Vols' DB Kelly Expects Another Tight Game With Gamecocks

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs, defensive lineman Kendal Vickers and safety Todd Kelly Jr. spoke to reporters Tuesday at an on-campus press conference.

Dobbs, Vickers and Kelly discussed several topics, including how the No. 18/18 Vols (5-2, 2-2 SEC) spent their bye week and what the team has seen so far on South Carolina (3-4, 1-4 SEC) in film study.

Tennessee takes on South Carolina on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium with a 7:15 p.m.

ET broadcast on ESPN2.

Joshua Dobbs | Quarterback  

As one of Tennessee's four speaking captains for the Vols, Dobbs could stand as the lone Volunteer in game uniform during Saturday's coin toss at South Carolina. With the loss of Cameron Sutton and Jalen Reeves-Maybin due to injury, Dobbs will also be joined by Alvin Kamara in travel gear this week, as Kamara has been granted more time to return to 100 percent physical strength following the Alabama game.

"Alvin is definitely a tough loss. He brings a different dynamic and we see what Alvin can do when he has the ball in his hand. But the expectation is for, of course, Jalen Hurd to play at a high level and John Kelly to come in and pick up the slack and also play at a high level as he did in the Texas A&M game. We are thankful to have several dynamic running backs to continuously come in and make plays for us and we'll be very happy to get Alvin back when he's healthy."

Todd Kelly Jr. | Defensive Back  

Tennessee and South Carolina have a history of close calls between the schools. Since 2000, no SEC series has a slimmer average margin of victory than the 7.3 points that have separated UT-USC. Kelly has been a part of the past two contests in a series which has seen the last four games decided by no more than three points.

"With the talent they have, the margin of victory is probably going to be small. It's at their stadium, night game, sold out, they are trying to get bowl eligible. With all that being said, it's going to be a tremendous game, we know they are going to bring their 'A' game; every team we have played this year has brought their 'A' game to us. With that being said we have to be prepared and ready to go."

Kendal Vickers | Defensive Lineman  

Tennessee's depth along the defensive interior has been tested this season, a strain that grows no less burdensome with last week's announcement that sophomore defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie will miss the remainder of the season due to injury. With Kyle Phillips and Quay Picou now getting additional reps at the tackle spots, Kendal Vickers – now the elder statesmen among the Vols' healthy and available interior lineman -- noted the particular challenges that face young players along the interior of the defensive line.

"It's just a different mentality to play inside. You've got to get low and you get double-teamed a lot. You've got to make sure your technique is right, you've got to make sure that you're on your assignments because if 3-technique gets blown up then that's a five-, six-, seven-yard gain and you get exposed on national television. You don't want that to happen. It's just a different mentality to play inside. I think it's one of the toughest positions to play. Not everyone can play it and I don't expect everyone to be able to play it. It's just a different position."

More Sound Bites

Joshua Dobbs
(On whether Tennessee's last win at South Carolina helped propel the program to where it is today)

"It definitely led us down the right track. You know, I remember coming into that season that our goal was to make it to a bowl game and get Tennessee back to a bowl game. Then, we wanted to continue to grow the program from there. Obviously, we had six regular season wins that year and that was definitely an important one to get there and accomplish that goal. It was a stepping stone in the right direction and we've only continued to grow since then.

(On potentially having the offensive line starters back this week)

"Any time you have those guys back from injury, it's always a good sign. So, we expect those guys to play at a high level and any person whose name is called, when they come in the game we expect them to play at a high level. We definitely hold each guy to a high standard. With each guy, they realize that and when their name is called, they have to make the most of that opportunity in order to help us be victorious."

Todd Kelly Jr.
(On the young players increasing their playing time)

"I think it's big for the young guys to step up, mainly on special teams. I know my freshman year I played every special team: kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return. So during this bye week the freshman really focused on improving their fundamentals, not just on defense or offense but also on special teams. I think that's huge for the freshman to step up in that aspect of the game."

Kendal Vickers
(On what he's seen from Quay Picou

"I love Quay. He comes out and works hard every day. That's all you can ask for. We’re going to need him to step up this week and for the rest of the year. That's what I expect from him; I’m going to be hard on him. I know what he can do and I know what he can bring to the table. He'll be alright."

(On how close the South Carolina games have been in recent years)

"We look at this kind of like a rivalry game and rivalry games are supposed to be close. But we've just got to go in with the mindset that we've got to work this week and go out there and execute. It's just like Florida and Georgia—those games, it seems like every year, come down to the wire. So the team that executes the best at the end of the game will win."

South Carolina coach Will Muschamp held his weekly press conference in Columbia, S.C., on Tuesday as well.

Here edited comments from the Gamecocks coach:

“We’ve got Tennessee here Saturday night at Williams-Brice Stadium. If you watch their football team, Butch Jones and his staff have done a great job recruiting. They are a big, physical, fast football team. They certainly look the part, what you’re supposed to look like.

“Defensively, Bob Shoop, their defensive coordinator, has done a great job in our league for a long time. He did a great job at Vanderbilt throughout the years. Derek Barnett is a guy who obviously jumps off the film as far as the way he plays. He’s an extremely good rusher and really plays the run well. He’s strong at the point of attack and a really good football player. He got into zone pressure against Texas A&M and carried (wide receiver) Josh Reynolds down the field. He made some money on that play. That was impressive. They’re very active up front. They run extremely well, and they play hard.

“Offensively, (quarterback) Josh Dobbs is a three-year starter in our league. He’s won a bunch of ball games and does a great job. (Running back) Jalen Hurd is a guy that runs extremely hard. He’s tough, physical and competitive. He’s going to fight for every yard. You’re going to have to get a bunch of hats around the ball and gang-tackle this guy. You’ve got to finish on this guy. He’s a very competitive runner.

“They’re very talented outside, (with wide receivers Josh) Malone, (Jauan) Jennings, Tyler Byrd and Josh Smith. The tight ends – (Jason) Croom and (Ethan) Wolf – those guys do a really good job in their package of what they do. They’re big up front, so we’ve got our work cut out for us. They’re very talented with specialists and returners. The last four games for them have probably been as tough a run as I’ve seen in a long time in this league as far as who they’ve played and where they’ve played them. Obviously they were off this week, but I think they’ve got a really good football team.”

On the benefits of having a healthier offensive line

“I think that there is no question the secondary and offensive line need to be close, tight-knit units as far as your football team is concerned. Generally, (if those players make) a mistake, the other band is playing. So that’s not good, and you’ve got to be in communication and understanding leverage and shades and how different people play you and that communication is critical. Those guys have continued to improve through those three weeks. Donell (Stanley) practiced today. It’s been seven weeks and he hasn’t practiced and he’s still a little gimpy on the ankle, but hopefully he’ll improve tomorrow. Blake Camper played Saturday, and he did some nice things. D.J. Park continues to come on for us, so we just have to continue to build that group.”

On how Jake Bentley has responded after winning against UMass

“I think that one of his talents is his preparation and workmanlike attitude. I asked him today on the field I said, ‘how much film did you get in yesterday?’ and he said, ‘about two and a half hours’. That’s what you want your quarterback to do. Brandon (McIlwain) as well; those guys are learning from Perry (Orth), who prepares the right way. And those guys understand what it takes to play quarterback in our league. It takes preparation. It takes a little more ay that position opposed to some other positions. Those young men get it. and they have a great example in Perry Orth.”

On the progress of running back David Williams

“I thought David played well Saturday. He did some nice things and has continued to improve his practice habits and understand that it’s a daily process, going about your business. Hustle is a habit. Running thorough contact is a habit. It’s just something you form and do all the time. You can’t snap your fingers on game day and all of a sudden you’re first. I think there’s been a lot of examples on our team of guys who have continued to stay the course and have worked extremely hard and have played extremely well on game day.”

On the reasons he discussed Carolina’s last few games against Tennessee

“I think it’s always important, especially in our league, the tradition we have in our league. Some of our yearly opponents, especially our Eastern opponents – I was stressing to our guys how important it is to win the Eastern division games. I just went back in my mind, knowing our league very well, I go through the rolodex in my mind, thinking through games and remembering how close these games have been contested. I looked it up and saw that (the margin is) 11 points  in four years. What’s going to make a difference from our last three games is our preparation, and that’s the motivation for our guys today. How you practice on Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday, and your mental preparation and physical preparation for the game make a difference. Those 11 points are going a different way for us. That’s really why I brought it up as much as anything, to say ‘hey, a play or two here or there and that’s a different ball game and we feel a little different about the situation.’ The bottom line is that Tennessee has won the last three years, and we’ve got to do something to change it.”

On Tennessee’s injuries and if that leads to unknowns in game planning

“They have been really hit hard by injuries, and it has certainly affected them, especially on the defensive side of the ball. But again, you watch the tape, and if a guy is up, he’s up. We prepare for all personnel matters as far as the guys we feel like can change the game. Again, we will prepare more schematically for our players, and then as coaches, in our minds, if there’s a personnel issue, we’ll discuss it on game day.”

On the plans to slow Tennessee’s rushing attack down

“They’re very effective running, and (John Kelly), the young tailback, has come in and done a nice job as well. I don’t think ‘well, they’re not going to run in based on our run defense.’ I think we’ll see some runs. Again, (it’s about) continuing to play blocks, understand formations and understand run fits, keeping your head in the gap and all of the basic, fundamental things that we try to talk about with our guys in the run game. I do think we’ve made some strides. Certainly we will have a great test here Saturday night.”

On Tennessee’s blitz packages and how they match up with what the Gamecocks saw from UMass last week

“Bob (Shoop) will overload you in some situations. He is a little more sound, very similar schematically to us a little bit as far as his approach to mixing pressure and playing coverage and conventional fronts. He does a nice job with the movements up front to create some issues for the run and the pass, game but they are a little more conventional.”

(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)