Tennessee’s quarterback battle got another look on Saturday, and Josh Heupel came away with a mix of encouragement and teaching points after the Vols’ second and final scrimmage of fall camp at Neyland Stadium.
The competition remains centered on early enrollee freshman Faizon Brandon and sophomore George MacIntyre, with Tennessee now less than two weeks from its season opener on Sept. 5. Heupel said the two passers showed progress from the first scrimmage, even if Saturday also delivered a few moments that will show up on the film review.
“Throughout the course of the last week since scrimmage one, I thought they did a really good job taking care of the football, handling decision making, controlling what we're doing offensively. Today, there were some real positives, some things that they're going to learn from too, so excited to go back and watch the tape here with them.”
Heupel said the staff will weigh the decision based on the bigger picture, not just one workout or one flash point.
“You evaluate where they're at, who's earned it and what you think is best holistically for that position group in the buildup and in the football team.”
He also said there isn’t necessarily a built-in edge to naming a starter before game week, though there can be value in simply getting more work with the rest of the offense.
“I don't know if there's any advantage necessarily. Time on task, timing with the wide receivers, tight ends, that type of thing can be an advantage. Those guys have both gotten a bunch of work with that first group.”
When asked whether earlier clarity matters from a reps standpoint, Heupel said each year brings its own circumstances.
“I think it's different every single year. At the end of the day, you look at where they're at, where we're at and what's best for the football team.”
The deep ball has been one of the brighter notes so far in camp, and Heupel said that carried through both scrimmages and the practices in between.
“I feel like over the course of the two scrimmages, it's been really positive. During the course of practice, it's been extremely positive.
Today, we were able to hit a couple of them. All parts of it have to be tied together, too.
The route, coverage, and then the protection piece of it too.”
Heupel also explained what the staff can and can’t learn about quarterback running ability in a scrimmage, given that the quarterbacks are protected.
“No, they're not live. They're protected in that way, but you can see their ability to manipulate and work in the pocket.
You can see their ball security in the pocket, out of the pocket. Extended plays, you get a chance to see their decision making down the field.
If it's not open, their ability to tuck it and gain positive yards and put you in the right situations. So, it's not realistic in gameday as far as the tackle being made, but you can see all those other things before you get to gameday.”
The pre-snap operation still has room to sharpen up, and Heupel said Saturday wasn’t Tennessee’s cleanest day in that area.
“Throughout the course of training camp, have continued to get better at that. Today was not our best day.
That's not just the quarterback. Some moving pieces, offensive line, wide receivers, all that.
We still have ground that we have to continue to chew up here before we get to kickoff.”
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