Vols Expect Physical Battle Against Texas A&M

(utsports.com) KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After a productive open week, No. 19/17 Tennessee is feeling rested and recharged as it gears up for a tough stretch of games to finish out the month of October.

First up for the Big Orange is a major test against an extremely talented and physical Texas A&M team this Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.

“Really good football team that we are playing,” head coach Josh Heupel said in his Monday press conference. “You look at them in all three phases of the game, they have scheme and players that can change the way the game is played. Defensively, playing as good as anybody in the country. Offensively, a veteran quarterback and skill players that can make a bunch of plays. On special teams, extremely dangerous as well.”

After dominating the line of scrimmage in its win over South Carolina, rushing for 238 yards and three touchdowns, UT knows it’ll have its hands full against the Aggies’ stout defense that enters the contest ranked No. 1 in the SEC and No. 9 nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 84.0 yards per game on the ground.

“They are good at stopping the run. They are good at getting after the quarterback, too,” Heupel said. “First of all, they have really good skill, and when I say that, I am talking about their big skill up front, too. They are physical, they are dynamic, they are thick, they play strong, they are multiple up front.

“They have created a bunch of negative yardage plays in the run game, and that has given them the ability to go get after the quarterback, (creating) second-and-long, third-and-long, too. You have to do a great job in communication. You have to win some one-one-ones when you are in a one-on-one. Your double teams have to be good enough to change the way the line of scrimmage looks, too. So, big test for us up front and across the board offensively.”  

Saturday will be the Vols’ first game this season without starting wide receiver Bru McCoy, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the win over the Gamecocks. Replacing his production and physicality will be important for Tennessee’s offense as it looks to build off its success against the Gamecocks.

“I think his physicality is something you really desire, and you want on the perimeter for all of the little passes that we throw out to the side,” redshirt senior tight end Jacob Warren said in regard to McCoy’s play. “Whether it’s blocking, I think back to the block he had for McCallan whenever McCallan scored that big, long run. Just things like that that are really special about him that your team is going to miss.”

Fellow receivers Kaleb Webb, Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Chas Nimrod will be counted on to step in and fill that void, as well as UT’s tight ends, who have already played a major role as pass catchers and blockers this year.

“I think, again the same way that I just talked about how well Chas and Kaleb and them run and catch, I think they block well too,” Warren added. “They care about each other, they care about their teammates and so that’s where you see guys selling on the perimeter, blocking for their friends or blocking down the field for the quarterback, whoever it may be. We kind of just have to all develop that identity that we’re going to get that plus-two.

“Bru is really good about finishing the plays, whether it’s running over a defender or just running through an arm tackle. Guys are going to have to do that to make sure that these 7-yard gains turn it to 10’s and 11’s. That really helps our offense a lot.”

The Vols and Aggies will square off at 3:30 p.m. ET in a game nationally televised on CBS. The sold-out Neyland Stadium crowd will see the return of the Volunteers’ popular fan-driven initiative #CheckerNeyland. Fans are encouraged to wear orange or white, depending on their seat location. To find out if your seat section is orange or white, go to CheckerNeyland.com and enter your section/row/seat number as it appears on your digital ticket. Fans in the North End Zone Social Deck are encouraged to wear white.