Josh Heupel spent Monday’s media availability looking ahead to Tennessee’s second SEC game, and the message was clear: Auburn is a challenge, the Vols have plenty to clean up, and the focus has to stay on what comes next.
Heupel opened by pointing to Champions Weekend and the chance to recognize athletes from across different sports before turning to the matchup itself. Tennessee is set for another conference game, and Heupel said he was excited for it while noting the familiarity between the two staffs.
Auburn head coach Alex Golesh and several people around him have crossed paths with Tennessee’s staff before, and Heupel said, “It works both sides. A lot of their staff has been with us and vice versa.
It kind of balances things out,” Heupel said.
The Vols’ coach also made it clear that the tape from Saturday wasn’t going to be ignored. He said he had to take ownership of what he can do better, and he expected the same from the staff.
For the players, the approach is simple: learn from it, then move on. “There’s a lot of good.
There’s a lot you’ve got to get corrected. Every individual, collectively as a position group, ultimately as a team, whether you win, lose - certainly enjoy wins more than losses, whether you win or lose, you’ve got to flush it and get out on the field today.
And it’s about what’s next,” Heupel said.
A big part of that correction centers on the quarterback. Heupel said the young signal-caller wants to play at a high level and knows he can be better than he was Saturday.
He also stressed that the quarterback’s growth has to be matched by the rest of the offense. “You know, I said at the beginning of the year, too, you got a young quarterback, the 10 other guys around him got to do their job at a high level to alleviate unforeseen circumstances for that guy, too, and that’s part of the ownership that everybody on the offensive side of the ball has to have,” Heupel said.
Heupel added that the quarterback has to avoid reckless decisions, but also has to trust moments when he needs to “let rip.” Some throws were there and some were missed, Heupel said, and that’s part of the learning curve. He also pointed to the mental side of the bounce-back, saying the player was disappointed after the game but eager to get back to work.
The offensive line and the run game were another major talking point. Heupel said that group has to play at a higher level for all 60 minutes if Tennessee wants to move the ball more consistently.
He said the issues aren’t limited to the five linemen, either, because tight ends, backs, quarterbacks and receivers all factor into protection. On the ground, he said Tennessee has to create more movement and give the backs cleaner paths, while also acknowledging that sometimes the defense simply won the moment.
“It’s all those pieces working together,” Heupel said.
Defensively, Heupel highlighted one player’s ability to get to the football first, calling him violent, fast, physical at the point of attack and disruptive when it comes to disengaging from blocks. He also said the player is a competitor who wants to get back out there quickly after a disappointing result.
Looking ahead to Auburn, Heupel said the Tigers present a strong challenge up front and are athletic on the back end. He said the game is moving faster for Tennessee’s young quarterback, but that the experience should help him grow.
Heupel also noted that Auburn’s personnel and some of its pressure looks are different, even if there are some carry-over elements from other places. Identification, communication and getting the right bodies in the right spots will matter, he said, along with run-game protection and quarterback recognition.
Heupel touched on Auburn’s run game as well, saying the Tigers’ backs run hard and get vertical quickly. He added that their quarterback is a major part of the ground attack, which means Tennessee has to fit things properly and bring an extra hat when needed. For the Vols, that comes back to execution, movement and finishing the job on the back end of runs.
Heupel also addressed a kick rule change, saying the play had been run previously inside the league and that Tennessee had already had earlier communication with the conference. He said the staff will adjust to the new rule, adding, “The ruling we got today as I was walking down here,” Heupel said.
When asked about the challenges of taking over a job, Heupel said every situation is different, even when it’s the same place twice. Personnel, staff and the current state of the program all shape how a coach approaches it, and he said the key is to adjust and put the program in the best possible footing.
Heupel closed by comparing Auburn’s current approach with what Tennessee saw from Kennesaw, saying there are similarities in what Jerry Mack and Alex are doing, but also plenty of differences. Both quarterbacks are mobile, and Auburn is using its quarterback in the run game much more than Tennessee saw from Kennesaw.
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