Tennessee begins Georgia prep; Optimism on Nico Iamaleava
Tennessee and Georgia get together Saturday night in what many view as possible defacto playoff game.
For the Vols the biggest question this the health of the offense specifically quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Head coach Josh Heupel said Iamaleava was with the team on Monday and he’s optimistic about where Iamaleava is at following his injury Saturday night.
Tight end Miles Kitselman made it clear the belief the offense has in both quarterbacks. Tennessee played tons of two tight end sets in the 33-14 win over Mississippi State, but their role in the passing game was a bit different as the tight ends were only targeted twice. Kitselman said the tight ends are ready for whatever they are asked to do.
“Each week, we use it the more we get comfortable and confident in it. Just continuing to expand what we can do out of that.” Kitselman said of the 12-personnel. “The more we are in it, the more the coaching staff is comfortable spreading it out and throwing the rock around a little bit in 12-personnel. Obviously, us tight ends feel really confident in whatever the coaching staff asks us to do. We are ready to keep expanding that area.”
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Defensively, Tennessee is looking to get their edge back in stopping the run. The Vols have been gashed for runs of 50 and 43 yards the last two games. Defensive end Dominic Bailey it gets back to simply doing their job.
“Obviously just play our brand of ball,” Bailey said. “We gotta finish what what we started.
“We are just not fitting our gaps properly.”
Safety Will Brooks and the Vol defense have been on a heater in the take away department, Tennessee has forced 9 turnovers the last for games and Georgia has turned the ball over 15 times including 12 interceptions. Despite those numbers, Brooks knows the secondary and defense have a big challenge Saturday night in Athens.
“They obviously have a really good run game and Carson Beck is a good quarterback,” Brooks said. “He knows how to find his receivers. They do a lot of stuff to create balance. We will have our work cut out for us.”
