks off the season. The Vols are about to learn exactly who they are.
Video Transcript
How has Jim Knowles made you and Joey better on the offensive side of the ball, seeing what he throws at you guys every day in practice, his spring and fall camp?
How have you all improved?
Yeah, I, I think as much as anything, as multiple as they are, front coverage, presentations, rotations, it gives you the ability, to work through a lot of the things that you're gonna see throughout the course of the year.
So, as much as anything, it's, the exposure our, our players get to some of those things.
You guys have had some success on offense, but you're seeing a lot of, of head coaches give up play calling even if they've been really successful coaches.
You're always looking to see who can get better.
Why has it been best for your program for you to continue to call plays?
Yeah, Jo- I mean, Joey does a lot of it.
You know, I'm My background in offense, gonna stay engaged in that, part of the details of all of our preparation.
For me, staying a part of what's gotten you to this point, hiring great people that you trust, some of those other things.
But certainly it's still my responsibility to tie all three of it together.
Can Braelon this fall camp help those younger guys in, in, in the midst of that competition, that third, for the third receiver spot and, and just help lead that room?
Yeah.
Well, they're smart, tough, competitive.
They've really grown in their approach, how they handle every day, from year one, how they take care of their bodies.
You see it out on the practice field, coaching guys up, some of the details.
Could be fundamentals, technique, could be, recognizing schemes.
You see it, them talking to their peers, you know, some of the young guys that, "Hey, man, these are mistakes that I made when I was young.
Here's how I've grown and here's how it's impacted me."
and, you know, those are two guys that do it at a really high level.
Great.
Other than physically, how different does Deshawn Bishop look this game week one as compared to last year's game one, where he could be more physical via running back but continue to grow?
Yeah, had a great off-season, physically stronger, you know, more muscle mass, more speed and acceleration.
You know, a year ago, had had some opportunities in, in games but hadn't had carried the bulk of it.
You know, he's got a year under his belt.
He's done a great job with the ball in his hands.
Does a great job without the ball in his hands, too.
I think he's really grown in that way.
So experienced player that's played at a really high level that we expect to, to have a great year.
And then Sam, you haven't had a quarterback question yet.
How about that?
But it's pretty good.
I, I'm curious for, in, in your history, you've played your starter, and then obviously the games dictated whatever else has happened.
Going into this game, do you have a plan to go that route or do you have a plan to play two quarterbacks?
You'll find out on Saturday.
You'd mentioned after one of your scrimmages that you guys did more than 50% live tackling, trying to get better in that area.
How have you seen that, I know game's ultimately able to determine, but how have you seen that improve your team's tackling both on offense, and then how has it impacted both on defense, but how has it impacted the offense, too?
Well, some of that live work's important for, yes, your offensive guys, skill players that have, the ball in their hands.
That can be live work in scrimmages or some of our, our tackling drills, that we do that are live.
At the end of the day, tackling is body position, fundamentals, and technique.
We've stressed that extremely hard during the off-season.
Done it during the course of, you know, spring ball, training camp, and, I like how we have grown.
And, but ultimately we'll find out when we get out there on Saturday.
Have you seen George respond over the last week or so since you announced that Faizon was gonna be the starter?
Yeah.
Disappointed at first.
If they're not that, then you got a real problem.
But he's been great in the, in the quarterback room.
Been great on the practice field, great energy.
He's, you know, in here today with everybody and, he's continuing to grow and work and compete, and he understands he's gonna get an opportunity at some point, and you better be prepared when your opportunity comes.
