University of Tennessee Athletics
Media Monday: Players Preview UF Game
September 29, 2014 | Football
Tennessee's A.J. Johnson, Curt Maggitt and Jalen Reeves-Maybin met with the media on Monday to preview the Vols' matchup with Florida.
Senior Linebacker A.J. Johnson
(On how not to try not to do too much on defense)
"Pretty much, like you said, that's what happened. I'm trying to do too much, trying to make too many plays. I just need to play inside the system. I feel like this last game, I was playing with more emotion instead of playing inside a system and playing with my keys and reads and stuff like that. I got away from my technique and stuff like that. It was probably one of my worst games."
(On it being his worst game even with seventeen tackles)
"Yeah, seventeen tackles really don't mean anything. It's about production. I can get that many tackles, but I played outside the system. So, it's probably one of my worst games. I'm going to correct that and have that right this week for Florida."
(On why he was playing so emotional)
"I wouldn't say that it was tied in because of a great running back. I'd say it was tied in because I wanted to win so badly and I was trying to do everything possible just to win instead of just playing football."
(On the #CheckerNeyland Initiative)
"Oh shoot, I know the environment's going to be crazy. I've just seen the pictures and stuff on Instagram and everything. Just looking at the pictures makes you want to play in the stadium. I know the fans are going to have the emotions high and have the environment real `turnt' up. Then they said our student section sold out, the tickets sold out. So, you know they're going to be in there `turnt' up."
(On what pops in his head when he thinks Florida week)
"I think about big game. It's a big game. It's going to be a good environment out there. You're going to have to perform to the best of your abilities. You're going to have to step up and make plays. That's the first thing that pops in my head is play. You like playing. You like playing in rivalry games. You've got to bring out the best you can in those games. You're going to have to perform."
(On playing against a guy like Jeff Driskel)
"We played against running quarterbacks our first two games. We did pretty good containing them. It's just what we rehearse in practice. We already broke down the film today as a defense. Early this morning we came together and broke down the film. We saw they had a couple designed quarterback runs and stuff like that. Just everybody playing in their fits and playing in their keys, we'll be able to control that. When you have a running quarterback it helps your offense if you have a gap that's uncounted for. So, we're going to have to have people be able to make a play and get off and make a play."
(On the hardest habits they have to break the younger players of)
"I know for me, when you say that it made me think of Elliott Berry. One thing I've just been trying to preach to him is using his hands. That's a big thing as a linebacker, using your hands. Pretty much all the young guys who are here, they're doing everything right. They're going out playing. If we tell them to do something, they're going to do it. They're out making plays. The young guys who are here they're making plays and doing everything right. It's just little technique stuff that they can just polish up. Everything else they've been balling."
(On Todd Kelly Jr.'s interception)
"That junk was sick. I was running down the field and I look over and I just saw him in the air, just midair caught the ball and it felt good too. It wasn't anything that shocked me because he's already made those plays in practice plenty of times. That's why he's out there playing with us because we know what he can do. He can make plays and he's a baller. So, it was a great play by him to change momentum of the game and it felt real good seeing him make that play too."
(On words between him and Todd Gurley)
"Me and Gurley were talking a lot of stuff the whole game. He's a good back. After the game, we shook hands and stuff like that. Afterwards everything was cool, but I had to say my phrase, `Light him up.'"
(On what he is better at this season)
"What I'm better at now? Playing in the system like he said. This past game I got away from it, but the games early before this I've been playing the system and just doing my job for the most part. Setting stuff right and making sure everybody's locked up. Just playing the system and doing my job is the big thing."
(On if he is faster than he was last year)
"A lot of people are saying I look faster and stuff on the field. I feel like I'm still the same speed, but if people say I look faster, I must be faster."
Junior Linebacker Curt Maggitt
(On if he's talked to Dillon Bates after his injury)
"Yeah I talked to him. My advice to him was everything happens for a reason, embrace the process. He's got a lot of time left. He's still a freshman. So, don't look down on himself and figure out a way he can still be a positive influence to the team"
(On if the Florida game will be different for him with him being from Florida)
"It's a great opportunity for us. Every week is its own season. We've got to have a great week of preparation. Like I said, all through the season we've been feeling our fans' positive energy and positive support on us. Now, after two weeks, two away games and a bye week, we're finally back in Neyland. So, it's going to be a great week."
(On respect level for Justin Worley after gutsy performance this week)
"To be honest, it didn't do too much with me. I always respected Worley. He's been through a lot of adversity since he's been here. He's been put in some tough situations. I feel like he's always responded. I always had his back. Before every game I tell him, `Just play your game, I've got your back no matter what.' I've got a lot of faith in him. I believe in Justin."
(On the checkerboard Neyland Stadium initiative)
"That's going to be tight. I think that's going to be real cool. Noon game, checkerboard Neyland, I think it's going to be epic. That's what I think."
(On why he thinks he was effective against Georgia)
"Personally, I like playing against teams that run twenty-one, twenty-two type personnel. I guess that has something to do with it. The weeks prior, it wasn't as much bigger personnel. So, going into SEC play, that's the kind of games I enjoy most. I guess I just did my job."
(On if he is back to one-hundred percent)
"Yeah, I feel great. I've been feeling good for a long time. I appreciate the question, but I feel good. I feel real good, thank you."
(On what they have seen from Florida so far)
"I think they're a good team. Pretty good O-line, a couple good running backs, I'm excited for them to come in. It's going to be a real good game, real physical game."
(On if this week means more than others)
"It's a rivalry for sure. So, that stands out but we know we've got to approach it just like every other week preparation wise, starting with practice."
(On the hardest habits they have to break the younger players of)
"My goal is to try to help them focus on one week at a time, not look down the line and figure out who we're playing in three weeks or anything like that. Just put all your energy and emotion and passion into just this one week, one practice at a time. Approach every practice like a business and get better every day."
Sophomore Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin
(On being from Tennessee and going against the Gators in Neyland) "It was always a big dream for me. I wouldn't really say I expected to do it though. Just always working and striving to get to this place. Finally here, so definitely excited to play this weekend and try to make some big plays."
(On mental preparation to not be too emotional)
"We just take every game one week at a time. Like he said, it's a new season every week. Coach Jones always talks about we want to play with passion and try not to play with emotion. With emotion you can go high, you can go low, but when you play with passion it's consistently there. We just try to come out and do that every week."
(On how many snaps he can play)
"I feel like I can go all day. It doesn't really matter, I just want to win. That's all that really matters. I'll play all the special teams. It doesn't really matter."
(On young guys stepping up with Dillon Bates out)
"It'll probably be Elliott Berry and Cortez McDowell behind me, but those guys have been working hard since camp. So, I've got a lot of faith in those guys. It's going to hurt with Dillon being out. He had built that trust up to where he could go in there and play those snaps, but I think those two guys will be able to experiment if we need it. They'll be able to step in and play that role."
(On how playing special teams as a freshman helped his development)
"I think it helped a lot just being out there and learning the speed of the game, learning how to use different techniques, learning how to use your hands, basically wanting to be a playmaker out there. When you can get those young guys on special teams, it's definitely going to help them later on down the road."
(On when he felt comfortable at linebacker)
"I'd say all throughout spring practice when I was there every day, going with the ones every day, being beside AJ, talking to Curt, those guys who've been there and done it. Just teaching me little stuff. So, throughout the spring I started to feel real comfortable there."
