Heupel Thursday press conference video

#5
#5
Getting Mays back is great. Hard to believe you can just go out there against an SEC rival for your first in game action in nearly a year without missing a beat. But they know better than i do what he can do!
 
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#8
#8
sjt18 said:
Gonna be honest. He often misdirects on injured players.
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While true Hubbs said something interesting talking about Cooper. Now I didn’t know this, maybe you did, if so my bad, but he said TN can only take 70 players with them to the Swamp. So why take him if you don’t plan on playing him.
 
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#9
#9
bigorangecrush89 said:
Getting Mays back is great. Hard to believe you can just go out there against an SEC rival for your first in game action in nearly a year without missing a beat. But they know better than i do what he can do!
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I think he said that he actually did practice last week too but they decided to hold him out just one more week to get back into it.
 
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#10
#10
BigOrangeTrain said:
While true Hubbs said something interesting talking about Cooper. Now I didn’t know this, maybe you did, if so my bad, but he said TN can only take 70 players with them to the Swamp. So why take him if you don’t plan on playing him.
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I can't remember the number but that sounds right. IIRC, about 105 can dress out for a home game but a lower number can travel.

Whether he's worth that much as a "decoy"... I'm not sure.
 
#11
#11

Tennessee Football Press Conference | Sept. 14, 2023

Head Coach Josh Heupel​

On preparing for a road game and the challenges of the first big conference game…
"Communication in particular on offense is a huge deal. Defensively, you end up dealing with it while you are at home. There are things we do during training camp. We actually have portions of our training camp where we work on the mechanics of playing in this type of environment. Guys have been good this week. You try to create crowd noise and simulate those things. Obviously, the environment is tough to completely simulate here in practice, but we work through all of those things. We have to handle it in a really positive way here on Saturday night."

On what he has seen from Florida's starting quarterback Graham Mertz…
"For Graham, I think he has increased his mobility, just having known him all the way back to when he was in high school. He has been a really sound decision maker for them. I think his experience that he has the first couple of weeks, but also all the time that he spent at the previous spot, he is ready for these types of games and environments. We have to do a great job. We have to apply pressure to him and make him uncomfortable inside the pocket. A lot of that starts with being really efficient defensively on first and second down, so you have to do a good job with the run game."

On what beating Florida back-to-back seasons would mean for the program…
"I don't think about that. Our team doesn't think about it. Yesterday has nothing to do with today. This thing is solely about Saturday night and this football team being able to reset and play each play independently for 60 minutes."

On if the team's preparation this week has taken a step up…
"I said it earlier this week, I didn't feel like our preparation was off last week either. There are some things situationally that we have to be better in — in particular offensively, but some things defensively too. Continue to compete in your preparation up until kickoff. This week has been really good. Obviously, you're starting league play. You understand the type of opponent and the type of environment you're going into. It has everybody's complete attention."

On what he has seen from Keenan Pili since he has been injured…
"He was gone for I don't know, a day, and then right back in the building. He's approached it like he's playing. He's been really good with his teammates. Really kind of approaching it like a coach would. He has a great impact on our football team."

On if Cooper Mays is expected to make the trip to the game…
"Yeah. He will be going with us. He's been really good all week long. Anticipate him being ready to play."

On what having Cooper Mays back means for the offensive line…
"He's smart, competitive and communicates at a really high level, so he helps. His experience is beneficial for us."

On Cooper Mays working back into the rotation at center Saturday…
"Conditioning is one thing, but even before he was back on the grass with us, there were a lot of things he was doing with our strength staff. The flow of the game will dictate a little bit how, he's feeling out there, that type of thing."
 
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#17
#17
Mays has been taking real reps this week, but less than 50/50 with Ollie. Just guessing, but this could go all the way til gametime before they make a call on if/how much he plays. They’ll travel him no matter what. Even if they start Ollie, they’ll want Cooper there as an option. Mays will eventually make a huge difference in opening holes in the run game, and handling doubles. Frankly Ollie has been pretty heroic in handling passing downs, and tying up his man on runs. He just doesn’t have the strength or experience Cooper does.
 
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#20
#20
bigorangecrush89 said:
Getting Mays back is great. Hard to believe you can just go out there against an SEC rival for your first in game action in nearly a year without missing a beat. But they know better than i do what he can do!
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Florida’s Center is in the same position. Three-year starter, ankle sprain since fall camp, he’s missed FL’s first two games and will be making his first start of year against TN.

That’s just an interesting parallel storyline in the game. Both teams with experienced SEC Centers making their first starts of the season.

It all evens out.
 
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#22
#22
Vfl2407 said:
I’m listening to Basilio and John Adams right now talking about this.
They think it’s coach speak to confuse Florida and still dont think Mays will play until October.
I sure do hope they are wrong.
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They both need to retire. They’ve been out of the loop with this football program for years
 
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#25
#25
bigorangecrush89 said:
Getting Mays back is great. Hard to believe you can just go out there against an SEC rival for your first in game action in nearly a year without missing a beat. But they know better than i do what he can do!
Click to expand...
The fact that he’s an extremely experienced senior, and has still been involved in the film studies and meetings… if anyone can be ready, I have no doubt, he can.
 
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