Tennessee used its bye week to reset, and Braylon Staley said the break gave the Volunteers a chance to get healthy, get organized and get moving on Kentucky early.
“Pretty beneficial. Got some rest obviously, got some treatment over the weekend.
I think you know just got myself together, ready to you know come out, got a head start on Kentucky, ready to come out and just play ball.” Staley said.
That preparation matters because Tennessee is trying to bounce back from a 24-27 loss to South Carolina, its second defeat of the season. The Vols enter Week 10 at 6-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play, ranked 16th in the AP poll and tied for 5th in the SEC with Texas, LSU, and Missouri. Next up is an 8th-ranked Kentucky team that Staley described as disciplined and difficult to deal with.
“Very sound, they got a great back end, some veterans at safety, great safety duo. Just a great football team.
You know, I think they're like second in the league for penalties or something like that or whatever, but that's a very sound football team.” Staley said.
For Tennessee, the emphasis this week has been on the details. Staley said the Vols know they have to tighten up the penalty issues that showed up last week.
“yes, it's really important to clean up penalties. Obviously we had, you know, some big ones last week, but I think, you know, just that team is very sound, just being able to come in practice, you know, hone in on them details in practice, and it'll take itself to the game.” Staley said.
He said the work has already started in practice, where Tennessee has focused on the kind of mistakes that can wreck a drive before it even begins.
“It could, especially in practice. The practices that we did have, they was big on like pulling on and off the ball, you know jumping off sides, false starts, and all stuff like that.” Staley said.
The message from the staff has been consistent: attention to detail has to show up before kickoff, not after.
“Have great attention to detail. It starts in practice.
Being able to stay focused throughout the week, and then when it comes to game time, we got to be able to, you know, just go play ball and, you know, be smart.” Staley said.
Staley also said the team has kept its routine during the bye, mixing football with time together away from the field.
“Obviously hanging out with each other, going out to eat and stuff like that. You know, coming back and watching film and stuff like that, but that's really what we do a lot.” Staley said.
A big part of that film work has centered on Kentucky’s defense, with Tennessee trying to pick apart how the Wildcats line up and disguise what they’re doing.
“Just looking at the structure of the defense, see how they disguise stuff. Seeing how the corners play on the outside and obviously like the nickel spots and, you know, seeing what depth safeties be at and, you know, like different coverages and stuff like that.” Staley said.
He said that study has not been limited to this week alone.
“Yes, it has. Obviously with a couple of the receivers, we always go in there and, you know, just watch some with George.
You know, just seeing what we can pick out from the defense and see if it happens to us.” Staley said.
Staley also had plenty to say about George, who he said has taken a clear step forward as a leader.
“He's grown a lot obviously, you know he took the role over, he's been playing his butt off, but he's grown a lot. He's taking control of the offense now, being a leader that he's supposed to be, he's talking way more than I've seen, so it's been really good to see him grow.” Staley said.
He credited confidence for that jump.
“I think it was confidence. He got his confidence back right now and I think he's doing really good with it, and you know he needs to keep it up.” Staley said.
That change has shown up in the huddle too, where Staley said George’s voice has become a real asset.
“ It's been real good. Especially on the field, cause you know we get in the huddles a lot sometimes now, and it's George just being loud, he's telling us what to do.
It's real good to be in the huddle and hear a quarterback talk like that.” Staley said.
Staley also said the receiving room got pushed hard last week, and he sees that as a positive.
“He was on us a good bit, but I think that's what you need in the receiving room, you know for a coach to be on you like that and you know just to want you to succeed. So, it was a good week of practice for us and this week's going to be a good week of practice too.” Staley said.
And when it comes to the offense getting lined up cleanly, he said the timing has to be sharp from the start.
“You know, just getting in our alignments, getting set, being able to get our cleats set fast. Once the o-line goes down, and the quarterbacks ready to snap the ball, if we not ready, it's dead.” Staley said.
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