Anthony Poindexter didn’t get much of a stress test from Furman, and he knows it. Tennessee’s secondary came out of the opener with clean communication, solid alignment and very little trouble handling what the Paladins threw at it. But the real measuring stick arrives this week against Georgia Tech, and Poindexter made it clear Tuesday that he expects a far tougher examination.
The Vols started four transfer defensive backs in the season opener, but Furman never really had the chance to push them down the field. Tennessee gave up just 43 passing yards, and Poindexter said the group handled the moment the way it needed to.
“I think the first game, they showed they understood the defense. They could execute the defense.
The game environment wasn’t too big. They didn’t start doing their own thing.
Obviously we didn’t get tested a ton with deep passes and stuff like that, so this week will be a good test. They’ll push the ball down the field, and they’ve got some really good skill players on the outside, so it’ll be a good test to see.”
Communication was another box the secondary checked in the opener, especially with the noise inside the stadium forcing the Vols to lean on hand signals.
“It was a lot better. The stadium’s loud, so we had to use a lot of hand signals.
We had to get each other’s eyes to make sure we was all on the same page, but communication, we really didn’t have too many communication busts. Guys knew what to do.
They were in the right spots, played the coverage the way it was drawn up. We did do that well, and we’re happy about that.”
Poindexter also used the Furman game to evaluate the younger players who got extended run late. For him, that’s about more than just watching highlights - it’s a chance to see who is locked in during meetings and who can carry the plan onto the field.
“You’re just seeing how much they’re paying attention in the meetings. A lot of times they don’t get the reps (in practice), but they’re in the meetings.
They’re getting the game plan. Do they understand the game plan?
Can they go out and execute the game plan? Will they play hard?
Will they play tough? So you’re just looking at all that kind of stuff.
They deserved the right to play, getting into that situation. If you go out there and show that you can handle it, they’ll get more.”
Asked whether he liked what those young players showed, Poindexter kept it measured but positive.
“Yeah. I mean, it’s small-sample size, but yeah, I liked that they knew what to do and in the right spots.
They’ve just got to keep working, and we’ve got to keep bringing this depth along. It’s a long season.”
One player who caught his eye was Tevis Metcalf, who made a couple of plays against Furman and could be carving out a larger role. Poindexter pointed to Metcalf’s work habits and steady improvement since arriving at Tennessee.
“Well, Tevis is just, he’s a hard worker like his brother. He come out and compete every day in practice.
He done got a ton better since he first got here, playing the nickel position for us. I think he played corner at Michigan, so you can see his game just coming on each week.
I was happy for him and how he played, and hopefully he can keep growing it.”
Georgia Tech, though, is the real challenge. Poindexter said the Yellow Jackets bring a quarterback with a strong arm and accuracy, plus a set of weapons Tennessee didn’t see in Week 1.
“Well, obviously they’ve got a quarterback with a really good arm, good accuracy. They’ve got skill players that we did not see a week ago.
They’ve got two or three receivers that can go. They’ve got a nice room of tight ends.
Multiple formations, multiple shifts and motions, so they’re going to make you think before the ball’s snapped. You’ve got to be in the right calls.
“They’re going to make you communicate, so they a challenge.”
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Tennessee Must Deal With A Familiar Threat In Georgia Tech's Backfield
Georgia Techs season opener gave Tennessee another reminder that early nonconference games can still bring a familiar-looking challenge. Justice Haynes, who has already logged stops at Alabama and Michigan before landing in Atlanta for his senior season, made his first appearance for the Yellow Jackets last week and is now set to see Tennessee this weekend. For a Vols defense getting its first real look at Georgia Tech, the backfield will feature a runner with a well-traveled resume and the kind of experience that tends to show up quickly.
Josh Heupel didnt spend much time underselling what Haynes brings. He described him as dynamic and physical, with good vision, a combination that can make a back dangerous both between the tackles and once he gets a crease. That gives Tennessee another early test in a matchup where the Vols will need to be sharp against a runner who already has a feel for high-level football and is trying to make an immediate impact in his new home. [Read more 🡒]
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Kelsey Popes approach fits into a broader tradition of coaches finding unusual ways to challenge receivers, including the Dallas Cowboys use of beekeeper masks in similar training exercises. For Tennessee, the goal is simple enough even if the method looks odd: make routine catches feel less routine before the real pressure hits. Fans may not see the payoff until the fall, but the offseason work already has a way of standing out. [Read more 🡒]
Arion Carters Return Adds Intrigue To Tennessees First Road Test
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Heupel recently addressed the way Tennessee handled leadership during Carters NCAA suspension, noting that Carter served as the teams sole captain while sidelined. The suspension came after an agent paid for a flight during the pre-draft process, and Carter now returns with another layer of motivation, planning to donate money to cancer-related charities based on his defensive performance this season. For Tennessee, it is a reminder that this opening stretch is about more than just travel and opponent prep, with Carters return adding a personal and competitive subplot to a meaningful September test. [Read more 🡒]