KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football coach Butch Jones and Vols coordinators spoke to reporters at Monday's press conference.
After Jones' press conference, UT coordinators Bob Shoop, Mike DeBord and Larry Scott were available for questions.
The Vols (8-3, 4-3 SEC) are ranked No. 24 ranking in the AP & Coaches polls. Tennessee will travel to face in-state, SEC rival Vanderbilt (5-6, 2-5 SEC) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Butch Jones | Coach
“I hope everyone is having a great day. Just going back on Missouri and into Vanderbilt preparation. I thought our kids played a very good second half, very pleased with the way we came out. Obviously, Micah Aberenathy got us started with a turnover. When you look back at the game, kind of the same story as Kentucky a little bit in terms of red zone defense. I thought we did a very good job in terms of that. We took the ball away and forced four turnovers.
"Then offensively, we didn’t turn the football over. We valued the football and when you create turnovers and you play well in the red zone, that’s obviously going to give you an opportunity to win the game. As we know, our margin of error is very small defensively due to our numbers. We had some individuals step up and make some big plays for us, fourth and one stops and again generating the turnovers.
"Everyone is going to say, 'Well what happened with all the yards?' When you look at it and when we dissected the video, we looked at three components. We looked at scheme, fundamentals and personnel and we tried to put them in those three categories. Our kids are battling. We have individuals that are playing through pains and injuries and all that. That’s associated with playing a long football season but again, it’s playing together and one wrong, all wrong. Ten individuals playing winning football and one individual lacks eye discipline and misses a tackle, not getting off a block and then all of a sudden, there’s an explosive play. We have to go back in terms of the basics and just focus on the fundamentals, the details and get us playing as one.
"Offensively, being able to win first down and being ahead of schedule, we were able to do that. When you look at Vanderbilt, Derek Mason has done a great job of really continuing to build that football program. I believe four of their losses have come from one-possession games. Tough, very physical, they do not turn the football over offensively. They’ve only had eleven turnovers all year.
"They take the ball away. They’re second in the conference and in the nation, I believe, in red zone defense. Points are going to be at a premium when we get into the red zone. I believe they have one of the best players in Zach Cunningham, all over the field and again I think he’ll be a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year in our conference. They’re also number one in our conference in red zone offense and they’ve only turned the football over eleven times. When you don’t turn the football over offensively, you create turnovers, you win in the red zone and you’re tough and physical, that’s going to give you an opportunity to win each and every week and they’ve been able to do that. It’s a great challenge going on the road but again, a big week for us and we have to do a great job obviously staying with our preparation this week.”
Mike DeBord | Offensive Coordinator
Prior to last Saturday's game versus Missouri, Tennessee honored 13 seniors during pregame ceremonies, including team captains Cameron Sutton, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Joshua Dobbs. Despite the emotions of playing in his final game at Neyland Stadium, Dobbs went on to finish the day 15 of 22 for 223 passing yards, rushed for 190 and accounted for five touchdowns.
“I have to admit, when I saw him walk out and hug his parents and Coach [Jones], I have to say, I was taken back a little bit by it. I went up to him after the game and said something like, ‘You know, I didn’t know how you would take today, emotionally.’ He started laughing and said, ‘Coach, I don’t have many emotions. I’m a pretty even keel all the way through it.’ I said, ‘Well, seeing your mom and dad had to do something to you.’ He said, ‘Yes, it did, but I got right back to my focus.’ That’s Josh Dobbs. You know what you’re going to get out of the guy every play.”
Bob Shoop | Defensive Coordinator
Shoop will return to Vanderbilt this weekend for the first time since he served as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Commodores from 2011-13. He followed head coach James Franklin to Penn State, before joining the Vols this year. However, many of the student-athletes he recruited to Vanderbilt will be playing in their final home game on Saturday.
“Yesterday, when we started to review Vanderbilt, some of the names are familiar obviously. Then, I was able to go into the offensive staff room and review some of the defensive players, many of which I recruited or had a previous relationship with. It’s going to be different, certainly. I had three incredible years in Nashville at Vanderbilt. A lot of the players that I recruited are going to be having their senior night probably. I’m very, very focused on trying to help us get our ninth win, trying to get us to the next step. Then hopefully after the game, I’ll hug some of those guys. It’s not just those guys, [but also] the guys on the coaching staff are guys that I am very, very close with; Chris Marve, their linebackers coach, Javon Marshall, one of their graduate assistants. When you get old enough - I think I have told you guys this - I’m 50 now. When we play Vanderbilt this week, I will have coached against every school that I have coached at except for Penn State, and if we play them in a bowl game, who knows.”
Larry Scott | Tight Ends Coach
With the loss of All-American kick returner Evan Berry due to injury this season, the Vols' special teams unit is looking to fill valuable, big shoes in the return game. For Scott, the opportunities have arrived for freshmen Tyler Byrd, Marquill Osborne and others to learn quickly and step up to make an impact.
“Everybody knows the key to having a great return; it’s the returner, himself. You find a good return team, and you will find a dynamic returner. So, obviously, that’s a big drop-off for us from that standpoint because of what Evan [Berry] brings. However, we do have some young guys in this program that are learning and getting the feel for it. They understand that decision-making process is just as tied into getting the returns, as well. As those guys continue to get that experience, and continue to grow, we’re going to get better and close the gap.”
Elliott Lands Promotion
Tennessee announced Monday the promotion of David Elliott, a Chattanooga native, to associate athletic director for event management. Elliott has been a member of UT's full-time staff since 1993.
Elliott, who has served as assistant athletics director for event management since 2007, has direct oversight of the Event Management Department, which coordinates all game day logistics for men’s and women’s athletics events. Elliott and his staff also coordinate all football travel accommodations and work directly with opposing teams, cheerleaders, marching bands and dignitaries.
Elliott played a major role in the Battle at Bristol game at Bristol Motor Speedway in September, where a college football record 156,990 fans were in attendance.
Elliott earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from UT in 1990 and his master’s degree in sport management in 1992. As a student, he served as a student trainer and graduate assistant.
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)