Media Monday: Ole Miss Week

Head Coach Butch Jones

(Opening Statement)
“Okay good afternoon, after reviewing the film from the UT-Chattanooga game, pretty much the same thoughts I had at the conclusion of the game. I liked our businesslike approach. I thought we did what we needed to do to win the football game. We always talk to our players in terms of when you are on the football field, how can you impact the game and making impactful plays and being a difference. When you look at Aaron Medley, first touchback of the year but not one but seven. Everything is about field position, we created a long field, which the kickoff is the first play of defense, the way we talk about it. So again, the seven touchbacks, really provided a spark for us.

“Jalen Reeves-Maybin continues to progress in what I feel in one of the best linebackers in the SEC. I think he and A.J. [Johnson] are really feeing off of each other, playing well as a tandem together.

“Justin Worley accounted for five touchdowns, I thought he attacked things, I thought he was poised and that was great to see. Also, some live snap opportunities, we spoke about that after the game as well. But live snap opportunities for a lot of individuals and that can’t be replicated. That was critical for us. In practice you try to put yourself into hypothetical situations but nothing really simulates live opportunities and live actions. So we were able to go back on Sunday and see which players are close to getting more on the field in terms of repetitions and providing depth and stability to our program and which players need to continue to get better and better and better. Some individuals, I see the talent, it is just the live opportunities, it is playing very, very fast.

“Did not like the negative yardage plays, that is something, again, of controlling the controllables. We have a goal of zero negative yardage plays and that includes penalties. We got back to our disciplined ways with only one penalty but again that penalty was an illegal procedure penalty that occurred on third down. Again, you can’t put yourself in a third-and-long situation, third down situational football is a completely different style of play, different mentality by a defense. So again, being in those manageable situations for us to move forward are critical.

“I think everyone, obviously, knows the great challenge that lies ahead of us but also the great opportunity, playing the No. 3 ranked team in the country. When you look at them, a very, very complete football team. Number two in the country in defensive scoring, they have only given up six offensive touchdowns all year, a number of those have come at the end of game situations. 32 percent on third down efficiency, very explosive. Again, I think it is a byproduct of depth and it is a byproduct of experience. They return nine out of 11 starters from last year, many key backups were also starters last year, that have started many games for them. They are playing with a lot of confidence, they have 12 interceptions, so they take the ball away, they run exceptionally well to the football.

“Offensively, it all starts with Bo Wallace, gritty, gritty player. He reminds me of the quarterback we had at Cincinnati named Zach Collaros. Just a great, great competitor, wants the ball in his hands at the end of the game, wants to make all the plays. Very imposing and talented offensive line. Great skill position players, with extending the tight end, flexing him. Good receiving corps and a very, very explosive running back tandem. We know Jaylen Walton very well as we were in the recruiting process with him while we were at Cincinnati. So again, a good football team. Playing in a great environment, Saturday night. So a great challenge and I will answer any questions that you may have.”

(On who has shown improvements on defense)
“Derek Barnett continues to be a presence on the perimeter. I’ve said it and I’ll continue to say it but he’s mature beyond his years, very, very competitive bringing stability to the defensive front. Trevarris Saulsberry gained some valuable repetitions in live game opportunities. Again which is very important to him, getting him on the field. Cam Sutton is again stability, just consistency and performance. Week in and week out we thought Justin Coleman played one of the best games that he’s played since we’ve been here. He’s been very reliable. He gave great effort. I think our entire defense is playing as one unit. They have great confidence right now but we all know they will be exceptionally challenged Saturdayevening.”

(On the impact that Jalen Reeves-Maybin has)
“I think he has benefitted from the repetitions at special teams. He played only two or three snaps all year at linebacker. It’s a tribute to his instincts. He plays instinctual. He prepares himself. He’s taken much better care of his body. He understands rest. He understand recovery. He understands nutrition. He’s doing the great things that players need to do to perform at a higher level week in and week out. We’ve been really, really pleased with him. He’s been very productive. He’s been very active. He’s played downhill which is what has been needed in our defense.”

(On the young guys who will get more reps from their performance on Saturday)
“Dewayne Hendrix is an individual that has all the skillset, possesses all the skills. It’s just playing faster and you get that with opportunities and situations. His play will continue to increase in the defensive front. It all starts with him. Jakob Johnson, you know any live opportunity that he gets is going to be beneficial for him. Some good, some bad with him with some line calls, playing instinctually, so again getting him in there. Emmanuel Moseley is another young man, again who started. Those live opportunities. He didn’t have many and then all of a sudden we talked about it Saturday night after the game is he’s forced into the Florida game, had a great week of preparation and he played that way again. So those are some individuals. They need to understand there can be no drop off from our first team to our second team to our third team. That’s the standard, the expectation. Obviously, their reps are minimal, so you need to make sure you understand what a quality mental rep is and being focused in practice. That will be the topic in our team meeting today.”

(On Evan Berry at running back)
“We’ll continue to look at him at running back. Again, it’s trying to find a home for him. He does have some unique skills to him. But it’s really putting him in a position where he can work off those skills and get better, so he’ll split time in practice playing at safety and running back.”

(On if Derrell Scott moving into the depth chart is a matter of his performance or Marlin Lane’s performance)
“It’s a combination of both. It’s a reflection of his play, but we need to get Marlin Lane back healthy. We fully anticipate him being available for the Ole Miss game. But I think it’s a bi-product of his productivity in practice and his productivity during the game as well.”

(On what he thought of Derrell Scott’s performance and Jalen Hurd)
“Jalen will be full go. He will be at practice today. He will participate. In terms of Derrell, very, very quick. Downhill runner, north and south, has the ability to make you miss, but good burst and acceleration. I thought he did some really good things for handling his first live game opportunities. But again, his pass protection, knowledge of the pass protection schemes, just the overall knowledge and volume of the offense is one of the things that he needs to continue to improve on. The repetitions, lowering the pad level, when you come into the contact phase of the run little nuances that go in when you get through repetitions.

(On Devrin Young’s timetable for return)
“Devrin Young–right now, I don’t really have a timetable. It’ll probably be a couple weeks, two to three weeks. We’ll see how his body heals and progresses. Everyone else will be available to practice. Josh Smith will still not practice today, but everyone else we spoke about will practice today.”

(On difficulty to establish run game vs. Ole Miss)
“Great test. Great, physical football team. Again, they’re going to challenge our resiliency, our mental conditioning, our toughness, the ability to get yards after contact–all those things that go into running the ball effectively. Maintaining blocks, being able to block on the second level–all of that goes into being a good running football team. We have to come with (that) on Saturday.”

(On the amount of RBs needed in SEC)
“You’re exactly right. Everyone points towards two or three, but we had that conversation. That was the topic in our staff meeting this morning. You can never have enough running backs. I used to coach running backs back in the day. That’s a position of durability, position of physicality. You look at every single play–they’re either hitting or being hit. So, yeah, you have to have depth at that position, and that was never more evident for us thanSaturday night, playing a walk-on and a true freshman in a live-game opportunity or situation. Again, we need to continue to recruit. That’s a point of emphasis in our recruitment this year, and it’ll always be.”

(On Jacob Gilliam returning from injury)
“I believe, at some point, Jacob Gilliam will have an opportunity to impact the game. I do. I don’t know when that opportunity will present itself, but I do believe he will play again at the University of Tennessee. I do believe that.”

(On what Jacob Gilliam can do at practice)
“Everything. So it is just getting his body in shape. So it is getting his fundamentals back, his technique back. He is full go in practice, he is in every single period.”

(On discussion with the SEC about increasing scholarships)
“We don’t ever talk about increasing scholarships from the 85. What we have great dialogue on and great discussions on is regarding the eligibility, a blanket five years of eligibility. I would like to see that. I would like to see that happen, instead of four years and then redshirt. I just think where we are at in growth and development, it is all about a prospective student-athlete being able to reach his fullest potential. That is our job as coaches, is to mentor and to guide and to develop. So I would like to see fie years of a blanket eligibility.”

(On if discussions have stalled)
“I think it has stalled a little bit. I think it has kind of gone on the back burner so to speak. But when you look at it, there is usually a development process of a young individual and hypothetically you would like for it to start on special teams, just like, follow the role of Jalen Reeves-Maybin. So you kind of ease their way into live game speed reps and getting that valuable game experience. Maybe it is on one or two special teams and then you look at the depth issues if you only have 85 individuals on scholarship. That is a challenge in and of itself. Especially if you play in this conference with the grind, with the physicality week in and week out. But you are also able to give limited roles to true freshmen where you don’t overwhelm them but you get them that valuable experience that is needed in moving forward.”

(On Ole Miss’ situation last similar to UT’s this year)
“I think every situation you inherit is different in and of itself. What was the existing talent pool like? What was there in the program? There are reasons for everything. I think there may be some similarities but there are some distinct differences as well. A lot of it is, where was the program when you took over? What was there? Right, wrong or indifferent, I am not saying bad, good or indifferent I am just saying each program you take over and this is our third time taking over a program and each one is different. Each program you take over throughout the course of the country is different. A lot of time it is what is there and what is there in terms of a culture, a mindset, a work capacity, just an overall thought process so there is a lot that goes into it that a lot of people don’t realize. I always ask myself, when I go home every night, are we a better football team and a better football program day in and day out. Are we a better football program now than where we were a year ago. And yes we are. We still have, as we all know, monumental strides in moving forward. But we are better right now than where we were a year ago. We have to continue to accelerate that, continue to expedite, however you want to phrase it. But I do see progress but again, it is acquisition of talent and development. Developing the mind, the mindset, the culture, physical development, mental stamina, all that goes into developing 17 to 22 year old young adults. That is why you coach college football. We enjoy that part of it. We want to be a part of that process.”

(On the team that he inherited when coming here)
“I don’t really want to talk about the past. All I can talk about is the present and future of where we are going. I am excited of where we are going. Coaches in the past have worked exceptionally hard here and I respect them. That has always been my philosophy but we can only control what we can control and that is winning the moment and the future direction of this program. That is why we are always all eyes forward.”

(On what the team learned from play at Georgia)
“Playing in an hostile environment, understanding the ebs and flows of going on the road, the road focus that it takes to go on the road and win on the road. Situational football, making plays on the road, being locked in on the road. There are numerous teaching opportunities that we have taken. We have played some challenging games on the road in terms of Oklahoma and Georgia and now Ole Miss.”

(On what team did well at Georgia)
“Kept fighting. The belief in winning the game. [The team] had numerous opportunities to let down. We didn’t do that. We kept fighting. We kept believing. We kept scratching. We kept clawing. We were one or two plays away from winning that football game. They showed great resiliency, perseverance, and that’s what you need to win this conference. That’s exactly what you need to go on the road and win in this conference.”

(On looking to veterans)
“Wish we had more veteran players. Our veteran players–a lot of them are freshman, and they are learning as we go. But, you do lean on the veteran players, the likes of A.J. Johnson, Curt Maggitt. Justin Coleman now is playing with a lot of confidence. Brian Randolph, Justin Worley. There are two totally, almost distinct, entities from offense to defense, where we have more individuals with more live-game opportunities that have played more football here. Offensively, we’re basically all new. So, there is a difference, and what started to manifest or occur Saturday is a lot of the defensive kids were also leading the offense, and vice versa. Again, that dialogue, that standard, the expectation–that’s extremely healthy.”

(On a two-loss SEC team making the College Football Playoff)
“Absolutely. If they are following their criteria in the selection process of the playoff, I do believe. Again, all you have to do is look at the body of work, look at the schedule that the teams in the SEC have to go through. If they follow the criteria and the formula, absolutely that could happen, and it should happen if it occurs.”

(On if he is surprised at how many true freshmen are played in the SEC)
“It doesn’t surprise me because you’re recruiting the best of the best in the country, so you’re going to have true freshmen play. It’s just what roles do they have. There are a lot of true freshmen that are playing but I guarantee this, no one has asked their freshmen what we have asked of them. Sometimes, to be quite candid with you, it’s unrealistic what we’ve asked of these kids. But it’s where we are at in the program. I think they’ve handled it exceptionally well. I think our older players have done a great job of mentoring them, having our younger players keep things in perspective trying to lead them. I think they’ve done an exceptional job. We’ve started six true freshmen on offense. I believe the last opportunity that we checked in the SEC of the other 13 teams, there are seven combined that start. We started six. Again, it’s also the roles. It goes back to what I spoke about earlier about the five year eligibility plan is what type of role do you put a true freshmen in. The roles that our freshmen are in, they impact the game on every single snap.”

(On depth on the defense)
“It’s critical. If you could pick one spot on a football team where you want great depth, it’s going to be in the defensive front. This is a line of scrimmage league, but we’ve always prided ourselves in our program for at least going in 10 deep where you go 10 deep in the defensive front. When we were outstanding we played even upwards of 12. We were really fortunate at Cincinnati. We had Derek Wolfe who was basically a first round draft choice for the Denver Broncos and John Hughes who was a third round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns and then we had Walter Stewart who was a graduate assistant coach for us at Tennessee. We had Dan Giordano with the Arizona Cardinals. So we had great depth and great competitiveness across the line. You need that to win consistently.”

(On if there can be more rotation after Saturday’s game with younger players)
“Yes, some are probably a little more game ready than others. But as we continue to go through the season it’s only halfway through and now we’re really starting to grind the SEC schedule, we’re going to need these individuals to step up. Dewayne Hendrix, LaTroy Lewis, Jaylen Miller, all these individuals we’re going to need to count on them in moving forward to get us great reps. It may only be 10 reps a game, but those have to be 10 great quality repetitions. They have to be 10 game winning repetitions where we’re locked in, no mental errors, great effort. And again, if that’s 10 plays that Derek Barnett can be off the field, that’s going to help his maturation also throughout the course of a long season. You look at Curt Maggitt, we talked about it last week, this is the best that he’s felt going through a season right now. He’s probably playing 35 snaps a game, 30 snaps a game. His body isn’t getting worn down so he’s able to take the next developmental phase during the week in terms of getting in the weight room and getting stronger. We pride ourselves in being stronger football teams or having a strong football team as the season continues to progress.”

(On if having 52 yards rushing in three quarters was due to not having best running backs in or the offensive line)
“I think that played a part in it. We were also down and injured at tight end as well. But I do think anytime you take Jalen Hurdout of your offense, it’s going to hurt because he is a talented football player. Again, it’s a combination. We had one big play and the receiver doesn’t make his block on the perimeter, again it’s all 11 individuals. But also, we had some run adjustments where a lot of our completions were off of the run play, so we actually blocked the run and threw the ball down the field. A lot of the completions that you saw on Saturday were indirectly a byproduct of the run game. We really treat those as runs because they’re four or five yard passes.

(On what improvements he has seen from the true freshmen and offensive line)
“A methodical improvement, which is that is what you expect. But they are better football players than when we started in August, much better. Again, the level of competition is also increased. That’s all relative. But I see them continually getting better in terms of missed assignments, in terms of technique, in terms of stamina, so again I see improvement each and every week. I see improvement in their play each and every day. Again, it’s like your own kids, I continually say it, they develop at different paces. That’s what makes human nature different. That’s what makes human beings different. They all develop at their own pace, rate. Some are ahead of others, but I do see that constant growth and maturation.”

(On Bo Wallace having been called inconsistent in past years)
“I don’t see any inconsistency right now in his play. All I have to go on is the video from this year. He’s playing winning football. He’s managing their offense. I think he brings a level of toughness to their offense. He can make all the throws. They do a good job schematically in terms of what they ask of Bo. A lot of it is throws off the run game, nakeds, throw reads, designed quarterback runs. He understands how to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers, so he’s managing their offense. He’s playing winning football for them. He presents a defense so many challenges because of his grittiness, his toughness, his ability to run the football but also his ability to throw the ball as well.”

(On the thought process having Jalen Hurd play a few snaps rather than none at all on Saturday)
“Well he didn’t have a day off. He got injured, so could he have gone back in the game? Possibly, but why risk further injury. It’s a long season. We’re going to need him down the stretch. It was an opportunity to get some other individuals some valuable repetitions. But again, everything was looking down the road and what is in the total benefit for the individual player and what is in the benefit for the team as well.”

(On if there will be changes to the offensive line)
“We always compete each and every week. The best five are going to play. They’ve been the best five with their consistency in practice. The best five. I think you saw that manifest itself defensively when Emmanuel Moseley started, when Johnathon Johnson started. Every day we compete in our program. If somebody steps up and is playing at a higher consistency, then they’ll play. But right now, those five will be the five.”

(On if running backs are better running out of a zone read versus an i-formation and adjusting the offense)
“We run the zone read out of the pistol. The pistol is the i-formation. We run the zone read underneath center. Yeah, I do think some backs are more downhill runners than others but I think there are ways to go about it. There’s the pistol, there’s underneath center. There are so many different ways and then we run two zone reads, so we read an inside zone and an outside zone. The way we fundamentally run our inside zone is really the equivalent of being in the home position in the i-formation. The way we run our outside zone is really the equivalent of being in the i-formation but I do think you have to play to the strengths of your players. That’s why you see different back field sets and alignments based on which backs are in.”

(On Ole Miss actively recruiting in Tennessee and whether or not that adds greater emphasis to the game)
“No not at all. We have a recruiting profile of the type of student-athlete that we want to attract to the University of Tennessee. No one game is critical. We have a great product to sell and that adds absolutely no bearing. We’re going to recruit and sign the players that we think are the right fit for the University of Tennessee just like they’re going to recruit the players that they think are fit for their program. That adds no bearing at all.”

(On Joe Henderson being pulled from practices)
He was pulled from practice from the NCAA. He’s going through some academic requirements that must be met via the NCAA. That’s all I’m allowed to comment on.”

(On if it’s odd it took as long as it did for Joe Henderson to have to deal with NCAA)
“It happens at different stages of the game. It’s an oddity in terms of what they’re using and the time frame. It’s unfortunate. It is what it is. It can happen at any stage of the game. As long as I’ve been a head coach, these things have happened. It’s a pretty common procedure at times. But you never know when the time frame is.”

Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin

(On the value of his experience from last season)
“It was definitely great just trying to adjust to the speed of the game. I was learning to play with a lot better players with a lot more speed and a lot stronger guys. But it was also good being in the linebacker room watching [Dontavis] Sapp and seeing how he and Coach Thigpen talk to each other, learning the game like that helped me a lot too.”

(On whether A.J. Johnson has taken on Dontavis Sapp’s role in the meeting room)
“Yeah, I mean, A.J. has always been a leader in the room, even last year. His role has stayed the same and he’s been the guy in the room.”

(On holding opponents to below 100 passing yards)
“It’s definitely good. We try to come out and just perform to our standards every week. Our defensive line has been great and our secondary is playing great, so I think that’s why you see teams struggling to throw the ball against us lately. It’s definitely good when those two groups are playing well with each other.”

(On the defense overachieving this season)
“I would say no because nobody really knows the work that we put in with those guys in the room with us. Throughout the summer and throughout the spring, we grind together and hold each other accountable. I expect big things from all my teammates so I wouldn’t say that as much.”

(On whether Coach Jones’ overachieving comments motivate them)
“I would say it’s not motivation but we just try to go out there and play for each other. We’ve got to have each other’s back and that’s what we try to live by. It is a standard and we try to play to that standard every week.”

(On who is stepping up on the defense)
“I think Jakob Johnson flew around and made some tackles out there. I always think Kenny Bynum does a good job and he’s been getting more reps earlier in the game also. Kendal Vickers played well while he was out there on the D-line. They gave up a touchdown and we were looking for that shutout so we’ve got to kind of get that stuff corrected with the young guys.”

(On defensive players making an impression Saturday vs. Chattanooga)
“I think Jakob Johnson, he flew around and made some tackles. Looked good out there. I always think Kenny Bynum does a good job, but he’s been getting more reps earlier in the game, also. Kendal Vickers played well while he was in there on the D-line. They gave up a touchdown. We were looking for that shutout, so we have to get that stuff corrected with the young guys.”

(On feeding off one another)
“I think I feed off A.J. more than he feeds off me. At the beginning of the season, he’d always make fun of me because I didn’t really get hype after I made plays. I’m just trying to match his intensity when I’m out there and play to his standard.

(On defense keeping teams in football games)
“Just playing complimentary football. Defense trying to put special teams in a good situation, special teams trying to put offense in a good situation. We’re just trying to feed off each other, doing whatever it takes to win the game.”

(On feelings after playing less snaps Saturday)
“It feels good to play a little bit less snaps. My body feels a lot better on aMonday after a game, but you’re always going to be kind of beat up throughout the season. Even going through practice, you’re going to get some more bruises here and there. It’s definitely good to get off the field and kind of rest a little bit.”

Linebacker A.J. Johnson

(On the difference between this year’s and last year’s defense)
“This is our second year learning the defense so everyone is out there more confident. We’ve been playing with each other for four years now and we have a lot of guys who bonded, who probably haven’t seen the field as much but they’re on the field so we know each other. We’ve been playing together with a lot of cohesiveness, a lot of communication. Me and Jalen [Reeves-Maybin] communicate really well on the field so that makes everything go smooth with the safeties dropping down and it’s just all flowing together.”

(On what it would have been like to play in the same system for four years)
“No, I really don’t think of it that way. I think of it as a blessing to be able to play in different defenses, to be able to learn different schemes and different defenses and it’s been nice these two years to be able to play in it so it worked for the better.”

(On not playing the entire game last week)
“It was nice. It was good for the second string and the young guys to be able to get in there and get some plays and let them develop a little more because they probably haven’t experienced games. So it was good for them to experience playing in a game and we were able to correct what they did wrong, critique and stuff like that just to improve their game.”

(On helping linebacker Jakob Johnson)
“He probably is a little new to football but he’s doing good. He’s getting better every day, I can say that, being his roommate in the hotel. We go over plays and stuff like that before a game with formations and checks. He’s getting the knowledge of the game down really well so it’s just putting it all together, going out there and doing it. He’s doing well so far.”

(On feeding off one another)
“To go off of what he said, earlier in the season, every time he made a play I wanted to go jump up and go crazy with him. But, he was a little winded, so I was like, `All right.’ He was like, `I’m just getting my mind right for the next play. That’s all.’ I was like, `All right. I respect that.’ I love it. I love seeing him make plays. He’s making plays in the backfield. When I see him to his celebration–the little fist pump–I just get turned up. I know he’s ready to go. It just feels good seeing my teammates make plays. We just have fun. That’s the big thing. WE are both having fun, making plays and we’re excited for this week, too. We’re ready to go out there and have some fun again.”

(On Ole Miss)
“We know they have a running quarterback. That’s one thing we’ve been seeing all season, so we’re going to be prepared for that. They have a great defense. But, we haven’t broken the film down to details and all that. We know they have a good quarterback who can make plays and a great defense.”

(On chance to make a statement at Ole Miss)
“It’s going to be a fun opportunity. We get to go down there in a hostile environment. We are going to be ready. We’re going to be excited to go down there and play. We’re going to go out there and do what we do–go make plays as a defense and do our job. We’re going to have fun out there. It’s going to be fun.”

(On feelings after playing less snaps Saturday)
“I feel good every week. I can play. It doesn’t matter to me, I feel good every week. I can play 80 snaps or 40 snaps, I’m always ready to go and feel good.”

(On bruises after game)
“That comes with football. Each week in and out, you’re going to have bruises here and bruises there. That’s football. It’s part of the game, so it doesn’t bother me.”

(On where Johnson’s celebrations come from) “It just came. The machine gun thing, I used to do that in high school with my teammates. In high school, we said, “Let the guns out.’ My high school teammates–when they see that, they already know what I’m doing. I just brought it up here this year. I felt I have to bring something back. We like to be known as Light `Em Up. We like going out there, flying around and hitting people, having fun. That’s were [the celebration] probably came from. Then, the little kick, it just happened. The first time last year, I just did it. I don’t know, I was just excited and did it. I just kept doing it. People like it, and teammates think that’s fine. I was like, `Shoot, I’ll keep doing it.'”

(On what Coach Jones thinks about the celebrations)
“He’s real okay with it. He likes us out there having fun. That’s the big thing. If we’re out there having fun, playing together, celebrating, good things happen. We’re out there balling and stuff. It just makes us play even better.”