Butch Jones: Vols have to make most of possessions against Razorbacks

The schedule toughens significantly over the coming weeks with back-to-back SEC home games against Arkansas and Georgia, meaning the need will grow for everyone who has a ticket to show up and give their all for Tennessee. “That’s the approach that we take just like, this is the most important game because it’s the next game but the way I approach every game is a must win and that is why every game is critical”. Again, we’ll prepare well throughout the course of the week and be ready to go Saturday.

“It was a gut feel for what we needed at that particular moment at that particular stage of the game in terms of momentum”, he said. We don’t just go out there and make a decision by chance.

The Vols (2-2, 0-1 SEC) are one third of the way through their 12-game regular season.

At worst, these two teams would be 3-1 going into this game, as Arkansas losing to Texas A&M and Tennessee losing to Oklahoma would be acceptable.

Freshman linebacker/safety Quart’e Sapp, who had been playing on special teams this season, will be out for an extended period of time due to a stress fracture in his foot.

“I think Brandon Allen has developed into one of the best quarterbacks in the country”, Jones said.

“I’m looking forward to this weekend first and foremost”.

“Stuff happens. You just have to work harder and get over it. I’m still confident in my Vols”, said Stephen Anderson, another UT student. It’s pretty remarkable. I expect Arkansas to run right at Tennessee’s middle linebacker for most of the night, so getting off blocks and securing tackles will be of utmost importance.

The 1965 season was Doug Dickey’s second with the program. Keep in mind, the Bulldogs have replaced five of their front seven from a year ago.

The 1965 Tennessee team, which went 8-1-2 under Doug Dickey, also will be honored during the game. That makes every offensive possession precious and leaves no room for mistakes. What we have done is we have tried to eliminate the learning curve and say “chin to ball.’ Chin to ball stands for the points of pressure, keeping it high and tight to make it even more of a point of emphasis”.

Jones said the Vols can not settle for field goals, and must score touchdowns against the Razorbacks. The Razorbacks lost because they didn’t cover Kirk and Reynolds after Allen put the team in position to win.

Both Hoke and Jones were hired to replace complete train wrecks – Rich Rodriguez and Derek Dooley, respectively – and hailed as saviors that would return the two programs to past glory, exhibiting passion, positivity and recruiting prowess. “We have to be very efficient in the things that we do – staying ahead of the chains, scoring in the red zone and things of that nature”.