‘No chance’ – Josh Heupel explains why he’s not revealing who will start at QB for Tennessee against Arkansas
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel isn’t ready to announce who be starting at quarterback for the Volunteers this weekend against Arkansas.
According a report from On3, sophomore George MacIntyre is expected to start at quarterback for the Tennessee Vols against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday in Fayetteville.
It makes perfect sense for MacIntyre to start. He played well after replacing true freshman Faizon Brandon last week against Auburn, plus Brandon is dealing with a shoulder injury that he suffered against Texas two weeks ago (Brandon is listed on the SEC availability report for the Arkansas game as questionable).
Vols head coach Josh Heupel, however, isn’t ready to confirm that MacIntyre will start against Arkansas.
Heupel declined to name a starter on Wednesday during the SEC coaches teleconference. During an appearance on The Mike Keith Show on Thursday, Heupel again declined to name a starter.
“No chance I’m telling you,” said Heupel when asked by Mike Keith who will start against the Razorbacks.
The sixth-year Tennessee head coach explained that he’s not naming a starter because he doesn’t want Arkansas to know exactly what they’re getting this weekend as they prepare to face the Volunteers.
“Anytime as a coach that you know exactly what you’re getting, who you’re getting, skill sets that you’re facing — and it’s at all positions, but certainly at that position too — it allows you the luxury of being able to scheme throughout the course of the week in preparation,” explained Heupel. “There’s going to be differences in how you call the game and differences in what you’re practicing to face an opponent.”
Coaches are always looking for any tiny advantage they can get, so I understand Heupel’s reluctance to name a starter.
Arkansas defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, though, says it’s not a big deal that Tennessee isn’t naming a starter.
“Not really,” said Roberts when asked if matters that Tennessee hasn’t named a starter. “Because he’s (Heupel) going to run the scheme. You have scheme offenses, and you have guys that are gimmick (offenses) — they’ll roll out whatever you’ve had problems with before.
“They (Tennessee) are a system-oriented offense, so they’re going to come out there and they’re going to run their stuff. If they’re in 11 (personnel), this is what [they] do, or if they’re in 12 (personnel). Obviously, the one kid (Brandon) gives a little more dimension (with his legs). They don’t really have quarterback designed runs. They don’t. It’s not their operation. His thing is if he goes drop back, and everybody’s covered, here comes a second play (QB scramble).”
Despite the gamesmanship, it would be a shock at this point if MacIntyre doesn’t start.
