Vols QB Joe Milton explains what he told his receivers after a couple of early drops
The Tennessee Vols got off to a slow start on Saturday against Austin Peay before eventually winning 30-13. Part of the reason why Tennessee got off to a slow start was because of a few drops from wide receivers, running backs, and tight ends. A couple of the throws from Joe Milton could've been a […]
The Tennessee Vols got off to a slow start on Saturday against Austin Peay before eventually winning 30-13.
Part of the reason why Tennessee got off to a slow start was because of a few drops from wide receivers, running backs, and tight ends.
A couple of the throws from Joe Milton could've been a little more on target, but the receivers will likely tell you that those passes still should've been caught.
After the game, Milton was asked by a reporter what he said to his receivers after the drops.
"I let them know that they're the best receivers in the country," said Milton. "Keep being y'all. Keep doing what y'all do and just go execute."
Milton is right that Tennessee has some of the best wide receivers in the country. Bru McCoy, Ramel Keyton, Dont'e Thornton, and Squirrel White — Tennessee's top four wide receivers — could find a starting spot at any program in the nation.
They had a few rough reps against Austin Peay. It's not the first time that talented wide receivers have had a tough game. Every wide receiver in the Hall of Fame, after all, has had a few drops. It happens. And it's going to happen again.
The hope is that it doesn't become a habit. And based on the body of work that we've seen from Tennessee's wide receivers, there should be plenty of confidence that it won't become a habit.
Milton had the reaction that any true leader should have. The players who had drops would love to have those passes back more than anyone who was watching the game. But while they can't get those plays back, they at least know that their quarterback hasn't lost confidence in them. And that's what will ultimately help them get back on track as soon as they return to practice this week as the Vols prep for an extremely important road game against the Florida Gators.
It wasn't pretty on Saturday evening in Knoxville, but it goes down as a win. And at the end of the day, that's really all that matters.
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