What Josh Heupel said about Tennessee-Kentucky on The Mike Keith Show

What head coach Josh Heupel said on The Mike Keith Show on Thursday, as No. 17 Tennessee prepares to go to Kentucky for Saturday night’s 7:45 p.m. Eastern Time start on SEC Network at Kroger Field in Lexington:

Knowing Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White, his defense

“Familiar with a bunch of the guys over there at Kentucky. A staff that’s been together for a long time. I think for them, historically, they’ve been big and really strong up front. This year probably more than ever, more multiple in their fronts and their coverage rotations. Identify what’s going on in the second and third levels. And first and second level in the run game and pass protection identifications is going to be critical. You want to stay on schedule against these guys and ultimately, they’ve done a really good job in the red zone, too, and we got to take advantage of it and get sixes down there.”

Tennessee improving in the red zone, on third downs

“Ultimately, you got to be able to run the football down there. You get into longer yardage situations, the windows become really condensed and really tight. The efficiency in the run game is going to be critical down in the red zone. It always is. When you get into your third down package, your guys got to go win. Your quarterback has got to make quick decisions down there to get to the right guys and be on time and be accurate with the football.”

The challenge of his defense playing in the red zone, on third downs

“Ultimately, if you’re in man-to-man in your coverage, you got to be held to win. Which means you got to play with great technique. Part of that, I think, is identifying formations and having an idea of what can be coming, the breakers that come out of those sets. When you’re in your zone principles, it’s truly matching bodies out. A lot of shift, trades and motions from Kentucky. Normal downs and on third down, we got to recognize it, adjust our coverage. Relate to two, relate to three and sometimes four when they go four-by-one.”

What Kentucky is doing with quarterback Cutter Boley

“Historically, heavy. 11, but 12 personnel. Play action pass when they want to throw it down the football (field). They’re playing a little bit more in 11. They’re spreading the football out. I think as Cutter has had more time in their offense, more game experience, they’ve opened it up a little bit more and given him the ability to throw it more down the football (field). With the quick game, with the perimeter screen, but intermediate as well and certainly on early downs.”

Playing a team like Kentucky that gets the ball out quick, how to use the pass rush against it

“You got to recognize the set of the offensive line, the drop of the quarterback, when it’s quick game, you got to adjust. Instead of just going to a bull or speed, you got to be ready to get your hands up and affect the windows of the quarterback, as well.”

Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks saying Kentucky’s run game is ‘violent’

“They’ve always been really good in the run game. Their offensive line historically has always been extremely physical and it’s certainly that this year, too.”

Young Tennessee players who are stepping up

“I think guys that our fans have seen throughout the course of the year. Jadon Perlotte, Jaedon Harmon are great examples of that.”

What he likes about Tennessee freshman linebacker Jaedon Harmon

“As a young guy that missed the spring, just with some of the injuries he’s dealing with some high school, he’s done a really good job in the early part of continuing to grasp what we’re doing. You see him playing a lot of special teams and playing at a really high level. Continues to get better week-to-week. In all of our guys and adjustments, there’s so much communication that has to happen from the second level with guys behind you, in front of you. It’s an area he has continued to grow in.”

Tennessee freshman offensive tackle David Sanders, if he’s back to where he was before injury

“I think Mississippi State a few weeks ago, getting thrown in in the fourth quarter, not really having a lot of contact in four-and-a-half, five weeks, that was a tough ask of him. He did a really good job. He’s gotten better every single week. It’s not just the physicality, the fundamentals, also just alignment, assignment, calls, technique, all of that.”

Tennessee not being able to return punts recently

“I think it’s important that you win out on the perimeter in the punt return game. If you’re playing elite gunners that have the opportunity to force the (fair) catch, you have to win at the line of scrimmage and give our return space to get it started. There’s been a few games where it’s been tough to tell where the ball is going. Ultimately, the ball has hit the ground, we haven’t been able to return it. I think it’s a combination of all of those things. We hope to get (Boo Carter) started on Saturday night.”

What he’s excited about on Saturday night at Kentucky

“This is a great, great game. Border war. I know it means a lot to our fan base. Was a trophy game. There’s a lot of history to it. This game historically has been played down to the end, four-quarter game. At the end of the day, we’re playing a good Kentucky team. They take Texas to overtime last week. Statistically, they win in every category. Double up in yardage if you look at the two offenses. We got to win with physicality. We got to play smart football. That’s penalties, but it’s also our alignment and execution. So, want to see our football team take another step.”