Tennessee's Kelsey Pope talks Vols wide receivers ahead of Arkansas game

Everything Tennessee Football wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope said during his press conference on Tuesday, as the fourth-ranked Vols prepare to face Arkansas Saturday night (7:30 Eastern Time, ABC) in Fayetteville:

How he would assess the play of Tennessee’s receivers through four games

“I think we have had some success at points. I think our best is still out there. I really do. I think there’s a responsibility piece to that, that we continue to prepare and we’ll continue to see these guys grow and progress. But I think we’ve had some success. But is it our max potential? I don’t think we’re anywhere close to that.”

Tennessee receiver Chas Nimrod being an Arkansas native, going back home to face the Razorbacks, telling him not to press too hard 

“I think that’s the message. When guys are older and mature they understand that. You just kind of talk to him about his preparation. And things are going to happen the way they’re supposed to. Obviously there’s a little bit more juice, there’s a little bit more focus and attention there because he’s going back home. But I think as long as he continues to prepare the right way, I think you’ll always get the stuff that you want.”

How Tennessee’s wide receivers have adjusted to quarterback Nico Iamaleava through four games

“I think for one, we talk about Nico’s ability outside of the pocket. I think it’s forced those guys to really focus when plays break down that they got to go be available and be a target for him. That’s really the biggest piece. The other thing is it when you got a quarterback and you got a talent like that, he just allows you to go and use your talents. So really he makes it a lot easier on us then it would be without him. But for the most part, the biggest thing has been with him being dynamic outside the pocket. We got to make sure we’re being able to go become targets for him whenever he’s outside the pocket.”

The production of Tennessee receiver Dont’e Thornton so far, how much of it goes back to his change in mindset over the offseason

“I think that’s probably the biggest thing that he’s done that has helped him. That’s been his biggest benefit for him. It’s just being able to go play free and play confident. And as long as he’s doing that, I think we’ll continue to get the best version of him. So a lot like the question about Chaz, what’s it like going back home, you eliminate the distractions and the outside factors and these guys can just play free confident, you typically get the best version of them. So that’s what we’re seeing now.”

If it’s difficult to divide up the snaps when one receiver in particular is producing big plays, like Dont’e Thornton has done 

“I think, man it is a lot like basketball. You really got to identify what type of game it is. And if you got a hot hand, you got to feed it. That’s really my mindset. He got a bunch of snaps last game, Bru (McCoy) as well, because they were the hot hands. So when you got a room like that, you got to be in tune and you got to be intentional with how the game’s going and who’s rolling, who’s hot right now. And I think that helps you. Obviously every guy’s going to get an opportunity to get time, but that’s something you definitely have to be tune with.”

How Tennessee receivers have played without the ball, how hard it is to keep the focus in that area of the game 

“Man, I think that’s a great question. I think at times it’s been awesome. I think sometimes it’s been inconsistent. I think even that part of our game, right, I think the best is really yet to come. I think our best is still out there. You see us at times, like Bru last game, there are times that he got a really tough look on corners and he was able to go fit a guy up without the ball. And we created explosives. And there are others where we don’t have that same focus and that same intention and it’s the whole group, it’s not just one guy. I think for me as a coach, I got to continue to push these guys in practice to be consistent with that. I think we’ll continue to see the game. So at times it’s been really good. Other times it’s just been okay. That’s an area we’ll continue to push.”

What’s the biggest point they’re pushing with Tennessee’s receivers right now

“We got to go compete. This league’s hard. Every opponent we have in this league is going to be a freaking elite opponent. We got to go compete, we got to do our best in practice. We got to focus and prepare our best in meetings. And we got to go strain and get everything we can because each week is going to be hard. It’s going to be tough in this league. So I think for us, the mentality of guys just going to strain and compete and go give our best every single week and then let the cards fall as they may. I think that’s going to be top.”

How Chris Brazzell II has settled in to Tennessee’s offense 

“Chris knows the system. He understands it. He’s been really good at times and then there’s other times where he hasn’t really been to the standard. I think again that’s something that starts in practice. As he continues to go he’s obviously progressing, getting better. I think think as long as he’s got the right focus, he comes in with the right mentality, I think the sky will continue to be the limit for him. But the consistency piece will continue to be the factor. If we can’t be consistent, you won’t ever see the best of anybody in any position. So consistency for him will be the key.”

What he has seen from Tennessee freshman receiver Mike Mathews

“I’ve been impressed with his maturity. He’s grown up a ton from a football knowledge standpoint. He wants to be a sponge. He’s always asking questions, he’s always in the building. He’s a guy that, going down the stretch, he’s going to continue to make plays for us because he’s the guy that we going to need to make plays on the outside.”

How much wide receivers are involved in the game plan when it comes to blocking on the outside

“They’re very involved, especially with personnel. They’ve got to know who they’re going against. They got to know tendencies and what to expect. That’s something at the beginning of the week that we really harp on, this personnel. And like I said, this league, you’re going to play against elite personnel every week. So that’s probably our main focus initially. And as we get throughout the week, the scheme becomes more of the focus point. But the personnel is really good. We’re playing a really good opponent. We’re looking forward to going to a tough environment and competing our butts off.”