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Josh Heupel addresses potential drop in perimeter blocking after Bru McCoy injury
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Josh Heupel met with reporters at the SEC’s weekly teleconference to address the possibility of a drop in efficacy in perimeter blocking without the help of physical WR Bru McCoy.
It may seem like a small part of Heupel’s complex offense, but McCoy’s loss will no doubt change some things.
The Vols WR, who was lost for the season with an ankle injury suffered against South Carolina, was by far the Vols’ most physical receiver and a major factor in Tennessee’s blocking on horizontal spread concepts, which Heupel loves to incorporate in his offense.
But Heupel isn’t necessarily concerned in that area. Instead, he anticipates the fundamentals that the team works on in practice to carry over to the next man up, which could be Dont’e Thornton, Kaleb Webb and so on.
Check out his full quote below:
“I wouldn’t say a concern, we work those fundamentals with all of our guys inside of our program, really every single day that we’re on the grass,” Heupel said. “During season, it’s during training camp and spring ball as well. You are correct, no doubt, that Bru’s a special player and his level of physicalness, whether he’s blocking on the perimeter or has the ball in his hands was special, and was a big part of what we did offensively. You hate seeing the injury that he sustained and I say that because of who he is, what he’s come through, how much work he put in to be ready for this season and he’s a great leader for this program, can’t wait to have him back in the building because he’s still a huge part of this football journey during the 23 season. But he’s a special player and anytime you lose a guy like that, you’re going to miss him. The next guy or guys have to step up into one of those roles. The other night Kaleb Webb did some really good things. Dont’e wasn’t available last week, I anticipate him being ready for A&M. There’s going to be a handful of guys that will continue to fill that role, but anticipate all those guys playing extremely well.”
The Vols are on a bye this week after a key win over South Carolina in Week 5. They’ll draw Texas A&M after their Week 6 battle against Alabama next Saturday.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.