Nov. 3, 2015

Interim Head Coach Shawn Elliott

Opening Statement
Tennessee Vols week. Big week, good football team, a lot of tough losses for them. They are a much-improved team. They have a great head coach in Butch Jones. Probably the best combination, if you look at them offensively, quarterback running back situation in the conference. They have a lot of tools, a couple plays here and there it’s probably a much different season for the Tennessee Volunteers. We have our work cut out for us. We have to continue to improve as a football team like we have in the past few weeks. We have to keep adding some wrinkles, keep doing some things differently, and try to move forward and get a SEC win. That’s our goal.

On Lorenzo Nunez
Last Saturday he was out there at wideout, motioned back in and (we hit that) little reverse pass. We can do a lot with him. He is one of those players you can line up anywhere and have an instant chance to make a big play with.

On Brandon Wilds
First and foremost as a player, he is a workhorse. You can hand the ball of to him 17, 20, 25 times, he only gets better as the game goes along. With that, the team rallies around that, grows, gains confidence and it becomes a different offense. I don’t know if I ever have been a fan of a huge rotation of backs. Two carries here, two carries there, I don’t know if you ever get in a rhythm like that as a running back. I’m pleased that he is back and giving us the stability. We have other backs that can do that as well. I think the team likes seeing Brandon out there, the physicality, he ran with toughness last Saturday. If he continues to do that, the team will rally around him and follow that on the field leadership.

On last few games vs. Tennessee in the series
We play each other pretty well. Matching up, (it has been fairly even) the last few years. Both teams want to win. You can tell the teams are going to fight (for a win) and that is what we have had the last few years.

On Brandon Shell
I know since the Missouri game he has been a much more physical football player. When he comes off the football now, he is coming off to move people. He didn’t have a very good game against Missouri. It was a very poorly played contest. I don’t know why it was to that degree, it was just that way. After that game I told him ‘Listen you have to make one of two decisions. You can run this thing out and who knows what might happen or you can make a commitment and get (yourself) better. Prove to these players how dominating you can be as an offensive tackle.

On the defense
I’ve sat in on a couple of defensive meetings just to understand what is being taught and told to our players. Simple adjustments, I’m not going to go into detail what simple adjustments need to be made. They are very aware of what needs to happen and has to happen to contain a zone runner or a zone option quarterback draw. Recognizing things is key for us. Self-recognition of a formation and what someone is trying to do to you is going to help our guys the most.