Everything Josh Heupel said during his Monday press conference after Tennessee beat Syracuse

Everything Tennessee Football coach Josh Heupel said during his weekly press conference on Monday, looking back at the 45-26 win over Syracuse in Atlanta and previewing the home opener against ETSU on Saturday (3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+/SEC Network+):

Opening Statement 

“A good chance this week to open it up at home. First experience for a bunch of our guys on game day inside that stadium with packed house and first Vol Walk. So, look forward to seeing all of our fans. 

“Pleased with the win from Saturday. Today’s about how we get better and moving forward. Thought the guys were good inside of our meetings and when we ultimately got out on the field too. Looking forward to a good week. 

“ETSU, you look at how they performed on Saturday. A bunch of yards, a bunch of points. And did some really good things on the defensive side of the ball, too. So constant growth from us, you guys heard me say it after the game on Saturday. This team has been good in their mindset and how they’ve approached every day. That’ll be critical this week, too, for our entire team to take a jump.” 

The challenge of ETSU playing both Iowa transfer Cade McNamara and North Carolina transfer Jacolby Criswell at quarterback

“Preparation of who they are and how they play and the subtleties of what we’re doing defensively as a staff, how you want to call it a little bit different. But both of them played well (against Murray State).”

What he liked about Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar in the opener

“I thought he was good in his decision making, communication. I said that after the football game. Super calm. I thought he used his feet at the right moments. Great demeanor throughout the course of the game. A lot to really like from it.”

The expectations being raised from Game 1 to Game 2 for Tennessee players that made their debut against Syracuse

“The standard is a standard. And we’re all chasing perfection and understand that it’s also not going to be obtainable in this game, but you’re certainly chasing it. And we need to take a jump, that’s collectively as a team, by unit and certainly individuals as well. So you’ve got to approach the week the right way.”

Updating the injury status of Tennessee defensive lineman Jaxson Moi and cornerback Rickey Gibson 

“I liked that guys got maybe more play than we anticipated early in the football game. Got some young guys that continue to get better and feel like they’re going to be able to play at a high level.

“Jaxson will be out this week. Hope to get him back quickly. In this game, you’ve heard me say it, the strength of a position group can’t be one guy. Everybody has to be ready and prepared to play when they get the fall. We have to continue to grow.

“Rickey will be out for an extended period here. How long, I don’t have the exact time table but he’ll be out for extended time.”

Joshua Josephs saying Tennessee’s defense has areas to improve him, how the Vols can take that next step forward 

“It’s all 11 playing together. Some of our zone principles, playing those things out based off of the route combinations the right way. Some of that’s alignment, some of that’s technique off of the route patterns that they’re seeing. Pressure up front, getting home and forcing the quarterback to get rid of it. All those things play a part of it. Third and long, fourth down, we got to do a better job getting off the field.” 

Tennessee offensive lineman Jesse Perry going from the starting guard to the starting right tackle with David Sanders out against Syracuse

“Yeah, it is difficult playing multiple positions. Jesse moving outside, (Wendell Moe) going from left to right, I think it’s a credit to our staff in preparing these guys, not just during training camp, but during the course of the summer since they’ve been here the entire offseason where they do feel comfortable. They have time on task and have repped in those spots and have grown. And then certainly a credit to the guys that are playing the position to be able to handle that volume and workload.”

What he has liked about Tennessee offensive lineman Shamurad Umarov 

“Sham from the time he got here, he’s done a great job continuing to grow. I’m just saying on the physical side of it, in the best shape, ability to move since he’s gotten here. Did a great job during the course of our winter, spring, and summer. A guy that continues to invest mentally, understanding the game, fundamentally continues to get better. He’s performed at a really high level through spring ball and during training camp where we had great trust and belief in him. I’m not sure there’s anybody that’s more excited when they come out to the practice field than Sham. That guy loves football, loves his teammates, gives everything that he’s got every single day. That’s been a huge factor in his growth from the time that he got here.”

Tennessee celebrating the Syracuse win on the field on Saturday, involving his son in the celebration

“Yeah, cool moment for me as a dad to be up there with him and him be a part of it. And the way our guys take him into being a part of our team too is something that’s really special. For me as a kid, I remember those days too, and those are huge memories that I still have. And I’m excited that he gets to be a part of it, our whole family. 

“I think if you watch, you know how we try to incorporate our families into anything that we can do after practice. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, there’s a bunch of wives and a bunch of baby strollers, get a chance to go have lunch with their dads after practice and Vol Walk. I think it’s important, not just talking about family, but actually living those things out. I think it’s important your players see that too.” 

Joey Aguilar picking up on the Tennessee offense quickly, how much of a concern that was

“I think that’s always something that you know quarterbacks have to grow in, right? And for us not having much time on task on the practice field or in the meeting room with them. You want to see those things, you know, play out in real life. And he’s smart, his ability to retain information one day to the next when we were first doing installs with him. Our entire quarterback staff did a great job of helping them grow really quickly. And then once you get to training camp, his ability to recall and really not make the same mistake twice, understand the why behind things. It led you to believe that he was going to be able to execute at a really high level. I thought in game one, new offense, three months on task. He did an elite job of controlling and understanding what was going on around him.”

The growth he’s seen from Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle

“I think Joey’s done a great job leading our offensive staff. I think the stability that we’ve had on that side of the football has been a key component to us to continue to grow. And our teaching patterns to our players in our concepts and the adjustments on game day. Coach Elarbee, Pope, Abeln. Sims has been here for a couple of years now. I think all that has been a huge help to our growth offensively. Joey’s done a tremendous job as a quarterback coach but offensive coordinator. Organization and helping us continue to find ways to attack defenses.”

Colton Hood’s Tennessee debut, injuries at cornerback

“Next guy is up. Colton’s performed at a really high level from day one getting here. He’s smart, has had position flexibility. He learned multiple spots from when he first got here. Super consistent in his competitive makeup every day in the meeting room and on the practice field. A guy that has had some time on the field. But has continued to grow at a really high level since he first got here. Great teammate, great player and nobody in our building is surprised that he played extremely well on Saturday. I continue to expect big things from him as we go throughout the course of the season.”

The success of his former assistant coaches now as head coaches

“I think leadership roles are about helping people grow. For me, first group of people that I have to take care of is our players and ultimately, you guys will ask the question after the draft, you want guys to be able to reach and fulfill their dreams. That’s players playing at an elite level here and then have an opportunity to go on. It’s the same thing with your staff. You want them to have the opportunity to grow and take the next step in their careers too. And I’m super excited about the success that our guys have had as they’ve gone and taken head (coaching) jobs.”

If he was surprised by how well Tennessee freshman corner Ty Redmond performed against Syracuse

“I’m not surprised. It’s how he’s performed throughout the course of training camp, but his growth during spring ball too. Smart football player, has great length. The ability to bend. Fundamentals and technique have continued to grow. He’s a guy that is very smart and understanding the scope of what we’re doing and then what offenses are doing as well. That’s situational football, it’s splits. He’s a really smart, competitive, talented young player that has a great future in front of him.”

His assessment of Tennessee’s receivers, if they had any rust

“Chris missed the first half of training camp. Braylon played extremely well early and missed the 10 days in the middle of it. Mike got back pretty quickly. Not surprised in how they played or performed. Those guys have been super diligent and consistent in how they’ve tried to grow since they got here in January, the time that we had with them during spring ball, through the course of the summer. And for each of them, different times as far as when they were available during training camp, but all performed at a really high level. I thought they did an elite job on Saturday.”