What Josh Heupel said about Tennessee's game at Florida on The Mike Keith Show

What Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said on Thursday on The Mike Keith Show, looking ahead to the Florida game Saturday night (7:30 Eastern Time, ABC) at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville:

Getting Arion Carter and Joshua Josephs back on Tennessee’s defense

“Yeah, we got some guys back that got a chance to help us on Saturday night against a really good football team. And (we) felt like those guys, for the most part, probably could have played last week, but good to have him back 100% in this one.”

Where Tennessee’s defense missed Arion Carter the most

“There’s a lot of different ways, but he’s got great command of what we’re doing. And so the the subtle checks within our scheme, he’s done a great job with (those). And then obviously he’s just a playmaker. His ability to go sideline to sideline and race things and play violent at the point of attack.” 

Edwin Spillman and Jadon Perlotte playing well at linebacker, how much of a challenge it is as a staff to get everyone involved in the right situations

“Yeah, I think it does come down to a little bit of the situations, the flow of the football game for our staff. You want to be strong in the fourth quarter, too. And so some of that early rotation helps some of those guys get to the fourth quarter and be at their best.”

If depth gives the Tennessee staff a chance to try multiple looks 

“Yeah, for sure. When you have the opportunities to sub and play situational football and get your personnel and some of the schemes that you want to operate in, it definitely gives you the luxury and the freedom to do some of that.”

Tennessee’s adjustments at tight end without Miles Kitselman, how the Vols will divide the snaps

“Yeah, really excited about the growth of the guys that have been there, the way that they’ve played when they had the opportunity. Miles probably got a little bit more volume early in the year when Ethan (Davis) went out. Some of our young guys were continuing to develop, but got great confidence in those guys and we’ll still be able to play in all of our personnel groupings.”

What Ethan Davis gives Tennessee at tight end, his improvement in recent weeks 

“Yeah, we’ll be great (at tight end) and I love Kits (Miles Kitselman) and we’re going to miss him, but we’ll be great with the guys that we got. Ethan’s ability to play in the pass game, he’s got great presence, great feel, stretching it vertically, contested catches. He’s got the ability to do all those things. During the offseason, a point of growth for him was just his playing the core. Since he’s come back, really love what he’s doing in the run game and on the protection side of it too.”

Tennessee’s offensive line being able to adjust with Wendell Moe’s status in question 

 “We’ve rotated up front and I say it all the time, it takes more than just five guys, but it’s true at any position. And those guys are ready to go play and play well in this one.”

Tennessee offensive lineman Shamurad Umarov, who he is as a player and person

“Great competitor. Developing into a really good leader. You get the same thing as far as his competitive juice, spirit, however you want to phrase it, every day in the building. Cares a lot about his teammates, cares a lot about this program and cares about how he performs. And that’s why he prepares in a great way.”

Tennessee’s cross training in the secondary, looking for depth at the star position

“Absolutely. We have multiple guys that have trained at that position all offseason, training camp and in the early part of the year. So feel really good about the guys that we have there.”

The progress of Tennessee’s young defensive backs, Ty Redmond

“(He) got thrust into starting really quickly, has handled it well, has continued to grow every single week. Going to be a great player and a really confident player. So excited about him. Young guys got a bunch of opportunity to play last week. Tre Poteat, we got multiple guys, Tim Merritt, that continue to come on that we really like.” 

Tre Poteat playing well on special teams 

“He’s done a great job continuing to grow his understanding, fundamentals and technique that cross over to what you’re doing on the defensive side of the football and continues to grow in what we’re doing defensively.”

Tre Poteat’s potential at multiple positions in the secondary

“Yeah, well he’s got the ability to play corner, has all the traits, but has the physicality and the traits to transition and play multiple spots too.” 

What Tennessee’s coaches are emphasizing with Joey Aguilar this week while preparing for Florida’s defense 

“Yeah, extremely athletic, physical up front, do multiple things in their secondary rotations, pressures. He’s got to have great awareness, understand where he may be vulnerable in a protection, get the ball out quick, change the protection. He’s got to have complete command on Saturday night against a really good Florida defense and ultimately take care of the football. And while you’re doing that, you got to go make plays too. So let’s go compete and have fun. 

Florida trying to make it a line-of-scrimmage game

“Yeah, in this league it’s always a line-of-scrimmage game. You got to be able to run the football, but you got to be able to protect and that plays into everything that you’re doing offensively and what you have to defend defensively. So in this game, physicality, you better win it. It’s a four-quarter ball game and you better take care of the football and win the turnover battle.” 

Tennessee players being excited to play in that kind of game

“Yeah, absolutely. This game matters. I’ve had a bunch of former players here that have texted me this week. I know it matters to our fanbase. It matters to the guys inside the locker room. This is a great opportunity to play a really good football team in a really good atmosphere and go take another step as a football team.”