University of Tennessee Athletics
Weekly Football Press Conference Coaches' Quotes
October 23, 2001 | Football
Oct. 23, 2001
Comments from University of Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer at Oct. 23 press conference prior to Saturday's (Oct. 27) game against South Carolina (6 p.m./ESPN2)
"We are very proud of the win over Alabama, and, for a long time, we have taken the approach that there are things to be learned from every game, whether you win or lose. I think our team grew some in the Alabama game. We've been working long and hard to put a complete football game together and that's the closest we've come this season. Our team also realizes there's improvement to be made to get us to the level of play where we want to be. We have a great challenge this week as we went back to our business of preparing for South Carolina.
"In looking at them, you have to certainly respect what they have done in a short period of time. Their staff and players have done a tremendous job. Their offense starts with Petty. He's a fighter and a competitor, a young man you have to account for when you start putting together a defensive game plan. His maturity and leadership ability are showing. We've been very impressed with him. Their running backs, Watson and Pinnock, are both exceptional players, guys who can take over a game. They will command a lot of our attention.
"I've been very impressed with their offensive line and the improvement those guys have made from the years we've been able to watch them. Many of them are the same guys playing, so they've done a really nice job of coaching them. At receiver, Brian Scott is a guy you have to really make sure you're getting him accounted for and covered. They have a nice package. They spread you out all over the field with the one-back stuff. They're very good in goal line and short yardage situations when they go into the three-back set and two tights.
"They give you significant problems with the perimeter game and their ability to run the inside, particularly the misdirection and zone schemes. They have the ability to run the option. All those things combined can give a defense some difficulties not only in playing the plays, but the adjustments and things like that. We're fortunate we do have a little carry over from the Alabama game to this game in the styles we have seen. Yesterday, it showed there were some pluses that came out of the preparations for that particular game.
"Defensively, Kalimba Edwards is a fabulous player. He's a true first-round type guy. He's an exceptional player and, as I understand, a tremendous leader for them. Their defense is very talented, although Coach Holtz would have you believe otherwise. The truth is on the film. They do an excellent job of their scheme. It's a really different type of scheme than you'll see during the course of the year and it will take a lot of focus and concentration to get their hats on the right people by the backs and offensive line and the quarterback to account for those people who might be blitzing or supporting the run from a different spot. They don't give up very many big plays. They'll make you execute, drive the football and earn what you get.
Derek Watson is one of the best kickoff return guts we've seen in quite some time. We're going to have to do the job in the kicking game, period, and particularly in kickoff coverage to not let him make a difference in the game. Their punter is solid, their kicker is good and they do a good job with their coverage teams. There's no weakness in offense or defense or in the kicking game categories.
"This is a great challenge for us, a time for us to focus as a football team. It's a huge game, being an SEC game and an SEC East game. We're going to have to get as close to a championship level of competing as we can. A lot of it will get back to the fundamental things, solid blocking and tackling, execution offensively and defensively and also in the kicking game where we made some progress last week . Third down production will be crucial. Usually when you look a third down production, you have to go back and look at first down production to see what those situations are. Third and short and converting on third-and-long are going to be very important.
"You have to expect the unexpected in this type game. You have an opportunity to play for the Eastern Division side of it. We will be working with that thought in mind. We've talked about it as a staff and will continue to do so today.
"Being at home is a great advantage for us. I expect that our fans will really be into it. It will be a great setting for an SEC football game. It's an exciting time. I'm looking forward to getting back to the practice field. We have more people healthy than we've had in some time. We're headed in the right direction. The defense is playing hard and the young quarterback is improving. We have an exciting running back. We look forward top doing well, winning the game and continuing to build on the dynamics of this team. We need more consistency down to down, but we also need new heroes. You saw Donte' Stallworth come back and make plays for us. You saw Jason Witten step up at a big time and make some big plays. If a guy is giving 100 percent every play, his opportunity will come up to be that person. That will be tremendously important in this type game."
