Tennessee football played its second spring camp scrimmage inside Neyland Stadium on Thursday morning, giving players yet another taste of live ball as they continue to carve out roles in the depth chart and compete for starting minutes.
Here is what head coach Josh Heupel had to say following the scrimmage:
Heupel's reflection on the overall improvement of his team after its second scrimmage
"We introduced crowd noise this week, simulating playing on the road. I thought the quarterbacks operationally did a lot better job from day one until today. Same thing with the offensive line, the communication and silent count. I think defensively, in some of the things that we've added, I thought they grasped it really quickly and handled it well. They've continued to grow fundamentally and within the scope of technique. That's inside the scheme but also block destruction and tackling we took a step. Offensively, up front, we're continuing to grow in our ability to create movement, being better in our double teams, who’s coming off, those types of things.”
Heupel's thoughts on new defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam's recent performance
“That's a guy that's played some football. Has familiarity with the scheme. Had a real good offseason in our winter program and then as we've continued to go through spring ball, I think he's flashed more and more, the deeper that we've gotten into it. First and second down, really good at the point of attack. Not getting moved versus double teams. Does a good job using his hands… in our block destruction drill that we do up front. Then you look at some of what he's done in our pass rush… he showcased the ability to play on an edge and affect the quarterback."
Heupel’s thoughts on the recent play of his young quarterbacks
"In general, I've been really pleased with their decision-making taking care of the football. There've been a couple of things where they've, you know, maybe not seen it right or as the plays broken down and had to move [their] body into an awkward position where they haven't been as accurate or sound in the decision making. Collectively as a group, they've been really good. There are a couple things that each of them got to continue to grow in, but that's spring ball, and through the course of summer and training camp too.”
Heupel’s perspective of the quick turnaround and first impressions of true freshman QB Brandon
“For a true freshman, getting here in January, seven weeks off season… hitting the ground in spring ball through today, he's been really sound in what he's done. I think the pass game, certainly. There's a lot on our quarterbacks in the run game too, and that's an area that at times can be the hardest part for our quarterbacks, but he's continued to progress in that. There's still a lot left for him and everybody in that room for us to be what we need to, but as a true freshman, [I’m] certainly pleased with what he's done up until this point."
Heupel reflecting on excitement and anticipation regarding stadium comfortability and mindset at scrimmage
Yeah, all of our guys, 105 of them. [I was] excited to see those guys compete. Practice is really important. This is as close as you get to true game day. All the coaches on the sideline, you got to operate. So, you want to see how they function and operate. You want to see how they handle a positive play and how they handle one that doesn't go their way too. The only play that matters is the next play. Creating that mindset, that maturity to go play the next play as the first play and play it independently is really important… So, a lot of positives from today. There's some things that certainly in all three phases we got to get better at, too."
Heupel’s thoughts on Deson Bra
"Yeah. [Bra] is certainly a guy that because of what he did in high school, you know, how he grew up inside of the game, is very natural as a route runner, understanding space, leverage, being able to go up in high point, big catch radius. created a big play today down the middle of the football field. He has definitely grown in becoming a complete tight end. Being able to play in the run game and protectionally, too. So, I've been really excited about what he's done. I think I said last time we talked; that's a guy that missed a bunch of time with an injury coming out of high school a year ago. [He] certainly grew throughout the course of the season as he got healthy and got exposed to more things. But I'm expecting him to play a lot of football and play at a really high level."
Heupel’s comments on the improvements and play of the secondary
“I feel really good about the group. The guys that we brought in through the portal, young guys that we signed, they got real traits. And the guys that were here on campus that were young a year ago, some of those guys played a lot on special teams. The growth of those guys as well. ‘Coach's best friend is competition.’ We certainly have that on the back end at every spot. I think they've grasped what we're doing defensively really well, playing assignments sound with good eyes… communication's been really good, so in general I really like what we're doing. There's still a lot left out there for us, but from corners to nickel to safety, I like what we have on the back end."
Heupel reflecting on the pass rush
"In general, I think the pass rush has been good. That's certainly an area that as we continue to go through the rest of spring and into training camp, is a point of emphasis for us. Being able to play with different personnel packages as we find out who are our best and making sure that we got those guys on the football field. Between four man rushes we've been able to apply some pressure, certainly in the scope of our pass blitz packages as well, it's been good. So, we just got to continue to grow on that side of it. Certainly, a point of emphasis for us as we finish out spring ball.”