What Josh Heupel said after Tennessee Football practice Tuesday morning

Everything head coach Josh Heupel said during his press conference after Tennessee Football held a closed practice Tuesday morning at the Anderson Training Center:

Opening Statement

“We’re in a normal schedule here this week, got our guys starting school. So I like what we’ve done throughout the course of training camp. Still, got some time here before we get kicked off, some things that we got to clean up, all these phases of the game. But looking forward to this week, continuing to grow and ultimately getting ready for Syracuse, getting ready to go play ball.”

If he has to change anything based on the size and play style of a new Tennessee quarterback

“Ultimately, in the pass game there are certain things that they may be most confident in as you game plan week to week. That’s a part of it. But some things that you put in to attack certain things that you see on film, you try to get them to understand the why behind it. Offensively, it changes from year to year. 

You change from year to year. Starts with the quarterback and offensive line and, where you can put your skilled players to have success.

“Joey (Aguilar), through this week and really what he’s done through training camp, learning what we’re doing offensively as we get ready for Syracuse here at the end of the week. Then making sure that the things that are in play, he feels good about. And I think that’s one of the things with young quarterbacks and with new quarterbacks is getting them to be transparent in those things.”

What Joey Aguilar did during the summer and training camp to win the starting quarterback job 

“First of all, that entire room competed at a really high level. They competed the right way, too. They pushed each other in a positive way in the meeting room, out on the practice field. I think our team has great confidence in all those guys. 

“Joey, through the course of training camp, each and every day, continued to grow and take steps and understand what we’re doing. And comfort level, played well in the scrimmages, had good command. And that ultimately led to the decision that we made.”

What made him believe Joey Aguilar gives Tennessee the best chance to win

“Got great trust in all those (quarterbacks). And the strength of one position room, quarterback included, can never just be one guy. And those guys have all grown. But I think Joey, coming in May, having to learn the offense throughout the late spring summertime, getting his feet on the grass with our guys, learning how we practice, but also growing each day just continued to trend upward in his comfort and control and command of what we’re doing. That’s decision making, accuracy with the football, our checks that he controls, you put all that together and that’s ultimately why we made the decision.”

Where Tennessee is with the starting center position right now with Sam Pendleton and William Satterwhite

“Both of those guys have competed really, grown here during the course of our practices. Still a competition. You’re going to need both of them as we get through the fall, too.”

If he has changed as a coach while coaching in the SEC or if he’s just adapted to personnel

“Probably a combination. (Depending on) what defenses you’re seeing, how you can attack them, put guys in a position to be successful. And then your personnel changes. And that certainly starts with your quarterback, but it’s the other 10 on the offensive side of the ball as well.”

Tennessee’s situation on the defensive line with Daevin Hobbs injured

“Those guys have done a really good job. You look at where they were in January when they got here, the player that they were in spring ball, the growth of what they’re doing here in training camp. Ethan Utley, explosive playing twitch at the line of scrimmage, doing a good job at the point of attack. Isaiah Campbell, wide hip, but strong explosive power. Both those guys continue to grow in a really good way.” 

How he knows when a young player is ready to contribute on game days

“Well, sometimes it takes being in the spotlight and being in the game to truly understand. But you’re looking for the trends of what they’re doing in the meeting room, their ability to communicate. That can be offensively, their assignment defensively, all the checks that go into it. The ability to play the next play during the course of practice, how they respond to something that didn’t go their way. But ultimately, here in training camp, the way they compete on a consistent basis with fundamentals, technique being assignment sound. And playing as hard as you can from snap to whistle.” 

The health in Tennessee’s wide receiver room

“Mike has been with us for a long time. There were a couple days where we limited him. Chris has been with us here the last few days and Braylon was with us this last day, as well.”

His conversation with Tennessee quarterbacks Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre

“First of all, I met with all of them at the same time. You recognize, I’ve been in that situation on both sides of it. You understand that there’s going to be heartache, disappointment, and if it’s not that way, then you got a real problem. It was a tough decision for us. We talked about it with those guys. I think the transparency of that breeds confidence in what they’re all hearing at the same time. And so at the same time, through that night, there’s a pain of disappointment. And coming the next day, you got to find a way to be a great teammate. Be the same guy that you have (been). Continue to compete. You name a starter but you never know when your opportunity is coming. This message was given to those guys as we sat in the room together, it was given to the entire team, too. You got to prepare yourself for when your opportunity is going to come to take advantage of that. Merk has been great in the building, energy, focus. George has been the same way. Just want those guys to continue to grow.”

Having a lot of new starters on offense

“Well, we’ve talked about it with our players, but we’ve talked about it, or I’ve talked about it with our staff, too. You got to be elite in your ability to teach and help these guys grow through every phase of our off-season. And our staff has done a great job. Our young guys have been highly competitive, highly diligent in their ability to grow every single day. We’re not a finished product. Good teams continue to get better throughout the course of the year. You got to take advantage of it every day. But our young guys have prepared in a really good way and I think they’re extremely confident right now. And there’s a lto of growth that’s got ot happen before first kickoff, certainly, but if they continue to attack it, we’ll be ready to go play.

The status of Boo Carter

“Boo has continued to grow on the things that we’re asking him to do, to be a great teammate inside of this building every single day. Know the charge for him, but for all of us, is to continue to do that. And Boo has continued to grow in what he’s doing on the field. So, I’m excited and pleased with a lot of things that we see from him.”

What he expects from Tennessee wide receiver Amari Jefferson

“Amari, coming off of the hip surgery, as he onboarded here, was limited throughout the course of the workout, off-season, winter part of it. Then, got an opportunity in spring ball to kind of grow on the back half of it a little bit on the football side of it. Did a great job during the course of the summer, dramatically changing his body. He’s a guy that’s made some plays out there on the practice field in the stadium during our scrimmages, as well. Expect him to continue to grow throughout the course of the fall here.”

If his time as a quarterback impacted the timeline to name a starter

“Well, I think first of all, I said it before we started our first practice, somebody has got to go take it, too. They went through that, got through two scrimmages and another practice with those guys competing. I think, just, how Joey was continuing to grow inside of it. It felt like it was the right time, for him, but for our football team, too. And certainly, having this week knowing that you’re going to be the guy, I think gives him the chance to continue to get his feet on the ground and get ready for kickoff here in a week and a half.”