Josh Heupel answered five straight questions about Tennessee’s quarterbacks Monday before turning his attention to the rest of the players preparing to help the Vols win at Arkansas.
The questions ranged from who will start Saturday to Faizon Brandon’s health, how he handled being replaced by George MacIntyre, and how Tennessee plans to keep both quarterbacks focused on the week ahead.
When FDP’s Paige Dauer asked how Tennessee would evaluate which quarterback was better equipped for this particular matchup, Heupel was ready to move on.
“Okay, next question,” Heupel said. “I’m done with the quarterbacks.”
Before the conversation shifted elsewhere, Heupel provided new context on Brandon’s health and Tennessee’s looming quarterback decision.
Here’s how Heupel’s press conference unfolded:
On who will start at quarterback against Arkansas
Question: Who’s your starting quarterback on Saturday?
Heupel: “Do you draw the short straw or what? We’ll find out as the week goes here. George came in, did some really good things. Faizon, obviously, wasn’t at his best, dealing with getting injured in the Texas game. It was affecting his game. We’ll go through the week here, and you’ll find out Saturday.”
On how Brandon handled being replaced by MacIntyre
Question: Josh, we asked you a lot after Faizon was named the starter, how George responded. What was Faizon’s demeanor when you told him you were making the change, how was he on the sideline the rest of the game, and the 48 hours since then?
Heupel: “I think Faizon, he handled it well. He was a good teammate during the course of the football game. Disappointed in that moment, but also I think he realized that he wasn’t playing at his best, in major part because of what he was dealing with physically from the week before. So those guys have been great together in the room. I’m not saying they’re the best of friends, hanging out outside of the building. But they have been really good inside of the room, on the practice field, on game day together. So, anticipate that continuing here as we go.”
On Brandon being limited in practice last week
Question: Josh, you reference him being injured. Last week, I know he didn’t do a whole lot in practice. Like when you’re a young quarterback like that… it’s easy to say you can take mental reps, but when you’re not physically going through it, do you feel like that maybe was a hurt for him last week, as he got into the flow of the game?
Heupel: “Yeah, being limited in the early part of the week certainly, those reps, those opportunities, allow you to progress during the course of the week. I thought he did a really good job of staying engaged, getting mental reps. We were making him take drops in the early part of the week and right behind the pocket. Ultimately just everybody together, we’re playing our best football early and he’s a competitor. He’s extremely tough, he’s resilient. He’s a winner and he’ll continue to bounce back from what he was dealing with.”
On what Brandon needs to do differently
Question: What does Faizon need to do differently when his opportunity comes back along? Just in terms of what has led to him missing guys, progressions as you allude to on Saturday? Or is it something else? What would need to be different for him?
Heupel: “It’s all 11, first and foremost. Secondly, he’s gotta get back healthy. Those two things.”
On keeping the quarterbacks focused on Arkansas
Question: How do you keep the quarterbacks focused, narrowly. Just on this week, and not ramifications of what this game means for the next week, the next week, and the rest of the season? Just this week.
Heupel: “This week is the only thing that matters. Look at scoreboards, each week is its own season. Said that to the team this week, said it a couple weeks ago, too. For everybody in our building, not just the quarterbacks. It’s everybody in our building.”
On how Tennessee will evaluate its quarterback decision
Dauer: As you’re going through the quarterback decision, are you evaluating differently to determine who’s better equipped for this one?
Heupel: “Okay, next question. I’m done with the quarterbacks. Politely. I’m sorry.”
Heupel provided plenty of insight into Tennessee’s quarterback situation before moving on Monday. What remained unanswered was how the Vols will evaluate which quarterback is better equipped for this particular matchup.
Tennessee will spend the rest of the week making that determination before Saturday’s game at Arkansas.
